Filed to story: Eight Uncles Beloved Treasure
Lilly was confused.
Pursing her lips, Lilly stared at Cheryl. Although Cheryl looked nothing like her stepmother, the expression on the girl’s face was all too familiar to Lilly. That was the trick her stepmother always pulled, and her daddy would turn around and scold Lilly. Even though Lilly did nothing to deserve any of that!
Lilly was forthright with her answer. “I didn’t push you. You fell on your own.”
Biting her lip, Cheryl wiped her eyes in distress. After giving her eyes a good rub, she said, “Yeah, I know you didn’t mean to. It was my fault…”
Lilly pressed her lips together. Other children might be dumbfounded in Lilly’s shoes, not understanding what was going on. However, Lilly had been in this position far too many times. She turned to Bettany and said, “Granny, I didn’t push her. I was getting up after finishing the food, and Cheryl suddenly fell.”
Bettany picked Lilly up and gave an affirmative answer, “It’s okay. I trust you didn’t push anybody. Maybe somebody can’t tell the difference between intentional and accidental.” She made a point to look at Cheryl.
Lilly blinked her eyes and fell into thought. Tina awkwardly jumped in, “The kids were just fooling around. I should have paid closer attention…” She tried to cover up the whole thing as harmless play between children. Nevertheless, the Crawfords were not going to let it go.
Bettany callously said, “So? What are you trying to say? Are you expecting our darling to apologize to you? Or are you trying to give us the wrong idea about Lilly? What? So we would think she is bad and Cheryl is good? You are foolish to flatter yourself.” The family ignored their child and took someone else’s child under their wing. Now, they had the nerve to point fingers at Lilly. Bettany did not hold back with her choice of words.
Color washed off Tina’s complexion… That was not the end of it. The other Crawford family members chimed in to give their opinions. Anthony curtly snapped, “The last person to frame Lilly is still sitting in jail.” Hugh had a deadpan look. “It’s the parents’ duty to educate their children. It’ll be too late if you don’t start now.” Gilbert faintly uttered, “What are you thinking to pull this sort of stunt? Don’t you think it’s embarrassing?” The Crawford family took turns criticizing Tina.
Tina wished the earth could swallow her up. The Crawfords really got in her face. She could admit that Cheryl screwed up by trying too hard to get people to like her. Still, Cheryl was young and only meant well. The Crawford family should not attack them. Tina forced a smile. “I’m sorry, Bettany! I’m sorry, Mr. Anthony… Let us take it easy… Just take it easy…” With tears streaming down her face, Cheryl choked with sobs. “Sob, sob… It’s my fault… It’s my fault either way… Don’t be mad, Grandma Bettany.” She wept in sniffles, trying to stop herself from crying out loud. Yet, she was sensible enough to apologize. Cheryl appeared so miserable. She had the look that no one would have the heart to blame her. However, the whole thing did not sit well with the Crawfords. What did Cheryl mean by either way? She was dragging Lilly down in her apologies.
Just then, Lilly approached with a plate of salad in hand and cautiously made her way to Cheryl. The Crawford family had mixed feelings about it because they thought Lilly was so nice to try and resolve things with Cheryl. Seeing an out, Tina jumped in, “Oh, Miss Lilly. That isn’t necessary…” Cheryl wiped away her tears and magnanimously said, “It’s okay, Lilly…” Lilly dumped the whole plate of salad all over Cheryl. Her red bracelet twinkled a flashing scarlet glint as the salad was tossed onto Cheryl’s face… That sure stopped Cheryl from talking.
Hung on the details, Lilly said, “Here you go. That’s intentional! The one before was accidental. Now can you differentiate between intentional and accidental?” So it turned out Lilly took everything Bettany said to heart. That was why Lilly felt the need to explain herself. Pablo often said that it was easier to remember things when put into practice. Cheryl was dumbfounded. She only poured salad on the hem of her skirt just now, so it was nothing. Now, her outfit was drenched in salad dressing. She had never been so humiliated. Cheryl lost it. “How can you do this to me?” Still holding the plate in her hands, Lilly innocently blinked her eyes. “I was only teaching you.” The Crawfords were dumbstruck. The little sweet pea appeared earnest with her bright eyes as she genuinely explained to Cheryl the difference between intentional and accidental. Sure, they were flabbergasted, but… but… The family had to say that Lilly could not have done a better job. Bettany had a smile on her face. That was a good thing about being kids. They were free to do whatever was on their minds. Nothing held them back! That was how it should be with the young heiress of the Crawford family. Tina cleaned off the residue from Cheryl’s face and skirt. Feeling attacked, Cheryl burst out wailing. She accused Lilly amid the cries, “How can you do this to me? You can’t do this even if you’re trying to teach me… Wahhhh!” Lilly could tell Cheryl was crying for real this time. The girl was sad and miserable. She said, “I’m sorry!” Nevertheless, Lilly still did not believe she was at fault. She trusted Cheryl could now distinguish between intentional and accidental. Now that Lilly had apologized, Tina could no longer point fingers. Despite feeling infuriated, Tina had to force a smile and pat Cheryl on the back. She said, “It’s okay. You know kids. You fight today, but tomorrow you’re back to being best friends.”
Lilly hesitated for a moment before saying, “No, I don’t want to be friends with her tomorrow either.”
Tina was speechless.
With a forced smile, she turned to Bettany. “I’m sorry. I truly apologize. I’ll take Cheryl to get a change of clothes.”
Taking Cheryl with her, Tina hurried away.
They had arrived with such elegance just moments ago, and now they were leaving in a hurry.
Cheryl clenched her fists. All she felt was more hatred towards Lilly after the latter ruined her winning streak repeatedly.
Lilly glanced at Tina’s retreating figure before shifting her gaze to Bettany…
She whispered, “Granny, I honestly don’t want to be friends with Cheryl.”
Lilly was unsure if this would cause problems for Granny.
Holding Lilly’s hand, Bettany reassured her. “You don’t have to be friends if you don’t want to. We don’t need to force ourselves to make other people happy. You did great today, Lilly.”
Lilly’s eyes sparkled. Joyfully, she embraced Bettany and gave her a big kiss.
The sweet pea exclaimed, “Thank you, Granny!”
Bettany’s heart melted. All she wanted was to give the girl all the love in the world.
“Come on. I’ll take you to pick some raspberries.” Embracing her inner child, the elderly lady cheerfully chirped.
The Crawfords were relieved by the heartwarming scene.
Since Jean went missing, Bettany couldn’t eat or sleep. Depression almost took her life.
Bettany’s complexion regained a healthy pink shortly after Lilly entered their lives.
With both the adult and child in high spirits, no one wanted to spoil the moment for them.
Lilly followed Bettany into the woods and curiously asked, “What are raspberries,
Granny?”
Bettany happily replied, “They are wild berries. I used to pick them to eat in the countryside when I was little. They’re sweet.”
The mention that raspberries were sweet caught Lilly’s attention.
“Come on, Granny. Let’s hurry.”
Lilly pulled Bettany’s hand before realizing she shouldn’t do that. Lilly ran to the back of Bettany and pushed her wheelchair.
Bettany burst into laughter.
It was a pity that she couldn’t stand on her own feet. Otherwise, it would be wonderful to run in the fields with Lilly…
Lilly wheeled Bettany to the edge of the woods.
“Where are the raspberries, Granny?” Lilly looked around.
Bettany pointed to the shrub ahead. “Raspberries are usually found among the shrubs. Let’s search around.”
Flying ahead of the group, Polly turned around and flew straight into Lilly’s arms.
“Ghost! Ghost!”
The parrot squawked while flapping its wings in a panic.
The sun had set on the mountaintop, and the temperature dropped in the great outdoors, giving the scenery a cold and somber feel…
For some reason, Bettany’s stomach sank.
Bettany immediately decided to leave. “Let’s go back, Lilly.”
The mention of a ghost didn’t frighten Lilly.
That was great. Pablo was very interested in ghosts.
With Pablo floating away, Lilly ran after him. She said, “Be good, Granny. Just wait for me here.”
Bettany wasn’t happy about it.
“Lilly!” Anxious, Bettany tried to keep up as she took out her phone to call Anthony.
By the time they reached the tree line, darkness had fallen.
Bettany could see Lilly ahead a moment ago, but Lilly quickly disappeared.
As an unknown bird hooted and flew by the deserted woods, Bettany was left alone, scared, and on the verge of tears.
“Lilly! Lilly!”
Bettany called out.
Following a sudden rustle among the bushes, Bettany nervously looked around and saw Lilly carrying a ghost on her back.
The ghost was covered in blood. Its drooping arms were black.
Its clothes were wet, and its hair covered its face.
In fact, Lilly had no trouble carrying the ghost. That’s why all Bettany saw was a ghost floating behind Lilly.
The thought that came to Bettany’s mind was that the ghost was haunting Lilly.
“Lilly…” Bettany put her hand on her chest. The tremor in her voice didn’t go unnoticed.
Lilly looked up in a daze, only now realizing that Bettany had come along too. The old lady looked frightened.
She immediately dropped the ghost. Thud.
The ghost fell to the ground and let out a grunt…
But that was the least of Lilly’s worries as she ran over to hug Bettany.
