Filed to story: Billionaire Bride’s Revenge (Vera & Howard)
“I understand,” she whispered hoarsely.
Jeff, gripping Sharon’s arm, quickly led her from the room, urging, “Let’s hurry and get Lily. She’s still in the dark about everything.”
Despite his frustration with the situation, Jeff remained composed, aware of Vera’s innocence.
Though neither was at fault, Jeff and Sharon needed someone to blame, and Vera ended up bearing the brunt of their misplaced anger.
Following her husband out, Sharon declared loudly, “We will throw a grand banquet in her honor once she’s home, and the new will be hers.”
Jeff agreed enthusiastically, “Absolutely, it must be a lavish celebration.”
They reveled in the anticipation of reuniting with their daughter, disregarding Vera’s feelings.
Vera, overwhelmed by the absurdity of her situation, felt powerless to protest.
In the whirlwind of betrayal by her husband and the revelation about her parents, Vera was emotionally and physically drained.
Before she could even catch her breath, Sharon reappeared, her look one of disdain.
“Since you’re divorcing Howard, you should stay away from him. That marriage was never yours to claim. It belongs to Lily.”
Vera stared in disbelief, hurt by Sharon’s harsh words and cold demeanor-once her mother, now seemingly her adversary.
Jeff, standing by, added sternly, “You’re cruel, Vera. All of this rightfully belongs to Lily. We must do right by her.”
Vera slumped against the bed, her voice filled with grief. “What about all the years we spent as a family?”
It had only been less than thirty minutes since her world had turned upside down.
Since the revealing phone call, Jeff and Sharon’s demeanor toward Vera had shifted dramatically. The bond they had nurtured over decades seemed insignificant compared to the DNA test results.
Sharon, with palpable contempt, exclaimed, “Bah! How can you even mention that? To think I devoted all my years to someone who wasn’t my child. I grieve the time spent, all while my true daughter suffered.”
Vera’s eyes welled up with pain, her heart aching more intensely.
She harbored no resentment towards others, resigning herself to what she perceived as her deserved fate. She felt as though she was now facing divine retribution. “Let’s go…”
“Get Lily! Hurry!” Jeff interjected, his voice urgent. The mention of Lily brought a sudden gleam of joy to Sharon’s face, her earlier bitterness momentarily forgotten.
“Hurry! I can’t wait to see her!” Sharon exclaimed with a bright smile.
As the Montgomerys hurriedly left the room, Vera watched them depart, her despair deepening.
In a startling moment, overwhelmed by the emotional turmoil, Vera suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
After escaping the hospital, Lily immediately sought Howard. Before meeting him, she darkened her lip injury with lipstick and disheveled her hair to enhance the appearance of her distress.
Once ready, Lily pressed the doorbell.
As the door swung open, tears cascaded down her cheeks, her voice laden with sorrow.
“Howard,” she uttered.
Startled by her appearance, Howard quickly brought her inside.
“Lily, what happened? Who did this to you?”
With tears brimming in her eyes, Lily replied shakily,
“Sharon did this. She tricked me into meeting at a coffee shop and attacked me without warning. They’ve been trying to exile me from the city, just like they forced me abroad years ago. Will they ever stop persecuting me?”
Howard fetched the first aid kit, his anger mounting as he listened.
“This is too much,” he declared, preparing the disinfectant.
Grinding his teeth, Howard speculated, “It has to be Vera behind this. She pretends to be indifferent, wanting only our divorce, but she’s orchestrating these cruel games behind the scenes. She’s far more devious than she appears.”
Lily, her emotions overwhelming her, lamented as she held back tears, “What did I ever do to deserve this? I only wanted to be with you. It was they who pulled us apart in the first place.”
Howard gazed at Lily, whose eyes were shimmering with tears, and felt a profound sense of compassion.
Holding her uninjured hand tightly, he vowed, “Lily, as long as I’m here, no one will ever bully you again.”
Lily, comforted by his promise, rested her head on his shoulder, sharing her relief and affection.
“I know you’ll always be there for me, Howard. Meeting you was the best thing that ever happened in my life.”
Howard, his expression filled with both love and a deepening distaste for Vera, agreed with her sentiments. The schemes to prolong their marriage, driven by Vera’s desire to maintain her status, disgusted him.
“It’s clear now, you’re the one who truly loves me,” he said softly.
Lily’s eyes welled up with tears as she whispered, “Howard.”
As they drew closer, about to embrace in a kiss, Lily’s phone rang, halting the moment.
She saw Sharon’s name flash across the screen and tensed up, remembering Sharon’s aggressive past actions. Reflecting on her recent ordeal at the hospital, where she had feared for her life, Lily turned to Howard in desperation.
“What should we do? They seem determined to continue. Will they only stop when I’m gone?”
Howard clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. “Answer the phone! If they dare harm you again, I won’t hesitate to make them pay for their actions.”
Despite Howard’s reassurances, Lily was still visibly shaken, her voice quivering as she spoke, “Howard, they might be calling to use Vera’s situation against me.”
Howard responded with a cold sneer, tightening his grip reassuringly on her hand. “Don’t worry, I’m here. I won’t let anyone harm you.”
Lily, steeling herself amidst her anxiety, pressed the answer button after a brief hesitation.
She braced for the worst, knowing that distress would only fuel Howard’s disdain for Vera.
However, as soon as Sharon’s voice came through, vibrant and clear, the atmosphere shifted. “Lily, it’s me.”
Lily, attempting to steady her shaking hands, responded with feigned composure. “Mrs. Montgomery, what do you need?”
Sharon quickly responded, “Lily, I realize the mistakes were mine. I am truly sorry, and I want to apologize.”
Both Lily and Howard were taken aback by Sharon’s words.