Chapter 176 Ex–husband Turned Brother
“If it’s the first reason, I’ll apologize to her myself. It’s not up to you whether she chooses to see me or not. Mrs. Northwood’s opinion is the only one that matters. If it’s the second reason, I’ll leave right now,” Lily said as satisfaction bled from her eyes.
Calista shot her an amused look.
“Hasn’t the man behind you said anything to you? The relationship we share right now… We’re more like siblings.”
Selena had mentioned already recognizing her as her godchild. Calista had rejected the notion. Becoming her ex–husband’s sister sounded much too complicated.
Lucian retracted his gaze and turned to Lily.
“Stay here,” he said expressionlessly.
Selena’s door hadn’t been closed.
Before he could set foot inside, the woman spoke up, “Have Ms. Scott come see me.”
She had heard the commotion downstairs.
He frowned.
“Mom…”
“Don’t speak to me.”
Selena’s chest started to hurt again in her agitation.
She took a deep breath to calm down before continuing, “You brought her here, did you not? I assume she’s here because she wants to meet me. I’m giving you a chance. Have her come see me.
“That’s not it. That’s not why she’s here.”
Lucian had only returned to pick something up. He never intended for Lily to meet his mother.
“I’m telling you to invite her upstairs. What’s with your reluctance? Are you afraid I’ll swallow her
whole? Or are you afraid that I’ll give her a hard time? Both of you can leave if you continue to
insist on protecting her!”
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Lily, hearing Lucian say that Selena wanted to see her, smiled at Calista.
“Excuse me, Calista Mrs Northwood wants to see me. I understand you’re worried But, lighten up. I’m not going to provoke her.”
Since it was Selena who wanted to meet her, Calista didn’t stop her. She was ready to leave anyway. She had already met Selena and was relieved to know she was not in any life–threatening danger.
Just as she began to walk away, Macy came outside.
“Ma’am, Madam Selena wants you to stay. She has something she wants to speak to you about.”
“Mrs. Northwood.”
Lily politely greeted the bedridden Selena in the bedroom on the second floor. The latter still had an IV attached to her.
Despite her illness plaguing her and leaving her looking weaker than she had been a few years ago, Lily still feared her. Only the two women were in the room. Everyone else had been sent out.
“How much for you to leave my son alone?” Selena asked.
Lily couldn’t understand. What was it about her that paled in comparison to Calista? Selena saw Calista as a beloved family member. The elder would present her with the best the world had to
offer.
But Selena only looked at Lily as if she were a beggar in the streets–or rather as if she were looking at garbage. Even a beggar would be able to garner a more positive response.
“What about you, Mrs. Northwood? What would it take for you to let go of your prejudice toward me? What would it take for you to bless my relationship with Lucian? If it weren’t for you forcefully keeping us apart, we wouldn’t have wasted so many years on nothing.”
“You know best whether or not I’m the reason your relationship fell apart. I know my son best. If
he had wanted you at all, he would’ve kept you in his sights come hell or high water. It wouldn’t
have mattered if you were abroad.”
“Lucian is accompanying me to pay respects to my father today.”
Lily didn’t hesitate to drop a bombshell, nearly causing Selena, who had prepared herself
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Selena fell silent But it wasn’t because she didn’t want to speak. She was simply too consumed by
her anger to speak
“Get in bere, Lucian
She was so loud that even Calista, who was downstairs, heard her.
Lucian pushed open the door only to be greeted by Lily looking at him with a distressed
expression Her eyes were red.
But before he could ask what had happened, Selena questioned him through gritted teeth.
“You’re accompanying her to pay respects to her father?”
The man frowned and cast a displeased glance at Lily.
“Yes.”
“Do you know what it implies when a man accompanies a woman to pay his respects to her
parents during the New Year?”
“Mom, her father’s passing was partly my fault. Today was the day he passed
“I don’t care what reasons you have. You are not to go today. If you make a mistake, the law will
deal with you. Don’t go get yourself blackmailed by someone who’s grasping at straws.”
Selena took down her IV bag from where it hung and walked out with it in her hand. Lucian
immediately stopped her.
“What are you doing, Mom?”
“I’m having security watch over you. If you go, they will be the ones breaking your legs and
bringing you home. Let’s see where you go when you’re confined to the bed.”
There was silence in the room. As they left the room, they found Calista and Henry standing
outside.
Calista shot a calm, sidelong glance at Lucian. It was as if she were facing a stranger. She showed
no hint of emotions.
Lucian frowned under her piercing gaze. He was about to say something when she shifted her
gaze to Selena.
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“Macy said you wanted to talk to me.”
Selena had been so angry that she forgot Calista was still around. She didn’t know how much the
latter had heard.
Calista’s tone remained the same, but Selena could feel a change. The girl wasn’t referring to her
as “Mom“.
“I don’t care who marries in. You’re still my daughter. No one can threaten your position. Anyone who has an issue with it is free to leave and never set foot in this home again.”
Despite Selena’s words, Calista didn’t believe her. She couldn’t afford to. After all, Lucian was her
son.
How could a mother and her son suddenly bear a grudge against one another? This was merely an outburst of anger.
She offered some words of comfort, said her goodbyes, and left. Selena couldn’t keep her any
longer than she already had. This was indeed an awkward situation.
Once Calista left, Lucian and Lily also went downstairs.
“Why don’t we give you a ride, Calista? It’s a holiday. It’s not easy to find a cab around here,” Lily
said.
Her words implied that she considered herself to be Lucian’s other half. Before Calista could
respond, Lucian refused the offer on her behalf.
“She wouldn’t want to be in the same car as you.”
Lily was taken aback. She was merely paying lip service. She had never truly intended to offer
Calista a ride. But, why did his words sound so odd?
Calista couldn’t be bothered to give them her time of day. She got into her car and drove off. Lily
turned to look at Lucian and was about to say something, but the man was nowhere to be found.
Lucian had already gotten into the car. When she opened the door to the passenger seat, she
overheard him speaking on the phone. His tone was so dangerously cold that it could make hairs
stand on end.
“Have the PR department issue a statement clarifying my relationship with Ms. Scott. If any more
rumors like the one from last night surface, have Mr. Howard serve them a legal letter.”
