Chapter 3
Matthew kicked me hard in the chest, and I stumbled, falling to my knees in a clumsy heap.
Meanwhile, Harper was gently cradled in his arms.
I'd never seen him look at anyone with that kind of tenderness before.
He barked at me, "Lily, is this how I taught you to treat my girlfriend? Apologize to Harper."
"No way." I stared at him stubbornly, refusing to back down.
Mom, who'd seen everything, tried to persuade me, but I just stayed silent.
Finally, Matthew growled, "Then just stay there and think about what you've done," and stormed into the house.
Mom sighed and turned to follow him inside.
She had more important matters to deal with when it came to Matthew.
The winter rain cut right through me, colder than ever.
I had no idea how long I'd been left out there. The rain soaked me to the bone, my whole body heavy as lead, and my head started to feel foggy and light.
Just then, I caught a glimpse of Matthew and Harper kissing by the window.
Matthew gently cupped her head, his touch soft and careful.
When it came to sex, Matthew always just followed his desires.
Even when I begged him to stop, crying out in pain over and over, he never cared.
But I never expected him to actually hold himself back like this with Harper.
My blood felt like it was freezing in my veins.
Suddenly, the rain stopped falling on me.
I looked up and saw Matthew standing over me, holding an umbrella. His expression was still icy, but his tone had softened a lot.
"Lily, go apologize to Harper. Once you get married, we'll still be family," he said.
Family? What kind of family crosses the line like this?
"Okay." I forced a smile and turned to Harper behind him. "Sorry, I was wrong."
For a split second, Harper looked smug.
But the next moment, I spoke up, my voice steady, "I was wrong for ever loving Matthew, and for ever sleeping with him.
"Harper, do you even know that Matthew and I have been together for five years? For five years, we've been together all over Donovan Manor."
"Shut up, Lily. Are you crazy?" Matthew snapped, and the next second, he slapped me hard across the face.
My cheek puffed up instantly, but I just smiled through it.
Because I saw Harper's eyes well up with tears in a flash.
"H-How could you do this?" she gasped, covering her mouth as she ran off, her face twisted in shock.
Matthew didn't even look at me. He rushed after Harper without a second thought.
"Yeah, I guess I really am crazy," I muttered, trying to stand. My knees were raw and bleeding, leaving red stains on the steps.
As soon as I tried to get up, I almost toppled over, nearly falling into the rain-soaked ground.
Mom glared at me, her voice sharp. "Lily, after all these years, is this how I raised you?
"How could a girl say something like that? You're getting more and more shameless. Just wait till we get home. I'll deal with you then."
I just smiled. Reckless, huh?
Five years ago, when I first came to Donovan Manor, Matthew said the same thing to me.
Back then, I was rebellious, stubborn, and defiant.
For five years, we were tangled up together like two cocoons, inseparable and relying on each other to survive.
He slowly softened my defenses, helping me forget all the pain and darkness from my past.
But now, he was the one who shattered all that happiness with his own hands.
Rain kept washing over my eyes, turning the world into a blur.