Chapter 2
The next morning, I woke up to someone screaming.
Sophia was in the middle of the living room, clutching her neck and freaking out.
"My necklace! My diamond necklace is gone!" she screamed.
Lucas had just won that necklace at an auction, which was worth a fortune.
Lucas rushed downstairs and pulled her into his arms.
"What happened? Don't worry. Tell me about it," Lucas said, trying to calm her down.
Sophia's eyes were red, her finger shaking as she pointed right at me.
"She was the only one who came into my room last night to bring water. She must have taken it!" she cried.
I was in the middle of mopping the floor when all eyes turned to me.
Lisa and Ben were sitting at the dining table, stuffing their faces with breakfast.
Lisa shot up from her seat, jabbing a finger at me. "I knew it! This girl's always had sticky fingers.
"Back at home, she was always stealing things. Now, she's even worse."
Ben swallowed his sandwich, chiming in with his mouth still full.
"Yeah, it had to be her. Lily, did you steal it so you could sell it and treat your illness?" he snickered.
I gripped the mop handle tightly and snapped back, "I didn't take it. I didn't even go into the master bedroom last night."
Lucas shot me a cold glare. "Lily, hand it over. Don't make me repeat myself."
Getting blamed for nothing, I lifted my chin stubbornly, my voice shaky and on the verge of tears. "I swear I didn't take it. Go ahead, search me."
Lucas walked over and kicked the bucket by my side, dirty water splashing everywhere and drenching the bottom of my pants.
"People like you, dirt poor and desperate, would do anything, huh?" he sneered.
"You're just jealous of Sophie, aren't you? Mad that I gave her something you could never afford," he added with a mocking smirk.
I looked into his eyes, where there used to be warmth and affection. Now, all I saw was cold disgust.
"Lucas, am I really that worthless to you?" I asked, my voice trembling.
Lucas ignored me and turned to comfort Sophia instead.
"Don't cry. It's just a necklace. I'll buy you another one," he said softly.
Sophia sniffled, her voice trembling. "But it was the thought behind it, the way you gave it to me. I just can't let it go."
Lucas turned back to me, his eyes cold and sharp. "Lily, since you won't admit it, stay here and scrub the floor.
"Don't stop until you find that necklace. You can get up when you do."
Ben was munching on an apple nearby, spitting the peel right where I'd just cleaned.
"Lily, better clean it up good. This is marble, and it costs a fortune," he mocked.
I knelt on the floor, mindlessly scrubbing with the rag.
The pain in my stomach kept hitting me in waves, cold sweat beading on my forehead and dripping onto the floor.
Sophia strutted over, her heels clicking against the marble.
Acting like she was just passing by, she deliberately dug her heel into the back of my hand, the same one that got burned yesterday.
"Ah!" I yelped in pain before I could stop myself.
Sophia flashed me a sweet smile as she moved her foot. "Oops, didn't see your hand there."
There was a smear of my blood on her heel.
Lucas was sitting on the couch, reading the newspaper, not even bothering to look up.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
The butler opened the door. It was the doctor, Jackson Quinn.
He was holding a medical bag, his face tense with worry.
He was my attending physician, the only one who truly understood just how sick I was.
When Jackson saw me kneeling there, his expression changed in an instant.
He rushed in and immediately reached out to help me up. "Lily! Are you alright? Come on, get up."
Lucas put down his newspaper and spoke in a frosty tone, "Who let him in?"
Jackson turned and shot Lucas a furious glare.
"Mr. Grant, Lily's health is terrible. You can't keep tormenting her like this," Jackson snapped, his voice tight with anger.
Lucas got up and strode over.
He yanked the medicine bag out of Jackson's hand. "Really? Looks to me like she's got plenty of energy for charming men.
"So, Lily, is this your side piece? No wonder you were so quick to swipe that necklace for some cash."
I shook my head weakly, my voice barely a whisper. "Please... just give me the medicine... I'm begging you..."
Lucas sneered, "Want your meds? Go beg your lover for them outside."
He yanked out the bottle, tossed it to the ground, and ground it into the floor with his heel.
The white pills turned to powder, mixing with the filthy water.
Those were my painkillers, my lifeline.
Jackson was shaking with rage, lunging at Lucas, but the bodyguards held him back.
Lucas had his bodyguards kick Jackson out.
As the door slammed shut, I felt my last bit of hope completely shattered.
I stared at the crushed medicine on the floor, and tears started to fall.
Sophia walked over and snuggled into Lucas' arms.
"Lucas, you're so sweet. You'd even stand up to the doctor just for me," she purred.
Lucas ran his hand through her hair. "You're all that matters."
I was still kneeling on the floor, my stomach hurt so bad that it felt like it was tearing apart.
I looked at them, and there was nothing left in my heart but ashes.