Lily and Maxwell both turned to look as Zelda, dressed elegantly in a long blue gown, stood at the door, stunned at the sight before her. Maxwell hadn’t yet figured out who was at the door when Lily quickly rushed over and slammed it shut, pulling her son into her arms.
“Who was that?” Maxwell asked casually.
The door wasn’t locked, and this time Zelda didn’t hesitate. She pushed it open and entered, no longer caring about the basic courtesy of knocking when entering someone else’s room. What greeted her was a picture of Maxwell standing beside Lily, who was holding a child. They looked so harmonious, like a perfect little family of three, warm and happy. The scene made Zelda’s heart ache with a blinding sharpness.
A day earlier, when she heard Maxwell was in Vũng Tàu for business, she hadn’t thought twice before driving there. But she hadn’t expected to walk in on such a sight.
Lily instinctively pulled her son behind her, shielding him. For years, since the Bennett family had thrown her out, they hadn’t cared about her life. Not even when she was heavily pregnant and about to give birth. No one from the Bennett family reached out. Before her son was even born, she had completely severed ties with them. They had probably never even wondered what the shameful child looked like. So this was the first time Zelda laid eyes on Lily’s son.
Seeing Zelda at the door, Maxwell seemed entirely indifferent, not curious or surprised. Noticing her standing there, frozen, he shot her a cold glance before turning to Lily, asking, “Are you alright?”
Though his tone was casual, there was a sense of care and concern, the kind that, when heard by others, would make them realize there was something more between the two. After speaking, Maxwell bent down to pick up the child standing behind Lily, holding him in one arm as he took Lily’s hand with the other and headed for the door, paying no attention to the woman standing there.
As they passed Zelda, Lily could feel the burning, furious gaze glued to her child, as if Zelda wanted to devour him whole if given the chance.
But Zelda didn’t leave; she followed them.
In the elevator, her expression shifted back to calm, gentle, and pure. She smiled lightly, embodying the refined image of an educated and well-mannered socialite. Liam glanced curiously at Zelda, sensing the coldness radiating from her. In her eyes, it was as if a thousand waves were threatening to swallow him whole, drowning him in the vast ocean.
Suddenly, Zelda spoke up, “I didn’t expect the little one to have grown so much. It can’t have been easy raising him alone, has it?”
Lily didn’t even bother to respond to the thinly veiled sarcasm in Zelda’s words. But Zelda, seemingly addicted to her one-woman show, smiled faintly and continued, “As far as I know, you and your friend have been searching for the child’s father for years, right? But it seems like he’s still nowhere to be found.”
“Don’t call me ‘sister.’ It’s disgusting. People might actually think we’re related. Walking together, constantly trying to embarrass one another, that’s not very appropriate.”
Lily’s sharp words were meant to shut Zelda up, not out of fear that Maxwell might misunderstand, but because she didn’t want Zelda saying anything inappropriate in front of her son. But to her surprise, Maxwell joined in, looking at Zelda with a calm, icy tone.
“Lily’s right. It’s enough that you embarrass me. We don’t need to be disturbed anymore.”
“Maxwell…”
Zelda barely had time to speak before the elevator doors opened. Maxwell, holding the child in one arm and Lily by the waist with the other, stepped out, leaving Zelda alone inside. She gritted her teeth, watching him go, her mind seething with determination: "No matter what it takes, I won’t give up. I’ll get what I want, even if it costs me everything."
At that moment, Liam turned around and smiled, waving at Zelda from the elevator. She smiled back, then followed behind them. Liam, confused, looked up at his mother and asked, “Why did that strange woman call you sister?”
“Because I’m older,” Lily replied with a gentle smile.
Liam nodded, accepting the explanation without further questions. By the time they arrived at the venue, everything was set for the party. Maxwell set the child down carefully before heading toward Lucas, who was waiting for him.
Watching Maxwell from a short distance, Liam turned to his mother with wide eyes. “Lily, is Mr. Maxwell really your boyfriend?”
Boyfriend?!
“For now,” Lily answered honestly, not wanting to lie to her son. In an instant, Liam’s face scrunched in disapproval. He pouted, clearly upset. “Lily, that strange woman doesn’t seem nice. I think she’s trying to steal your boyfriend! Even if it’s just temporary, you shouldn’t let her!”
Lily couldn’t help but laugh at her son’s reasoning. She handed him a skewer of grilled meat and then took another to roast for herself.
“So, what do you think I should do? She’s pretty fierce, you know.”
Liam took his time thinking, even as he ate, his posture giving off an air of authority.
Lily chuckled. “Do you have a plan to help me?”
After a thoughtful pause, Liam finally answered, “I think… don’t bother. She’s not as pretty as you, so Mr. Maxwell definitely won’t like her.”
"..."
Lily ruffled his hair, smiling warmly. “I’m going to the bathroom. Do you want to come with me, or will you stay here?”
“You go ahead. I’ll stay here and keep an eye on Mr. Maxwell for you.”