Chapter 9
596words
Their devotion to Lily was unnaturally intense—almost obsessive.
Especially that phrase Lily kept using: "This is what you owe me."
I sensed something wasn't right, and today I finally uncovered the truth.
Lily didn't just want my life—she had stolen my mother's legacy.
Julian and Zachary stared at the group photo, lost in troubled thoughts.
My text message shattered their silence.
"Julian, do you remember why we've been so devoted to Lily all these years?"
"Of course. Lily's mother saved our lives."
Zachary closed his eyes briefly before handing Julian the phone.
"But it wasn't Lily's mother who saved us."
Julian's eyes widened in shock.
"That's impossible. How could that be?"
Many years ago, when Julian and Zachary were still children, they were trapped in a devastating fire.
Everyone had fled the building—no one noticed the two children still trapped inside.
Julian and Zachary clung to each other, waiting for death to claim them.
After what seemed like an eternity, a beautiful figure appeared before them.
"Don't be afraid, children. I'm here to save you."
The woman gently lifted them up and with all her strength, threw them to safety.
She herself remained behind in the inferno.
After escaping, Julian and Zachary saw Lily standing at the entrance, crying.
"Mommy! Mommy! Please come out! You promised to take me to the amusement park!"
Only one person died in that fire, and Lily claimed it was her mother.
Julian and Zachary thus believed that Lily's mother had sacrificed herself to save them.
Lily beat her small fists against them, sobbing.
"It's all your fault! You took my mommy away! You owe me my mommy back!"
Their guilt reached unbearable heights, and they nodded, making a solemn vow.
"We're sorry. We swear we'll protect you for the rest of our lives. This is what we owe you."
From that day forward, Julian and Zachary became Lily's devoted protectors.
They always believed that Lily's mother was their savior.
But now the truth revealed they were catastrophically wrong—it was my mother who had saved their lives.
And they had nearly killed me.
"No, I don't believe it."
Julian clenched his fists, unable to accept the truth.
If this was true, it meant everything they had done was based on a monstrous lie.
Lily's demanding voice drifted from the bedroom.
"What are you doing out there? Get in here! I'm thirsty—bring me water!"
In the past, Julian and Zachary would have rushed to fulfill her request.
This time, they remained motionless.
"Did you hear me? I said bring me water!"
Only when her voice rang out again did Julian and Zachary finally move.
They stood in the doorway, staring at Lily without moving.
"Why are you standing there like idiots? I'm thirsty! I want water! Are you deaf?"
"Lily… do we really owe you anything?"
Lily froze at the question, a flicker of guilt crossing her eyes before she quickly recovered.
"What are you talking about? Of course you owe me! My mother saved your lives and died because of you!"
Seeing Lily still maintaining her lie, Zachary let out a bitter laugh.
"Then how do you explain what happened to your mother last year?"
"What are you talking about? I don't understand."
"You don't understand or you're pretending not to?"
Zachary suddenly grabbed Lily by the throat.
The documents I sent included a maternity test for Lily and her mother, along with her mother's death certificate from just one year ago.
"Lily Wilson, you've been lying to us all along?"
