Anyone Dares Bully you, Call Uncles! novel Chapter 16

Back in Lilly's room, Polly was snuggled in Lilly's hands while she was snuggled in Bettany's arms.

Lilly was sad seeing how shaken the parrot was after almost being strangled to death. She failed to protect Polly in an environment that was new and foreign to the parrot.

Seeing Lilly slowly calmed down, Bettany said, "Do you feel better now? This was indeed Hannah's fault, not yours, Lilly."

Hugh also chimed in, "Yeah! You are a very good and obedient girl."

Bettany continued, "You are my lovely little gem!"

Both of them kept praising her one after another.

It was the first time for Lilly to be praised in such a way that she shyly fiddled with Polly's wings and said, "Grandpa and grandma are lovely little gems too!"

The old folks were taken aback for a moment before they let out a hearty laugh.

Just then, Anthony was done with his meeting in the study and walked out. He furrowed his brow when heard about the fight between Lilly and Hannah.

His heart ached as he looked at Lilly from outside the door quietly.

Seeing Liam walk past, Anthony quietly said, "You need to settle this as soon as possible, Liam."

When Winona was married into the family, her relationship with Liam was shaky, but they were able to get by relatively peacefully because they already had their son by then.

It was only until the birth of Hannah did the Crawford family find out the whole truth. When Liam asked for a divorce, the Jackson family refused to let it happen.

The whole issue with Winona was dragged on for so long because the Crawford were too preoccupied with searching for their missing sister, Jean.

Liam replied, "I know. But now that my two children are grown up, I'm afraid the divorce will affect them."

No matter what, they were still his children and even though they did not always get along, Liam could not bear to lose them.

Anthony nodded. He knew that every family had their own skeletons in their closet and it was not his place to make decisions for Liam.

He replied, "You have to take care of it yourself."

Both of them looked into Lilly's room. It seemed like the storm had passed and the child was discussing her name with Hugh and Bettany.

She said, "Mommy said that a lily is a very pretty flower. It means love, admiration and compassion. This was why mommy named me Lilly."

Even though she said it with a child-like voice, her straight face made it look like she had memorized what her mother said verbatim.

Bettany felt an ache in her heart as she nodded, "It is a good name. Your mother's surname is Crawford, so you will also be called Crawford, okay?"

Lilly nodded happily, "Yes, Crawford. I'll have the same surname as mommy!"

Hugh smiled and said, "Let's see, what name goes well with Crawford?"

Lilly immediately raised her tiny hand and replied, "Lilly Crawford!"

Everyone could not help but burst out laughing.

Anthony walked in and said, "Yeah, Lilly Crawford sounds good."

Shaking her head, Bettany replied, "But don't you feel like something's missing with that name?"

Everyone was at a loss for words. It did sound like something was missing and more importantly, it would be great to have a new name for Lilly to have a new start for her life. They wanted Lilly to leave the past behind.

They decided that they would call a family meeting to brainstorm a name for Lilly.

Bettany turned to ask Lilly, "You will be three and a half years old this year, right?"

Lilly cocked her head as she thought for a bit before saying, "I think so? Mommy said I came out from her tummy on 315."

Everyone thought for a moment, "315… March 15th, that's next week!"

In a week, Lilly would turn four years old.

Bettany said, "That's great! We can do a birthday party for Lilly and get you a big big cake, okay? And then you can make a wish in front of the cake!"

Lilly's eyes sparkled as she happily asked, "Really?"

She could also finally have a huge cake!

Hannah grabbed the plate in front of her and fling the food out of it, crying, "She bullied me but all of you are ignoring me!"

Winona felt an ache in her heart and she took a deep look at everyone at the table.

See that? It's all your fault!

Children are very sensitive to their surroundings. By not speaking to Hannah and comforting her, you're mentally abusing her!

Winona tried to comfort her, "Good girl. I'm here. I'm not ignoring you."

Instead of calming down, Hannah grabbed plates and anything she could get her hands on and threw them to the middle of the table, screaming, "No! I don't want! I don't want to eat with her! I don't want a sister!"

Hugh tried to suppress his anger as he said coldly, "Leave the table if you don't want to eat! Who taught you to throw plates and cutlery all over the table?"

Hearing her grandfather's fierce remarks, she cried harder and started kicking the dining table. She cried, "I don't want to, I dont' want to! I don't want to!"

No matter what anyone else said, she kept yelling the same four words, "I don't want to!"

Everyone was speechless.

Without saying a word, Liam stood up and tried to carry Hannah away from the table, but she kept squirming around. It made him so mad that Liam grabbed her by the collar and proceeded to haul her upstairs.

Winona immediately asked, "What are you doing, Liam?!"

Seeing Liam hauling Hannah by the collar made Lilly jolt up in fear and she dropped the piece of meat in her hand. Her father did the same thing to her before.

She suddenly felt pity for Hannah.

Winona snatched Hannah from Liam and glared at him while she carried Hannah upstairs in a huff.

She felt that they had crossed the line.

Did they need to be so cruel to a child? Did they not see the wounds on Hannah's arms and her swollen eyes? Why did they still single out Hannah like that?

Winona's heart was shattered to a million pieces.