Fake Mate Beta Rises to Alpha Heiress (Natalie and Landon) novel Chapter 338

Chapter 338 A Kind of Greatness

Samuel’s POV:

“What?” I let out a laugh, my voice dripping with undisguised scorn. “The ‘best’? Your mother is so poor she can barely take care of herself, and she’s the ‘best’?”

In my worldview, “good” meant providing a wealthy life, powerful protection, and social advancement. Poverty was practically synonymous with failure.

“Mr. Scott.” Lily’s voice turned cold. I could feel her anger. Her usually faint aura sharpened. “Maybe you think the ‘best’ mother is measured by money. But I don’t. I love my mother, and I’m deeply loved by her. To me, she is the best mother in the world.”

She took a deep breath, her words coming faster, as if pouring out pent-up emotion. “Maybe my family isn’t rich. Maybe my mother had a hard life. But even when she was sick, she took care of my brother and me perfectly. She’d endure the pain herself and save the money for our schooling, for buying my favorite foods.

“I didn’t even know she was sick until after I graduated. She never complained in front of us, never demanded anything from us. Having her love and encouragement as an example… that’s what gives Harry and me the courage to face anything life throws at us. That’s the wealth my mother gave me. It’s all she had. Maybe a wealthy mother can raise her children well. But a mother who isn’t rich or powerful, yet still raises her children well… isn’t that a kind of greatness, too?”

I was stunned.

I hadn’t expected the usually quiet Lily to say so much, and with such conviction. Her words slowly started to change some of my old ideas-ones I’d had forever.

She was right. I was used to measuring everything-including the value of feeling-by money, power, and status. I had never experienced, nor believed, that pure, unconditional love could be a form of “wealth,” a force that sustained someone through anything.

Seeing her slightly reddened eyes, blazing with sincerity and a fierce courage to defend her family, I realized for the first time how cruel and shallow my mockery had been.

I pressed my lips together and gave a soft, dismissive snort, my voice much lower, “Alright, alright… I spoke out of turn.”

Lily’s POV:

By the time we reached the hospital, it was the middle of the night.

Harry was sitting alone on a bench in the shabby, plain emergency room hallway, his face all bruised and swollen.

Finally, Harry lowered his head and muttered coldly, “Sorry.”

Ellis’ mother, Delilah Davidson-a woman dressed expensively, with a stout figure and a sharp, unpleasant face-immediately sneered, “Such a grudging ‘sorry’? I don’t want it!” Her eyes were sharp, sweeping over Harry and me.

Harry told me later that before I arrived, he’d already apologized at Ezra’s urging. The parents hadn’t accepted it. They’d been insulting him, saying he had no upbringing, even repeatedly insulting our family. Delilah had even tried to pinch him several times, and Ezra stopped her.

“Harry, apologize properly! Hitting someone is wrong!” Hearing Harry’s story made me furious, too, but I swallowed my anger. I told him to apologize sincerely. This time, his voice choked with suppressed emotion. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hit him.”

I said, “I’m sorry. Harry is young and impulsive. Whatever the reason, I will make sure we compensate you. Please, be understanding!”

But the parents brushed off our apologies completely,

“Forgive him?” Delilah said shrilly. “Sure! Let your brother split your head open first, then come apologize!”

Her husband, Josiah Davidson, just held up three fingers. “Enough of this useless talk. What good is an apology? My son is lying in there! I’m telling you, this isn’t over. At least this much!”