Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 29

Her mind went blank for a second.

She couldn't, for the life of her, remember how she had fallen in love with Sebastian, let alone why she had so desperately pursued him.

She must have been under some kind of spell.

Turning to look at Sebastian, she was struck by a profound sense of unfamiliarity. What had she ever loved about him all those years?

Suddenly, as if possessed, Lillian screamed, “Stop the car!”

Sebastian had only ever known the gentle, soft-spoken Lillian. This sudden outburst stunned him.

The driver glanced back, looking to Sebastian for direction.

Lillian shot a fierce glare at the driver. “I said stop the car! Are you deaf?”

Even the driver was intimidated by Lillian. They had just exited the highway, so he pulled over and stopped immediately.

By the time Sebastian realized what was happening, Lillian was already opening the door.

He reached out to grab her, but she was quicker, dodging his hand and throwing a final, cutting remark over her shoulder: “I regret ever meeting you!” She slammed the door shut.

Nathan's car pulled up right behind them, and he opened the door for Lillian.

Once she was inside, Nathan said nothing, simply instructing his driver, “To the hotel.”

He sat beside her in silence.

After a moment to compose herself, Lillian spoke. “Nathan, I’m sorry.”

“What for? Why the sudden apology?”

Lillian explained, “I shouldn’t have been so blinded by love. I shouldn’t have left you to face all the challenges of building the company alone. I wasn't there to fight alongside you all those years. I’m sorry.”

Though she hadn't been physically present at Litech NaLabs, the company bore both her name and Nathan's. She hadn't been working, yet the money deposited into her account was always precise, not a single penny missing.

Nathan replied, “How about you replace ‘I’m sorry’ with ‘I’m so glad I have you’?”

On one side was her family; on the other, her best friend.

One side offered nothing but misunderstanding and doubt; the other was a constant, silent source of support.

The stark contrast made Lillian’s heart ache.

She blinked rapidly, forcing back the tears welling in her eyes.

Her voice was low as she said, “Yes. I’m so glad I have you.”

Back at the hotel, a wave of intense pain suddenly washed over her.

She couldn't move another step. A cold sweat broke out across her body, and she collapsed to the ground in agony. Two minutes later, she lost consciousness...

—

At the Mercer family estate.

Bella was slumped on the sofa, her upper body resting in Sabrina’s arms.

Sabrina quickly beckoned him over, standing up to let Bella fall into Sebastian’s arms.

Sebastian caught her. Seeing how drunk she was, he didn’t push her away, instead holding her steady to keep her from falling.

Sabrina's tone softened. “Sebastian, didn’t you go to the event with Bella? I was so frightened when the driver brought her home like this.”

Sebastian replied, “She seemed fine when we left, so I called another driver for her. Lillian was there too, and I needed to have a few words with her.”

At the mention of this, Sabrina’s expression hardened. She now understood why her daughter was so severely ‘drunk’.

Sabrina immediately shot a meaningful look at Martin.

Martin asked, “You’re saying Lillian was there too? Brandon didn’t even have an invitation; he only got in because you took him. How did Lillian get in?”

Sebastian didn’t want to answer, instead glancing at Brandon, effectively passing the question to him.

Brandon had no choice but to explain what had happened.

After hearing the story, Martin slammed his hand on the table in a rage. “How did I raise such a creature? Is she determined to drag the names of the Mercer and Blake families through the mud for the entire city to see? We pulled strings and spent a fortune to get her out of prison, and this is how she repays us? This is revenge, pure and simple revenge.

So defiant, so reckless. Is she trying to destroy this family?

And she still dares to curse at Bella in public without apologizing.

Brandon, figure out a way to get her back here. I’m her father, and I’m going to teach her a harsh lesson, make her remember her place.

I’ll make her understand who’s the daughter and who’s the father in this house. She shouldn't think that just because she’s grown up, married, and had a child, I wouldn't dare to discipline her, to hit her.”