Anna was afraid. If Lisa was to tell her father about her faked blindness...
Her father would forever see her as a cunning and devious woman. After all, he was a distrustful man. From that day onwards, no matter how well she behaved, Daniel would always put up a wall against her. Moreover, it would make him believe that Nicole and Chloe were the more trustworthy ones in the house.
If that were to happen, her status in the house would plummet. It would be almost impossible to turn things around.
Anna subconsciously tightened her grip on Lisa’s arm.
Lisa noticed that Anna's fingers were as cold as ice. She glanced at her worriedly. "Ms. Anna, is the night too cold? You're freezing.”
Anna shook her head. She was so anxious she could not utter a word.
"Ms. Anna, don’t be afraid. I'll guide you. I won't let you fall." Lisa smiled tenderly at Anna. The woeful and sympathetic look in her eyes made Anna's heart ache.
Lisa helped her up the stairs carefully and guided her t o her room. Then, she took out a pair of pajamas for Anna and was going to help her change.
"Ms. Anna, now that you’re lost your vision, please don't stay out so late. The cold isn't good for your health,” Lisa advised in a warm and quiet voice.
"Lisa..." Anna glanced at Lisa hesitantly.
In Anna's memories, Lisa had always been gentle and compassionate toward her. Since the year her mother passed away, Lisa would hold Anna in her arms every night as she bawled her eyes out. She would console her and coax her to sleep. For a few consecutive years, Anna could not sleep without Lisa by her side.
Back then, Lisa had a whole head of black hair. Years had passed since then. Her hair was already graying. Streaks of white could be seen on her sideburns and scattered across the rest of her hair.
Lisa wanted to help Anna change, but Anna declined.
"Lisa, I can do it myself.”
"Ms. Anna, you can’t see well. Let me help you."
Anna felt a lump in her throat. She slowly lowered her head. "Lisa... you heard us, didn't you?”
Lisa continued to smile warmly and kindly at Anna. She gently stroked Anna’s ink-black hair. As she continued to smile, her eyes reddened.
"Ms. Anna, I feel gratified yet woeful watching you grow and journey through life all these years... Now that you've grown up, you’ve learned to protect yourself. I really am..." Lisa sobbed. She wiped away the beads of tears in the corners of her eyes.
"Madam can finally rest in peace.”
Anna wrapped her arms around Lisa. Beads of tears rolled down her eyes like pearls falling out from a broken necklace.
She had been enduring immense suffering throughout the years -finally, she was at the end of her patience. Despite all that had happened, Anna had never wanted things to reach this point.
She had been fighting alone for so long. At last, she had found someone to stand beside her and provide her with the warm hands of support she needed.
Lisa patted Anna's bed and advised, "Ms. Anna, you still have a long way to go. Don't rush it."
"Mr. Ackman was right. You must always be vigilant. N o matter what you're doing, you can't leave any holes i n your plans."
Anna nodded. Her feelings toward Liam at the moment were a mess. She undoubtedly hated the irresponsible man, yet she was thankful toward him and one could even say she was awed by his mysterious ways.
"But at the end of the day, I’m very delighted to know that your eyes are fine," Lisa said softly as she helped Anna wipe away the tears in the corner of her eyes.
"Don't be afraid. Take things slowly. You still have me. I will never let that mother-daughter duo bully you forever." Lisa smiled with tears in her eyes. She
tucked back the loose strands of hair on Anna's temple.
Anna nodded. "Thank you, Lisa. It feels so warm with you around.”
Tears rained down again as she hugged Lisa tightly. It was as if she was pouring out all the feelings she had kept bottled out all these days.
At night, Anna tossed and turned on her bed, unable to fall asleep.
Liam’s words lingered in her mind. 'Even when you're alone, you still have to keep up the act! Your plans are always full of holes-no wonder you can't succeed in anything you do!’
She rolled over again. Liam's attractive voice sounded i n her head again.
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