Chapter 10: A Cruel Comparison
Chapter 10: A Cruel Comparison
(Olivia''s POV)
"How could a good child lie? Who never listened to Lily, and used Lily of lying again and again? Scolding Lily for being dishonest, using her of lying at such a young age, being a bed child. How hypocritical! The bitter thoughts swirled through my mind like poison.
My Lily, my sweet baby. The only time she had ever lied was when she waited for her father who broke his promise-and she paid for that lie with her life. Yet in Ethan''s eyes, Lily had
been unbearable.
I felt my eyes burning with rage as I stared at Ethan Stone.
“Ethan Stone.” I asked coldly, "Emma is a child, wasn''t my Lily a child too?"
His amber eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by my question.
"How can Lily bepared with Emma!" he blurted out.
His words hit me like a physical blow. My emerald eyes turned cold as ice. This was what he really thought. In his heart, the daughter born to Victoria, his childhood love, was thousands of times better, as perfect as Victoria herself. And my Lily, like her mother, was unbearable.
My heart ached as if it was being torn apart. Iughed, the sound hollow and broken, but the smile didn''t reach my eyes.
"Indeed, they can''t bepared," I said, enunciating each word carefully, "because Emma
Frost is not worthy at all!"
Such a child who lied and framed others at a young age-how could she possibly bepared with my sweet and well-behaved Lily? I truly felt sorry for my daughter. My baby had loved her father so much. But in her father''s heart, there was only Emma, never her.
As a mother, my eyes burned with heartache. It wasn''t worth it for my daughter to have suffered so much for a father who cared so little.
"Ethan Stone, Lily has a father like you, she is in the afterlife-"
Before I could finish, Victoria suddenly grabbed Ethan''s arm tightly. She looked at her red and swollen right hand and cried in fear.
"Ethan, is my hand useless? Can I never create healing crystal designs again?" Her voice
Chapter 10 A Cruel Compars
trembled with calcted vulnerability.
+8 Points >
Ethan''s attention was immediately drawn to Victoria. He didn''t even hear what I''d said about
Lily. Looking at Victoria''s hand, heforted her softly, his amber eyes gentle.
"I won''t let anything happen to you," he promised. "I''ll take you to the Medical Den now, don''t
worry."
Ethan picked up Victoria in his arms without a second nce at me. Emma grabbed Ethan''s leather jacket obediently and followed him, her small face twisted
in a pained expression that didn''t quite reach her eyes.
As they passed by me, Ethan said in an extremely cold voice: "You''d better pray that Victoria''s
hand is fine."
I remained standing, unaffected by his threat. What more could he possibly take from me?
An hourter, I found myself sitting before thepetition judges, drawing crystal healing designs alongside six otherpetitors. We were vying for thest position in the Pack
Healer''s Crystal Competition.
I worked with calm determination despite the earlier confrontation. My hand moved steadily
across the paper, creating intricate patterns that channeled healing energy through carefully
arranged moonstones.
"Time''s up," announced the head judge. "Please ce your designs on the disy table."
One by one, the judges examined our work. Elder Willow lingered over my design, her wise
eyes gleaming with approval.
"The results are in," the head judge dered after their deliberation. "Olivia Winters will
advance to the finalpetition."
Relief washed over me. I had secured thest ce in the Pack Healer''s Crystal Competition-
one step closer to buying Lily''s burial ground.
After leaving Lunar Tower, I walked toward the underground parking garage. The afternoon
sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the pavement. Suddenly, I heard the roar of a motorcycle engine. A sleek ck bike sped toward me, but I
didn''t move. I stood still, watching as the rider executed a perfect tail flick in front of me,
stopping the bike steadily.
The man riding the motorcycle, with his long, straight legs firmly nted on the ground, took
off his helmet with one hand. His handsome face broke into a familiar grin as his hazel eyes
Chapter 10 A Craf Comparis
met mine.
"Beautifuldy, get in the car, I''ll take you for a ride," he said, raising his eyebrows slightly in
that cocky way I knew so well,
It was James Knight, my only friend from the abusive orphanage where we''d both been as
children.
When I was eight years old, I was sold to a perverted pedophile by the orphanage dean. When 1 was being attacked, it was James who rushed in desperately, knocked the man unconscious,
and took me out of the orphanage.
In order to protect me, he had hidden me and gone to lure away those who were chasing us.
When I went to the orphanage with Ethan''s grandmother to see him again, he was beaten ck and blue, barely clinging to life. Even so, he hadn''t revealed my hiding ce.
"James Knight, do you think you are particrly handsome now?" I rolled my eyes at him, fighting a smile.
"Olivia, please pay attention to your wording," he protested with mock offense. "What do you mean by ''I think''? I''m already devastatingly handsome!"
I didn''t speak, but hooked my finger at him. James lowered his head curiously.
I raised my hand and pressed James''s head, turning it clockwise towards the rearview mirror
on his bike.
"Indeed, it''s quite devastating!" I said seriously.
"Damn it!" James swore when he saw his messy hair in the mirror. Just... handsome for three seconds. He quickly put his helmet back on. "It affects my image too much."
I couldn''t help but smile, my emerald eyes brightening for the first time that day.
"Get in the car, James said with mock anger, leaning over to help me get my Rose-Quartz
Helmet.
Suddenly, his movement paused. He saw a child''s helmet under my adult helmet-
the
Moonstone Pup Helmet he had custom-made for Lily.
James''s nose reddened, and his eyes turned glossy. This was the birthday present he had prepared for my daughter. He had been away on a training mission during Lily''s birthday and couldn''t ask for leave, so he had asked someone to customize this helmet in advance. He had nned to take Lily for a ride after her surgery and recovery.
But there would never be that chance now.
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Chapter 10 A Cruel Compans
"Lily must be very happy to see this gift," I patted James on the shoulder,
Lily''s death was heartbreaking. But I couldn''t keep dwelling on the sadness, My
Lily wouldn''t
want to see her mother like this. I remembered when she was two years old, making a wish
like a little adult: hoping that her mother would be happy,
James quickly adjusted his mood and handed the helmet to me. I took it and was about to put it on when I heard him suddenly curse.
"Traitorous man and his mistress."
I paused and subconsciously looked up, following James''s gaze, I saw Ethan''s
car parked at
the entrance of the Medical Den opposite Lunar Tower, Inside the car, Ethan was
leaning over
to kiss Victoria.