?Chapter 361:


    Lily’s reaction was immediate and intense. She stood abruptly, her face a storm of shock and anger. “Makenna, are you trying to push me away with this?”


    Taken aback, I waved my hands in a frantic attempt to rify, “No, that’s not what I meant! Lily, I just want you to have a better life outside the pce.”


    Alice, sensing the rising tension, added carefully, “Yes, Lily, Makenna means this as a gesture for your benefit.”


    Lily’s anger did not subside easily, but she began to calm down, though she remained resolute. “I… I don’t want to leave.”


    I sighed, feeling the weight of my frustration. “Lily, this ce really isn’t the right environment for you. Don’t you want to build your own career? Do you want to spend your life as a maid?”


    Despite my efforts, Lily remained adamant, unwilling to consider leaving the pce.


    The atmosphere at the table grew thick with tension. Alice joined the effort to persuade her. “Lily, the pce is rife with scheming and ruthless individuals. Makenna wants to offer you a chance at a new life, with your own restaurant. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?”


    Unexpectedly, Lily’s irritation red up again. She mmed her fork onto the table, her voice rising. “I said, I don’t want to leave!”


    Lily demanded, her voice trembling with anger, “Why? Why do you insist on driving me away?”


    I was taken aback, never having seen Lily so unraveled before. Alice looked equally stunned and attempted to diffuse the situation. “Lily, no one is trying to force you out. We just want the best for you. You’ve misunderstood our intentions…”


    But Lily seemed past the point of listening. Her eyes, rimmed with red, red at me, filled with resentment. “Want the best for me? Makenna, are you really doing this for me, or do you have other motives? You know the truth yourself!”


    With that, Lily covered her mouth and fled the room, tears streaming down her face.


    gα?ησν????s, where the best stories live


    Alice and I exchanged a look of disbelief and fell into silence.


    Alice appeared as if she wanted to speak but remained quiet.


    I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and confusion. I couldn’t fathom why Lily reacted this way. Was there something about her situation that I was unaware of?


    With Lily’s refusal to leave, there was nothing more I could do. I could only hope she would note to regret her decision in the future.


    Lily’s POV:


    I fled the residence, my tears blurring my vision and my heart brimming with rage. Each step I took was fueled by a mixture of sorrow and anger, leaving me aimless and unaware of my surroundings. The sudden collision with someone jolted me out of my turmoil with a resounding “bang.”


    Stumbling, I lost my footing and copsed to the ground. When I looked up, I was taken aback to see a woman who bore a faint resemnce to Molly. The woman’s expression was one of irritation as she scowled and said, “Whose maid are you? How dare you be so clumsy and disrespectful? I must teach you a lesson!”


    Fear gripped my heart at the thought of punishment, and I trembled as I stammered, “I am Makenna’s maid.”


    Upon hearing this, the woman’s demeanor shifted. Her face softened, and she spoke in a kinder tone. “Oh, I see. Don’t be frightened. My name is Hayley, and I’m Makenna’s superior. You look so distressed—did something happen?”


    Hayley reached out to help me up, guiding me into her residence. As soon as we entered, I was astonished to see Molly there as well.


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