Grow up

Lilith’s POV

After I stepped out of Bastian’s penthouse, I stood outside for a while, my mind flooded with the painful memories of six months ago. My heart was still racing. My legs felt weak as I stood there, trying to catch my breath. I clenched my fists together, trying to compose myself.

I still couldn't believe what happened. My mind kept spinning every time I thought about it. I felt like I was about to break down right there in front of the building and cry my eyes out. From Bastian’s rejection to the betrayal of the people I trusted the most, it was too much.

I was startled by the sound of my father's driver's voice. “Miss Lilith, are you alright?” he asked, his tone full of concern.

I blinked, trying to focus. “What?” I asked, looking at him, confusion written all over my face .

“I’ve been here for a while. I’ve been calling out to you, but you didn’t seem to hear me,” he said gently. He sounded so worried. Do I look that broken?

“Oh... I’m sorry,” I said quickly, feeling embarrassment and sadness at the same time. I hadn’t noticed him at all. My mind had been somewhere else, lost in the mess of emotions inside me.

He opened the door of the SUV for me, and I slipped into the backseat, sinking into the leather seats as he closed the door behind me. The familiar hum of the car’s engine began as we pulled away from Bastian’s penthouse. I leaned my head against the window, watching the city lights flash by, turning into streaks as we drove through the streets of New York.

The car ride always reminded me of how comforting home had once been. My dad’s brownstone townhouse in Queens had been my sanctuary for years. The living room was filled with family photos, soft polish Italian furnitures that changes for new set every month, and the smell of fresh coffee.

My phone buzzed, pulling me out of my thoughts. I looked down at the screen. It was my mom. I stared at her name for a moment, the memories of everything that had happened between us rushing back once again. I didn’t want to deal with her right now, so I ignored the call, letting it go to voicemail.

A few seconds later, a message came through. I hesitated before opening it, knowing exactly what to expect.

“You’re being childish, Lilith. Answer my calls. You’re acting like a spoiled brat. Stop ignoring me and grow up.”

The words hit me hard. There wasn’t a single word of apology in her message. She didn’t even feel sorry for what she had done. My chest tightened as I realized how far things had gone with her. She didn’t care about my feelings. She never did.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I reread the message. How could she not see how much she had hurt me? My mother, the mighty Beatrice Hale, never says sorry. She didn’t regret any of it. The betrayal from her felt even worse now.

She had always been that way. I wasn’t surprised. After all, she abandoned Dad and me to pursue her political career. My dad was a great husband and father. In my eyes, our life was perfect, but my mom wanted to run for a seat in the Senate. She moved to Los Angeles, and her career took off. She won, and we lost her.

I was happy for her and even tried to understand her situation, believing she couldn’t control how things turned out. I always made excuses for her. Her calling me now wasn’t because she cared about me; she was just worried I might ruin her perfect career.

The tears came fast, and I couldn’t hold them back. I cried silently, my body shaking as I sat in the backseat of the car. My driver didn’t say anything, but I could feel his worried glances in the rearview mirror. I didn’t care though. I needed to let this out.

The ride felt long, and I cried the entire way, my heart aching with every sob. By the time we reached my father’s house in Queens, I felt completely drained. The car came to a stop in front of the familiar neighborhood. I wiped my tears quickly, trying to pull myself together before stepping out.

As soon as I got out of the car, I saw my dad standing on the porch, worry creases all over his face. He hurried over to me.

“Lilith, are you alright?” he asked, his voice filled with concern. “I’ve been calling you. I was worried something happened.”

I forced a small smile, trying to calm him down. “I’m fine, Dad. I’m sorry I didn’t pick up. You don’t have to worry about me.”

He didn’t seem convinced, but he didn’t push me. He placed a hand on my shoulder and led me inside. “Come on, let’s get you inside.”

Once we were inside, I sat down on the couch, and he sat next to me, still watching me closely. I knew he wanted to ask what had happened, but I wasn’t ready to talk about it.

After a long pause, I finally spoke. “Dad, I’ve been thinking... I want to get my own apartment.”

His face fell, and he frowned. “Why? You just got back. What’s wrong with staying here with me? This is your home.”

I sighed, knowing this conversation was coming. “I know, Dad. But I’m not a child anymore. I need to grow. I need to figure things out on my own.”

He shook his head, looking disappointed. “I don’t understand why you feel like you have to leave. You’re my daughter, and I want you here with me. You’re planning to leave me already?”

I smiled softly, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m not going out of the city, Dad. I’ll still be around.”

He gave me a sad look, clearly not wanting me to leave. “I miss you, Lilith. Can’t you stay a little longer?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but just as I was about to answer him, my phone buzzed again.