Chapter 2: Don’t Leave [1691 WC]

 

Lily

The feeling of having everything in place feels more than happiness. Being an excellent college student who almost had everything in life, from a single mother and a college dropout out was the biggest slump in my life I couldn’t regret.

It felt like all of my dreams had vanished in a snap I couldn’t even process everything at the moment. I could still vividly remember every single thing like a fresh memory from yesterday.

My heart was pounding along with my intertwined sweaty hands as I  continued on praying inside my head.

Though I knew I had done everything for this, I was still nervous because I couldn’t afford to fail.

“And we have Lily Miller, as the top student of this class.” My professor’s announcement rang through my ears again and again as my worries were replaced by relief.

I couldn’t contain my happiness and as soon as my eyes found Wade leaning by the railing of the stairs, waiting outside my classroom, I rushed and wrapped my arms around his neck tightly.

“Woah,” he chuckled, sliding his hands on my waist. “My baby’s happy.”

I pulled out the hug, placing both of my hands on his shoulders as I excitedly gushed, “I passed! I even made it as the top student in our class!”

He was smiling proudly as I smiled widely. “Just like what I’ve told you, right? You’re gonna make it and I’ll always be here for you.”

His fingers made their way onto my face, lifting it by holding my chin up before his lips reached mine. My eyes lit up in shock and I was taken aback as my cheeks burned in heat.

“This needs to be celebrated,” Wade whispered through my left ear before he pulled me with him.

The next day, everything seemed like a normal day at college until I had to go home by myself as Wade still had classes to attend. At the same time, I need to prepare a presentation for tomorrow.

While walking back home, two men suddenly blocked my way.

“I finally found you! A liar and a swindler!”

“Give us our money back!”

I was taken aback by the sudden anger audible in their baritone voices, pushing me to take a step back in fear.

“P-please, calm down,” I utter, but pointless when they kept on yelling.

“We will fucking sue you if you won’t us right now!” one of them stepped forward to reach my place, but I immediately put my hands in the air as a sign of surrender.

“Do you think we can’t recognize you after changing your hair color, huh?”

My face went pale when the other one hastily grabbed me by my wrist. “We will report you to the police and we’ll you behind those bars—”

“Sirs, you’re probably mistaken. I-I never owe anyone money,” I mumbled, trembling.

“Oh come on! You’re Lily Miller, aren’t you?! You cannot fool us again!”

My heart jumped in surprise when he exactly mentioned my name.

People began encircling around us and the place was becoming crowded. Everyone’s eyes were on me as they whispered to each other, looking at me disdainfully.

With tears looming in my eyes, I forcibly drew my wrist back from the man’s grip and ran as fast as I could.

Those men knew my exact full name, and he even mentioned that I’d changed my hair color, wherein I’ve had long jet-black hair since before.

He must have pertaining to Lauren, my identical twin sister whom I haven’t seen for a very long time now. But why would she borrow money from people and pretend to be me?

Days had passed and everything just went harder and chaotic. I go to school early in the morning and get back by my dorm late at night just to make sure no one gets to see me again and end up forcing me to pay their money back.

One usual night, I was walking to the door of my dorm when I found two baskets right in front of my doorstep.

I looked down to see what it was and I immediately froze on my place upon seeing two babies inside the baskets.

They began crying, giving me no other choice but to bring them inside.

My heart was thumping as I walked back and forth having no idea what to do until my eyes landed on a small piece of paper stuck at the handle of one of the baskets.

I grabbed it and read what was written, “Please take care of them for me, Lily.”

Before the message sank into me, my cellphone began to beep countless times. Catching my attention, I opened it only to see death threat messages from I’m sure the people Lauren had borrowed money from.

With many thoughts lingering on my mind, I am only certain of one thing. Leaving all of this mess behind me would be my best option. But leaving these babies is something I wouldn’t certainly do.

The rapid and loud knock outside the door interrupts me. I walked up to the door and peeked at the peephole to see who it was only to see the same two men who were asking for money last time with three other men wearing police uniforms with them.

“Lily Miller! Get out of there! We know you’re inside!”

I immediately pulled back, leaning by the door with my eyes fixed on the two babies on the couch.

“We have the police with us! So you better open up this door before we break in and catch you!”

My entire body ran cold as my heart began to thump in fear.

If I were put behind bars, these twins, who were basically my nieces would have no one.

The knocking sound outside subsided and was quickly replaced with a rigid thud.

I didn’t think twice and began packing a few of my things and booked a cab. I have no idea where I am going, but I need to relocate somewhere very far away from this place rather than rot in jail, abandoning the twins.

Using the back door, I ran a couple of meters away from my house to reach the car I booked to take us to the nearest port.

However, almost reaching our destination, my cell phone rang and Wade’s name flashed on the screen.

“I’m outside, baby. I knocked a couple of times, but no response. Are you still sleeping? We’ll be late for school—”

“I…I-I am breaking up w-with you, Wade,” I cut him off.

I just need to break up with him, and he’ll forget about me. It will be easier for him this way.

“Huh? What are you saying, Lily? What’s happening?!”

I swallowed the lump that was building in my throat. “Just don’t ever look for me.”

“Wait! What are you planning on doing?! Please, don’t leave me. I will do everything even if it means twisting the world just to find you, Lily. So don’t you ever think of leaving me.”

“Don’t do things for me because I didn’t love you. I never loved you, Wade.” I could feel my heart wrecking with my own words.

Pure silence filled the line between us, and when I heard him sigh on the other line, I immediately hung up and threw my cell phone through the window of the cab.

It was enough for me to know that he clearly heard what I said so that he’d have a reason to never look for me again.

With a heavy heart, I arrived at the port with hesitation just hitting me. Wade’s pleading voice kept on echoing in my ears, and I thought of coming back, but I knew it was too late.

I decided to get a ticket suitable for my money left, and it brought me to Pennsylvania.

“Excuse me, can you please tell me where I could ride a taxi? I’m new here, so…”

However, instead of answering, the man in front of me just stared right into my eyes as if he were peeking into my soul.

“Uhm, you perhaps didn’t also know where, right?” I awkwardly chuckled and was about to turn away when I felt his palm on my elbow.

“I’m sorry, I just had to confirm if my senses were right,” he announced before he leaned in and whispered, “You’re not mortal are you?”

I simply nodded in response.

“So you’re a lone she-wolf?” he asked. “And with babies?” he added, looking back at the bench where I left the babies.

“Uh, kind of like that.”

“Then I think we came across each other at the right time. The Pack I’m currently residing in lacks members.”

Moving to a new place away and joining a Pack wasn’t entirely part of my plan, but I had to think wisely. I have put to the twins' safety and their future rather than my wants first.

Hence Aiden didn’t let me down. He brought and took care of us into our new home, and I will forever be grateful for him.

Hot tears began to flow down my cheeks with my eyes fixed on the ground.

“Lily! What the hell is wrong with you?! I just told you to serve those drinks on that table!”

Quickly wiping my tears away, I attended to my manager’s command and grabbed the drinks to serve the customers.

I greeted them, placing down their orders. But I was so close to them that I  overheard their conversation.

“Have you watched the news yesterday? Business tycoon Wade Johnson’s coming here!” one of the ladies, shrieked.

“He’s known to be engaged in a land enclosure movement. So him coming here isn’t actually a good thing.”

No matter how badly I wanted to turn and walk away, there’s also a part of me that still wants to hear about him.

“But there are rumors ongoing that his true reason for coming here and buying every land at Milford isn’t simply because of his business!” the lady leaned into the other and muttered, “I’ve heard that he’s looking for someone.”