Chapter Thirteen: A Big Problem

In less than an hour, Lily and Christopher were already flying out of Miami. 

“Did you enjoy your seat?” Matilda tried to be friendly when they entered the plane.

Lily intended to be friendly to her, but from the corner of her eyes, she noticed Christopher was watching her, and he was boiling with anger, and for the life of her, she could not understand why he was so upset. This wasn’t a proper honeymoon, and Christopher did not even step out of the hotel the entire time, and Lily could not fathom why that was so. So Lily only nodded slightly, and when Matilda realized that Lily wouldn’t be paying her any mind, she left feeling embarrassed. Lily was sincerely sorry to have treated a harmless and friendly person, but there was nothing else that she could do. 

Lily decided to forget about her and concentrate on what Christopher had told her.

“Be prepared to feed the media and paparazzi…”

Lily was already exhausted from living Ashley’s life, and now she wondered what she was supposed to be doing. Christopher did not explain anything to her, and Lily wished that there was someone who could explain everything to her. When Lily had told Christopher that she wanted to return to Mexico, she already planned to visit Don Grander and Emily Torres to inform them about this Hedge blackmailer guy, although she wasn’t still sure whether or not they knew about it. Lily shook her heead; Ashley Grander was a very wild girl, and Lily felt as though she would never be able to fit in or be exactly like Ashley no matter how hard she tried.

One year seemed like a decade to Lily to live the life of someone else. Lily saddened at the thought, but Lily had no choice. In fact, instead of dealing with her predicament, Lily decided to sleep off, just like she had done on their way back. Christopher was still glaring at Lily, and she could feel the hatred of his stare on Lily’skin. He wasn’t engrossed with receiving work calls, which gave him too much time to glare at Lily without bothering to hide how he felt.

Lily rested her head, and in no time, began to sleep.

Later, Lily was woken up. Christopher was still looking at Lily, but not with that much venom anymore, or for now.

“We are here,” Christopher told Lily.

Then much to Lily’s surprise and initial confusion, Christopher took hold of her hand in his as they stepped out of the plane and exited the airport.

“There are dozens of media personalities outside, along with the paparazzi. They will be expecting a madly in love and sweet couple to come out, and if you don’t give them what they want, they are going to feast on you,” Christopher informed Lily as they slowly walked out.

“I’m sure I don’t need to inform you to smile and act all loved up, right?” Christopher asked and Lily nodded in agreement.

Not that she had a chance anyway.

True to Christopher’s words, they were met with a frenzy of eager gossipers all wanting to get shots of the latest couple arriving back in town. Instinctively, Lily’s first reaction was to protect her eyes from the blinding lights of her cameras, but Christopher bent slightly and whispered in her ears.

“Don’t mess this up.”

Apparently, their presence must mean something to Christopher, because for someone who detested scandals, he sure gave room for it.

“Welcome back, Mr. And Mrs. Bridger!” They said eagerly while sending shots of camera their way.

Lily noticed that Christopher was smiling! It was a tight smile that did not reach his eyes, but he was smiling. Since Lily got married to him, she hadn’t seen him smiling, and now, he was freaking smiling. Lily turned to the camera and flashed her brightest smile at them.

“Your honeymoon was too short. Mr. Bridger, do you mind telling us why that is?” Some of them asked.

Then they began to throw personal and triggering questions towards Christopher and Lily, and that was when Christopher had decided that they had had enough. With the help of his bodyguards, they were shoved aside, making way for Lily and Christopher to get to their car.

“Drive me to the office, then you can take her home,” Christopher to his driver.

When they arrived at his empire, Lily’s mouth had literally dropped open at the sight of the magnificent and gigantic building. It was the tallest and biggest building that she had ever seen. Granted, Lily had heard that Christopher Bridger was the richest young man in the city, but never did Lily imagine such wealth and power.

Christopher, before getting out of the car, turned to Lily and said, “We have a welcome party tonight, so do whatever the heck you want, and I’ll see you in about two hours,” and then he was gone.

Lily exhaled. 

Then she told the driver to take her to Don Grander’s mansion. The good thing is that she would not be suspected for stopping by; they were her parents after all. 

Lily’s heart began to pound heavily as they neared the Grander’s mansion, and she found herself fighting against nervousness. The house brought dread and a scary feeling in Lily, because that was the house that became the genesis of her woes.

Breathing in and out, Lily got out of the car and proceeded into the house. In the living room, Emily Torres say like a trophy wife, sipping on a glass of expensive wine.

“Well well, look who has decided to pay daddy and stepmom a curtsesy visit,” Emily’s words slurred. “Your pictures are already swimming the internet, although I would have preferred that you smiled like the daughter of whom you are, and not some wretched peasant,” Emily said.

The words hit Lily in all the wrong places, but that was not why she had come.

“I need to see Don Grander,” Lily said tightly.

“He is out for a silly golf game. Right now, I am in charge,” Emily stated firmly. “So what it is?”

Lily decided to talk regardless. “A big problem has come up.”