Chapter 02: Unexpected Twist

Lily's POV.

I stepped out of the car sluggishly. A lot has happened today. I just wanna go into my room, take a shower and sleep. I have so much to do and little time to do it.

"Welcome, ma'am." Greeted one of the housekeepers and hurried towards me to get the stuff I was holding. I nodded to her greetings and began to look around, there were so many cars parked around the house.

Yeah, we have many cars, lots of cars because my family is very wealthy, my father is a Mafia boss and I do not like him. I despised him for the way he treated my mother and me. He saw me as a burden, a waste of space, but he couldn't dispose of me easily since I was his only child, and he couldn't have another due to undisclosed health issues. Despite being his daughter, I was invisible to him.

I planned to finish school as soon as possible, secure a job, and escape from this hellish house with my momma.

"Lisa?" I called out as we approached the house. There was an unusual silence from her today, which was unlike her. Lisa was usually a chatterbox.

"Yes, mistress," she replied quietly.

"What's wrong with you, and why are there so many cars? Is Papa having one of his meetings again?" I inquired, however, I noticed a change in Lisa as she sniffled and shook her head negatively in response.

I came to a halt, and she stopped walking as well. "Lisa, look at me," I commanded, but she remained motionless. "I'm talking to you, Lisa. Lift your head up," I ordered, and she obeyed, revealing tear-filled eyes. My brows furrowed with concern.

"What's wrong, Lisa? Did Papa do something to Mom again?" I asked, my voice tinged with worry. Her response was immediate, as she burst into tears.

Seeing her reaction, panic gripped my heart, causing it to skip several beats. I knew she wouldn't answer any more questions in her state; Lisa was a sensitive person. Without wasting a moment, I sprinted the rest of the way until I reached the door, only to be met with a room full of eyes.

I froze in place, my body stiffening as I took in the sight of numerous people gathered in our spacious living room, all dressed in black. "Mom!" I screamed inwardly, my mind racing with fear. Had my father finally succeeded in hurting her...or worse? No, no, this couldn't be happening!

Unable to move or speak, I felt paralyzed by the gaze of the guests, their pitying expressions adding to my suspicion. A distant female voice called out my name, and I turned to see one of my aunts approaching me, her smile mixed with sadness.

I remained rooted to the spot. Despite my desperate desire to ask questions, my voice failed me. I simply couldn't bring myself to speak, to inquire about the situation. Instead, I felt a hand gently pulling me away from my spot, and I followed without even glancing back to see who it was or where we were going.

My mother had been forced into marriage with my father due to some silly rules within the Mafia. According to her, there had been a flicker of love from him initially, but everything changed after I was born. My father had expected a son who would inherit his criminal empire, but I had come into the world instead. Things had worsened when my father was involved in an accident that left him with reproductive complications.

My mother became a victim of abuse, a punching bag, and I was subjected to a life filled with misery and curses. My only plan had been to finish school, secure a decent job, and create a new life for the two of us. But now... Oh God!

"Lily..." a familiar voice called, causing me to immediately turn in its direction. Tears blurred my vision as I spotted my mother. "Mom!" I called out, rushing into her embrace and shedding tears of relief.

"Thank God you're okay, Mom. I thought... Oh God forbid!" I uttered with a mixture of laughter and tears, holding onto her tightly.

"Lily... Your father," my mother sobbed out the words, causing me to withdraw from her. It was then that I noticed the disheveled state she was in...her eyes red and puffy, her hair unkempt and dried tears streaking her face.

Raising an eyebrow, I scanned the room, realizing that many of our family members were present, all wearing somber expressions. I turned back to my mother, my voice trembling. "What's going on, Mother?" I asked.

"Your father... He's dead," she broke the news, and a surge of jubilation welled up within me.

"Ohhh..." was all that escaped my lips.

I knew it may sound callous, but after enduring a lifetime of abuse from a father who had never shown me an ounce of love, that was my genuine reaction. It's a miracle I'm not jumping and singing.

For the past twenty years of my life, all I've experienced was pain and torment from him... It's not such bad news that he's dead.

"Lily!" My mother called, shaking me and I looked at her.

"I'm so sorry, Mother. That's such terrible news," I mused, forcing myself to feign sympathy. In truth, it was the best news I had received in a long time.

"I know... How could he just die like that!" she wailed, dropping onto the bed and succumbing to tears once again.

I sat beside her, gently petting her back. Despite my annoyance at her crying, I played the role of the supportive daughter. But deep down, I knew I would never shed a tear for that monster.

After a few minutes in that position, someone cleared their throat, and I turned my attention in their direction. Rolling my eyes, I saw it was Grandma—a caster of bad news. She had always supported her son's evil ways.

"Your attention, please..." she began, and I couldn't help but anticipate the rubbish that would spill from her mouth. Nothing good ever came from her.

"We have all suffered a tremendous loss today, an irreplaceable part of our family. However, life goes on. I would like to announce my late son's wish concerning his daughter before we proceed with the funeral arrangements," she said firmly, her gaze fixed on me.

I couldn't help but wonder what ludicrous wish my father had made. Did he want me and my mother thrown out?

My mother's crying intensified, and I knew that whatever Grandma was about to reveal would be more than terrible.

"Shut your mouth and let me speak, Hanna!!!" Grandma shouted at my mother, who immediately fell silent.

I despised that old woman.

"Lily, as you know, your father was a mafia lord, and he took his duty seriously, protecting us all..." She paused, slowly pacing around to gain attention.

Stupid old hag.

"You are a girl, and your father deemed you unworthy of inheriting the mafia. Therefore, he betrothed you to Draco, the heir of the Dark Raven mafia. He will marry you and take over our operations," she announced, and my mother broke into another round of wailing.

"What...?!" I exclaimed in a hushed tone, unable to contain my shock. "That's not possible! I'm just twenty... I haven't even turned adult yet!" I shouted incredulously, my hands clenching the bedsheet tightly.

"That is not our concern. We will do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of our mafia, and right now, you are the only one who can secure it," one of my uncles asserted, and hot tears streamed down my face as I turned to look at my mother.

She averted her gaze, muttering, "I am sorry, child."

Oh, she knew... she knew about everything. "God! What is wrong with you people? You can't do this to me!" I screamed, standing up to face Grandma. "You can't do this to me! I'm still in school! Please, Grandma, don't do this," I pleaded, dropping to the floor in desperation.

"Don't bother pleading, Lily. Your fate is now entangled with Draco. Get ready. You will be leaving for your husband's house immediately after your father's burial," Grandma declared coldly, and my chest constricted painfully.

Why is fate so vicious to me?