All Chapters of MY FIRST LOVE: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

** Ghosts of Old Love 2**Lillian sat there for a long moment after her mom went back to cooking, staring down at her phone as the image of Luke and his fiancée burned into her mind. The more she looked at the picture, the more her feelings twisted inside her. She could still hear his laugh, still remember the way they’d spend hours talking about everything and nothing, making plans they both believed would last forever.She knew she wasn’t still in love with him. Those feelings had faded a long time ago, especially after everything her family had been through. But that didn’t stop the sting of seeing him with someone else. The life they’d dreamed of was no longer hers to share, and she couldn’t help but feel like she had been left behind, watching from the sidelines while everyone else moved forward.She scrolled through a few more photos, her stomach churning with every post about the wedding. The comments from their old friends were filled with congratulations, wishes for happiness

** A New Path**Lillian stared at the acceptance letter in her hands, her heart pounding in her chest. She had been holding her breath for what felt like hours, the envelope now torn open, the words blurring slightly as she read them again and again.**Congratulations! We are pleased to offer you admission to the University of Brighton.**She let out a shaky breath, a mixture of disbelief and excitement swirling inside her. She had applied to the University of Brighton on a whim, encouraged by Claire and Ethan to start thinking about her future. At the time, it felt like just another step in moving forward, a distant possibility that didn’t feel real. But now, as she held the acceptance letter in her hands, it hit her: her future was no longer some abstract concept—it was here. Tangible. Real."Lil, are you okay?" Ethan’s voice broke through her thoughts, pulling her back to the present. He was standing in the doorway of the kitchen, watching her with concern. "You’ve been staring at

** The Unwelcome Reunion**The air in the house felt tense, like a storm cloud hovering just overhead. Claire was in the kitchen, washing dishes that didn’t really need washing, her hands moving mechanically as her thoughts churned. Ethan paced in the living room, his face lined with worry, and Lillian sat at the kitchen table, staring at her untouched cup of tea. The weight of their impending decision pressed down on all of them.The private investigator’s visit had shaken everything up. David—Ethan’s estranged brother—had resurfaced, offering help at a time when they had finally started to find stability. But the timing felt off, too coincidental, and none of them knew whether they could trust him. After years of running, betrayal, and rebuilding, the last thing they needed was another wrench thrown into their fragile peace.“I think we should meet him,” Claire said suddenly, breaking the silence. Her voice was calm but carried a sense of urgency. “If he really can help us, we need

** Uncertain Meetings**Lillian’s heart raced as she parked her car outside the small café where she was supposed to meet Luke. She hadn’t seen him in months, not since she’d stumbled upon his engagement announcement online. After everything that had happened, their lives had diverged so drastically, and she hadn’t expected him to reach out—especially not now, with so much chaos swirling around her.The café was quiet, the midday lull leaving only a handful of customers inside. Lillian hesitated before stepping out of her car, wondering if meeting Luke was the right decision. Part of her wanted to turn around, to avoid reopening a chapter of her life that she had tried so hard to close. But there was something in Luke’s message from last night that had unsettled her—a sense of urgency, of something unspoken.Taking a deep breath, Lillian stepped inside the café, the familiar scent of coffee filling the air. Her eyes scanned the room until she spotted Luke sitting at a corner table, hi

**Beneath the Surface**The drive back to the house was eerily silent. Lillian’s thoughts spiraled as the words David had spoken echoed in her mind: **Someone higher than Derrick. Someone who’s been watching your family for years.**The weight of it all made her chest tight. They had been running from Derrick for so long, convinced that he was the one orchestrating their misery. But now? Now there was an even greater threat lurking in the shadows, and worse—whoever it was, they thought the family had something valuable. Something worth all this pursuit, all the pain, and fear.Lillian’s knuckles turned white as she gripped the steering wheel. Her phone buzzed on the seat beside her, snapping her back to the present. She glanced down. It was Claire.**"Are you okay? Come home soon."**Lillian quickly typed back, **“On my way.”** But the truth was, she wasn’t sure if "okay" was something she’d ever feel again. Not with the revelation that there was another player involved, someone even