Bab 16: Reunited
With my hands on my hips, I scanned my practically empty walk-in closet.
It seemed that someone had decided that I needed a new wardrobe, and they were right.
I was no longer the naive young woman who had left Durfort Manor three years ago. My tastes have changed, just as I have.
Even in my preference in clothing, my innocence was clearly gone. I knew that if they had kept everything I used to own in my closet, I would not wear any of them.
"I hope Lex at least donated them," I grumbled as I took a mental note of what I needed to buy.
Shoes.
Dresses.
Blouses.
Even my preference in pant styles was different now.
"Jewelry," I sighed, saying it out loud.
I knew that I couldn't attend an event with Alexander without any, there were certain expectations of Alexander's fiancée and the Durfort Heir, and I had no plans of falling short. As much as I didn't want to flaunt my wealth, I loved the shine of gold and the sparkle of diamonds.
A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.
"You have guests," Lex said as he pushed the door open wider without even waiting for me to invite him in.
"Privacy, Lex, I see you haven't learned about it in the three years I was gone," I grumbled.
My anger over Lex's intrusion was short-lived, however, as Jade and Riley came into view.
"You're here!" Jade squealed as she pushed past Lex and ran over to give me a hug.
"Welcome back, Lilith," Riley said as she pulled me away from Jade and gave me a hug as well.
"Grandpa won't mind you using your card to shop," Lex called from the threshold to my room. "Your closet is empty, time to fill it up."
"I won't need Grandpa's card," I said with a grin as I held up Alexander's.
Riley chuckled when she realized what was in my hand.
"I wonder how much would be too much for Alexander," I told my cousin who simply shook his head and closed the door behind him as he left us alone.
Taking a step back I gave the two women in front of me a smile before finally breaking down in tears.
I would have fallen to the ground if Jade and Riley hadn't caught me and helped me sit on the bed.
"Oh Lilith," Jade said as she gently rubbed my back comforting me.
"How could you stand being around me after I abandoned you the way I did," I cried out.
Normally I would be stronger than this, normally I would stick it out and not show my vulnerability, but this was Jade and Riley, my best friends.
"Because you are our best friend and you were in love," Riley shrugged. "And now you're back and we're more than happy that you are home."
"Yup!" Jade nodded in agreement, popping the last letter, making me smile. "Okay, now tell us everything from how you fell out of love and how you ended up leaving that cunt of an ex of yours."
I couldn't help but giggle at Jade's use of such a vulgar word. She's always been the most innocent and proper among us. Could be the Asian genes too but she always looked like she was at least five years younger than us.
"We've grown up too, you know," Riley said, laughing as she noticed my surprise.
"I'm sure you have," I said, rolling my eyes.
"Details, now," Riley demanded, to which I simply sighed.
Where should I start? I wondered. There was so much I wanted to tell them I just didn't know where to begin.
"I thought I loved him, no I probably did, you know how I met him and he swept me off of my feet," I told them, recounting what it had been like before I left.
"Yeah, enough to forget about my cousin," Riley said, clearly not happy that I had left Alexander that first time.
I didn't fully understand her reaction though, Alexander was the one who didn't like me, he only tolerated me because of our families. I never hurt Alexander, instead, I had set him free, and I was certain he enjoyed those years thoroughly.
I had seen the news.
I knew that Alexander had been seen with a new woman at every event. If she told me that he didn't enjoy that freedom, then my friend was lying for my sake.
"Anyway," I said, brushing off her comment, earning a concerned look from Jade. "His sister, Janet, she's quite sick, it was because I was a match with her that I met him. He said I was their angel, that I'd saved his sister, and that I continued to save her by being there for her always."
"What did he mean that you were there for her always?" Jade asked as she squinted her almond-shaped black eyes.
"It was just my blood at one point that she needed, we share the same rare blood type, so I would have to donate around once or twice a week," I confessed looking down at my hands.
I heard Jade and Riley gasp, I knew what they were thinking.
"Is that even—" Jade couldn't even complete her question as she began to sob.
"No, it's not, it's not healthy and I felt the effects," I sighed. "I knew it wasn't good for me, but I loved him and what was I supposed to do, let her die?"
"You're too kind, Lilith," Riley said as she pulled me into her arms and gave me a tight hug.
"I'm not, I knew she was sick and still I walked away," I said as I felt the guilt eat me up one more.
Riley shook her head and looked me in the eyes, "No, there are other donors, there are other people that will match. Your ex and his family abused you."
"It wasn't just blood though, at least it didn't end with blood," I confessed. "She needed a bone marrow transplant and I didn't hesitate, we were a match, so why wouldn't I. Then it got worse."
I began to cry as I leaned my head on Riley's shoulder.
"They said she needed more parts, the transplants were already set, I agreed, but then Jason became demanding," I cried as I spoke, allowing myself to truly feel for the first time since I left the Young family. "He got mad when I was late to a donation, he called me heartless when the doctors refused to take more blood from me, he— he—"
I couldn't speak.
I didn't want to speak.
It was all too painful, all too real speaking to them about this.
"Did he physically hurt you?" Riley said, her tone dripping with poison.
"No, never, but some scars can't be seen," I sighed as I finally lifted my head and pulled away. "Some are seared into your soul."
We sat in silence as Riley held me and Jade gently stroked my back, giving me time to process what I was feeling and what I was letting myself feel.
I have no idea how long we sat in silence, but it was Jade who spoke first.
"I'm glad you chose to leave," she said.
I smiled at her and nodded.
"And now I'm back and I need your help in emptying my fiancée's bank account," I giggled as I tapped on the card I hadn't let go of.
Hadiah
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