hapter 20 Everyone Had Their Secrets
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Lilith didn’t have time to dwell on the odd timing of the event. She wasn’t in a position to question it anyway. Since it was Winona’s birthday, it was clear that she had approved of the arrangements. If the birthday girl was content, who was Lilith to object?
Gift in hand, Lilith rushed up to the third floor, her steps light and quick.
Along the way, many people paused to wish Winona a happy birthday, offering their congratulations. Winona responded in. her usual soft, pleasant tone, her face always lit up by that sweet, flawless smile that no one could fault.
It wasn’t until the crowd thinned out that Lilith finally stepped forward and placed her gift in front of Winona.
Winona’s expression faltered momentarily. Her gaze grew distant, and she looked at Lilith with a coldness that was almost palpable.
She didn’t reach for the gift, leaving Lilith’s hand hanging in the air.
Though her gesture was met with indifference, Lilith wasn’t angry. Despite Winona’s aloofness, Lilith still saw her as the Jclingy, eager child who used to chase after her, insisting on staying by her side forever.
This thought helped Lilith keep her composure, her heart filled with patience. She gently pressed the gift into Winona’s hand.
Winona remained silent, her eyes briefly drifting downwards. For a fleeting moment, Lilith saw a sharp, icy look as Winona’s gaze seemed to fixate on her wrist. But just as quickly, the emotion vanished, and Winona’s face returned to its usual, unreadable expression, as if she hadn’t been looking at Lilith at all.
In that instant, Lilith realized what had triggered the shift. The rain had been so heavy that it soaked through the band–aid on her wrist, revealing an old scar. The redness of it was just visible.
Quickly, Lilith turned her wrist, showing only the back of her hand, and gave Winona a warm, accepting smile.
“Happy birthday, Winona. Smile more–it’s your special day. You should be happy today.”
Winona’s expression darkened, and she studied Lilith for several seconds before responding in a stiff voice, “I’m not a kid anymore.”
I know you’re not, Lilith thought to herself, glancing down at her feet. If you were still a child, you’d be running into my arms to thank me for the gift, not staring at me like we’re in the middle of an interrogation. There are no sweet words left between us anymore.
After offering one last birthday wish, Lilith turned to leave.
She began her descent down the stairs, intending to continue moving toward the lower levels. Just as she reached the second floor, ready to head down further, a sharp voice cut through the air.
“Stop.”
The voice was clear, cold, and unmistakable. Lilith kept walking, but after a few more steps, the voice called out again, more forcefully.
“Didn’t you hear me?”
The voice felt both familiar and distant. Lilith realized she had heard it clearly but hadn’t expected it to be directed at her.
With a stiff movement, she turned around to see Garrick standing there, his expression as emotionless as ever. His eyes were calm and distant, appraising her without any trace of warmth.
“Garrick,” Lilith whispered his name softly, finally understanding why the voice had felt so strange. Family voices should be the most familiar, but she hadn’t heard Garrick speak to her like that in so long that it now felt as if she were hearing the voice of a stranger.
Garrick had clearly called out to her first, but as soon as Lilith responded, he fell silent. Resting his hand on the railing of the second floor, he pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it.
9:28 PM
Chapter 20 Everyone Had Their Secrets
Lilith, uncertain if he was about to say something, stood still, her head lowered, waiting quietly.
+8 Pearls
Time seemed to stretch, and after what felt like an eternity, surrounded by the swirling smoke, Garrick finally spoke again, “Why do you always look like that?”
Lilith blinked, unsure of what he meant. She had been deliberately keeping her head down, trying to avoid causing any trouble in the house. She hesitated, then asked, “Look … like what?”
It was clear that Garrick didn’t care to explain further. Instead, he continued, “No one owes you anything.”
He exhaled a thin cloud of smoke, his tone bitter as he repeated, “No one.”
If that’s truly the issue, then why did he bother to call me? He could have simply ignored me, pretending he hadn’t seen me at all.
I don’t know what’s his problem.
“I never thought anyone owed me anything,” Lilith said, her voice calm and composed. “I have books to read, a place to stay, and my basic needs are taken care of. I’m already better off than many people. If there’s someone or something I have a problem with, it’s fate–fate brought me here and turned me into this person, this version of myself that no one likes. There’s nothing I can do about it.”
Her voice grew steadier as she spoke, her eyes firm as she lifted her chin.
“If you really hate me that much, then just keep ignoring me like you always have. You don’t have to acknowledge me at all. Treat me like an ant, like you’ve always done. You’ve always been so good at that.”
When she finished, Garrick’s hand trembled ever so slightly. The ash from his cigarette fell in small, scattered flakes, as if his patience were burning out.
Lilith didn’t wait for him to respond. She turned and walked away, making it clear that the conversation was over. As she rounded the corner, she paused once out of sight, leaning against the wall and taking slow, steady breaths.
To be honest, she felt a bit shaken. This was the first time she’d spoken so much to Garrick, and the exchange had felt sharp and harsh, almost like they were enemies instead of family.
She pressed her hand against her chest, trying to calm her racing heart. She reminded herself firmly, Garrick started this. If anyone’s at fault, it’s him. This has nothing to do with me.
She nodded to herself, reassuring her own thoughts.
Outside, the rain had begun to lighten, with only occasional drops still falling from the roof. The air was thick with the heat left behind by the rain, and in the distance, the wind howled violently, followed by the sound of crashing waves.
Several cigarette butts had piled up on the ground. Through the mist, a face suddenly appeared.
“Garrick.” Winona’s voice was sweet, like a flower kissed by dew, and her smile was soft and inviting. She had been watching him for some time before she spoke, her lips still curled in that gentle, sweet smile.
“No one ever told you that it’s best not to say anything out of place on someone’s birthday?” She paused, her gaze lingering at the end of the hallway for just a moment before returning to Garrick. Her voice was calm, but there was now an unmistakable edge to it. “I don’t tolerate people I don’t like.”
Garrick snuffed out his cigarette on the railing. The atmosphere around him cleared, but Winona’s face twisted into something unreadable–her smile still present, but her eyes turned cold, as if sinking into an abyss. She didn’t look like a 14- year–old girl. Her maturity was unnerving, her indifference unsettling–she seemed far too old for her age.
But Garrick wasn’t surprised. He knew that Winona had never been warm or welcoming to anyone.
Even with Adrian and Catiana, she kept her distance. Ever since she was seven–more specifically, after the glass had shattered–Winona had withdrawn from everyone, withholding her warmth and affection.
No one truly understood what Winona was thinking, but Garrick didn’t feel the need to try. There was no point in wasting energy on it–he knew well enough that everyone had their secrets.
Ignoring the conversation they had just had, Garrick said, “The gift I got you has been delivered to your room. Happy
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Chapter 20 Everyone Had Their Secrets
birthday. I’m leaving now.”
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It was almost 11:00 PM. Lilith had finally calmed herself and reached the place where she and Liana had agreed to spend the rest of her birthday.
Send Gifts
