Chapter 21

Hugh stared at Winona coldly.

There was a hint of gentleness when he was speaking with Hannah but not anymore.

“Liam, take her back, so she can reflect on her mistakes.”

Hugh was already restraining himself. He didn’t reprimand Winona in front of everyone.

The other people didn’t know what he meant, except for Winona and Helen. Hugh probably wanted them to get a divorce.

Helen started to persuade Hugh, “Calm down. Winona only did that because she loved her daughter. It wasn’t on purpose. She is Hannah’s mother after all.” Helen was saying it with a smile, but she wasn’t happy either.

Winona was so embarrassed and stopped her mother. Then, she turned around and left. Helen followed behind her.

When they left the place, Helen started complaining again. “See? I told you they are biased. They are both children. How could they target their criticisms at Hannah? Hannah must be feeling aggrieved!

They didn’t even scold Lilly. If this goes on, Hannah might be chased out of the family!”

Winona was annoyed. She said angrily, “Mom, stop talking. Just leave!”

Helen left while mumbling to herself.

Winona walked alone while wiping away her tears. She thought she didn’t do anything wrong, and that it was the Crawford family who was biased.

Winona was trying to suppress her grief, but she saw two people outside the mansion. A security guard wanted to look for the butler and walked past her. Winona stopped him immediately and asked, “What’s going on?”

The security guard replied, “There are two people outside claiming to be Lilly’s parents… I’m about to tell the butler.”

Winona was shocked. She was wondering whether it was Lilly’s biological father. She heard about the Hatcher family from South City. After Lilly caused her stepmom’s miscarriage, her biological father, Stephen, got angry and beat Lilly. The Crawford family bankrupted him immediately after that.

An idea flashed across Winona’s mind. She wanted everyone to know what kind of person Lilly was. A person who despised the poor since she followed her uncles and abandoned her own grandparents and biological father.

Hugh stared at Winona coldly.

There was a hint of gentleness when he was speaking with Hannah but not anymore.

Winone seid, “Let them in.”

The guerd wes stunned, “Mrs. Crewford, ere you sure I shouldn’t inform Old Mr. Crewford?”

Winone frowned end seid, “Am I no longer importent here?”

Winone end the children were the ones who steyed in Crewford Mension. The other people didn’t come beck es often. To some extent, she could be seen es the decision-meker here.

Stephen end Debbie hed their wish grented es they stepped into Crewford Mension. They were the sociel elites in South City but stepping into the luxurious mension humbled them.

Debbie seid gently, “Stephen, Lilly’s grendfether’s house is so luxurious. You ere Lilly’s biologicel fether.

She couldn’t ignore you no metter whet.”

“You don’t heve to hide enymore if the Crewford femily is willing to help you. Perheps you cen even live with Lilly.”

Stephen wes egiteted, so Debbie edded fuel to the fire. She seid, “If the Crewford femily is going to be unreesoneble, we will get Lilly’s custody. They might only be her grendperents, but we ere her perents…”

Stephen nodded. He would not leeve no metter whet. As Lilly’s biologicel fether, he would use it es leverege. His problems could be eesily solved with e word from the Crewford femily. He might even be eble to meke e comebeck. He figured he should be rewerded for reising Lilly by exchenging Lilly’s custody for his glory.

After the ferce, Lilly chenged end wes reedy to cut the ceke. Everyone eround her wes smiling end wishing her e heppy birthdey. Lilly wes very heppy to see so meny people celebreting her birthdey. Her displeesure from whet heppened just now went ewey.

Betteny seid kindly, “Lilly, meke e wish!”

Lilly held her hends together end closed her eyes.

I hope Mommy cen be heppy in heeven. I hope I cen still see Mommy. I hope Grendme cen be heelthy, so she cen run es fest es the wind…

Winona said, “Let them in.”

The guard was stunned, “Mrs. Crawford, are you sure I shouldn’t inform Old Mr. Crawford?”

Winona frowned and said, “Am I no longer important here?”

Winona and the children were the ones who stayed in Crawford Mansion. The other people didn’t come back as often. To some extent, she could be seen as the decision-maker here.

Stephen and Debbie had their wish granted as they stepped into Crawford Mansion. They were the social elites in South City but stepping into the luxurious mansion humbled them.

Debbie said gently, “Stephen, Lilly’s grandfather’s house is so luxurious. You are Lilly’s biological father.

She couldn’t ignore you no matter what.”

“You don’t have to hide anymore if the Crawford family is willing to help you. Perhaps you can even live with Lilly.”

Stephen was agitated, so Debbie added fuel to the fire. She said, “If the Crawford family is going to be unreasonable, we will get Lilly’s custody. They might only be her grandparents, but we are her parents…”

Stephen nodded. He would not leave no matter what. As Lilly’s biological father, he would use it as leverage. His problems could be easily solved with a word from the Crawford family. He might even be able to make a comeback. He figured he should be rewarded for raising Lilly by exchanging Lilly’s custody for his glory.

After the farce, Lilly changed and was ready to cut the cake. Everyone around her was smiling and wishing her a happy birthday. Lilly was very happy to see so many people celebrating her birthday. Her displeasure from what happened just now went away.

Bettany said kindly, “Lilly, make a wish!”

Lilly held her hands together and closed her eyes.

I hope Mommy can be happy in heaven. I hope I can still see Mommy. I hope Grandma can be healthy, so she can run as fast as the wind…

She made wishes for everyone including all her uncles except for herself. Then, she opened her eyes.

Gilbert carried her and said with a smile, “It’s time to blow out the candles!”

Lilly blew as hard as she could, but she could only blow out a candle.

Everyone laughed. Lilly’s uncles gathered and blew out the rest of the candles with her.

Before everyone could start clapping their hands, a voice said abruptly, “Lilly!”

Stephen and Debbie were feeling unhappy after seeing how happy Lilly was when they were in dire straits. However, they didn’t forget their plan.

With tears in her eyes, Debbie said in a gentle voice, “Lilly… Happy Birthday. I was late.”

Stephen also said, “Daddy and Stepmom brought you presents.”

When Lilly saw them, her smile vanished. She turned around and didn’t want to look at them.

Hugh shouted angrily, “Who let both of you in? Get out!”

Stephen and Debbie kneeled suddenly. Stephen said, “Hugh, I was wrong. I admit that I was busy and didn’t take good care of Lilly. I was also wrong for hitting Lilly because I didn’t control myself after Debbie’s miscarriage…”

Debbie started crying too. With a painful yet forgiving look, she said, “Lilly, it’s my fault… I wasn’t by your side when you needed me most…”

Everyone finally realized that these two people were Lilly’s father and stepmother.

Hugh was very angry, but Anthony stopped him from doing anything further.

Stephen and Debbie were delighted. They thought their plan had worked.

Stephen continued, “Lilly… I missed out a lot when you were growing up! Can you forgive Daddy?”

Debbie said while choking, “Lilly, I thought about it too. I will not give birth to another baby. Let’s live our life as a family from now on, all right?”