Chapter 43
Spoiled (Lily)
Pablo smirked and speechlessly asked, âDid you really stay there and wait the whole time?â
Lilly bobbed her head. âYeah.â
She was a good girl and stood on the boxy bricked floor without wandering off.
Nevertheless, Daddy had forgotten about her in the endâ¦
With the smile on her face fading, Lilly softly asked, âDaddy was trying to get rid of me, right?â
She knew the moment Daddy walked around without looking back that she was ditched.
Daddy did not want her anymore.
She stood there for a long time. Although there were people all around, Lilly had no idea where to go.
Pablo had no words.
Heh⦠Sheâs a fool.
âNext time, just write the person out of your life if they donât want you. Tulip, just keep in mind that the people who abandon you donât deserve forgiveness. He isnât worth your tears.â
Lilly innocently nodded her head, and a smile soon lit her face.
The childâs emotions were like temperamental weather.
Maybe Lilly was stronger than before. She had the love of her uncles and grandparents, so the hurt and pain in the past did not matter anymore.
âMaster, please teach me medicine! I know doctors donât get taken away. They even go on TV.â
Pablo had a facepalm moment. Did everything to her involve getting taken away?
âGo on TV?â He casually remarked.
Lilly immediately imitated an advertisement she had seen on TV.
âAfter careful consideration, I made an unthinkable decision. I plan to reveal the secret of my familyâ¦
âI am the descendant of the miracle healer, the great-grandson of a famous doctor. I hold the key to my single family secret that could heal and cure everything and anything.
âHere I have a drug that does wonders to your headache, toothache, backache, leg ache, indigestion, stomachache, loss of appetite, chesty cough, asthma, kidney failure, and impotence. You name it, I got the drug for it.â
Pablo had no words, to say the least.
Lilly asked, âIsnât it awesome? It was on TV. By the way, whatâs impotence?â
Speechless, Pablo made something up. âImpotence is when you canât get up in the morning.â
Lilly had an aha moment.
She got it. The drug must be an extra something to help people get up in the morning.
âThatâs awesome!â Lilly gave a look of aspiration.
Pablo was at a loss for words.
Whatâs with that look on your face? What do you know?
He remarked, âYeah, right. Do you know these people will be put away too?â
Lilly was dumbstruck.
Huh?
Was this a cause to be locked up too?
What was Pablo trying to teach her? Why was everything a reason to be taken away?
Nevertheless, she was ready to do it⦠for Granny!
Pablo could already tell by the look on her face what was going through her head.
He gave up on explaining further.
âTalking about medicine, the practice goes way backâ¦â Pablo started his lesson.
Lilly listened intently as Pablo blabbered on.
He cocked his head back to find Lilly asleep.
âSnore⦠Snoreâ¦â
Pablo was lost for words.
He was talking to himself the whole time.
Sitting not too far away, Bettany cheerfully took in the scenery and looked at Lilly.
The little sweetheart chatted with the parrot for a long time until she dozed off.
Feeling for the young child, she whispered and got someone to carry Lilly into the tent.
Gilbert tiptoed his way over and asked in disbelief, âIs she asleep?â
The girl had a lot of fun. She was so alive and bubbly a moment ago, and now she was out.
Bettany said with a smile, âShe must be tired from all that running around.â
On the other corner, Hannah was watching the barbecue grill with her father, Liam.
She kept her eyes on the chicken wings the whole time. Zachary picked his head up from his game and teased, âHavenât you had enough? I have played five rounds now, and youâre still eating.â
Hannah scoffed. âNone of your business!â
With the chicken wings ready, Hannah immediately grabbed one.
Liam furrowed his brows. âDonât eat too much.â
Hannah turned her head away. âNo, Iâm not.â
She then noticed Gilbert carrying the sleeping beauty over.
Feeling a little upset, Hannah quietly watched the grill and got first dibs on two skewers of each variety.
Lilly had no idea how long she was in dreamland.
The sun was setting by the time she got up in a haze.
A skewer was stuck up her face.
Hannah said, âHere you go.â
Lilly lifted her chin in surprise before happily taking the skewer.
âThank you, Hannah.â Lilly was barely audible with food in her mouth.
Hannah frowned. âI didnât keep the food for you. I just couldnât finish it.â
Lilly bobbed her head. âSure, sure.â
Hannah ran off. At a closer inspection, the girl seemed to be in a better mood than before.
On a nearby field, Cheryl was drawing on an easel.
She had been letting her creative juice flow for nearly the whole day.
Cheryl watched enviously as Lilly and Hannah let go of their inhibition and enjoyed skewers not too far away.
They were all young children. However, why did Lilly and Hannah get to have so much fun?
These kids had no ambitionâ¦
Tina had a tray in her hands. There was a big bowl of salad on the tray.
She said, âCheryl, come with me to deliver this?â
Putting down her pencil, Cheryl looked docile, âSure.â
They were going to where the Crawfords were.
Cheryl made an innocent and curious face. âWhatâs this, Mom?â
Tina replied, âWaldorf salad.â
With her eyes widening, Cheryl asked naively, âWaldorf salad? Like the hotel?â
Tina laughed, thinking her daughter was the most adorable little thing.
Without lifting his head, Zachary sneered. âWhatâs with the act? It makes me sick.â
He was not loud, but the volume was enough for Cheryl to pick up on it.
Cheryl was embarrassed⦠She⦠She was not putting on any actâ¦
âMommyâ¦â
Paying Cheryl no heed, Tina talked to the Crawfords with zeal, âHello, Hugh! I made some salad. I added some nuts for a good crunch. I thought it would go perfectly with your barbecue.â
Hugh offhandedly replied, âThanks, but weâre fine.â
Tina answered with a smile, âI noticed the kids had a lot of meat. They should add some greens for a balanced meal.â
She then turned her attention to Cheryl. âCheryl, bring some to Hannah and Lilly.â
Cheryl responded favorably and put some salad on two plates. Acting like a caring sister, she uttered, âLilly, Hannah. I got some for you.â
She showed her sensible side.
Bettany watched on, tempted to roll her eyes.
The child took after her motherâs manipulative traits.
âMrs. Miller, we appreciate it, but Bryson made vegetables and a healthy dessert. Weâre good.â
Not taking the hint, Tina giggled and said, âItâs okay. I already brought it over, so Iâll just leave it here.
You can eat it anytime you want.â
While the adults were talking, Cheryl carried a plate of salad to Lilly who was devouring the meat skewers.
âHere you go, Lilly.â Cheryl smiled sweetly.
Lilly stopped eating and shook her head. She said, âI donât want it.â
She then grabbed a tissue to wipe her mouth before getting up to go to Bettany.
Out of the blue, Cheryl let out a cry and tumbled onto the ground. The plate of salad fell onto herself.
Lilly was stunned.
Everybody turned their heads to the source of the noise.
With her eyes welling up, Cheryl remarked in distress, âWhy did you push me, Lillyâ¦â
Lilly was confused.