Chapter 51 Lilly’s Master
“Young Master Shaw is only awake right now because of my Master!” Sable huffed. “Master Sullivan had used his powers to ask the Gods to bring back the young master’s soul… but his soul had been wandering about for too long, so Master Sullivan’s timing was slightly off. The little brat took advantage of the situation and claimed the credit as hers!”
Old Mrs. Shaw finally understood. Her grandson’s life was in fact saved by Master Sullivan, despite a slight delay, but Lilly Hatcher let everyone think she was the one who did it. Master Sullivan’s words now made sense to Old Mrs. Shaw. “I knew it!” she croaked angrily, feeling cheated. “She’s just a four year old kid, what does she know?”
“My Master didn’t want to pick a fight with a child just to claim what was rightfully his, but you Shaws have disrespected him terribly! I wish you the best of luck in the future,” Sable chastised the old lady before escorting Master Sullivan away.
Old Mrs. Shaw was panic stricken as she hastily caught up with Master Sullivan and Sable from behind, muttering a string of apologies and thank-yous. She even took out some money and stuffed it into Sable’s hand discreetly. It was only then when Master Sullivan’s displeased expression eased up slightly. If it was up to him, he never wanted to Lilly Hatcher ever again.
“Where are we going, Master?” Sable asked as he trailed behind,
“We’re invited to the opening ceremony of Taylor Entertainment tomorrow. Let’s get ready for it,” Master Sullivan told his loyal disciple who nodded eagerly. Opening ceremonies were easy enough to handle. All they needed to do was predict a good time for the cutting of the ribbon.
……
Old Mrs. Shaw watched as Master Sullivan and Sable walked away, until they disappeared from her sight. She then got into her own car, but not before giving the Crawford Mansion a dirty look. The little trickster brat had caused her to offend Master Sullivan, and Colton wanted her to pay her visit and thank her in person? No way! As long as she was alive, she would never let her grandson be close to Lilly Hatcher! Hmph!
**
Back at the Crawford home, Hugh, Bettany and Anthony had mixed emotions as they observed Lilly happily gnawing at a chicken drumstick. They were all thinking the same thing, but no one dared to voice out their concerns… until Bettany spoke up.
“I’ve never had the chance to tell any of you before, but I think there’s something wrong with Lilly…” Bettany whispered in a hushed tone.
Hugh’s eyebrows narrowed. “What do you mean? There’s nothing wrong with our Lilly!”
“No, I just mean… she says there’s a Master by her side,” Bettany corrected herself. The three of them turned to look at Lilly… and the empty space next to her. They felt a chill down their spine every time they thought about what Lilly had told them.
“Perhaps Lilly has a psychiatric condition due to the years of abuse she went through! Like a multiple personality disorder. Her mind creates an entirely new character that seems as real as you and me,” Bettany thought out loud.
Anthony considered his mother’s assessment in silence as he stared at Lilly.
“Should we bring her to a psychiatrist? Just to be safe,” Bettany suggested anxiously.
“That won’t be necessary,” Anthony shook his head. “Lilly will be with me during this period. I’ll take care of her.” Bettany and Hugh were elderly folk after all, and Bettany had her own medical issues to attend to. Anthony thought it would be best to keep Lilly by his side.
“I’ll bring her to the ribbon cutting ceremony tomorrow,” Anthony decided. Crawford Holdings was one of the main shareholders of Taylor Entertainment, which was going to be publicly listed tomorrow.
After her dinner, Lilly sat quietly on the living room sofa, drawing in her scrapbook. Next to her, Pablo was skimming through a book.
“Ah, here it is!” Pablo exclaimed excitedly. “Here, the purple point, the jade point… You should try giving your grandmother massages. Once you feel her legs coming back to life, you can treat her with some acupuncture.”
Lilly listened to Pablo intently, taking in every word of his. “Will grandma be able to stand and walk again?” she asked.
Pablo floated in the air, stroking his jaw thoughtfully. “Stand and walk? She could even join a flash mob if she wanted to! Get your uncle to buy you a pair of silver needles.”
Lilly’s eyes lit up with hope. She only had one goal in mind now. Grandma will get up one day and dance in a flash mob!!
**
Old Mrs. Karen Shaw returned home immediately looking for her grandson, Ivan.
“My darling boy! Let grandma have a look at you…” she said as she walked toward her grandson’s room. However, she heard the sound of the door being bolted shut just as she arrived. It was Melody, of course.
“Melody, open the door right now!” she shrieked angrily. “You must think you’re all that ever since Colton came back, don’t you? Well, let me tell you something. As long as you’re in my home, it’s my rules you’ll have to follow!”
How dare that woman disrespect her in her own home? She could barely wait until Colton leaves once again, so she could show Melody who’s truly in charge around here.
Colton climbed up the stairs holding a hot bowl of soup. He gave his mother a cold stare, having overheard her screams just a few moments ago.
“Are you done causing a scene?” Colton drawled.
“I’m causing a scene?!” Karen retorted. “I’m your mother, Colton! Are you siding with an outsider instead of your own mother? I never agreed to your marriage with her from the beginning. Look at her attitude even when you’re around. Can you imagine what she’s like when you’re not here? She talks back, disrespects me and is never home! Who knows what she does outside? She’s a laughingstock, Colt!”
Colton rolled his eyes as he opened the door to Ivan’s room, before kicking the door shut with such force that the door slammed hard in Karen’s face. He took out his cellphone and dialed a number. “Please gather Mother’s belongings and get the driver to send her back to her hometown. She can spend the rest of the days there,” he spoke into the phone.
Outside the room, Karen had no idea her next few years were already planned out for her. She was certain that Melody had brainwashed her own son into hating his own mother! “What have I done to deserve such an unfilial son?” she cried out loud, thumping her chest emotionally.
Just as she was crying and whining her heart out, the butler appeared with a message for Karen. “Madam, the Millers are here to visit. Would you like to meet them?”
“The Millers?” Karen raised an eyebrow. It was not a familiar name to her.
“They were the ones who called Mr. Shaw yesterday after they found Ivan while they were camping,” the butler explained patiently.
Karen gasped in shock. Was it not Lilly Hatcher who had found Ivan?
“Oh dear, please let them in!” Karen said as she smoothened her hair and her frocks. She put on a bright smile fit for a matriarch, still unaware of Colton’s plans to send her away.
In the living hall, Cheryl Miller was seated on a sofa together with her parents while waiting for Karen, taking in her surroundings. The Shaw residence was strikingly different from the Crawford’s. While the Crawford mansion was newly built on a vast plot of land and reeked of money and opulence, the Shaw residence was a historic building that had been passed on from one generation of Shaws to the next. It was built courtyard style and exuded an elegant, imperial vibe.
“The Crawfords are a prominent name in the world of business, but the Shaw family hails from a political dynasty,” Cheryl’s father whispered to her. “Watch your manners when we meet Mrs. Shaw!”
The Shaw family was full of loyal martyrs. Old Mr. Shaw had sacrificed himself for the country, and his son had continued in his father’s footsteps doing work for the nation. That was perhaps the reason why the Shaws were a small family with only one grandson that everyone doted on.
“…especially Old Mrs. Shaw. She’s the matriarch who calls the shots in the family. Cheryl, remember to be nice to her! If she takes a liking to you, we’ll get to be closer to the Shaws in the future!” Cheryl’s father told her with a serious expression on his face.
Cheryl nodded equally as seriously. She was not going to let her parents down. The family waited with a gift in hand until they spotted Old Mrs. Shaw coming toward the living hall. Cheryl’s father immediately stood up. “Ah, you must be Mrs. Shaw! It’s a pleasure to meet you!” he greeted the old lady excitedly.
Karen was pleased as punch with this man’s respectful attitude toward her, something she perhaps found lacking in her own household these days.
“Hello,” she returned the greeting. “Were you the ones who found Ivan yesterday?”
Cheryl’s father chuckled. “Oh, no, we weren’t the ones who found him. But we were also there when the incident happened, so we lent a helping hand too.”
Karen was rather impressed with the Millers. Not only did they not try to claim the credit for saving Ivan, they were also respectful and probably raised their child well. Karen took a quick glance at Cheryl.
Cheryl immediately stepped forward to greet Karen as well. “Hello, my name is Cheryl! You’re looking very well for age, Mrs. Shaw. Let me guess, you must be… 50?”
Karen let out a hearty laugh. She was in fact almost 70. Cheryl’s words had made her entire day, and perhaps her whole week! What a sweet child!
