Chapter 6 LILITH 11 283 Mouchers By the time I arrived in front of the ballroom , its heavy doors were already wide in formal attire stood in groups , smiling demurely and clinking glasses as they conversed . open Guests I paused at a blind spot , quietly scanning the room for familiar faces . And then . I saw them . Brandon and Claire . They looked every bit the golden boy and girl , standing beside my parents with perfect smiles and flawless poise . It was such a familiar sight that , for a brief second , it felt as though I'd returned to my past life . But I quickly snapped out of it . No. This was my second chance at life . I was no longer who I used to be . Besides ... I was curious to see whether , after tonight , those two could still stand there with those perfect smiles . Or even be welcomed in the circles they took so much pride in . 08:47 Chapter 6 228 Vouchers Thinking of this , a smile crept onto my face . I smoothed out my wrinkle - free dress with one hand and tightened my grip on the clutch in the other , before stepping into the ballroom without hesitation As I approached the center of the room , a soft hush fell over the crowd . ' Who's that ? ' I caught someone whisper to the person beside them . ' She looks like the pink princess ... but since when did she wear other colors ? ' The smile on my lips nearly faltered . ' Pink princess . ' It had been a lifetime since I last heard that nickname . At least , after I married Brandon and changed my dressing style , no one had called me that again . My loss of composure lasted only a second before I composed myself . I chose to take it as a reminder that I was truly back . Besides , if I'd been able to make that nickname disappear once before , I could do it again . This time , even more seamlessly . With that , I paid no mind to the whispers and walked straight toward my family My confident gait . My expression . Even my dress . They made me look nearly unrecognizable to the people who once thought they knew me . I could feel a particularly intense gaze on me as I walked forward , but didn't dwell much into it . There were many people around tonight , after all . 08:47 Chapter 6 : . 285 Vouchers As I neared my family , I didn't miss the slight frown on my mom's face . No doubt irritated that I hadn't worn any of the dresses she'd picked out . A further glance to the side revealed a flicker of jealousy in Claire's eyes . I almost laughed . How had it taken me over three decades to notice that expression? And to believe that Claire had ever truly been my best friend ? Had I been blind ? Then came Brandon . His surprise was evident as he stepped forward , hands outstretched , a warm and familiar smile painted across his face . " You look beautiful tonight , Lily . " To the former me , Brandon had been special . Not because I loved him , but because he was my escape from my parents ' control . He represented freedom . He was family . But I couldn't deny that , somewhere along the line , I might have fallen in love with him . After all , he was the only man - aside from my father and my older brother , Julian - who was allowed near me . Moreover , he had been patient and doting . But thinking about it now , that love had been small . Insignificant , in hindsight . That's why , when I discovered his affair with Claire in my past life , the heartbreak and betrayal I felt was surprisingly mild , most of it directed at Claire . Someone I had once trusted as my closest friend . When I recovered , I had asked for a divorce without a second thought . 08:47 Chapter 6 288 Vouchers Who could have known that choice would cost me everything ? Truthfully , I didn't even hate Brandon for the affair . What I truly hated him for was the baby switch , his refusal to let me go , and for colluding with Claire to slowly torture me to death with medications . Because of him , I never got to properly hold the child I'd carried for eight agonizing months . Up till the moment I died , I didn't even know if it had been a boy or a girl . What had become of my baby ? Had it been abandoned ? Left in an orphanage ? I didn't dare consider the worst possibilities . Stillborn , they had said ? I'd be a fool to believe that lie , when my baby had been active and kicking even as I was wheeled into the delivery room . Thinking of all this , I couldn't even bring myself to play along with him , and coldly sidestepped Brandon's outstretched hands . " Dad , " I greeted the well - maintained , handsome middle - aged man in front of me . His face lit up with a warm , loving smile . " Wow , my daughter looks extra dazzling tonight . " Bittersweet emotion twisted in my chest . Yes , my father had always been like this - showering me with compliments , sincere and unreserved . It didn't matter if I wore pink or black . In his eyes , I'd always be the prettiest girl in the room . As for my mother ... 08:47 1 Chapter 6 : . I turned toward her and met the faint look of disapproval in her eyes . " Mom , " I greeted . " Why didn't you wear the dress I chose for you ? " she asked , voice cool " I didn't like it , " I answered curtly . 甘 対 The disapproval on her face deepened . Once upon a time , that look would've sent me scrambling to apologize or compromise . But not anymore . Ever the peacemaker , my dad quickly stepped in before my mom could say more . " It doesn't really matter , right ? " he said , flashing a smile . " Our daughter looks beautiful no matter what she wears . " 1 With that , the situation was grudgingly averted . Just then , Claire walked over and reached out to wrap her hand around my arm . I swiftly sidestepped , avoiding her touch . This was the major culprit who orchestrated my miserable end in my past life by stealing and draining my luck dry , among other things . Even if May had explained that she did so through positive emotions , I wasn't about to take any chances . No matter how harmless the action seemed , I'd never allow her to lay a finger on me again . 08:47 Chapter 6 Claire blinked , momentarily stunned , before quickly covering it up with a wounded expression . 288 Vouchers " Lily ... did I do something wrong ? " " What's that supposed to mean , Lilith ? " my mother snapped , quick to seize the opportunity to scold me . " Claire was just being friendly , and yet , you avoided her like the plague ." I paused , then chuckled . Yes , it has always been like this . To the outside world , I was the pampered youngest daughter of the Caldwells . But they didn't know that was only true as long as I remained obedient . The moment I resisted or disagreed with any of their arrangements , they sided with anyone but me . As if to remind me I wasn't irreplaceable . " What's so funny ? " my mom asked , sounding both annoyed and confused . I could practically read the questions from her face : why did her obedient daughter suddenly feel like a stranger ? Not wearing the dress she'd picked was one thing . But talking back ? Laughing to her face ? What had happened to her ? I couldn't help but shake my head , then replied with an amused glint in my eyes , " Nothing really . I just remembered something funny . " She clearly didn't buy the explanation , but before she could press further , a group of our business associates approached . 08:47 J Chapter 6 1288 Vouchers I offered them a smile and polite greeting , then excused myself from the group . Predictably , Brandon and Claire followed after me . " Do you want to go greet my parents together ? " Brandon asked , gesturing subtly toward at familiar middle - aged couple across the room . Even as they conversed with another group , their eyes continued to stray in this direction . It was clear that they were waiting . Waiting for me - their prospective daughter - in - law - to come over and pay my respects . I knew this because I'd already lived through it once before . " Greet them ? " I arched a brow . Were they worth it ? Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!