Chapter 12
I nodded and stepped aside to let him into my small apartment. Compared to their
family’s luxurious estate, my apartment was like a shoebox.
“I actually heard you’ve been sick all week, and I was worried,” he explained, placing the bags on my small kitchen counter.
“I… I’m fine, sir, really,” I stammered, “Just a cold.”
Richard shook his head, “You look terrible. I told my sons to take care of you, and here
you are looking like a ghost. Don’t worry, I have the best soup recipe for treating a fever!”
I stood there, watching in astonishment as the head of the Sullivan family busied himself
in my small kitchen, as if he did this every day. From the bags, he pulled out various
vegetables, spices, and a thermos filled with chicken soup.
“When did you start feeling sick?” he asked, skillfully heating the soup on my stove, “Have
you seen a doctor?”
“No,” I replied softly, “I don’t need a doctor. It’s just… just a cold.”
Richard turned to look at me, his gaze sharp, as if he could see through my lies. But he
just nodded and continued making the soup.
A few minutes later, he brought out two bowls filled with steaming hot soup and gestured
for me to sit at the small dining table.
“Come on, sit down,” he gently commanded, “We need to talk.”
I wrapped myself in a blanket, sat across from him, and hungrily took the first sip of the soup. I was surprised to find it was the most delicious thing I had eaten in weeks.
“Are you… are you this caring to all the girls at the nightclubs?” I asked cautiously,
watching him suspiciously.
Richard laughed, a warm smile that made him look more like a kind father than a feared. mob boss. “I wouldn’t even treat my own daughter like this, so if you tell me what’s going
on, I would appreciate it.”
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Chapter 12
I looked down at my bowl of soup, trying to hide the tears in my eyes.
“Lily,” Richard’s voice softened, “I know you may be wondering why I’m here. But I’ve known you for a long time, longer than you realize. Seeing you in this state breaks my
heart.”
I didn’t understand his words but continued to eat the soup, letting the warm liquid
soothe my throat.
“I want to help you,” he continued, “Stop working at Skyline, and I will find you a real job. You’re smart, talented, and shouldn’t be wasting away there. I will take care of you as if
you were my own child.”
Richard knew I had no parents, so that was likely why he was concerned about me, it
wasn’t crazy.
Anger surged through me, “I don’t need your charity, Mr. Sullivan. I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of myself.”
“Lily, I know even if I handed you a million–dollar check, you wouldn’t accept it, but I urge you to stop what you’re doing, look at your state. I will find you another job, I will take care of you as if you were my own child.”
Tears welled up in my eyes, struggling to keep control. “I respect you, Mr. Sullivan, truly. But I don’t need anyone’s pity or charity.”
The business run by the Sullivans had been lingering in my mind; they were the Mafia. I didn’t want to get involved, even if it was just accepting a check.
Richard watched me quietly, his gaze unsettlingly sharp. “Lily, is there another reason you’re so exhausted? Please tell me, you can tell me anything.”
Looking into his concerned eyes, suddenly, all the emotions – fear, despair, loneliness – flooded over me. My tears began to flow, unable to control my sobs.
Richard immediately stood up, walked over to me, and crouched down, placing his hand on my shoulder. This simple gesture held so much warmth and understanding that it
completely broke me down. Sometimes I would casually think about my parents, imagining how life would have been so much easier if it was my father comforting me
instead of Richard.
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Chapter 12
“It’s okay, let it all out, it looks like you’ve been wanting to do this for a long time,” he whispered softly, patting my back gently.
I didn’t know how long I cried in Richard’s embrace, but when I finally stopped, I felt a strange sense of relief. He didn’t ask any more questions, just quietly stayed by my side. But before I could gather my words, Richard gently brushed a stray hair from my face and looked at me with a tenderness I had never seen on anyone’s face before.
“Whatever you’re facing, Lily, remember you’re not alone.”
Feeling trapped no matter what I did, I didn’t know how to handle it. If I kept the child, I
would have to give up dancing because I couldn’t continue, and if I had an abortion, I
might have to face many regrets, apart from the harm it would cause to my body as
someone like me.
All because of something that could have been easily avoided. I wanted to be a mother, to
care for the child, to have the perfect little family I had always dreamed of.
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