Her Heart Her Terms (Lily and Xavier)

Chapter 71

Chapter 71

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Chapter 71

Meanwhile, Lily was struggling at work. Over the past few days, Xavier's work had been disrupting her focus.

She wore a scarf to cover the hickeys, but every time she looked down, it felt tight and uncomfortable-yet she couldn't take it off. By Friday evening, the hickeys had faded enough that she finally removed the scarf. Nadia decided to accompany her to take the measurements for Sarah, worried that sending her alone might look bad. Since Lily didn't have a car, Nadia drove. Sarah had sent the address directly to Nadia's WhatsApp.

Nadia didn't like Lily, and Lily had no intention of breaking the silence, so the atmosphere in the car was icy. She sat in the back, opening Hazel's WhatsApp messages from the past few days. "Lily, how can you not let your father lecture you? He was furious with me and blamed me for not raising you right. You were never truly welcomed in the Joyner family. I pitied you, spoiled you, and now it's my fault you've turned out this way..."

in her heart. Had Hazel ever truly

recall Hazel's words since her earliest memories. "Lily, you must be good

listen, and don't

do this, your father will

numerous voice messages and calls, which Lily had missed due to

disappointed

stung

would only mean returning to how things were, letting Bobby decide for her. And with that, she would inevitably end up pleading with Xavier, forever playing the role of

her forehead, she let herself process the negativity Hazel's messages had

completely. But if she had given in before her divorce from Xavier was final, things would only have been messier. Yet, despite her sending him the divorce agreement, he hadn't responded. She

even realize when the

muttered, unbuckling her seatbelt

she was alone in the car. Quickly, she grabbed her bag and electronic measuring

was already several steps ahead. Lily hurried to catch up, only to freeze when