THE HEIR'S REVENGE

chapter 100

Lily smiled and placed the butterfly drawing carefully on top of the one of my mother, like she was putting them together on purpose.

She yawned then, the big yawn that meant her body had decided the day was over.

I picked her up and carried her to bed. She was asleep before I reached the top of the stairs, her head heavy on my shoulder, her rabbit squeezed between us.

I tucked her in. The star nightlight glowed softly in the corner.

I stood there for a moment looking at her sleeping face.

Then I went back down to the study.

The two drawings were still on my desk where Lily had left them. My mother's gentle eyes. A butterfly with careful purple wings.

Tomorrow Richard's journal will be read out loud in court.

Tonight I had two drawings made by a six year old girl who had never met either of the people in them and somehow understood them better than anyone could explain.

I picked up both drawings carefully.

I placed them in the desk drawer beside Sophia's letter and the article about my mother.

A small collection of things that mattered.

Then I turned off the lamp and went to bed. 

Tomorrow came too fast. I didn't like that I woke up faster than I should have but something else happened, I had a nightmare. 

It was probably the first time in a long time. When I finally opened my eyes, I couldn't move my body. 

My mother had believed that whenever she had nightmares, it just met that something bad was about to happen. Of course, I didn't believe that when I was a kid. 

I didn't believe it even now, 

But the past few days have actually made me wonder if superstitious things like that didn't exist. I mean Victoria wouldn't want me to win this case so maybe.. maybe that was the reason for the nightmare. 

I hissed. 

I never think this way. I'm always a logical guy who never believed in superstition or mystical beings so I didn't know why I couldn't stop thinking about it. 

Coupled with the headache I was already having, I just didn't think this was normal. I mean I was feeling very okay just a few hours ago after spending time with Lily. 

I turned to the other side of the bed, sulking maybe. I just didn't want to talk to anyone or go downstairs for breakfast. 

I checked the click hanging on the wall above my television and then I discovered that it was 6 am. By this time on a normal day, I should be downstairs having my coffee. 

I sighed. 

I didn't want Lily to see me like this. Miserable. 

So I decided to wait until she leaves for school. I looked around my huge room and truly thought about it. Sometimes this place feels lonely, it always felt like I was alone, like I didn't deserve a partner.

I sighed again.

I was listening so I could hear Lily's cute little voice downstairs but I heard nothing. On a normal day she would be laughing out loud at something that Mrs. Park did or said. 

Her laughter was just out of the world. 

The phone rang for a short while. Before sitting up to pick it, I knew who it was already. For the past few days, Henry has been texting me every morning. 

It was as if he wanted to still be sure that I was alive. But I knew that this was his own little way of thanking me and making me not feel too lonely. 

“Are you ready?”

I couldn't text or call back. For some reason, I had no energy to get up from my bed or even do anything. I was about to go to bed when I heard someone knock.

“Mr. Blackwell.” It was Mrs. Park. 

“Brother?” 

And Lily too? 

I was going to pretend that I was asleep if only Mrs. Park was at the door but now that I found out that Lily was here too. There was simply no excuse for me.

She'd just give me a little time and then barge into the room all by herself.

“Brother? Aren't you going to eat today?” Lily asked but I said nothing. 

I really hoped they would think I was asleep and decided to go back downstairs and let me be but not Lily. 

“Maybe he's still asleep.”

“Brother?” Lily questioned, probably looking at the door. “No, I don't think so. He never sleeps this late.” 

“But you said you guys spent the evening. Maybe he's tired.” 

“But I am awake right now.” Lily's voice was a bit raised. 

“Are you serious right now?” I heard Mrs. Park held back her laughter. “Maybe he's more tired than you.” 

“But I'm younger.” Lily added. 

I spoke my head. I would be enjoying their bickering if I was in the mood for it but I wasn't so I hoped they would leave me alone. 

“Let's open the door and check on him. He might be sick.” 

“No, you can't just barge in.” 

“But we aren't barging in. We are just helping..” 

I got up immediately,  I already had up to my neck. I jumped down the bed, wore my t-shirt which was hanging on an arm chair and went straight to my door. 

“Really?” I said, glaring at those two females in front of me. 

“Brother.” Lily somehow sounded very excited when she saw me. “I was wondering if you were sick or something.”

“Why would you wonder that?” I asked, still standing at my door. 

“Well, you didn't come downstairs for your coffee. So we wanted to check up on you.” Mrs. Park added. I was supposed to be upset but I found myself blushing. 

Literally blushing. 

“Oh God..”

“So you can say that we missed you.” Lily smiled like she was talking to her classmate. “Are you coming or should we wait here for you.”

She was just a fierce little girl who never took no for an answer. 

“I'll be downstairs.”