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Chapter gy
Chapter 99
Lillian’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at Emily. “Grandma…”
Emily shifted her gaze between Joshua and Lillian, letting out a deep sigh. “Alright, Lillian, since it was just a misunderstanding, why don’t you explain it to everyone again? I’m sure Allison is reasonable.”
With even Emily weighing in, no one was left to defend Lillian.
Sniffling and looking like she’d been wronged, Lillian began, “That day at the riding club, I asked Allison to teach me how to ride. Things were going well until the horse suddenly freaked out, and I… I fell and got hurt.”
Everyone knew the incident, but Joshua’s earlier remarks hinted there might be more to it. So, everyone waited in silence for her to continue.
Lillian glanced at Joshua, whose piercing gaze made her uneasy. She stammered, “It was a misunderstanding. I thought Allison didn’t like me and spooked the horse on purpose. But later, I found out there was a cut on the horse’s neck. It was probably there before it was brought out. I must’ve accidentally pressed it, making the horse go wild.”
She turned to Allison with a pleading look. “I’m sorry, Allison. I misjudged you. I shouldn’t have assumed the worst. Can you forgive me?”
Allison frowned but said nothing.
Rose chimed in, scolding, “How could you think that about Allison? She’d never harm you.”
Joshua’s father and Lillian’s adoptive dad, Ben, looked annoyed. “If you wanted to learn horseback riding, you should enroll in a class. Now you’re injured and have caused a misunderstanding with your sister–in–law.”
The word “sister–in–law” lit a fire of jealousy in Lillian. She swallowed her feelings and said, “I know I messed
up.”
Joshua’s voice was cold, “Didn’t you say Allison kicked the horse, causing it to go berserk? Why aren’t you mentioning that now?”
Before Lillian could answer, Joshua turned to his parents, “Dad, Mom, who’s been handling Lillian’s upbringing? How did she become so deceitful?”
Ben and Rose exchanged glances. Rose asked Lillian with a frown, “Did you really lie?”
Tears streamed down Lillian’s face, her sobs tugging at hearts. “I… I’m sorry, Mom…”
Emily eyed Lillian sternly. “You only said it was a misunderstanding. You didn’t mention lying. Is this what your upbringing taught you, to lie and blame others?”
The Owens family got the drift.
Javier looked displeased, “Mrs. Fisher, Mr. Fisher, Allison would never harm anyone. Your child lied and blamed Allison. There needs to be an explanation.”
Linda added, “Yes, Allison is our treasure. We may not be as influential as your family, but our daughter is kind–hearted. She’d never stoop so low.”
Allison felt touched by Javier and Linda’s words. Her relationship with her family had been rocky, but it didn’t mean they didn’t care.
Linda, her stepmom, had been good to Allison, and she knew it. She just couldn’t get past her own walls to accept her.
Still sobbing, Lillian stood and bowed to Allison. “I’m sorry, Allison. I was wrong to lie and blame you. I’m sorry…”
Emily sighed, “Oh, Allison, it’s Lillian’s fault, but she’s apologized. Can you forgive her?”
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Chapter 100
