Chapter 215: I Will Leave

Lily’s mocking tone jolted Cecilia back to reality. Her gaze drifted to Lily, who was impeccably dressed in a classic business suit, subtly revealing her cleavage. Lily's oval face was framed by slightly furrowed brows, her gaze radiating unmistakable jealousy. Cecilia had encountered her several times before. Despite being a butler's daughter, Lily carried herself as if she were the Rainsworth family's heiress.

Noticing Cecilia's lack of response, Lily assumed she wasn't wearing her hearing aid. With her foot, she nudged aside a pile of clothes before continuing her barrage of insults. "How shameless! A cripple resorting to seduction. She used to feign innocence, but look at her now!" Lily gestured toward the luxurious clothes scattered on the floor, then fiercely stomped on them, confident Cecilia wouldn't retaliate. She had always been able to bully Cecilia, but she didn't realize Cecilia was no longer the same, no longer willing to endure anything for Nathaniel.

Cecilia draped a coat over her shoulders, rose from the bed, and steadily approached Lily. Lily, noticing the hearing aid, scoffed. "Ah, so you can hear? I thought you were deaf." Before Lily could finish, Cecilia slapped her hard across the face.

Lily recoiled, her cheeks burning. "How dare you hit me?"

Cecilia's hand ached slightly. "I did. What are you going to do about it?"

Enraged, Lily lunged, but Cecilia's quick reflexes caught Lily's wrist. Another sharp slap landed on Lily's cheek. Lily, never expecting such a transformation from the once-timid Cecilia, stumbled backward from the impact of the second slap, her high heels betraying her.

She gritted her teeth, rising to her feet. "Cecilia, get out. You're not welcome here."

Cecilia laughed. "You're the Rainsworth housekeeper, and you think you're the lady of the house?"

Lily's eyes flared. "Even as a housekeeper, I drove you away once. You haven't forgotten New Year's Eve, have you?" Lily, having grown up in Rainsworth Manor, was a favorite of Mr. Rainsworth. A few strategically placed tears were all it took to control Cecilia's fate. Cecilia hadn't forgotten being driven out into the snow a year after her marriage, nearly freezing to death. To Mr. Rainsworth, Lily, raised under his roof, was far more preferable to the disabled, less connected Cecilia.

"You don't need to cry to Old Mr. Rainsworth. I'm leaving now." Cecilia calmly changed into clean clothes and left, her back straight, her departure resolute.

Lily watched, surprised by Cecilia's immediate compliance. Her anger subsided, assuming Cecilia had simply yielded. After Cecilia's departure, Lily had her clothes discarded.

Rainsworth Manor was vast. Cecilia chose a less crowded route. Reaching the main gate, she called Sven. "Ms. Smith, I'm near Rainsworth Manor." Sven, ever vigilant since Sean's near-fatal attack, had been watching over her.

"Okay. I'll need you to drive me."

"Understood."