Chapter 15: Agreeing to Apologize to the Lorimer Family

Samuel was speechless. Kaylee's words, though blunt, were not unreasonable. If he traced the root of the problem, Wanda was indeed blameless.

"All right, it's in the past. Let's not dwell on who was right or wrong," Alaric intervened, his expression stern. Kaylee's lips trembled, but she remained silent. The Goodridge family's attitude toward her four years of imprisonment had been dismissive and nonchalant; every attempt at explanation resulted in guilt-tripping. Trading four years for eighteen years of unearned luxury seemed, to them, a bargain.

"Raylee, if you don't want to apologize to the Lorimer family, I won't force you," Alaric said. Raylee was startled, but before she could react to his apparent change of heart, he continued, his expression serious. "Let your grandmother go then. She was good friends with the older Lorimer generation. Besides, considering her age, they're unlikely to trouble her."

Raylee clenched her fists, furious. "Tossing Grandma under the bus for your mistakes? Are you even human?"

"Raylee, is that any way to speak to me?" Alaric's pride was wounded. "I was your father for eighteen years! How can you say that?"

"Dad, I don't agree with Grandma going. As I said, I'll take responsibility for my own actions!" Samuel protested.

"Shut up! The decision is made. Nothing will change it." Alaric, an imposing figure, brooked no defiance. He summoned bodyguards to escort Samuel to his room, forbidding him from leaving the Goodridge residence until the matter was resolved.

Only Harriet and a sobbing Waverly remained.

"Are you really making Grandma apologize? She's just had surgery and is hospitalized! Don't you care about her health?" Raylee demanded indignantly.

Harriet sighed, shaking her head. "Raylee, your father considered this carefully. If you don't want to be involved, let it be." Arm in arm with Waverly, Harriet left.

Despair filling her heart, Kaylee closed her eyes, finally deciding. "I agree to apologize to the Lorimer family!"

"Raylee, you've changed your mind?" Harriet's voice was surprised, tinged with joy.

"But I have a condition: this must be kept from Grandma. Even if something happens to me, she must not know."

Harriet nodded repeatedly. "No problem. And don't worry too much. With Ms. Layla there, the Lorimer family won't harm you."

A storm of sorrow, resentment, and defiance raged in Raylee's eyes. Tears welled, but she held them back. She glared at Harriet, her voice accusatory. "Four years ago, you used me as a scapegoat for your biological daughter. Four years later, you want me to take the blame again, for your son! Does being non-biological give you the right to treat me this way?"

Harriet's gaze faltered; tears streamed down her face. She sobbed, "It's not like that, Raylee. I love you deeply. But this is your father's decision. I can't change it."

The light in Kaylee's eyes was extinguished. "You may not care about Grandma's life or death, but I do! After this, I'm done with the Goodridge family!"

She left without looking back. Her weakness had always been Vera; the Goodridge family used Vera to control her completely.

Raylee took a taxi to the Lorimer Estate. A housekeeper guided her to a Corvainan-style mansion. Every moment on the living room couch was filled with dread. Her heart pounded; fear coiled around her, making her tremble. The Lorimer family felt like a suffocating cage, leaving her breathless. They had imprisoned her for four years, inflicting endless agony. She wanted nothing more to do with them. Unexpectedly, two days after her release, she was forced back into their terrifying presence. Given her fragile state and the Lorimer family's brutality, her survival was uncertain.

At the height of her fear, a gentle voice soothed her. "Why do you look so pale? Are you cold? Hannah, more heat and some lemonade, please."

Raylee looked up. Seeing Layla, the Lorimer family's second daughter, eased her fear considerably. Layla and Samuel were childhood friends. Layla naturally held a fondness for Raylee. Layla's situation was awkward; she was an illegitimate daughter, facing an arranged marriage while still in university. It had been years since Raylee last saw her.

"Ms. Layla," Raylee greeted politely.

"Don't call me that. Just Layla." Layla patted Raylee's shoulder, handing her lemonade. "Only my mother and I live here. No need to be nervous. I asked you to come under the pretense of an apology; it was to avoid conflict. I just wanted to see you. Five years ago, I moved abroad for my marriage..."

Layla was gentle, unlike other Lorimer family members. She comforted Raylee like a caring older sister. After Raylee's release, besides Vera, Layla was the only person who seemed to genuinely care.

Raylee shook her head, her gratitude sincere. "It's all right, Layla. Your apology means the world."

Layla nodded, continuing to comfort her. "Don't worry, I've taken care of everything. The bar incident hasn't reached Mrs. Lorimer and Tiffany. Even if they found out, I'd protect you. I was once a scorned illegitimate daughter, but things are different now. My mother and I have power within the family. This mess wasn't your fault; your brother's actions caused this disaster, yet you're the one picking up the pieces. It's unfair."

The numbness in Raylee's heart shattered. Her eyes reddened, and tears flowed. This was the second time she'd cried since her release, the first being with Vera. This time, it was from overwhelming emotion. An outsider was willing to protect her, yet her family of eighteen years had pushed her into danger.

"Silly girl, what's there to cry about?" Layla handed Raylee a tissue. Only then did she notice jagged scars beneath Raylee's neck.