Lily slowly turned to Molly, his eyes narrowing. "It was clear you had good relations with that Cross boy. The two of you were perfect together. But in the end… he married Lily!"
Lily exhaled quietly.
There it was.
Molly lowered her eyes, the picture of innocent heartbreak. "Grandpa… it wasn't Lily's fault. Jacob chose her."
The room twisted slightly—not physically, but emotionally—an invisible string pulling everything tight around Lily's throat.
"That boy lost his mind," Grandpa Martins said coldly. "If I were younger, I'd march to the Cross estate and drag him back here myself. He should've married you, Molly."
Lily didn't flinch. She didn't argue.
She didn't need to.
She just turned and walked away.
"Lily!" Molly called softly, chasing after her with quick steps. "Don't take Grandpa's words to heart, okay? He's just upset. You know I don't blame you."
Lily paused at the doorway, looking at Molly's fragile expression.
