The Twisted Obsession-Chapter 291: Reunion

Lily felt the cool evening breeze brush against her face as she walked down the dimly lit street. The sky was a dusky purple, the sun dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows over the pavement. She’d opted to walk to the supermarket instead of driving, needing the distraction and fresh air after a particularly stressful day. The gentle rhythm of her footsteps was soothing, and she tried to focus on the mundane task ahead—buying groceries, a simple errand that grounded her in reality.

But as she neared the supermarket, a strange feeling of unease settled in her chest. She couldn’t quite place it, but something felt off. She quickened her pace, her eyes darting around nervously. The street was mostly empty, only a few cars passing by and the occasional pedestrian hurrying home. It was quiet, too quiet for her comfort.

Just as she was about to cross the street, a strong hand clamped over her mouth from behind, and another arm wrapped around her waist, yanking her backward with a force that knocked the breath out of her. Panic surged through her as she struggled against the iron grip, her muffled cries lost in the deserted street.

The figure dragged her into a nearby alley, the darkness swallowing them whole. Lily thrashed wildly, kicking and clawing, but the hold on her didn’t loosen. Fear pulsed through her veins, her heart hammering in her chest. She tried to scream, but the hand over her mouth stifled her, leaving her voice trapped in her throat.

Then, she heard it—a voice, low and familiar, speaking in her ear.

"Shh, baby, it’s me. Stop fighting, it’s me."

The familiarity of the voice cut through her panic like a knife. Lily froze, her breath hitching as she strained to listen.

"Mom?" she gasped, her voice barely a whisper. "Is that you?"

The hand slowly released her mouth, and Lily turned around, her wide eyes searching the darkness. The figure before her was shrouded in shadow, but as they stepped into the faint light from a nearby streetlamp, the features of her mother, Margaret, came into focus.

"Yes, baby. It’s me," Margaret said softly, her voice thick with emotion.

Lily’s heart lurched in her chest, a whirlwind of emotions crashing over her. Shock, confusion, relief, and a deep, aching sadness all at once. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at the woman she thought she’d never see again.

"Mom... How...?" Her voice trembled, unable to form a coherent question.

Margaret’s eyes were filled with a mixture of guilt and love as she reached out to cup Lily’s face, brushing away the tears that had begun to spill down her cheeks. "I’m so sorry, Lily. I’ve missed you so much."

Lily collapsed into her mother’s arms, her body wracked with sobs. The months of fear, of not knowing whether her mother was alive or dead, of worrying endlessly about what had happened to her—it all poured out in those desperate tears. She clung to Margaret, her fingers digging into the fabric of her coat as if afraid she might disappear again.

Margaret held her tightly, stroking her hair and whispering soothing words, though her own tears were falling freely now. The reunion was bittersweet, filled with a pain neither could fully articulate. For a long time, they just stood there in the alley, holding each other as if trying to make up for all the lost time.

Finally, Lily pulled back slightly, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She looked up at her mother, still struggling to believe that she was really here, alive and standing in front of her. "Where have you been, Mom? I thought... I thought you were gone."

Margaret’s expression darkened, a shadow passing over her features. "It’s a long story, baby, and I don’t have time to explain everything right now. But there’s something important I need to tell you. Something you need to know."

Lily frowned, her heart sinking at the serious tone in her mother’s voice. "What is it?"

Margaret took a deep breath, as if steeling herself for what she was about to say. "I want you to meet your father, Lily."

Lily blinked in confusion, her brow furrowing. "Mom, Dad’s... he’s gone. We buried him."

To her shock, Margaret shook her head, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. "No, Lily. Harrison wasn’t your real father."

The words hit Lily like a slap in the face. She stared at her mother, struggling to process what she had just heard. "What... what do you mean? Harrison... he raised me. He was my dad."

Margaret sighed, the weight of the years evident in her tired eyes. "He was a good man, and he loved you like his own. But he wasn’t your biological father. I’m sorry I never told you before, but it’s the truth."

Lily felt the ground shift beneath her feet. Her mind raced, trying to reconcile the image of the man she’d always known as her father with this new, shocking information. "Then... who is my real father?"

Margaret hesitated for a moment, then finally answered, "His name is Dominic. He’s... he’s someone I knew before I met Harrison."

Lily’s emotions spiraled into a chaotic storm—shock, disbelief, anger, and an overwhelming sense of betrayal. She had so many questions, but they all collided in her mind, leaving her at a loss for words.

"Why didn’t you tell me this before?" she finally managed to ask, her voice shaking with emotion. "Why did you keep this from me?"

Margaret’s eyes filled with tears again. "I wanted to protect you, Lily. I didn’t want you to grow up with the complications of knowing... but now, things have changed. I don’t want to keep secrets from you anymore."

Lily’s fists clenched at her sides as she tried to contain the storm of feelings inside her. "So, what? You just expect me to accept this? To meet this man I’ve never known, who’s supposed to be my real father?"

Margaret’s voice was gentle, but firm. "I know it’s a lot to take in, baby. But you deserve to know the truth. And you deserve to meet him."

Lily took a step back, shaking her head as if trying to clear it. "I don’t... I don’t know what to think, Mom. This is all too much. I can’t just... I need time."

Margaret nodded, understanding in her eyes. "I know, sweetheart. And I’ll give you all the time you need. But please, just consider meeting him. He’s waited a long time to know you."

Lily didn’t know what to say, her thoughts a tangled mess. The revelation had shattered the foundation of everything she thought she knew about her life. She needed to process this, to try to make sense of it all.

But one thing was clear—nothing would ever be the same again.

Finally, she looked at her mother, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need some time, Mom. Please, just... give me some time."

Margaret nodded, her eyes filled with a mix of regret and hope. "Take all the time you need, Lily. I’ll be here when you’re ready."

With that, she stepped back, letting Lily go. As Lily turned and walked away, her mind whirling with everything she had just learned, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her life had just taken a turn she could never have anticipated.

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