Page 178 of Wisteria and Cloves
She took the phone, scrolling through comment after comment of people expressing outrage at her mother's behavior and support for her choices. Her expression softened as she read.
"'Leave her alone, she's clearly happy,'" she read aloud, her voice wavering slightly."'These men seem to adore her, and she deserves that love.'" She looked up, her eyes bright with unshed tears."I didn't expect strangers to defend me."
"People recognize authenticity," Julian said gently. "And they can spot controlling behavior when they see it."
Lilianna continued scrolling, a small smile forming as she read more supportive messages. "There's even a comment from Elena," she said, her voice brightening. "She says,'So proud of my talented student for following her heart. You deserve every happiness, dear one.'"
Christopher smiled, watching the tension ease from her shoulders as she read. "See? You've built a community of people who care about you. That's not something your mother can take away."
Lilianna nodded, setting the phone down with more confidence than she'd shown all day. “I’m glad. I was scared …” She hesitated, "I was scared that people would judge me, or think I was being foolish," she continued, her voice growing stronger. "But seeing all this support... it makes me realize that what we have isn't something to be ashamed of."
Miles reached over to squeeze her hand. "Never be ashamed of choosing love over obligation."
"What happens now?" she asked, looking between us with a mixture of apprehension and determination. "Do we respond to her comments? Release the statement faster?"
Julian's expression grew thoughtful. "We stick to our plan. The official statement goes out in an hour as scheduled. We don't engage with her directly - that's what she wants. Attention and drama."
Lilianna nodded, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of the blanket. "You're right. Engaging would just give her what she wants." Her voice grew steadier with each word. "I won't let her drag me back into those old patterns."
"That's my girl," I murmured, pride swelling in my chest at her strength.
Her phone buzzed again, and she glanced at it with newfound resolve. "More notifications?"
"More support," I confirmed, checking the screen. "And—oh, Lydia's commented too."
“She found my account?” She muttered as she took the phone, her expression softening as she read aloud:"'So proud of you for choosing your own path. Your happiness shines through in every word. Let me know if you need anything—we're all here for you.'"
"She understands better than most," Miles observed quietly.
“How about we do something to distract you for now. How about another cooking lesson?” I asked her, hoping that would be something to do to get her mind off of everything.
Lilianna's eyes brightened at my suggestion. "Actually, I'd love that. What could we make?"
"Something comforting," I said, gently extracting myself from the nest. "Maybe that pasta carbonara you've been wanting to learn? Comfort food is exactly what we need right now."
She nodded, some of the tension visibly draining from her shoulders. "That sounds perfect."
Julian helped her to her feet, his hands lingering protectively at her waist. "I'll keep monitoring the comments and handle the official statement while you cook. "
"And I'll make sure the security system is fully activated," Nicolaus added, already moving toward his laptop. "Just as a precaution."
Miles began gathering the blankets, carefully folding each one. "I'll keep this nest intact for later. Something tells me we might need it again before this is over."
I watched him for a second before leading Lilianna away. Excited to try to distract her and just spend time with her.
Chapter Sixty-Two
Lilianna
After the cooking was finished I took a shower and now settled back in the nest in my room for a little quiet time. The carbonara had been perfect—creamy, rich, and exactly the kind of comfort food I'd needed. Christopher had been patient as always, guiding me through each step while keeping the conversation light and distracting. For those two hours in the kitchen, I'd almost forgotten about everything else.
But now, alone with my thoughts, the weight of the situation settled back over me like a familiar blanket. My phone sat on the nightstand, face down—I'd asked Miles to change my notification settings so I wouldn't be constantly reminded of the growing attention.
A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. "Come in," I called, not wanting to move from my nest. Julian opened the door, coming in and shutting the door behind him.
“I just came in to check on you and see if you would like some company.” He gave me a soft smile as he looked at me from the edge of my nest.
I nodded, scooting over to make room for him. "Please. I could use the company."
