Chapter 13 - The Impossible Demand
Lily gripped the phone tighter, her heart pounding violently against her ribs. “Cooperate how?”
“I need you to sign an affidavit stating that Julian Calder forced you to lie about the incident at the restaurant,” Richard instructed calmly. “State that he orchestrated the scene to fabricate a breach of contract against my daughter. Do that, and your mother’s medical debt disappears completely.”
Lily stood frozen in the quiet office.
They were asking her to ruin the reputation of the man who had shown her unconditional respect and given her an opportunity to change her life—all to protect their own corrupt fortune.
“I won't do that,” Lily said, her voice shaking with righteous anger. “Mr. Calder did nothing wrong! Your daughter was abusive to an elderly man!”
“You have until tomorrow night at eight o'clock, Miss Carter,” Richard said coldly, ignoring her protest. “Sign the affidavit, or your mother loses her bed at St. Jude’s. The choice is yours.”
The line went dead.
Lily dropped her phone onto the desk, sinking into her chair as tears finally overflowed down her cheeks. She felt completely trapped between protecting her sick mother and standing up for the truth.
May you like
She buried her face in her hands, weeping silently in the quiet office.
👉 Suddenly, the office door clicked open, and Julian Calder walked in carrying a stack of financial reports.
