I Married My Ex's Billionaire Father
Chapter 245: Person Lurking In The Shadows

Chapter 245: Person Lurking In The Shadows

The engine of Lyse’s car sputtered to a halt, the sudden silence amplifying the desolate quiet of the secluded environment. She had been driving for hours with no direction in mind, a mindless escape from the chaos that had become her life. The winding roads had led her to this isolated spot that she had not been to in a long time, a place far removed from the city, where the only sounds were the gentle lapping of water against the shore and the rustling of leaves in the evening breeze.

She stepped out of the car and pulled off her shoes, the cool night air a stark contrast to the stifling heat of her emotions. The pond, reflecting the twilight sky, seemed to stretch into infinity, a dark, shimmering mirror reflecting her own inner turmoil. She sat down at its edge, slipped her feet into the cool waters, picked up a handful of smooth, grey stones and began to toss them into the water, watching the ripples spread and fade, a metaphor for the way her life had been disrupted.

Her mind drifted back to the revelation she had received, the shattering truth that Lottie was not her mother. Because it was the truth. Try as she did to deny it, she knew without a doubt that Ken had told her the truth.

The realization had been like a physical blow, a seismic shift that had fractured her understanding of her own existence. The woman she had loved despite their twisted and fractured relationship, the woman she believed to be her mother was a fraud, her whole life had been a lie.

The memories, twisted into painful reminders of betrayal. She recalled the countless times Lottie had favored Brooke, the subtle and not-so-subtle ways she had made it clear that Brooke not her who was supposedly her own daughter was her priority. Lyse had always attributed it to sibling rivalry, a natural imbalance in parental affection. But now, the truth was glaringly obvious.

She remembered the times she had looked at herself in the mirror, wondering why she did not resemble Lottie. Brooke, with her fair skin and sharp features, was a perfect miniature of Lottie, while Lyse was an anomaly, a puzzle piece that did not fit. Strangers pointing it out had made it painfully obvious to her. But she had dismissed it as a quirk of genetics, a random variation in family traits. But now, the confusion morphed into a chilling understanding.

The pain of rejection, the years of outright neglect, the torture of feeling unloved, unwanted, resurfaced with a renewed intensity. She had always felt like an outsider, a barely tolerated stranger in her own home. She had always wondered what she had done to receive that kind of treatment. Now, she knew why. She had never belonged in the first place.

The anger, a slow-burning ember, began to flare. It was not just about Lottie’s deception. It was about the years of wasted affection, the emotional investment in a relationship that was built on a lie. She had given Lottie her love, her trust, her loyalty, and in return, she had received... nothing. No, worse. She had been treated like a dispensable commodity with no feelings.

She also felt anger at Ken, "her father" she knew that it was irrational since it had been out of his control but she wanted to rage at him, ask him why he had not tried harder, why he had not been there when she needed soothing and had been left feeling like the most alone person in the world.

She recognized the fact that he was hurting also, it must really hurt to realize that he had a child all these years that had needed him. Lyse knew it was not his fault but she was still mad at him, in time she would let go of the resentment. But not right now, not today.

She wondered how long the big gapping wound in her heart would heal and if it would even heal at all. She decided that she was going to confront Lottie, ask her why she had done this. She deserved some answers after everything she had gone through in their hands.

She tossed another stone into the pond, the splash echoing the hollow ache in her heart. She stared listlessly at the horizon, the fading light casting long, distorted shadows across the water. She felt adrift, lost in a sea of uncertainty, with no anchor to hold onto.

Suddenly, the silence was broken by the soft crunch of footsteps on the gravel path behind her. She froze, her senses snapping to attention. She turned slowly, her eyes scanning the darkness.

A figure emerged from the shadows, their form silhouetted against the fading light. Lyse’s heart pounded in her chest, a frantic drumbeat against the stillness of the night. Who was it? And what did they want?

"Who is there?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper, carried on the gentle breeze.

The figure stopped, their features still obscured by the darkness. They did not answer, but their presence was palpable, a silent question hanging in the air.

At the lack of a response, Lyse’s fear began to morph into a cold, hard determination. She had been hurt, betrayed, and abandoned. But she would not be a victim to some faceless coward. She would not cower in the shadows. She would face whatever, or whoever, stood before her.

She took a step forward, her eyes fixed on the figure. "Show yourself," she commanded, her voice gaining strength. "I’m not afraid of you."

The figure remained still, a silent sentinel in the twilight. The tension in the air was thick, heavy with unspoken words and hidden intentions. Lyse waited for their next move, her breath held captive in her lungs, her body poised for action. She was ready to confront the past, to face the darkness, to reclaim her life. And for that she needed to get past whoever this person lurking in the shadows was.