New Things

I slapped his face as hard a could. I stood up immediately and took a few steps away from him. He was still sitting on the grass, holding his cheek. The same cheek I kissed a moment ago. The same cheek I just slapped. I looked at him and he looked at me. I ran away, without saying a word.

I could have just stopped him. I didn't have to slap him. The thought of hurting Harry gave me nightmares. I hurt him...again. I blocked the tears on my face. I placed my arm in front of my eyes, giving no way for the tears to flow.

Why did I do that...just why.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Natasha. I spoke in my trembling voice, "Natasha?"

"Yes, Miss Smith?"

"Pick me up."

"Is everything okay?"

"Yes...My chest hurts."

"I will be there in five minutes, Miss." and with that said she hung the call. I sat on the same bench as before. I hung my legs low as I was too short to reach the floor.

Natasha drove in with the car just about at the same time as Harry ran towards me as well.

He tried to say something but I stopped him. I rushed into the car and slammed the door on his face.

“I don’t mean to intrude, Miss Smith but is everything alright between you and Mr. Miller?” Natasha asked, pulling the car out of the driveway of the park.

“He tried to kiss me.”

Natasha hit the brakes as hard as humanly possible. I gasped, holding my torso.

“He tried what, Lillian?” She asked, almost ready to turn the car around and run him over.

“Natasha! Natasha! Please calm down, it was just a kiss, nothing much. I stopped him anyway, and he didn’t try anything after that.”

“Mister Petit would not like this information.”

“I know, that’s why, please don’t tell dad about this. Please.”

“Fine, but don’t go crying to him later on about what Mr. Miller did.”

“I won’t...I won’t.”

Natasha drove us back to the mansion. She said to me, “Would you mind telling Mr. Petit that I cannot be present for the rest of the day as I have somewhere important to be?”

“I will, no problem.”

”I will be taking the taxi-“

”Nah, you can take that car, I’m sure dad won’t mind.”

“Alright, thank you, Miss.”

“Just call me Lillian.”

I walked in through the front door. Dad was standing on the staircase, yelling on the phone to someone in French, “Je comprends vos inquiétudes, Ethan, mais non, je ne vous mentionne pas dans mon volonté parce que tout cela va à ma fille. C’est son droit d’aînesse. Je ne te donne même pas. Une pincée de celui-ci. Fais ce que tu veux. Je m'en fous. Et ne me contactez plus, sinon je n’entrerai en contact avec vous.”

[I understand your concerns, Ethan, I really do but no, I am not mentioning you in my will because all of it will be going to my daughter. It’s her birthright. I am not giving you even. A pinch of it. Do what you want. I don’t care. And don’t contact me again or else I will go no contact with you.]

“Dad, Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas?” I questioned walking towards him. He was discussing his property with someone on the phone. Why else would he mention his will?

[What’s wrong?]

“Lily, Mon Dieu, tu n’étais pas censé entendre ça. Va dans ta chambre, c’est important.” He said, rushing up the stairs, into his cabin.

[My goodness, you weren’t supposed to hear that. Go to your room, this is important.]

“Right...” I scoffed of went on my way into my bedroom. I ignored all the texts I got from Harry.

I was in love with him, I will admit but him trying to kiss me took me by a shock. I didn’t want to ignore him. It’s just...after how horrible I was to him, I told think I can show him my face.

I sat on my bed thinking. Dad was right. Distraction from the pain does reduce it a lot, or it could just be the fact that I was stressing too much mentally instead of on my own body.

I rested my head on the pillow for a while. I just hoped not to have horrible dreams.

“Mum! Dad! birdie!” I yelled, pointing out a tiny bluebird sitting on the window ledge.

Dad patted my head and a woman kissed my cheek.

I immediately opened my eyes. That was a weird dream.

I got out of bed and went to dad’s office. I knocked on the door, waiting for a response. No answer.

I pushed the door open and poked my head inside. Dad wasn’t there. I usually would respect his privacy but this was important for me.

I knew he always hid a frame in his drawer. I rushed to the drawer and looked through it. Pulling out paintings, sketches, photographs, and everything else.

I sighed and looked harder. I looked through the other drawers. I found a key in one of the other drawers. I pulled the key out. I hooped a chain through the key and put it around my neck. I knew it was something important because it was in his office for a reason.

What am I doing- yes frame frame frame...

I scratched my head and looked through the last drawer. I found it. I found the frame with the same woman. Dad had his arm around the woman. There were two kids. One brunette boy holding the woman’s hand and a blonde girl in dad’s hands.

“I see you’ve found the frame.” Dad's voice said.

I quickly put it back on the desk. I lowered my head and looked at my toes.

“There’s nothing for you to be ashamed of, just for wanting mere information on your past.” He said, picking up the frame.

”Tell me about her.”

He gestured me to sit on the chair. I sat there again, with my legs crisscrossed.

“Your mother was a beautiful young woman. Her name was Victoria Smith. You had an older brother, Joshua Petit-Smith-“

“I want to know what happened to her! Where is she now?”

“She divorced me, took Joshua, and went away. She then went no contact with me.”

“And she won’t even return to meet us? Or even talk to me?”

“No-“

“GAH!” I screamed and went out of his room. I pulled my hair and rushed to my room.

I slammed my door shut. I could hear dad scream my name. “Lillian! Lillian!”

“I need time!”

“Fine, your friend Harry is here, you might want to talk to him.”

“Send him in-“

Harry slowly opened the door and whispered my name, “Lily?”

“Harry...”

I was a physical mess to look at. My hair all jaggedly, my face numb from the crying and my jeans had cresses and my shirt was all wrinkled. I would not want anyone to see me like this.

“Lillian, I am sorry for trying to-“

“Shut up! Just shut up.”

“Fine fine...I can go if you want.”

“Stay...”

He looked at me, slowly rubbing my shoulder. He said, “You know...I really shouldn’t have done that, especially under our tree.”

“I said shut up. I am sorry for hurting you-“

“I’m sorry for-“

“No, I’m sorry...”

”No you are not apologizing.”

“But-“

“Another apology and I walk out that door.”

“Fine...I need to tell you something.”

I explained to him what happened in the cabin.

“So that woman just walked out of your life, leaving you with such an abomination?”

“Pretty much.”

“And what did you say your mother’s name was?”

“Victoria Smith.”

“You’re kidding right?”

“Why?”

He grabbed my laptop and opened the search engine.

I scooted beside him and asked, “What are you doing?”

"Victoria Elisabeth Smith, the youngest businesswoman the world had ever seen, started her business of the hotels at the age of fourteen. Her disappearance had taken everyone by shock. We still don't have any idea about her sons. All information left about her remaining family is her husband-"

"Stop. Just stop reading." I interrupted him.

I rushed out of the door with all my might. I slammed the door on Harry's face while he tried to leave behind me. "I'll stay here..." He screamed from my room.

I needed answers from my dad. I did not care what he did, what he will say or do. I needed my answers and I would do anything to get them.