Chapter 17

Lily opened the door to her apartment, the morning sun flooding the hallway as she stepped out. Today was crucial; the new CEO was arriving, and she was already running late. Mia had left early, and the pressure of the day ahead weighed heavily on her. She hurried down the stairs, her mind racing with thoughts of presentations and meetings.

But as she reached the bottom, she froze. Standing just outside her building were Mr. and Mrs. Gray—Ethan’s parents. The sight of them struck her like a lightning bolt, a mix of joy and dread swirling within her. They had been her lifeline after her parents died, raising her as their own and showering her with love and support.

“Lily!” Mrs. Gray exclaimed, her face lighting up with warmth. “It’s so good to see you!”

For a moment, Lily was speechless, her heart swelling with gratitude and nostalgia. Memories of family dinners, laughter, and the comfort they provided flooded her mind. But as she stood there, a lump formed in her throat. She hadn’t seen them in months, not since the divorce, and the thought of facing them brought a rush of conflicting emotions.

“Mr. and Mrs. Gray…” she managed to say, forcing a smile that felt brittle.

At her words, she noticed a flicker of disappointment cross their faces. Mr. Gray’s smile faltered, and Mrs. Gray’s eyes clouded with hurt.

“Lily,” Mr. Gray said, his voice steady but tinged with sadness. “You don’t have to call us that. We’re your family.”

The weight of his words hit her hard. “I’m so sorry,” she stammered, her heart aching. “I didn’t mean to—”

Mrs. Gray stepped forward, her expression softening but still pained. “We’ve always thought of you as our daughter. It hurts to hear you call us Mr. and Mrs. Gray.”

Tears pricked at the corners of Lily’s eyes. “I’ve just been so overwhelmed. I didn’t mean to push you away. I miss you both so much.”

“We miss you too,” Mrs. Gray replied, her voice trembling. “But it feels like you’re distancing yourself from us, especially after everything that’s happened with Ethan.”

Lily felt her heart break at the mention of Ethan. “I know this divorce has affected all of us,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I never wanted to hurt you or make you feel like you weren’t my family.”

Mr. Gray sighed, his expression softening further. “We’re disappointed with how things turned out, but we want you to know that we’re still here for you. You’re not alone in this.”

As Mrs. Gray reached out, pulling Lily into a warm embrace, Lily felt the familiar comfort of their love enveloping her. “You’ll always be our daughter,” Mrs. Gray whispered, her voice filled with sincerity. “No matter what happens with Ethan, we are here for you.”

Lily melted into the embrace, the floodgates opening as she allowed herself to feel the weight of her emotions. “I’m so grateful for you both,” she said, her voice muffled against Mrs. Gray’s shoulder. “I’ve felt so lost without you.”

As they pulled back, Mr. Gray looked into her eyes, his gaze steady. “We want to help you through this, Lily. Just promise us you won’t shut us out.”

“I promise,” she replied, wiping her tears. “I’ll do better. I’ll call you Mom and Dad from now on.”

A soft smile returned to Mrs. Gray’s face, and Mr. Gray nodded, relief washing over him. “We’d like that. And remember, you can always lean on us.”

With a gentle sigh, Mrs. Gray added, “Actually, we came to invite you to our wedding anniversary party next week. It’s a big milestone for us, and we would love for you to be there.”

Lily’s heart warmed at the invitation. “Of course! I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she said, a genuine smile breaking through her earlier tension. “Sorry I forgot your anniversary date, Mom and Dad.”

“It's fine, my love,” Mr. Gray replied, his eyes brightening. “We’re having a small gathering at our home, just family and close friends.”

“I’ll be there, no matter what,” Lily promised, her voice firm with determination. “I wouldn’t want to miss celebrating such an important day for you both.”

Mrs. Gray’s face lit up with joy. “That means so much to us, Lily. We want to celebrate with you, just like old times.”

With one last look of affection, Mr. and Mrs. Gray turned to leave, but not before Lily called out, “Wait! Can we have lunch together soon? I’d love to catch up before the party.”

“Absolutely,” Mrs. Gray replied, her smile brightening again. “We’d love that.”

As they walked away, Lily felt a renewed sense of hope. Despite the challenges ahead, she knew she had a support system that would always stand by her side. With a deep breath, she turned back to her apartment, ready to face the day ahead, knowing she was never truly alone.