HER ~LIFE ~IN ~A ~NUTSHELL

~CHAPTER 8

~~~

[•ROYALTY•PRIDE•HOSPITAL]

“Daddy—?”,She called,going to lewiston who stood like a statue.

Speechless was an understatement of what he was right now. This little girl looked too much like Naomi. There's this sudden pull he felt when she looked at him with those innocent eyes, especially when she said the word ‘Daddy’.

The chance of this girl being is daughter is a 70 over 100 percent—

Heck! That's not possible,He was sure she wasn't pregnant before he left,so how come there's a girl who looks so much like her and why is this little girl calling him daddy? What exactly is going on?

Before he could think of what to say, alessandro beat him to it.

“He's not your dad lily,get away from him,,,,” he said,then pointed at Gerard who stood with a ‘What's Going On Look?’.

“That's your mum's fiancee,therefore he's your dad” He finished.

Lily looked from Lewiston to Gerard,confusion swirling in her bright eye.

The man on the left didn't look anything like the pictures her mother had sent to her when she kept asking her who her father was,and the man her grandfather even told her was her father didn't even seem to understand what's going on with the way he was looking at her grandfather as if he had grown two heads.

While lewiston,looked exactly like the pictures which was why she had called him dad. She didn't want to get ahead of herself,so she waited for his reaction.

Lewiston didn't say anything,he only kept staring at her.

“What's really happening?” Gerard asked,getting fed up of being kept in the dark.

Even Beauty seemed to be very familiar with the little girl and… that made Gerard pause. “Wait… you know her?” he asked, looking at Beauty with narrowed eyes.

Beauty nodded slowly, a faint tension in her jaw. “Yes… I’ve seen her before. More than once,” she admitted, her voice soft but serious.

Lily smiled. “Aunt,” called with certainty.

The she turned towards Lewiston and repeated the same words. By now,Bianca was already on her feet,staring at lily as if it was illusion.

Lewiston finally found his voice, low and hesitant.

“Kid? Who told you I’m… your dad?”

Lily blinked, innocent confusion on her face. “I… I just thought… because you look like what my mommy showed me….”

Gerard ran a hand through his hair, exasperated.

“What the hell is going on here?”

Lewiston’s eyes never left Lily. Something deep inside him tightened—the impossible, undeniable pull he felt toward this little girl.

“No… this… this can’t be…” he muttered under his breath, almost to himself.

Beauty walked slowly towards him and placed an her hand on his arm, whispering.

“Lewiston… sometimes the truth isn’t what we expect.”

He looked at beauty,not saying a word as he was lost in his head.

He remembered beauty. She was naomi's closest friend after Ruth. He never knew they were families until Naomi told him when they were still together.

Beauty had always hated Ruth for as long as he could remember,maybe she wasn't aware that he was now in cahoots with the same Ruth she hated.

“I can remember asking someone to explain what's going on?” Gerard's pained voice echoed again.

Beauty faced him,about to speak when…

The door swung open again, revealing Dr. Hammond, clipboard in hand, expression tight with urgency.

“Excuse me,” he said, stepping in. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but Miss Naomi’s condition requires immediate attention. There’s something you need to know… urgently.”

Gerard's face which has been masked with confusion,quickly turned to worry. Lewiston's gaze tightened.

Naomi must survive this,they haven't even gotten anywhere,she can't just die. She better survive this or he'll stab her to life.

“What's going with my wife?” Gerard immediately faced Dr.Hammond. At the mention of wife, Lewiston folded his fist tightly.

“Yes,” Dr. Hammond replied, tone clipped.

“She’s stable, but her vitals are fluctuating dangerously. And… her blood type—she requires a transfusion immediately. The only compatible donor available is her own blood. Does she have a child?” He asked.

Lily froze, panic flashing across her features.

Gerard’s head snapped toward her. “Wait… what did you just say?”

Beauty chipped in.

“Yes…she does” She patted lily soothingly and gave her a little push,making her visible to the doctor.

Lewiston’s jaw clenched, his protective instincts kicking in.

“You want her to… give blood to Naomi?”

“Yes,” the doctor confirmed, voice firm.

“Otherwise, she may deteriorate further. There’s no alternative.” He completed.

Gerard knelt beside Lily, taking her small hands in his.

“Hey, look at me, girl,” he said gently.

“You’re helping your mom, although I don't know what's going on yet,but I'm sure you're her daughter. So do this for your mom,okay?”

The little girl nodded slowly, swallowing back fear. “I… I want Mommy to live,” she whispered.

Gerard nodded, impressed.

“That’s it. You’re being brave.”

Lewiston’s chest tightened where he stood. He wanted to step forward, to shield her from everything, but his hatred for Naomi battled with the undeniable truth: her life was now entwined with his alleged daughter’s.

He observed quietly, suspicious. He had always known Naomi kept secrets, but this—this was beyond what he had imagined.

He finally talked.

“So, the child exists… and yet no one informed me?” he murmured, voice laced with irritation and suspicion.

Gerard shook his head.

“No one knew, not even me,well maybe except her mom,dad, and beauty.” he said firmly.

“My wife must have had her reasons” He replied, emphasizing on the word ‘ His wife' clearly staking his claim on Naomi.

The room fell silent, tension thickening like a storm about to break.

~~~

[•HOSPITAL – BLOOD TRANSFUSION PREPARATION]

Nurses and doctors hurried into the room, prepped for the transfusion. Lily’s tiny frame seemed even smaller under the bright hospital lights. She gripped Beauty’s hand tightly, but her eyes flicked constantly toward Lewiston, searching for reassurance.

But there was no warmth in his dark eyes.

Alessandro held Bianca tightly as the stood beside Lewiston. Alessandro's gaze was only on Lewiston,in his mind, he'd have to teach him a lesson so Bianca would actually think he cares about Naomi.

Gerard knelt beside lily,voice low and rough.

“Hey…you’re strong. You’ve got this. For her.”

Lily wasn't even looking at him at all…she kept staring at lewiston.

Gerard's expression turned dark when he saw that lily didn't even answer him but just kept on staring at Lewiston.

He sighed.

Beauty guided Lily to the chair, checking the IV line and making sure she understood what was happening.

“You’re doing the right thing, Lily. This is going to help your mom feel better.”

She said. The little girl held her tightly.

Lewiston stood behind, arms crossed, watching every move. He hated Naomi, yes—but seeing Lily here, innocent, willing to save her, something in him twisted painfully. He hated that he cared.

Alessandro,observed coldly. “Do not make a mistake, Lewiston. She’s not your priority here,” he warned, taking Bianca's hand in his.

Lewiston’s lips twitched.

“You think I care about your daughter?,what a stupid joke” Lewiston replied coldly.

Alessandro didn’t answer, only stared, suspicion deep in his eyes.

After the blood transfusion, he'd surely make lewiston pay.

~~~~

[•HOSPITAL – SILAS & CARAMEL ARRIVE]

The door burst open again, Silas and Caramel entering, urgency etched across their faces. Silas’ sharp eyes swept the room, taking in the transfusion preparations.

“What’s going on?!” he demanded.

Gerard turned.

“Naomi… she’s unstable. She needs a transfusion, and Lily’s the only compatible donor.”

Silas staggered after hearing the news.

Caramel’s eyes widened.

“Oh my God… Lily?” she whispered.

Turns out the so called secret wasn't hidden from them.

She ran forward, crouching beside her little friend.

“It’s okay, Lily. You’re doing this for your mom. We’re right here with you.”

Silas stepped closer to Gerard.

“Do you need me to help? I can handle anything she needs right now,” he said, voice firm.

His eyes darted to Lewiston, noting the tension.

Silas gaze hardened.

“Step aside,” he muttered, keeping a protective hand near Lily.

He didn’t trust this man and he was even beginning to suspect he was behind the attack.

Lewiston glared, but didn't say anything.

Lily’s small hand trembled in Beauty's hold, tears threatening to fall.

“I… I want Mommy to live,” she said again, her voice barely audible.

“You’re helping her, Lily,” Gerard assured. “You’re so brave.”

Lewiston’s hand twitched, an urge to grab Lily and protect her raging inside him, but he held back.

He hated Naomi—hated everything she represented—but seeing Lily here, fighting for her, softened something deep inside him he didn’t want to acknowledge.

~~~

[•HOSPITAL – THE TRANSFUSION]

The doctor inserted the IV, and slowly, Lily’s blood began to flow toward Naomi. Gerard held Lily’s hand firmly, and she allowed him to surprisingly as he whispered encouragements.

Silas stood behind, ready to assist with anything necessary. Caramel’s hands hovered,unsure if she should intervene but refusing to leave Lily alone.

Alessandro’s eyes narrowed, suspicion unbroken.

“This… is far too convenient,” he muttered.

Lewiston’s gaze was fixed on Naomi, watching every flicker of her vitals. The hatred he had for her didn’t vanish, but the sight of her daughter saving her life—it stirred something bitter and uncontrollable in him.

“Stay strong, Naomi,” Lewiston muttered under his breath, low and rough.

Gerard, overhearing, frowned. “You… you don’t even like her, Lewiston. Why are you caring?”

Lewiston didn’t answer immediately, only watching. His jaw clenched, hatred still there but now mingled with… something else.

Minutes passed, hours seemed to stretch. Lily’s small hands tightened around Gerard’s as she whispered, “I can do it… I want Mommy to live.”

Finally, the transfusion was complete. Naomi’s vitals stabilized, color slowly returning to her cheeks. She stirred weakly, groaning softly.

Lily’s eyes widened.

“Mommy…” She whispered.

Bianca released alessandro's hold on her,rushing to her daughter’s side. Gerard literally fled to his fiancee’s side.

[Morning•N•M•C Library•]

Things hadn't been the same after Silas as caramel left yesterday night.

Bet was missing and no one knew where she was. The staffs didn't see Silas and Caramel too and that left them with curiousity. Since they wasn't anything the could do,they left for their respective houses.

Until this morning when they all came to work and saw different notifications at once.

Most of them came from the fandom.

“What's going on guys?” A staff whose name was Angela asked.

They were all rushing towards naomi's office when Silas and Caramel arrived. Eyes sunken and slightly swollen as if they hadn't got any sleep at all.

It was obvious they had rushed here with the way their clothes was rumpled,hair not brushed at all.

They were at the hospital with Naomi when they received a notification at the same time.

“SHADOW’S NIGHTMARE ON THE LOOSE”

That wasn't the main part,the one that shocked them was the picture of Naomi being lifted into the ambulance,the picture wasn't edited at all and whoever took the picture clearly wasn't ordinary. It also showed when lily and beauty were about to enter the hospital.

They had not been cleared if that shock when they saw a picture of little lily in the news with the caption.

•WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THE ALMIGHTY ALESSANDRO NAOMI CINDY,THE WELL KNOWN AUTHOR OF NOTABLE BOOKS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY OF AMERICA HAD AN HIDDEN CHILD WITH NO IDENTIFIED FATHER? WE'RE SHOCKED TO GET THE KNEWS OF HER DAUGHTER WHO ARRIVED YESTERDAY UNDER THE WATCH OF BEAUTY CLIFFORD, DAUGHTER OF PRESIDENT CLIFFORD OF LONDON. THIS NEWS ISN'T FAKE AND THERE'S ALWAYS PROOF. THIS AUTHOR ISN'T WHO Y'ALL THINK SHE IS. SHE HAS A DARK PAST AND YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO DENY THE LITTLE GIRL WAS HER DAUGHTER,COZ OF THE STRIKING RESEMBLANCE•

That was the first one,as they kept on increasing. Caramel and Silas left the hospital in a hurry after informing Gerard of the situation.

Thankfully,Naomi was fine now but she can't handle all this.

As long as Silas could remember,he had gotten rid of the reporter who took that picture,so who could have done this? This only means one thing,whoever is after their boss is closer than they might have thought.

Silas faced the panicked Angela,saying in a rough voice.

“What happened? Explain in detail”

“Well sir,we didn't see either of you guys yesterday so we clocked out early. I've been having a feeling something wasn't right but I shrugged it off,until this morning when the SHADOW’S NIGHTMARES started their post in the fandom. I was scared when I saw the news too” Angela explained.

“Don't worry, we'll handle this situation and boss is fine. I'll need you to—” he hadn't completed his words when Angela cut in.

“Is boss really the mother of that girl in the news?” She curiously asked.

Silas gave her a long stare,not wanting to reply. He didn't want to lie and he also didn't want to tell her the truth. They've all known Naomi since she started writing so her having a daughter without their knowledge would surely be a blow to them.

“I really don't think that's what you're supposed to ask,we should be thinking of ways to calm the fandom and bring down the news instead of questioning boss's private life” Caramel said, impatiently.

She hated it when Silas talked to girls other than the boss for a long time.

“I didn't think that way” Angela chuckled awkwardly.

Silas and Caramel left together,not without giving her somethings to do.

[•Naomi's•Office•]

They both came here directly from the first floor.

They connected their voices to the loud speakers on the third floor,they don't use it expect for emergency period and this was one of those emergencies.

Angela as expected,had gathered all the staffs together as they listened to what Silas wanted to say.

But instead of Silas, caramel's smooth voice echoed.

“I believe we all know what's been going on since last night,so I wouldn't waste my time saying it again. One thing we almost should know in this situation is that we must not panic, we all trust Cindy and whatever reason it was that she kept her child hidden is for the best. She's in the hospital now,yes. But trust me guys when I say she's fine now. At Least her condition isn't as worse as it was last night. Let's all work together to bring down the news and if course,the child has a father. I'm sure you guys don't know that Cindy would be getting married in two months time–”

At the mention of a wedding,they all gasped surprised. Not coz of the wedding but because of the fact that it was in this same two moths time that their authoress would publish her book.

“Calm down guys–her wedding wouldn't stop her from publishing her work. So tell me now guys,if authoress already has a fiancee,how is it that her child doesn't have a father?” Caramel asked.

Silas was live,filming caramel and ge watched as different comments flooded in from the fandom especially.

~I don't fucking care about all this shit caramel keeps saying, who's the motherfucker that hurt Cindy?

~Been a while I ruined people's sweat, I'm looking forward to get that bastard.

~Cindy had a daughter? That's great,would love to meet her personally.

~Can anybody explain what's going on?

~Silas is sooo stupid,I thought he was the one supposed to say all this? Such a tiny rat.

~If only…if only I was in America.

~I dunno why authoress keep laying us low and now things got to this. Had it been she didn't tell us to always stay quiet all this would have never happened.

~Woah!(laughing emoji) finally got to see naomi being ruined. This so refreshing,all thanks to Lewiston Carl–yeah,he stabbed her to death.

This particular comment,although anonymous caught Silas’attention. He eneded the love and at the same time caramel wrapped up what she was saying.

They gave each other a knowing look and got down to work.

They knew whose comment that was and as expected,whoever it was mentioned the real culprit.

[•Lewiston’s•Apartment•]

Lewiston sat in his room,he just finished watching the live and as expected,the news of the anonymous comment already spread throughout the country.

He knew the only person that could do this was Ruth.

That bitch would do anything to ruin Naomi just the way he could but she doesn't use her medulla at all.

She must have thought naomi's fans wouldn't get her,how foolish and thoughtless of her.

She should be here in a while–

One,

Two—

He didn't finish counting when his door opened and Ruth rushed in,half insane.

“Carl–you need to help me,I made a mistake. I shouldn't have said those things in the comment,I was really foolish. Please help me, they're already looking for me” She pleaded,falling on her knees as she crawled to his side.

Lewiston didn't bother replying,he took his blunt and lighted it, releasing crazy smokes it choked her.

“Carl,I beg of you,please help me. I'm in a dilemma and I need you to help me. I'd do anything—”

Lewiston finally looked at her.

“Anything,you say?” He asked creepily as the smokes from his blunt curling around them like a chain.

“Yes—anything. I'll do anything at all,just help me please” She begged desperately.

Lewiston didn't say a word,coz someone else did.

“Then would you die?” The unmistakeable icy voice,void of emotion said.

Naomi emerged from a hidden corner,looking like jezebel. She walked slowly,taking calculated steps towards trembling Ruth.

Ruth was already a ruined mess. Her tears were were falling massively,catarrh flowing out of her.

She crawled backwards with each step Naomi took,until her back hit someone's leg.

She turned,staring from the leg to the face and she didn't know when she shifted back again at the same time,Naomi was standing behind her.

“Ruthie Ruthie—how does it feel falling inside your own pit?” Sh asked,her voice cold.

Ruth couldn't find her voice. She was still staring at the person she saw.

The…the…reporter that broadcasted the news. And behind him was her father,Silas,caramel,Bianca, alessandro,lily and beauty.

How did things backfired? She had planned everything out so perfectly so why is this happening? Maybe she was just imagining things,she closed her eyes and slapped herself,opened her eyes back but everything was still the same.

“I think we should help her,she thinks this isn't real” Beauty chuckled like deranged witch.

She moved to Ruth with an insane speed and landed two clean consecutive slaps on her face.

Ruth's head moved with slap as her hair scattered on her face.

“Baby—she still doesn't believe it real,why don't you help her?” Beauty said, directing this to Naomi.

“Take lily out for me Mel—i don't want my baby's eye to see this useless whore’s blood”

Caramel took lily out.

Naomi grabbed Ruth's hair from behind and brought out a scissors—she stared at the object in her hand,smiling the way a maniac would as she brought down the scissors to Ruth's hair cutting her hair brutally.

Ruth's father,unable to watch his daughter suffer took a step forward but he couldn't take another before falling dead on the floor.

Eyes widened, especially Ruth's as she looked at her father's dead figure. Naomi let go of Ruth's hair as she stared at her dad,who held a gun.

Apparently,he shot Ruth's father dead,he doesn't even seem bothered as he looked at Naomi.

“Go ahead and make her bald” he said,more like a silent command.

Ruth's crazy scream tore through the room as she held her father's limp body.

Unknowingly Naomi has dropped the scissors she was using out of shock. Ruth picked it up and moved to Naomi, she raise her hand and stabbed her.

Oops not her........ him.

Lewiston stood protectively in front of Naomi as the scissor went in completely. Blood spilled out of his mouth.

Ruth's eyes widened, so did everyone else's.

Ruth removed the scissor quickly and Lewiston staggered. Naomi's hand shot out to hold him stable immediately.

Seeing what has happened, Gerard who was already moving to save Naomi stopped and swallowed on nothing.

Even Bianca was surprised.

"Why"....? Naomi whispered