CHAPTER 12: THE PAINFUL ACCUSATIONS
Badum. Badum. Badum.
Briar's heart thumped so loud, it felt like her eardrums were about to burst at the sound of it.
With a frozen body, Briar forced her body to turn around, so that she was facing this person who had just objected to the marriage she was still celebrating getting into.
Coming face to face with a beautiful teenager whose appearance looked like three parts of her mother, Briar felt as if her mind was about to get into a shutdown.
She stood there in disbelief, not knowing what to say as she looked at the girl she liked so much and had raised into teen hood. And that girl was Lyra, Logan's first-born child, and the girl who was more of a best friend in the same way that she was like a daughter to her.
"You ….. I … how did you know?" Briar found herself asking with a stutter, and nervously to Lyra, who was fuming with anger, as she glared hatefully at her as if she had murdered her beloved one.
Behind Lyra were the two other siblings, Cade and Tiana. And unlike Lyra, the two of them were looking at her with a baffled expression. They were probably still in a trance, not believing what their ears had heard.
'Just when did they arrive? Why didn't anyone notify them?' Briar felt like bashing someone after being caught unaware like that, but what could she do now that she was already caught?
Why did she have to ask that question now?
Briar regretted it so much, but there was no medicine for regret.
Lyra raised her hand as her body trembled with anger. She just never expected to come home and hear such shocking news.
"When did that happen? Why are you suddenly married to our father? Did you scheme your way into my father's bed?" Lyra hurled questions at Briar, her eyes teary as she thought of the disgusting methods Briar might have used to let her father marry her.
Her father had promised them that he wouldn't replace their mother. So why did he suddenly get married? And to their nanny on top of that. What did he see them as?
Briar was at a loss for words as she listened to these questions.
Was she really unworthy of him for Lyra to even think like that?
Must she only resort to drastic and shameless measures to be able to marry a man like Logan?
Was that how filthy she was in Lyra's mind for her to look at her like that?
Briar felt hurt and Lyra's words gave her a sound slap of reality. If Lyra could see it like that, then what about the rest?
Just what exactly did she get herself into?
Was this really worth it?
Lyra seeing Briar lost in her thoughts, angrily yelled at her as she walked towards the other, "I am asking you a question, Briar. Just what the heck did you do? Just because you have been our nanny for years, do you think that qualifies you to become our mother now? Did it get to your head all the jokes we have been playing on you?" not minding calling her by her name, something that had never happened before.
These words jolted Briar to reality as she looked at Lyra with a stunned expression, "You ….. what are you saying? Is that how you talk to your adults?" Briar couldn't help but lash out at Lyra.
"You…" not expecting Briar to suddenly lash out at her, Lyra didn't know what to say. She could only point angrily at Briar.
Briar, on the other hand, couldn't stand being insulted like that, especially with a child she raised.
"Lyra, you were taught much better than that. Before you even understand what is going on, you start pointing fingers at me!" Briar felt infuriated as she looked at Lyra, her body shook as she spoke. "I might not be qualified to become your mother, but when did I ask you to replace your mother and call me one?"
Lyra, hearing that, was stunned. Indeed, she just came in when they were talking about the marriage, but when did the nanny ever ask anything from them?
"I _"
Unfortunately, Briar wasn't having it. She cut her before she could respond. "I know myself pretty well. I am not qualified to become your mother, and I will never steal that from your mother. In your eyes and everyone else, I am still that young girl brought here by the true madam to become your nanny. In your eyes, I will always be that nanny who took care of you and did what you wanted. How can I even compare to the kind of mother you have in your heart?"
"I_"
"I didn't ask for this. Damn! Why am I even explaining?" Briar felt emotional as she poured out her heart or rather her insecurities.
That image of her would never be erased. Because she was just a girl from that village, and clueless, not even once did anyone from this family take her seriously.
Not even once did anyone, oh except that person, even notice that she was obsessively in love with Logan. She was just a toothless tiger, someone who would always bark when asked to.
Was she really that pathetic of a person?
The butler, seeing Briar getting angry, knew that things were about to get out of hand. However, he couldn't interfere. One way or the other, they would have to face this. At least, the maser wasn't present. Maybe by letting it all out, in the future, they would all live harmoniously with each other.
Cade, seeing the altercation between his sister and the nanny, no, the stepmother now, was filled with anxiety.
This was the first time that he had seen an angry nanny. She had been angry before, but every time she would keep her mouth shut. However, this time, it seemed that she couldn't contain it anymore and seeing her crying as her body trembled with anger, Cade knew that she was so angry.
He couldn't help but tug Lyra's uniform, hoping that she would stop it.
Briar, on the other hand, looked hurtfully at Lyra. She believed that before Lyra could judge her when she heard the news, she would at least try to understand why this was happening. Unfortunately, she reached her own conclusion and painted her as the bad guy.
She knew that she had overreacted and vented her anger on the child, but she couldn't help it.
If she continued to be in the room right now, she was afraid that she would end up doing something that she would regret. She had already done enough damage.
Who knows how Logan will react once he learns of this?
Regaining her senses, Briar closed her eyes as she took a deep breath.
'Let's be calm and not lose it. We can't expose ourselves!' she chanted religiously before opening her eyes.
Drip. Drip.
However, as soon as she opened her eyes, tears streamed down her cheeks, making her look pitiful at a glance.
Nonetheless, Briar's intention wasn't to look this pitiful. She had been too emotional, and it was catching up to her.
She looked apologetically to the butler, who was enjoying the drama and said, "I am afraid that I can't cook the meal now. I don't feel well. I will go to my room and rest!" before walking away.
The kids made way for Briar without saying a word and watched helplessly as the other flew away.
Lyra dumbfoundedly looked at the butler as she asked, "This … Grandpa Marcus, what just happened?" puzzlement written all over her face.