Chapter 7 Return To The Hatcher Mansion

Debbie held onto Lilly's toy rabbit tightly. "Don't worry, Dad, Mum. Lilly left her toy rabbit at home. I'm sure she'll come back to get it." Only Debbie understood the significance of the rabbit. It was the only gift Jean had left for her daughter. As a result, Lilly hugged it every day; even when she was being mistreated, she couldn't bear to let go. Debbie remembered that Lilly didn't cry despite the constant pinching and yelling. However, when she grabbed the bunny and cut off an ear, the little girl immediately burst into tears. "Are you sure she'll come back?" Stephen looked skeptically at the worn-out toy. He didn't see any value in the dirty rabbit. Debbie smiled confidently and said, "You wouldn't know this was her favorite toy since you didn't spend much time with Lilly, Stephen. It holds a special place in her heart because her mom left it for her." Paula pondered for a moment before agreeing with Debbie's analysis. She remembered that Lilly always brought the rabbit everywhere she went, even to the restroom. "That's great! I hope she'll return!" Paula said excitedly. She was confident in her ability to persuade a little girl. Debbie's eyes flickered as she thought, Lilly will come back for the rabbit and the parrot. I'm not sure who owns the parrot, but it lives in the forest behind the Hatcher Mansion. No one can get close to it except for Lilly. So, she'll personally come to get the parrot. It's impossible to ask someone else to collect it for her. "I've already stitched and cleaned the rabbit just now. Lilly will be overjoyed to see it in good condition," Debbie shared. Stephen hugged his wife and said happily, "Debbie, you're the best! You're so kind to Lilly, even though she has caused you so much pain. Not only did you forgive her, but you also fixed her rabbit. I'll repay your kindness when the Hatchers regain our former glory." Debbie leaned on the man and pretended to be overjoyed. "I want to help you in any way I can, Stephen." "Hurry, let's tidy up the place!" Paula instructed Debbie. The servants had been dismissed from the mansion after the Hatchers went bankrupt. So, there was no one left to give instructions except for Debbie. Even though she did as she was told, the woman's eyes flashed with hatred when no one was looking. A few black Maybachs pulled up outside the porch of the Hatcher Mansion. Anyone would be surprised to see the eight charming young men alongside the mighty Hugh Crawford stepping out of the cars. And yet, all this commotion was for the sake of retrieving a toy rabbit. Debbie, on the other hand, chose to stay on the third floor and observe the events from the balcony. She felt envious when she saw the eight Crawford brothers and wondered how her life would change if she could win the heart of one of them. Debbie's heart skipped a beat when she saw the man wearing a black silk shirt. He pushed his golden-rimmed spectacles up on his nose while looking around the room with one hand in his pocket. The man with the confident attitude was none other than Jonas Crawford! Debbie was ecstatic to see the man of her dreams. Jonas was one of the most famous actors in the country. It was the first time she had seen him up close. She covered her mouth to stifle her screams; her heart raced rapidly, and her face reddened with excitement. The Hatchers hurried to the gate to greet the Crawfords right away. "Greetings, my in-laws. Welcome, Mr. Anthony!" Stephen called out warmly and extended his hand for a handshake. Unfortunately, his enthusiasm was met with a lukewarm response as Anthony gave him a side glance and kept his hands in his pockets. "Is this your first time visiting South City? I was wondering why the weather is excellent today. It must be because you decided to visit our city. Come on in!" Richard said to Hugh gleefully. "The weather is great indeed. It's cold enough to send my granddaughter to the hospital. The Hatchers are indeed one-of-a-kind," Hugh hissed in response. While Richard was still trying to recover from his embarrassment, Paula laughed and said, "You're a funny man, Mr. Crawford. We have always taken good care of Lilly. She had a tantrum and argued with Debbie the other day. Her father decided to teach her a lesson so that she will mind her manners." She turned to look at Lilly lovingly, "Give Grandma a hug, will you? I haven't seen you for days. I miss you so much!" The little girl bit her lower lip and clutched Gilbert's shirt. "Don't you think it's an odd way to teach manners? You caused my granddaughter to have broken bones and forced her to kneel in the snow in her pajamas," Hugh hissed. The Hatchers wore fearful expressions, as if they were even afraid to breathe. They felt they had received their just punishments now that they were bankrupt and Stephen had been brutally attacked. "Please, come in! After all, Stephen is Lilly's father. A child needs to have a fatherly presence while growing up." Richard nudged Hugh into the house as he spoke, recognizing the importance of maintaining a cordial relationship with their in-laws. Stephen caught on to the elderly man's signal and added, "That's right. I'm sorry for hurting you, Lilly. Will you forgive Daddy? I shouldn't have been so harsh, even when you made a mistake." As he approached Lilly, he wore a guilty and pained expression. The bodyguards, however, stopped him before he could get close. The little girl kept her eyes on Gilbert and refused to look at Stephen. The latter thought in exasperation, What's wrong with her? Doesn't she know how important this meeting is for the Hatcher family? Why is she throwing a tantrum? "Lilly," Stephen said in a deep voice. She always followed his instructions when he used a threatening tone. The little girl trembled slightly when she heard the familiar tone. The Crawford brothers' resentment grew as they witnessed Lilly's fear. They scolded themselves for showing Stephen mercy the other day. "There's no need to discuss this further. We're here to pick up some things," Gilbert said. Hugh tightened his grip on his walking cane and said coldly, "Where's Lilly's rabbit?" Paula nodded. "It's here. However, it was damaged when it was thrown into the snow. Luckily, Lilly's aunt picked it up and fixed it for her. Why don't we all come in and take a seat!" A few men in black barged into the house after Anthony raised his hand. Stephen's first instinct was to cover his head, fearing another beating. However, he looked up awkwardly when he realized the men were entering the house. "Are you scared?" Anthony challenged. The man didn't show any fear when he punished Lilly. "It's my fault. All of this is my fault. Lilly, shall we talk inside?" Stephen persuaded. Just as Gilbert was about to decline his offer, Lilly pulled his sleeve and said, "Uncle Gilbert…" She looked sadly at the house, thinking about her parrot. The Hatchers were thrilled to see her response because they had assumed she had given up. She's just a little girl and this is her home. How can she disown her father and refuse to come back home? "Come on in. Welcome to the Hatcher Mansion!" Paula and Richard said enthusiastically, excited to welcome the Crawfords. Anthony looked at Lilly, confused as to why she wanted to return to the Hatcher Mansion. But, whatever the reason, he would fully support her decision. Although the Hatchers' mansion was quite large and well-furnished, the wealthy Crawfords thought it was below their standards. They entered the house with a look of disgust, thinking about how Lilly had spent her days in the rundown place. The bodyguard searched the house and brought all the toys to the ground floor. Lilly broke free from Gilbert's embrace and ran to pick up the dirtiest rabbit toy in the pile. I'm here for you, Bunny. I'll never abandon you. Lilly smiled as she affectionately looked at her toy. Besides the toy rabbit, she had another good friend - Polly. Lilly hurried to the backyard but stopped halfway and returned to grab Gilbert's hand. Debbie hid in the backyard, patiently waiting for Lilly's arrival. She knew the little girl would go out of her way to find the parrot because it was afraid of strangers. Therefore, all she needed was for Lilly to appear in order to carry out her plan...