Chapter 11 I Saw Mommy

A group of individuals burst through the door as Paula and Richard were discussing their next move. "You're a fortunate CEO, Mr. Hatcher! When will you repay the eighty million dollars debt you owe us?" Those people turned out to be from a debt collection agency, and they had the Hatcher family surrounded. "What... What is going on?!" Paula said, gasping for breath. Richard shouted, "Stop! Do you have any idea who we are? The Crawford family in Clodston are our relatives!" He was met with the sight of the Crawford family car driving away. The two rows of black Maybachs were so intimidating that onlookers couldn't help but keep their distance. The miserable Hatcher family stood in stark contrast... The burly men from the debt collection agency laughed. "Oh, that's quite a reputation. You claim to be the Crawfords' relatives, but do they even care about you?" Richard's face turned bright red! The people from the debt collection agency were all hooligans. How could he get them to listen to reason, let alone stop beating him up just because he was weak and old? Immediately, a resounding smack was heard as Richard and Paula were both slapped hard and fell to their knees! Violence of every kind, including punching and kicking, was directed at them. After some time, Paula and Richard both had swollen faces and bruised noses. They wailed in agony. Everything was falling apart. The Hatcher family, who had once been respected, suffered a mental breakdown after being humiliated in front of everyone. In the end, the villa was emptied, and all their belongings were thrown out. Debbie, her face covered in blood, was also thrown out. The entire family was in a pitiful state! The nearby residents who had been watching whispered to each other. "Do you know? That little Hatcher girl is the granddaughter of the Crawford family in Clodston!" "What?! That skinny little girl? The one who lost her mother at the age of two?" "Oh my goodness! The Hatcher family must have been devastated. I would have lost my mind if I were them!" "They deserve what happened to them! I once saw that child being punished by standing outside in the heat. I said a few words and was scolded by Old Mrs. Hatcher." "Hahaha! Didn't that old lady always say that her granddaughter is the family's curse? They're probably regretting their past actions now!" Whether the Hatcher family's regret was genuine or not, the onlookers clearly took pleasure in their misery from a distance. They truly deserved it! Stephen kept coughing, his ears buzzing as he spat out bloody foam. "Stephen, how are you feeling?" Debbie asked, crying. Paula vented her anger on her, saying, "Why are you crying? Where were you earlier? Why didn't I see you just now?" "I saw Lilly just now, so I begged her to forgive Grandpa and Granny because of their age... but she refused..." Debbie sobbed. Paula was filled with hatred and blamed Lilly for all the humiliation they had suffered that day. They had raised that wretched girl for more than three years, hadn't they? She had no gratitude at all! She was an ungrateful child, just like her deceased mother! That wretched little girl cursed her own mother and caused her death. She also led to her son's bankruptcy and brought ruin upon them. All of this was caused by that troublemaker! The more Paula thought about it, the angrier she became, and she yelled angrily, "If you don't care, then so be it! That little troublemaker..." She wanted to say that they didn't care about her, but she couldn't. Now that they did care, she wanted to hold onto Lilly and never let her go! Paula had no one to vent her grievances to, so she could only curse inwardly, wishing bad luck upon everyone in the Crawford family! ... Anthony tapped his fingers on the car screen and sent a message, saying, "Get rid of the Hatcher family." "Kill them?" came the reply from the other end. Anthony sneered. Kill them? He couldn't possibly commit murder to dispose of some trash. Even if he desired revenge, the Crawford family had to remain completely innocent. "Let them experience a fate worse than death." Lilly sat quietly in the car, holding her stuffed rabbit in one hand and the parrot in the other. Hugh softened his tone and tried to appear friendly. "Lilly, let's go home!" Gilbert added, "Our home is in Clodston. We'll be taking a plane later." Lilly obediently nodded and remained silent. The cuteness she had when she was coaxing the parrot had disappeared. However, it was much better now than before. Hugh's heart was breaking. Lilly's obedience made him feel even worse. Only children who grew up in a traumatic environment would be so quiet. How much had Lilly been through to become like this? "Let's... Let's go home," Hugh murmured. Suddenly, Lilly asked, "Grandpa... Can we also bring Mommy's ashes home?" Hugh sadly nodded. "Okay. Let's all go home together." Lilly felt relieved. The Crawford family had chartered a private plane. Lilly looked out the window at the sky, and the clouds seemed to be flying alongside her. She craned her neck, then set down the stuffed rabbit and crossed her arms, resting them on the plane window as she peered outside. "Lilly, what are you looking at?" Bryson asked, smiling warmly. "Uncle Bryson, are we in the sky now?" Lilly asked, turning her head. Bryson nodded and said, "Yes." She had never been on a plane before... However, Lilly suddenly asked, "Then, is Mommy up here?" Bryson and Gilbert, who were sitting nearby, were stunned, and both exclaimed, "What?" Lilly lowered her eyes, looked out the window silently, and said quietly, "They said Mommy died and went to heaven... So we can see Mommy later, right?" Lilly was looking out the window with her back to the crowd, tears welling up in her eyes. She knew that the story she had been told, that anyone who died would be in heaven, was a lie told to children. Mommy wouldn't be up here in the sky... However, she couldn't help but feel excited. She really hoped to see her mother here... All of a sudden, Hugh's eyes filled with tears. The other brothers were also silent, their heads turned to look outside, their fists clenched tightly. Gilbert cradled Lilly in his arms and whispered, "Lilly, it's time to sleep. You can see your mother in your dreams when you fall asleep..." Lilly murmured in agreement. Tears silently streamed down her cheeks as she nestled in Gilbert's embrace. Uncle Gilbert is also lying. She had fallen asleep many times, but she had never dreamt of her mother even once. Unbeknownst to Lilly, she had drifted off to sleep. A faint light emanated from the red string on her wrist, barely noticeable unless one paid close attention. In her dream, Lilly felt warmth enveloping her body, as if basking in the sunlight. She felt incredibly light, almost as if she could soar through the air... Surrounded by fluffy white clouds resembling cotton candy, Lilly cautiously reached out, plucked a small piece, and placed it in her mouth. Her eyes sparkled with delight. It was also sweet! A gentle and familiar voice called out from behind her, "Lilly..." Lilly's eyes widened, and she turned around to see her mother standing not far away. Her mother gazed at her with teary eyes. "Mommy!" Lilly rushed over and was embraced tightly by her mother. Jean tenderly caressed her little head and whispered, "From now on, Lilly, Grandpa and all your uncles will be your family. You must live a happy life, alright?" Tears streamed down Lilly's cheeks as she obediently replied, "Yes, Mommy. I will." Jean continued, "Grandma is also in poor health. Can you help me take care of her?" Lilly nodded vigorously, struggling to hold back her tears. I will. I will definitely take care of Grandma. Jean smiled. She was about to say more, but her body began to glow faintly and started to fade away. "I love you, Lilly. I will always love you!" Lilly called out to her mother in her slumber. Her face was drenched with tears...