Chapter 145

• Lily’s POV
• As John raged and all eyes were on her, Grace’s feeble "poor me" act finally crumbled. All that remained was panic and shame. She lowered her head and tried one last time to play the victim, her voice deliberately trembling:
• "I… I didn’t mean it that way… John, I swear, I didn’t want to trick Lily…" She raised tear-filled eyes to elicit pity. "I was just… so terrified! I’m afraid my mother won’t be with me in my final days… I’ve only hurt myself! John! I knew the fall would make me die faster, but for my mother’s sake… I didn’t care! I’m just begging Lily… to show mercy and let my mom off the hook this one time… please…" She played the martyr to the very end.