Chapter 86: Lily’s Death Revealed
Chapter 86: Lily’s Death Revealed
(Matriarch Evelyn’s POV)
The morning sun cast long shadows across Sacred Moonlight Cemetery as I knelt before
Lily’s tombstone. My weathered fingers traced the engraved name, the cold stone a stark
contrast to the warmth of my tears.
“My great–granddaughter,” I whispered, memories flooding back like a broken dam.
Bernard stood respectfully behind me, his silence heavy with shared grief. I closed my eyes,
remembering a conversation I’d overheard between Ethan and Olivia just before my spiritual
retreat.
“How is Lily?” Ethan had asked casually, as if inquiring about the weather. “I was thinking we
could have dinner together this weekend.”
Olivia’s face had remained carefully neutral. “She’s fine. Just busy with school projects.”
The memory twisted like a knife in my chest. Lily had been dead for months, yet Ethan spoke
as if she were alive. And Olivia had maintained the charade.
“She protected me from the truth,” I realized aloud, my voice breaking. “Because of my
memory issues, she didn’t want to cause me pain by telling me repeatedly that Lily was gone.”
Bernard shifted uncomfortably. “Matriarch, perhaps we should return to the estate. This shock
isn’t good for your health.”
I ignored his concern, another memory surfacing–Olivia’s haunted eyes whenever Lily was
mentioned, the careful way she redirected conversations. She had carried this burden alone.
“But Ethan,” I said, rising shakily to my feet. “How could he not know his own daughter was
dead? How could he ask about her so casually?”
The implications were too terrible to contemplate. Had my grandson truly been so neglectful
of his family that he hadn’t even noticed his daughter’s passing?
“Bernard, what kind of father doesn’t know his child is dead?” I demanded, anger replacing
grief. “What kind of Alpha abandons his mate to mourn alone?”
My faithful butler remained silent, his eyes downcast. His loyalty to the Stone family
prevented him from speaking ill of the Alpha, but his silence was answer enough.
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< Chapter 86 Lily’s Death Reve
+8 Points>
“Take me to him,” I commanded, my voice regaining its authority. “I will confront him here, at Lily’s grave, where he cannot hide from the truth.”
(Matriarch Evelyn’s POV)
As we walked toward the cemetery gates, a wave of dizziness washed over me. The world
tilted alarmingly, colors blurring together.
“Matriarch!” Bernard’s alarmed voice seemed to come from far away.
My legs gave way beneath me, the emotional shock finally overwhelming my aged body.
Strong arms caught me before I hit the ground.
“Call the medical den immediately!” Bernard ordered someone I couldn’t see.
The world faded to darkness as I was carefully lifted into a vehicle. My last conscious thought
was of Olivia’s face, so brave despite her pain, and my grandson’s betrayal of everything I had
taught him about pack leadership and family.
Meanwhile, at Imperial Gardens, Ethan knelt among the scattered fragments of Lily’s mug.
Each broken piece seemed to mock his attempts at redemption.
His large hands, capable of commanding an entire pack, trembled as he gathered the shards.
The disappointment stinging his heart was nothing compared to what Lily must have felt
each time he broke his promises to her.
Amber eyes scanned the room, searching for a photograph, any image of the daughter he’d
never truly known. But there was nothing–no pictures, no mementos, no trace of Lily’s
existence in his private quarters.
“What kind of father am I?” he whispered to the empty room.
(Ethan’s POV)
The broken pieces of Lily’s mug lay scattered across my palm, jagged edges cutting into my skin. I barely felt the pain, too consumed by the hollow ache in my chest.
I had spent hours meticulously repairing this mug, this precious artifact of my daughter’s love, only for Olivia to shatter it again. I couldn’t blame her. The mug was just a symbol of all I had
broken between us.
“I DAD!” The childish inscription mocked me from one of the larger fragments.
Setting the pieces aside, I moved to my computer terminal. There had to be records, videos, something to show me the daughter I’d neglected. The home surveillance system kept archives going back years.
< Chapter 86 Lily’s Death Reve
+8 Points)
My fingers hovered over the keyboard. What right did I have to these memories now? I hadn’t earned them in life; did I deserve them in death?
Before I could make a decision, my phone rang. Bernard Sheppard’s name flashed on the
screen.
“Alpha Stone,” he said, his normally composed voice tight with urgency. “Your grandmother has collapsed at Sacred Moonlight Cemetery. We’re en route to Silvercrest Pack Medical Den
now.”
My blood ran cold. “What happened?”
A brief hesitation. “She discovered Miss Lily’s grave, sir.”
The simple statement hit me like a physical blow. Grandmother had found out about Lily’s
death–a death I hadn’t even known about until recently.
“I’ll meet you there,” I said, already moving toward the door.
Questions raced through my mind as I drove. Why had Grandmother been at the cemetery? How had she reacted to discovering Lily’s grave? And most importantly, would she recover
from the shock?
The Silvercrest Pack Medical Den was in chaos when I arrived. Medical staff rushed through corridors, their movements urgent but controlled.
As I strode toward the emergency area, raised voices caught my attention. Turning a corner, I found a scene that made my wolf surge with protective rage.
(Ethan’s POV)
Olivia stood with her back against the wall, her small frame dwarfed by my father’s imposing presence. Elder Richard Stone loomed over her, his face contorted with anger.
“You have no right to be here!” he snarled. “After your disgraceful behavior at the banquet, you should be groveling for forgiveness, not parading around as if you still matter to this family!”
Olivia’s emerald eyes flashed defiance despite her obvious exhaustion. “I’m here for Matriarch Evelyn. Nothing else matters right now.”
My father’s face darkened dangerously. “You dare speak to me with such disrespect? I was Alpha of this pack before you were born, girl!”
“And I am Matriarch Evelyn’s granddaughter by mating,” Olivia replied steadily. “I won’t leave
until I know she’s alright.”
3/6
< Chapter 86: Lily’s Death Reve
+8 Points >
Elder Richard turned to the two enforcers flanking him–Marcus Blackwell and Dominic Walsh, both known for their brutal efficiency.
“Remove her,” he ordered coldly. “Use whatever force necessary.”
Marcus stepped forward, his meaty hand reaching for Olivia’s arm. Dominic moved to her
other side, effectively trapping her.
Something primal and protective erupted within me. In three long strides, I crossed the space between us, inserting myself between Olivia and the enforcers.
“Stand down,” I commanded, my Alpha authority radiating through the room.
Marcus froze, his hand still outstretched. Dominic took a cautious step back, recognizing the dangerous glint in my eyes.
“Ethan,” my father began, his tone shifting to one of forced patience. “This woman has repeatedly disrespected our family. She needs to be taught her place.”
I turned to face him fully, my voice deadly quiet. “No one touches my mate. No one.”
The corridor fell silent, medical staff and pack members alike watching the confrontation with wide eyes. My father’s face flushed with anger, but even he wouldn’t challenge me directly- not when my Alpha power was pulsing so visibly around me.
Without taking my eyes off the enforcers, I spoke to Olivia over my shoulder. “Are you alright?“.
“I’m fine,” she replied, her voice cool and distant. “I don’t need your protection.”
Her rejection stung, but I understood it. I had failed to protect her when it mattered most.
“Nevertheless, you have it,” I said simply.
My father’s eyes narrowed at our exchange. “This is absurd. She publicly humiliated Victoria, disrupted Emma’s ceremony, and now she’s interfering with family matters again.”
“Grandmother is her family too,” I reminded him. “And she stays.”
Marcus and Dominic looked to my father for direction, clearly torn between his orders and my
authority.
“Leave us,” I commanded them. “Now.”
They retreated reluctantly, disappearing down the corridor. My father remained, his jaw clenched with barely contained fury.
“This isn’t over,” he warned before stalking away.
12
<Chapter 86 Lily’s Death Reve
I turned to Olivia, careful to maintain the distance she clearly wanted. “Any news about
Grandmother?”
48 Points >
She shook her head, her expression guarded. “Dr. Bennett and Dr. Fletcher are with her now.”
We lapsed into uncomfortable silence, standing side by side yet worlds apart as we waited for
news.
(Olivia’s POV)
The minutes crawled by like hours as we waited outside the emergency room. Though Ethan
stood barely an arm’s length away, the distance between us felt insurmountable.
kept my eyes fixed on the emergency room doors, refusing to acknowledge his presence. My
mind raced with worry for Matriarch Evelyn, the only member of the Stone family who had
shown me genuine kindness.
Bernard had briefly explained what happened–how she had discovered Lily’s grave and
collapsed from the shock. The thought of her learning about Lily’s death this way, alone in the
cemetery, made my heart ache.
“She loved Lily very much,” I said softly, breaking the silence despite myself.
Ethan’s amber eyes turned to me, surprise evident in his expression. “I remember her holding
Lily when she was born. She wept with joy.”
The memory pierced my heart. Those early days had been so full of hope, before everything
fell apart.
“She used to tell Lily stories about the ancient wolf packs,” I continued, the words spilling out
unbidden. “Lily would sit on her lap for hours, completely entranced.”
A muscle twitched in Ethan’s jaw. “I didn’t know that.”
“There’s a lot you didn’t know,” I replied, the brief moment of shared remembrance evaporating.
Before he could respond, the emergency room doors swung open. Dr. Harold Bennett emerged,
followed closely by Dr. Marcus Fletcher. Both looked tired but not defeated.
“How is she?” I asked immediately, stepping forward.
Dr. Bennett offered a reassuring smile. “Stable. The shock triggered a minor cardiac event, but
we’ve managed to stabilize her condition.”
“Will she recover fully?” Ethan asked, his voice tight with concern.
Dr. Fletcher nodded. “With proper rest and care, yes. But she’ll need complete rest to recover
5/6
< Chapter 86 Lily’s Death Reve..
+8 Points 2
from the emotional shock. No visitors except immediate family, and absolutely no stress.”
