The Bitter Fruit of One's Own Actions

Linda Wang pursed her lips, nodded, and said softly, "From what I've seen, Lana Evans hasn't been a maiden for a long time. Sigh, such a beautiful girl lost... How could she have stayed missing for so long and still..."

"How is her health?" Lily Evans asked.

Linda Wang shook her head. "Not good. She's so thin you can feel her bones, and she's covered in injuries. Who knows how much she's suffered."

Lily Evans sighed, guessing that Lana Evans must have been abducted after leaving home, and her days must've been miserable.

But thinking of someone like Jasper Cheng, things couldn't have been much better for her.

Lily recalled a few times when Jasper Cheng came to the academy to see her, seemingly accompanied by a personal maid. But that maid always kept her head down, her bangs covering most of her face. Lily hadn't paid attention to such an inconspicuous maid and had missed it entirely.

"Aunt Linda, now that Lana's back home, her father is a man, so there are things he's not suited for. I'll have to trouble you to look after her more," Lily said.

"Don't worry, Lily. The plantation won't be finished for another month, so I'll be home every day. I'll make sure Lana is well taken care of," Linda Wang replied enthusiastically, before heading back inside to get busy.

Lily followed her inside and looked at Lana Evans, who was much thinner now, lying on the bed. She sighed.

She used to be such a lovely girl... How did things end up like this?

Lily Evans recalled Lana Evans' attitude toward her own father, Sam Evans, back in the little dark room at Moonview Pavilion. It was nothing like a father-daughter relationship—more like enemies.

And this attitude was all thanks to Susan Evans, who must have fed her all sorts of things behind the scenes. Who knows what and how much she said, to twist her young daughter's mind so much that she hated her own father more than an enemy, yet treated Jasper Cheng, who abused her, as family.

When Susan Evans comes around later and sees the bitter fruit she's sown, having ruined her only daughter like this, who knows how she'll feel.

"Aunt Linda, I'm going to check on my third uncle. When I'm done, call Uncle, Cousin, and Yaya to your room and wait for me. I have something to tell you all," Lily said.

"Alright, Lily, go on. Leave this to me," Linda Wang replied.

Lily left things to Linda Wang and headed to Sam Evans' courtyard. As soon as she entered, she heard Sam Evans sobbing in pain, while Alexander Hayes stood silently nearby, watching the crying man.

As a fellow man, Alexander Hayes, though not a father yet, could still empathize.

A father loses his beloved daughter, and after finally finding her, sees her in such a state—the despair and heartbreak are unimaginable.

"Third Uncle..." Lily called softly.

Sam Evans wiped his tears and choked out, "Lily, am I really that useless?"

Lily shook her head. "Third Uncle, you've tried so hard to find Lana. You did your best."

"But if I'd found her sooner, would she have ended up like this?" Sam Evans cried, clutching his hair in agony.

Lily sighed. "What's done is done, and dwelling on it won't help. The good thing is Lana is back, and we've got plenty of time to help her heal."

Hearing Lily's words, hope flickered in Sam Evans' eyes again. He murmured, "You're right, as long as she's back. Her mind's been led astray, but I'll guide her back! She's still young, so impressionable—she believes whatever she's told... Sigh, and all those things were taught by her mother! Lily, why couldn't her mother have taught her something better? Why did she have to teach her those things..."