Aristocracy101

Chapter 18

Opening her eyes, Lilian saw a white ceiling above her.

“Damn, where am I?”

Before she could process much more, a loud voice pierced the air.

“SHE’S AWAKE! LOVE, YOU’RE AWAKE!” Zoey screamed, her voice full of frantic energy. Lilian winced at the noise, her head throbbing.

“Noisy,” she murmured, still groggy from the pain.

Lilian slowly focused on her surroundings, realizing that Zoey, Ivy, and Mrs. Vivian were standing around her, their faces filled with concern.

‘So no Oliver,’ she thought bitterly. Of course, he wasn’t here. He wouldn’t care if she died. As she felt the heaviness of her loneliness settle in, she realized just how much she had already internalized the idea that she meant little to him. A piece of her had already accepted the cruel narrative that she was nothing more than an afterthought.

“Daughter, are you okay?” Mrs. Vivian asked, her voice tinged with exhaustion but genuine concern. Lilian could see the tiredness in her eyes, as if the weight of the world had been pressing down on her.

“Yeah, I’m fine, Mom,” Lilian replied, though her voice felt thin, as if she were barely holding it together.

“I didn’t call Mrs. Grace so she wouldn’t worry you,” Vivian remarked, her voice softer now.

Lilian felt a surge of relief. She didn’t want her mother to know how fragile she really was, didn’t want to trouble her with things that could only make her more stressed.

“No, it’s fine,” Lilian said quickly. “So, what caused the stomach ache?” she asked, trying to focus on something, anything other than the suffocating silence left by Oliver's absence.

She wasn’t on her period, and she was sure it wasn’t because she hadn’t eaten. She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was 8:00 AM. She had been unconscious for an entire night.

Before Vivian could respond, the door opened, and the doctor stepped in.

“Good morning, ladies,” he greeted in a clinical tone, but his eyes were wary, clearly nervous under the watchful gaze of Mrs. Vivian.

“Sir, please, what happened to cause her pain?” Ivy asked, her voice calm but laced with concern.

The doctor fidgeted slightly before responding. “I’m sorry, but we couldn’t find the cause of the reaction.”

“What do you mean?” Vivian snapped, her voice rising in frustration. “You’re a doctor! You should know what’s going on!”

Lilian noticed the doctor flinch at the harshness in Vivian’s voice, his eyes darting nervously. He was clearly intimidated, but the truth was, there didn’t seem to be a clear explanation for what had happened.

“We couldn’t find any food intake in her system that would explain the pain. It could mean she hasn’t been eating regularly, which might have triggered her stomach to react that way,” the doctor said, trying to calm Vivian’s rising fury.

Lilian sat up slightly, her brow furrowed. “I drank orange juice before the pain started,” she added, speaking up.

The doctor paused, glancing between her and the others before responding cautiously. “Orange juice is not typically a catalyst for stomach aches. It’s possible you might be allergic to it.”

“She’s had orange juice before,” Zoey said, her tone confused. “She’s never had a reaction like this.”

The doctor shifted uncomfortably, clearly unsettled. “Well, if you bring the cup you drank from, we can test it for any allergens. Other than that, you’re free to go.”

Lilian nodded, though she was still processing the lack of answers. “Okay, thank you,” she said, her voice quiet, already feeling drained.

The doctor quickly left the room, practically running out as if he couldn’t get away fast enough. Lilian could almost see the weight lifted from his shoulders as he escaped the tension in the room.

Now alone with Zoey and Ivy, Lilian felt a familiar sense of emptiness. Vivian had already left, and she hadn’t even asked where Oliver was. She didn’t want to appear like someone who didn’t even know where her own husband was—it would only remind her of how distant and unimportant she felt.

A lonely ache settled in her chest. She wanted his attention. She wanted his love. Was that too much to ask for?

Zoey and Ivy exchanged a look, both sensing the shift in Lilian’s mood. They knew exactly what was weighing on her heart. Since her marriage, they hadn’t seen Oliver around when they visited. Even though Lilian always covered for him, claiming he was busy with new family responsibilities, they knew something more was going on.

It wasn’t as if he was hiding it. The tabloids were full of stories about him going out with Bella to the cinema, attending parties, and dining out in restaurants. Oliver was everywhere—but never with his wife.

But what could they do? They weren’t part of the marriage, and they didn’t want to interfere. They were outsiders, and it wasn’t their place.

“Ughhh,” Ivy groaned, breaking the silence. “I am so hungry. Let’s go get something to eat. I can’t stand the smell of disinfectants in here.”

Lilian smiled weakly, grateful for their efforts to lighten the mood. She carefully pushed herself to her feet, though her body felt heavy and stiff. “Yeah, let’s go,” she murmured, walking slowly toward the door with her friends.