Her Accidental Husband

Chapter 17 A Mother’s Shock

The phone rang — a sudden, piercing sound that sent Helen Evans’ heart slamming against her ribs. She hadn’t slept properly in days. Not since Lily disappeared. The exhaustion clung to her skin like a second layer, heavy and suffocating, her worry growing with each unanswered hour.

“Hello?” She stuttered over the word.

There was no greeting, no warmth in the caller. Just a sharp inhale followed by a voice that simmered with outrage. “Helen, where the hell is Lily? Where is your daughter?”

Margaret. Of course. Helen rolled her eyes and sat down on the edge of the dining room seat. She gripped the phone tighter and swallowed hard.

“Helen, answer me, and I want the damn truth this time,” Margaret demanded to know.

“Margaret, what is going on? I told you that I do not know where my daughter is. I have barely slept, worrying so much.” Helen said carefully, the message from Lily replayed in her mind. “I am Fine.” That was all Lily had said in almost a week since she had disappeared into thin air.

“You dare to act like you have no idea what I am talking about, Helen? Have you no shame?” Margaret seethed. “You did not know that your daughter was a slut, she decided to marry another man behind my beloved son’s back!”

Silence.

The words echoed in Helen’s head.

Married.

What the heck was that crazy woman talking about?

“No, there must be some mistake, Margaret. Lily would not do that; she was excited to marry Leon. This is all wrong. Who told you this nonsense?” Helen scoffed, shaking her head in disagreement as if Margaret could see her from down the phone.

Margaret drew in a breath and then chuckled. “Are you so stupid, Mrs Evans? I see where Lily gets her idiotic ways from. Your daughter owes my son an explanation after everything that he did for that girl, and this is how she dares to repay him? I am disgusted. What will the tabloids say about this?”

Tabloids?

Of course, all Margaret Hartley had ever been concerned about was what people thought of her; she wanted to be seen as some powerful woman who was well known, respected, and looked up to. She wanted people to bow down to her and follow her lead, her demands. She did not really care what anyone else wanted, as long as it made her look like a godly saint. But Helen knew it was all an act; underneath it, Margaret was cruel and heartless, had no empathy for others, and believed people like Helen and Lily were below her. Many times Margaret had sneered down at Helen, it replayed in her mind all those times she had bitten her lip and allowed Magrate to belittle her, but now, something made Helen snap.

“I do not care what it looks like,” Helen suddenly snapped back, fear overriding politeness for the first time. “I care about my daughter and her well-being. And with all due respect, perhaps your son should have treated my daughter better, Mrs Hartley.” And with that, the call ended, sending a shocked Margaret into an even deeper frenzy of fury and anger. Helen Evans did not care in the slightest that Margaret would now be furious with her for snapping as she had done. Why should she care? She had always allowed Margaret Hartley to speak down to her, to make her feel that her own opinion was nothing but a worthless load of nonsense, she had put up with that family for the sake of Lily’s happiness, but she knew deep down in her heart and soul that if Lily really had gone ahead and married another man then something must have happened. Lily was no slut, she was a good girl, sensible and kind-hearted. She did not go out causing trouble or acting like a slut, despite what Margaret Hartley had accused her of.

Helen reached for her phone again, hesitating, she unlocked it and pulled up Lily’s number.

“Please call me and explain why Margaret thinks you have married another man. I need to know what is going on, Lily.”

She read the message at least ten times before finally pressing the send button.

Helen wondered if Margaret had made a mistake; perhaps it was someone who looked like Lily. There was no way that Lily would run off with another man; she loved Leon and was planning to marry him after all. Helen’s heart sank deeper into her chest as she took a deep breath and waited to see if Lily would respond to her.

There had to be a reason for all of this.

Helen sank back into her chair, staring at her phone as if she could will it to light up with Lily’s name.

Ten minutes passed.

Then twenty.

Every second tightened the knot of dread coiling in her stomach.

Just as she rose to make herself a cup of tea — something, anything, to distract her spiraling thoughts — her phone buzzed.

A new message.

From Margaret Hartley.

Helen’s breath hitched. With trembling fingers, she opened it.

There was no text at first.

Just a single photo.

Helen’s eyes widened.

Lily… smiling.

Her daughter. Smiling.

Next to a tall, handsome man, she did not recognise.

The pair stood in front of a sign that read: "Congratulations to Our Newlyweds — Ocean Crest Villa Winners!"

The man’s arm was wrapped comfortably around Lily’s waist.

Lily was leaning into him.

Her smile looked real, bright, and free.

Helen felt her knees weaken, and she sat down hard.

Then the next message from Margaret came in, sharp and venomous:

“In case you thought I was lying. Your daughter is a disgrace. Married to a stranger while still engaged to my son. Fix. This. Mess.”

Helen’s heart thundered in her ears.

No.

No, this wasn’t right.

Lily wouldn’t do this. Not without a reason. Not without calling her.

She zoomed in on the picture, as if she might find something — anything — that showed this wasn’t real. That Margaret had fabricated it. But the date stamp was clear, the company logo official.

And yet Helen had heard nothing.

Another wave of nausea rushed through her.

Where was her daughter?

Why hadn’t she replied?

Was she in trouble?

Was she hiding?

Or… had she chosen this? Chosen someone else?