One day you might just find something worth living an eternity for. Lily felt like she had been waiting for an eternity. Waiting for someone who could make her feel alive, who could hold her in their arms and make her forget the dullness of her existence. She had no interest in the boring English class that droned on and on. She rested her head on her desk, her orange brown hair spilling over her shoulders, and closed her eyes. She dreamed of a different life, a life full of adventure mystery, and romance.

She didn't hear the teacher's voice growing louder and angrier as he noticed her snoring. She didn't hear the whispers and giggles of her classmates as they watched her sleep. She didn't hear Joana, her best friend, trying to wake her up.

"Psst, Lily, wake up, wake up! The teacher is looking at you. You're going to get in trouble!" Joana whispered frantically, nudging Lily's arm. "Come on, Lily, please, wake up!"

But Lily was too deep in her slumber to hear her. She snored louder and louder, oblivious to the commotion she was causing.

"GET UP, LILY!" Joana shouted, losing her patience. She grabbed Lily's shoulder and shook her hard.

Lily jolted awake, startled and confused. She blinked her sleepy eyes and yawned. She looked around and saw the teacher staring at her with a furious expression. She saw the other students staring at her with a mix of amusement and pity. She saw Joana looking at her with a mix of concern and annoyance.

"What's going on, Joana?" Lily asked, rubbing her eyes. "What happened?"

Joana sighed and rolled her eyes. "You were snoring, Lily. In the middle of the class. Again. Don't you ever pay attention?"

Lily felt a surge of embarrassment and anger. She hated being the laughingstock of the class. She hated being lectured by Joana. She hated being bored by the teacher. She hated her life.

She wished she could escape from it all. She wished someone would come and rescue her. She wished she could find something worth living an eternity for.

Lily, wake up! How dare you sleep in my class? Being a bright student doesn't mean you can disrespect me and your classmates, the teacher shouted furiously.

-I apologize, sir. This won't happen again, Lily said firmly.

The clock struck one and the English teacher dismissed the class. Joana and Lily grabbed their backpacks and headed out of the school gate. As they walked along the familiar path to their homes, Joana noticed Lily's lips moving silently. "You're doing it again, Lily," she said with a hint of annoyance. "What are you mumbling about this time?" Lily looked at her friend and shrugged. "Nothing much. Just how boring everything is. The only place I feel alive is in my library, where I can escape into other worlds,", Lily signed and kicked a pebble on the road.

"You live in fairytales, Lily. They're not real. Your boyfriends are fake. How can you be my bestie? When will you find your true love?" She pitied and annoyed her friend, who was naive and blind to the world. Lily smiled and hugged her book. She thanked and saddened her friend, who was cynical and bitter about the world. She believed in magic, in love, in happy endings. She believed that fairytales were dreams that could come true.

Joana, breathe. Slow down. You're talking so fast, you're making my head spin. I like a good mystery, but only in fiction. The characters I read about are so perfect, that they haunt me. Remember the book I told you about? The one with the bold protagonist? I can't get her out of my mind.

Lily, you know what I'm talking about, right? Joana said, rolling her eyes.

I feel so hopeless and lonely. I don't think anyone will ever love me, Joana.

But I'm trying to be strong and brave. You know I love adventures. Adventures are the only thing that makes me feel alive. I'll stick with adventure, embrace adventure, said Lily.

They were so involved in the conversation, that they forgot that they had reached their destinations. They parted ways.

-by Lily.

-by Joana

By the time they returned home, the sun was already settling down and darkness was filling up the skies.

As Lily burst into the house, she looked overjoyed to see her favorite dish waiting for her on the table. She rushed to the kitchen and threw her arms around Hannah's waist, feeling a sense of comfort and security in her embrace. "Hannah, I'm home!" she exclaimed, her heart filled with happiness. Hannah smiled warmly, understanding how much this simple gesture meant to Lily.

Hannah turned around and smiled. But when she saw the ice cream cone in Lily's hand, she frowned. "Lily, you're eating ice cream again? How many times have I told you not to eat ice cream in winter? You're going to catch a cold, you naughty kid!" she scolded while gently pushing Lily away. She had been busy preparing her favorite dish but had now finished.

Lily was happily enjoying her ice cream and didn't mind Hannah's nagging. She then planned to sit down and eat her evening meal when Mrs. Wu suddenly noticed her joyful expression. Upon seeing this, Mrs. Wu grew extremely furious as she harbored immense hatred for Lily. Her sole desire was for her daughters, Anastasia and Emily, to marry into wealthy families.

Lily had two step-sisters: Anastasia and Emily. While Emily cherished Lily like a true sister and even admired her, Anastasia's feelings of jealousy towards Lily kept intensifying with each passing day. Meanwhile, Hannah, who was the housemaid of the Wu family, also held Lily in high regard.

Lily had struggled with feeling like an outsider and a burden to those around her. However, she persevered and worked hard to become independent, to move, and to start a new chapter in her life. Despite feeling remorse for leaving her beloved uncle, she recognized that it was

"What in the world were you thinking?!" Mrs. Wu bellowed, her face twisted in fury. "How dare you eat that meal without permission! Get out of this room right now and go prepare some hot tea for us. And take that plate with you!" With that, she snatched the plate from the table and flung it across the room in a fit of anger.

As Lily wept, her eyes grew increasingly sore. She eventually left the room, her tears no longer able to be concealed.

It must be difficult to see a loved one in such distress. And when Hannah tried to intervene,

Atleast let the girl eat- How could yo-

Do not interfere, otherwise I'll fire you.

Mrs. Wu's response was less than understanding. It's understandable to feel frustrated and helpless in such situations.

Hannah chose to stay quiet, contemplating her situation. Despite facing financial struggles and having six children to provide for, she recognized the importance of her job and the necessity to support her family. She remained determined to overcome any challenges that came her way and to find ways to thrive in difficult circumstances.

Suddenly, the landline telephone rang. Ting! Ting! Ting! Mrs. Wu answered the phone. "Hello, who is this?" she asked. The person on the other end of the line said, "I am coming back today at 6 p.m. Please take care of my daughters until I arrive." Mrs. Wu was ecstatic to hear this news and jumped up and down with joy.

Lily couldn't help but feel her heart swell with joy at the thought of seeing her uncle again. She knew how hard he had been working for their family, and was looking forward to expressing her love and gratitude to him. However, at the same time, she couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness knowing that his stay with them would be brief.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Lily retreated to her library, her favorite place in the house which kept her away from her aunt. She loved reading books, especially romance novels. She curled up by the window, holding a book in her hands. The moonlight cast a soft glow on her golden hair, making her look like a fairy tale princess. She was so engrossed in the story that she didn't hear the knock on the door.

Mrs. Wu sprang from her seat, dropping the remote control on the floor. She ran to the door, her heart pounding. She opened it and gasped.

There he was, her husband, Lily's uncle. He was tall and handsome, wearing a hat, an umbrella, and a long winter coat. He smiled at her, his eyes shining with love.

"Anastasia, Emily, where are you all?! Your uncle has come!" Mrs Wu cried out, tears of joy streaming down her face.

As soon as Mr. Wu saw his darling Bella, he felt a wave of warmth wash over him. He had been away from his family for too long, traveling across the world for his work. He couldn't believe how much his daughters had grown up. They looked so beautiful and happy. He embraced them all, savoring the moment. He smelled the familiar scent of his home, heard the laughter and chatter of his loved ones, and saw the cozy living room where they had spent many evenings together. He realized how much he had missed them, and how lucky he was to have them.

How are you all doing, Bella? I guess all my daughters have grown up. It's after a long time since I returned. So many years have passed, right darling?

"Emily, my dear child, look how much you've grown!" exclaimed Mr. Wu, his face lighting up with surprise and delight.

"Dad, why are you always so dramatic?" Emily chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I'm still your little girl who loves ice cream!"

"I can see that!" Mr. Wu laughed, shaking his head in disbelief.

"And look at her!" Mrs. Wu interjected proudly, beaming at her daughter. "Emily has become so beautiful. Any gentleman would be lucky to have her by his side."

Emily blushed at her mother's words, feeling both embarrassed and happy. She knew her parents loved her deeply, and their words of encouragement meant the world to her. She hugged them both tightly, feeling grateful for their unwavering support and love.

"But you need to get settled down Emily."

"Mom, I can't believe we're having this conversation again. I've told you a thousand times that I don't want to get married so early. Dad, can you please make her understand? This is getting ridiculous."

"Alright, alright, calm down. Let's not talk about her marriage now, honey," Mr. Wu replied to Mrs. Wu, laughing.

"I'm serious, Dad. It's my life and my decision. I just wish you could support me instead of making jokes about it."

"Okay, okay, let's change the topic of conversation."

"My darling, do I look pretty?" Mrs. Wu asked, her blushing face and sparkling diamond necklace catching her husband's eye.

"Pretty doesn't even begin to describe how beautiful you look," Mr. Wu replied, taking her hands in his. "You are stunning, my love."

Mrs. Wu smiled, feeling her heart swell with love for her husband. "I wore this necklace just for you," she said, gesturing to the glittering diamonds around her neck.

Mr. Wu leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I noticed, and it's breathtaking. But let's not talk about the necklace right now. I want to focus on you."

Mrs. Wu's heart skipped a beat as her husband's gaze locked onto hers. "What do you mean?" she asked, feeling a warm flush spread across her cheeks.

"I mean, let's continue this conversation somewhere private, just the two of us," Mr. Wu said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Somewhere where we can focus on each other without any distractions."

Mrs. Wu's heart raced as she realized what her husband was suggesting. "Oh, I see," she said, a coy smile playing on her lips. "Lead the way, my love."

Not now honey, when we will be in our room at night. Your daughters are here. It's not decent to romanticize here with you, right?

As you wish, honey," said Mrs. Wu, leaving his shirt. "Ahem, ahem. Hannah! Bring some tea here."

Ha! Looks like my father is still quite the ladies' man, huh? Maybe he's got some secret fountain of youth he's not telling me about!

It looks like they were already having a nice chat. Let's check in and see what their other daughter is up to.

As Lily heard her father's voice, her heart skipped a beat. She quickly got up from her seat and rushed out of the library room, eager to see her father again after so long. It's understandable how much she missed him - he was the only person who truly understood and listened to her. However, in her excitement, she didn't notice a stone lying on the floor, placed there deliberately to trip her.

Lily gasped as she tripped over a loose stone and fell on the hard floor. She felt a sharp pain in her palms and legs, and tears stung her eyes. She looked up and saw Anastasia standing over her, a smirk on her face.

"Oh, poor Lily, did you hurt yourself?" Anastasia taunted. "You look so pathetic, lying there like a worm. How do you manage to be so clumsy and stupid?" She laughed cruelly, enjoying Lily's misery.

Lily bit her lip and tried to ignore Anastasia's words. She knew that Anastasia was a bully who liked to make fun of her and others.

"Anastasia, please stop," Lily said softly. "You don't have to be mean to me. We're sisters, after all. We should love each other, not hurt each other."

Anastasia rolled her eyes. "Sisters? Ha! You're not my real sister. You're just a charity case that our father took pity on. You don't belong in this family. You don't belong anywhere."

Lily felt a pang in her heart. She knew that Anastasia wasn't right, but somewhere she felt as if her words were all true.

"Anastasia, father is here. He's waiting for us. Let's go see him," Lily said, hoping to change the subject. She reached out her hand, hoping that Anastasia would help her up.

Anastasia snorted. "Why should I help you? You can get up by yourself. And don't think that father loves you more than me. He's just pretending to care about you. He'll get tired of you soon enough.

Lily felt a tear roll down her cheek.

Anastasia grabbed Lily's frock and slashed it with scissors, leaving it in tatters. She shoved Lily to the ground with a cruel laugh.

Lily cried out in pain as she hit the floor, her frock barely covering her legs. Anastasia's fist smashed into her face, making her see stars.

"You see this, Lily? You see what you get?" Anastasia taunted. "You deserve this punch and more. I love making you suffer. You have no idea how good it feels."

Anastasia slapped her again and again until Lily's cheeks were swollen and red.

Lily felt a surge of pain as Anastasia's fingers dug into her throat. She gasped for air, tears streaming down her face. She had always tried to be kind to her stepsisters, even though they treated her like dirt. But this was too much. Anastasia had gone mad with jealousy and hatred, and she wanted to kill her.

"Please, please, let me go!" Lily begged, her voice barely audible. "I don't want to hurt you, Anastasia. I love you, you're my sister!"

Anastasia sneered, her eyes cold and cruel. "You love me? You're a liar! You've always been a liar! You stole everything from me, you little witch! You don't deserve to live! You deserve to burn in hell!"

She tightened her grip, ignoring Lily's desperate struggles. "I'll make you pay for what you've done. I'll make you suffer. I'll make you die!"

Lily felt her vision fading, her lungs burning. She knew she had no choice. She had to fight back, or she would die. She gathered all her strength and bit Anastasia's hand hard, drawing blood.

Anastasia screamed and let go of Lily, clutching her wounded hand. Lily coughed and gasped, trying to breathe. She looked at Anastasia with a mix of fear and pity. She wished things could have been different. She wished they could have been a real family.

Anastasia felt a sharp pain on her arm and saw Lily's teeth marks. She screamed in fury and disbelief. "You bit me? Did you bite me? Me, Anastasia Wu,? How dare you, you little witch!" She grabbed Lily's hair and yanked it hard, making her cry out. "I curse you, Lily, I curse you to die as soon as possible!" She threw Lily on the floor with a thud and glared at her with contempt.

Mrs Wu heard a loud commotion from the dining room. She rushed in and saw them, Lily on the floor and Anastasia shouting at her. She gasped and exclaimed, "What is going on here? "Can't you get along with Anastasia for once?" she asked, shaking her head in disbelief and anger.

"Mommy, Lily bit me!" Anastasia screamed, tears streaming down her face. She showed her arm, where a red mark was visible.

"Lily, you bit her?" Mrs Wu asked, her voice stern and angry.

"No, Mom, I-" Lily tried to explain, but Anastasia cut her off.

"Lily is lying, Mommy! She's a bad girl! She needs to be punished hard, so hard that she will never bite me again!" Anastasia demanded, her eyes flashing with fury.

Lily sobbed, feeling helpless and misunderstood. She wished she could tell Mrs Wu the truth, that Anastasia had hit her first. But she was too scared of her sister's wrath and Mrs Wu's disappointment.

"Anastasia, do not cause any chaos now. Your father is here and he wants to see you." Mrs. Wu said, trying to sound calm but failing to hide her anger. Her eyes flashed with malice and her mouth twisted into a sneer. "And Lily, you are lucky that I don't have time to deal with you right now. But don't think you can get away with your mischief." She turned to Anastasia and pointed at the door. "Go to the living room, now. Your father is waiting for you." She stormed out of the room, leaving Anastasia and Lily in silence.

Anastasia's voice was cold and harsh as she ordered me to bring her some tea. "That's the least you can do since you're so incompetent at everything else," she sneered. "And don't you dare mess this up, or you'll regret it." She turned on her heels and left me feeling hurt

With tears streaming down her cheeks, Lily rose from the cold floor. She dragged her ragged frock across her face, trying to erase the pain and humiliation. She stumbled to her room, where she quickly changed into a clean dress and combed her hair. Then she forced herself to go to the kitchen, to prepare tea and snacks.

In the living room.

"Bella, where are our girls?" Mr Wu demanded, scanning the empty living room with a frown. He had expected a warm welcome from his daughters after returning from a long business trip, but only his wife was there to greet him. "Don't tell me they are still working. It's almost midnight!"

She smiled and called out in a sing-song voice, "Anastasia! Anna, darling! Where are you? Your father wants to meet you!" She waited for a response but heard nothing.

Just then, a loud thud came from upstairs, followed by a series of footsteps. Anna came running down the stairs, her long black hair flying behind her. She was wearing a pink dress and a matching bow. She looked like a miniature version of her mother, except for her eyes, which were a deep brown like her father's.

"Dad!" she squealed, jumping into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. "I missed you so much!"

Mr. Wu hugged her back, feeling a surge of love and pride.

"But tell me, where is your sister, Anna? Where is --?"

Emily is here dad, which sister are you talking about? Anastasia tried to avoid mentioning Lily's name. I'm talking about Lily, where is she? Is she still in the bookstore? He asked anxiously. Oh! Lily, why do you --? Anastasia was about to say something when Mrs Wu interrupted her. She is coming soon, she will come. Please don't worry. Mrs Wu said in a mumbling voice.

In the kitchen.

Lily, what are you doing here? Hannah asked in surprise. Your father is waiting for you. Go and greet him. I'll serve them tea. Go!

No, Hannah, please let me do it. Lily insisted. I want to show them my gratitude and love by serving them tea.

But you should go and talk to your father. He is here to see you. Hannah said. You should obey your elders and respect their wishes. Go to your father.

I appreciate your concern, Hannah, but I'm fine. Lily said. I think serving tea to my parents is also a way of respecting them. And I respect you too, Hannah. You work so hard for us. You deserve some rest. Let me do the work. With these words, Lily took the tray with the tea for Mrs and Mr Wu and her sisters to the living room.

In living room

Lily walked into the room with the tea tray, smiling warmly. She was about to place the tray on the table, but Mrs Wu's gentle voice stopped her. "What a lovely surprise, Lily!" Mr Wu exclaimed, delighted and curious. "Why are you bringing tea so unexpectedly?" "Don't trouble yourself, dear," Mrs Wu said, immediately taking the tray from her hand and placing it on the table. "Lily, go sit down beside your father.

Lily ran into her father's arms, tears in her eyes. "How are you, Father? I missed you so much!" she sobbed. Mr Wu hugged her tightly, feeling a surge of love and relief. "My sweet Lily, you have grown up so beautifully. You are more pretty than ever."

He kissed her forehead and looked at her face, admiring her delicate features. But then he saw something that made his heart sink.

A reddish bruise on her cheek, like a stain on a white flower. "What happened to your cheek, Lily? Did someone hurt you?" He touched the bruise gently, his voice full of concern.

Lily flinched and looked away, trying to hide her pain. "Uh, father-- that's just - I got hit on the desk while picking up a pencil. It's nothing serious. It will heal soon. Don't worry, father."

She forced a smile, but her eyes betrayed her fear. Mr Wu knew she was lying, but he didn't press her. He knew she had been through a lot, living with her cruel stepmother and stepsisters,(Lily didn't knew that she was adopted)

He wished he could take her away from them, but he had no choice. He had to work abroad to support his family, and he could only visit Lily once a year. He felt a pang of guilt and regret. "Take good care of yourself, Lily. You know how precious you are to me. You are my daughter, my only joy. I love you more than anything in the world." He hugged her again, wishing he could protect her from all the evils of the world.

Anastasia looked at her father with fake tears in her eyes. "And me, Father? You have forgotten me?" she asked in a trembling voice.( Actually pretending to be sad)

Mr Wu felt a pang of guilt and sadness. He hugged his daughter and kissed her forehead. "How could I ever forget you, my darling?" he said softly. "You are the light of my life, the joy of my heart. I love my daughters more than anything in the world."

As the others chatted, Mr. Wu cleared his throat and announced, "I have a special surprise for you all. I have brought some gifts to show my appreciation and love for my family." He then turned to his wife and smiled. "Especially for my beautiful wife, who has been my constant support and joy." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. He opened it and revealed a dazzling diamond necklace. He gently placed it around her neck and whispered, "You are the most precious thing in my life."

Mrs. Wu gasped and touched the necklace with awe. She looked into his eyes and said, "This is the most amazing gift I have ever received. I love it so much, but not as much as I love you." She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him passionately.

Ok,! Ok! Now please, everyone is here honey, Mr Wu winked at her.

"Emily, darling, come here!" Mr Wu called out, holding a wooden horse statue behind his back. He knew how much his daughter had wanted it for a long time. "I have a surprise for you!"

Emily ran towards her father, curious and eager. She gasped when she saw the statue. It was the one she had seen in the antique shop window, the one she had dreamed of having. It was beautiful and majestic, with a flowing mane and a proud posture.

"Wow! Is that for me?" she asked, her eyes shining.

"Yes, my dear, this is for you. Mr Wu said, handing her the statue. He smiled as he saw her face light up with joy.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Dad!" Emily exclaimed, hugging the statue to her chest. "You're the best! I love this so much! I can't believe you remembered it!"

She kissed her father on the cheek, making him laugh. "You're welcome, sweetheart. I'm glad you like it. You deserve it. You're such a wonderful daughter."

Emily hugged him back, feeling happy and grateful. She couldn't wait to show her friends her new treasure. She felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

Andddddd ,"Anastasia, "This is for you, my darling daughter!"

Anastasia tore open the box and gasped. Inside was an expensive crop top with baggy jeans, just like the ones she had seen in the fashion magazines. She hugged the clothes to her chest and jumped up and down.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Dad! I love it, I love it, I love it!" she squealed. She ran to Mr. Wu and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. "You're the best dad ever!"

Then Mr Wu gave the beautiful basket to Hannah as a present.

Hannah was amazed by the beautiful basket Mr Wu gave her. He had made it with skill and care. She thanked him sincerely.

Mr Wu smiled and bowed. He said he was happy to share his craft with her. He praised her for her interest and respect for his culture and his family. He wished her well for her future. He hoped the basket would inspire her to follow her dreams.

Anastasia smirked and whispered to Mrs Wu, "I bet Dad forgot to buy a present for Lily. She's such a spoiled brat. I hope she cries when she sees nothing under the tree."

Mrs Wu nodded and whispered back, "Me too. She always gets everything she wants. It's about time she learned a lesson. Maybe we can pretend we got something nice and make her jealous."

And finally, this is for our Lily!! With this Mr Wu smiled as he held a large book with a brown cover in his hands. He looked at his daughter Lily, who was sitting on the couch with a curious expression. He walked towards her and said, "And finally, this is for our Lily!!"

He handed her the book and said, "This is for you, Lily. This book is very precious, but I know you will appreciate it. It has a lot of knowledge and wisdom in it, and I'm sure you will find it fascinating."

Lily gasped as she took the book from him. She felt the weight and the texture of the cover. She opened it and saw the title: "The History of the World". She looked at her father with gratitude and love in her eyes. She said, "Thank you, Father. Thank you so much. You know how much I love books. You know how much I love learning. You are the best father in the world."

She hugged him tightly and felt a tear roll down her cheek. She said, "Thank you, Father. Thank you for loving me."

Mr Wu hugged her back and felt a surge of emotion. He said, "Oh! My child! You are my pride and joy. You are my precious gift. I love you more than anything."

As the evening faded into night, Lily made her way to the library. She found a cozy spot by the window, her favorite place to read. The moonlight streamed through the glass, casting a soft glow on her face. She looked out and saw the trees swaying in the cold breeze. Sometimes, she would lift her eyes from the book and gaze at the starry sky. She wondered if somewhere out there, her soulmate was looking at the same stars. She smiled and traced a heart shape with her fingers, sending a silent wish to the universe.

Lily opened the book that her father had given her. It was a fantasy love novel about ultra legends and supernatural beings. She adored this kind of book. She had seen it online and heard about it at school many times. It was very popular. "Wow!" Lily exclaimed with a thrilled face. "I can't believe I have this book in my hands. It's right here in front of me. Joana will be so jealous when I tell her tomorrow. Haha. Let's check out the pages." Lily began to read the book eagerly. She was fascinated by the love plot and the synopsis. She was totally immersed in the book. Suddenly, a page flew out of the book and landed on the floor.

Lily picked up the paper from the floor, curious to see what it was. She flipped the page and heard a faint noise. Her eyes widened as she saw the words on the paper. She felt a surge of panic and disbelief. Tears streamed down her face.

What!! No no, this can't be true. This can't be happening.

It was an adoption paper of Lily, signed by Mr Wu, who had sent a letter to the adoption centre 17 years ago. It was dated on the day when Lily was brought to his home.

Lily clutched the paper in her trembling hand as she sprinted out of the Library. She felt a surge of panic and disbelief as she read the words over and over again. She reached her father's room and barged in without knocking. She was gasping for breath.

"Father, what is this? How can this be?" She thrust the paper at Mr. Wu, who looked up with a pained expression.

"You have found out the truth..." He said in a low voice.

"What truth? What are you talking about?" Lily demanded, her voice rising.

"I'm sorry, Lily, I'm so sorry. I should have told you sooner, but I was afraid of losing you. It's true, Lily, it's true." He said, his eyes filling with tears.

"What is true? What are you hiding from me? Tell me, father, tell me!" Lily shook him by the shoulders, her eyes wide with fear.

" YOU ARE ADOPTED,Lily. You are not my biological daughter." Mr. Wu said, his voice breaking.

Lily felt a surge of grief and despair as she ran across the room, tears streaming down her face. She headed for the bookstore, her only refuge and solace. She had poured her heart and soul into that place, which rightfully belonged to her. Her cruel stepmother and stepsisters had no interest in the bookstore or her. They had tried to take it away from her, but Mr Wu, the kind old man who owned the property, had entrusted it to Lily. He knew how much she loved and cared for it.

Lily felt a sharp pain in her chest, as if someone had stabbed her with a knife. She ran away from the house that was no longer her home, and found herself in a bookstore. She hoped that reading some books would distract her from the harsh reality, but she couldn't concentrate on the words. She felt like a stranger in her own life, betrayed by the people she loved the most.

She threw the book on the table with a loud thud, and broke down in tears. She covered her face with her hands, and sobbed uncontrollably. Her golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, hiding her from the world. She looked out of the window, and saw people walking by, laughing and talking. She felt so alone and miserable.

"Why me? Why me?" she whispered to herself. "I have no one in this world. They are all liars. They don't care about me. How pathetic I am. I'm truly pathetic."

Lily felt like her whole world had collapsed. She had no idea who she was, where she came from, or where she belonged. She felt like an orphan, abandoned and unwanted.

"Oh, sorry. I forgot. They are not my parents. They are Mr. and Mrs. Wu. They are nothing to me. And I am nothing to them." Lily said bitterly, as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Lily gazed out of the window, hoping to see some signs of life in the deserted street. She had prepared her bookstore with care, arranging the books in order. But as the hours ticked by, she realized that she was the only one who cared about her business. No one else bothered to visit her shop that day, except for...

Lily felt a surge of anger and sadness as she looked at the book that Mr Wu had given her. It was supposed to be a gift, but it felt like a mockery. She didn't need anyone's pity or sympathy. She ripped the pages out of the book and threw them at the door, shouting, "I don't need anyone! I don't need anyone's gift!"

As she did so, she heard a knock on the door. She opened it and saw a mysterious old man standing there. He was wearing a long brown coat and a large hat that covered most of his face. One of his eyes was hidden by a patch. He looked at her with a curious expression and asked, "Are you in trouble, miss?"

Lily was so disheartened that she didn't recognize him as one of her regular customers. She snapped, "Who are you? What do you want?"

The old man lowered his voice and said, "I need your help, miss. I have a very important request for you."

Lily suddenly realized that he was a customer and that she had been rude to him. She quickly wiped away her tears and tried to compose herself. She said, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. This is a bookstore. How can I help you?"

Lily gasped as she heard the old man's request. He wanted a book about Vampire War. What kind of twisted mind would enjoy reading such horror? She glanced at his wrinkled face and pale eyes, wondering if he was hiding a dark secret. She felt a shiver run down her spine.

"Vampire War?" she repeated, hoping she had misheard him.

"Yes, young lady. Do you have any books on that topic?" he asked, his voice raspy and low.

Lily shook her head, trying to hide her disgust. She scanned the shelves of the bookstore, looking for an excuse to get away from him. Everyone else was browsing for romance novels, or thrillers, or biographies. Normal books for normal people. But this man... he was different. He was dangerous.

"I'm sorry, sir. We don't carry any books like that. Maybe you should try another store," she said, forcing a smile.

The old man frowned, his lips curling into a sneer. He leaned closer to her, making her flinch.

"You are curious, aren't you?" The old man said suddenly, making Lily jump. "But you must help me first." Lily felt a cold shiver run down her spine. How did he know what I was thinking? She wondered in horror. What is going on here? "Don't be afraid, my dear. I won't hurt you." The old man said softly, but his eyes were cold and piercing. "W-what do you want from me? H-how can you r-read my mind?" Lily stammered, trying to back away. "It's a secret, my dear. A very old and powerful secret." The old man chuckled. "But you will learn it soon enough, for you are destined to be my son's bride." He whispered, leaning closer to her.

Lily remembered that there might be some books about vampires in the library room. She quickly ran to the large room, where rows of shelves were filled with dusty books. She scanned the titles and found a few that looked promising. They were ancient and worn, and Lily wondered if they belonged to Mr. Wu. She picked them up and opened one of them.

"Wow, I had no idea there were vampire books here," she whispered to herself, curious about the secrets they might reveal. I'll check them later.

Lily placed some books on the table with trembling hands. She had searched the entire library for them, but she had no idea what they were about.

"I'm sorry, sir. These are all the books I could find on vampires. I haven't read any of them, so I can't give you a summary..." she apologized, avoiding his piercing gaze.

The old man smiled faintly and picked up one of the books. He flipped through the pages, as if looking for something. "Don't worry, my dear. You have been very helpful today. More than you know." He said in a low voice, full of secrets.

He put the book back on the table and reached for his coat. He was about to leave, when Lily gathered her courage and called out to him. "Sir? Excuse me, sir?" She stuttered, feeling a surge of curiosity and fear. "Can I... can I ask you something?"

The old man turned around and looked at her with a curious expression. "Yes, what is it?" He asked, patiently.

Lily swallowed hard and blurted out her question. "Why do you want vampire books? Most people come here for romance novels and classics. Do vampires... do they really exist?" She asked, hoping he would laugh and tell her it was all a joke.

But he didn't laugh. He didn't say anything. He just stared at her with a strange intensity, as if he knew something she didn't. And then, he smiled.

Lily had always been fascinated by the dark and the unknown. She had a secret obsession with vampires, those creatures of the night that haunted her dreams. But as she grew older, she dismissed them as mere fantasies. Until today, when she met the old man.

He looked at her with a knowing smile and raised his eyebrows. "They are real, you know," he said in a low voice. "The vampires. Do you want to hear their stories?"

Lily felt a surge of excitement and fear. She pulled two chairs closer and sat down with him. She nodded eagerly.

"Please, tell me everything," she said, her eyes wide with curiosity.