Too Late, Mr. Cooper: Your Bride Ran with Your Baby novel Chapter 304

Both Mrs. Hart and Mrs. Grayson froze at the sound, their heads turning in unison toward the staircase.

Liliana had appeared on the landing. One hand rested on her back, the other cradling her swollen belly as she slowly descended, her gaze lowered.

It was impossible to know how much of their conversation she had overheard.

Mrs. Grayson’s eyes widened in urgency when she saw her. Forgetting her usual poised demeanor, she started to rise from her seat. "Lili—"

She'd barely uttered a syllable when Mrs. Hart, quick as a flash, rose with a smile and cut her off. She hurried to Liliana's side, taking her arm. "Liliana, dear, what are you doing down here?" she said with warm affection. "Didn't I tell you? Your belly is so big now, you shouldn't be walking around too much. If you need anything, just tell Martha. She'll bring it to you."

Mrs. Hart was making it clear that she wouldn't allow Mrs. Grayson to ask Liliana to go to the police station and see Isabella. She gently held Liliana’s arm, intending to guide her back upstairs.

"...Mom."

Liliana stood her ground, her long, thick lashes lowered. "I heard what you and Mrs. Grayson were talking about," she said softly.

Mrs. Hart froze, her expression turning to one of panicked alarm. "Liliana... you..." she stammered.

After a long silence, Liliana finally spoke, cutting her off. She slowly lifted her gaze, her eyes filled with a pained remorse. Her lips trembled as she said, her voice hoarse, "It was my selfishness that pushed Matthew to marry Isabella in such a hurry. If I hadn't been so difficult with Linton, always fighting with him over Isabella, old Mr. Cooper wouldn't have been so desperate to marry her off. And Matthew wouldn't have stepped up to give everyone a graceful way out. He wouldn't have..."

...*died*.

The last word stuck in her throat. She paused, her eyes flooded with grief and regret, unable to say it.

Mrs. Grayson bit her lip, on the verge of collapsing into tears. She clutched Liliana’s hand, her shoulders shaking with sobs. Her voice, usually so chilly, was now thick with emotion. "Oh, my dear Liliana, I knew you were a kind girl."