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"Before introducing the last person onstage, I would like to express my deepest apologies to the four families in the first two rows. I now understand what you have been put through, and there are no words that can ever erase the pain you experienced...through my hand." This is it. My adrenaline level shoots through the roof, not that my blood pressure wasn’t already in the unhealthy range.
Flashes go off, people behind me jump up, and from my angle, I can see the shocked expressions of the parents in the front. Slowly the information sinks in. The women all sit with covered mouths, some crying, some in their husband's arms. One man jumps up and attempts to reach the stage when two security guards stop him.
"YOU MOTHERFUCKER! YOU TOOK MY BABY GIRL!" the man is shouting, and I feel Denielle behind me cringe at his words. The woman next to him starts crying harder and pulls on his arm, trying to tug him backward.
I force myself to remain rooted in place. Lilly is not in danger. I inhale and exhale through my nose, watching George slowly make his way off the stage and quietly address the man. I have no idea what he says to the outraged father, but all of a sudden, his shoulders slump, and he lets the security guard guide him back to his seat.
I did not expect that.
Focusing back on the stage, I realize that Lilly stepped up next to Nate and has her hand on his forearm. Glancing around, others have noticed the same gesture and are now looking at the two with a mix of curiosity and contempt. They know who Lilly is—at least part of it.
Nate covers the microphone while Lilly quietly talks to him. He shakes his head vigorously as she keeps addressing him. Her entire focus is on her brother; she has tuned everyone else out. Where Nate looks pained, she is serious, and knowing Lilly, there is no negotiation. George joins the two, and after Lilly seems to bring him up to speed, George places a hand on Nate's shoulder, nods at him in his typical no-bullshit fashion, and slowly guides him toward the chair Lilly vacated. I hold my breath as she takes the podium.
She is not in danger.
I curl my toes inside my shoes to keep myself in place. As soon as she stands behind the microphone, everything goes quiet.
"Ladies and gentleman of the press, Mrs. Conway, Mr. and Mrs. Scagliotta, Mr. and Mrs. Lynn, and Mr. and Mrs. Ashbaugh, thank you all for coming today. I would like to introduce myself first before continuing with the rest of the information Nate was about to share with you. My name is Lilly Ann Hamlin."
A collective gasp goes through the room, and I expect someone to speak up, but no one does.
From my angle, I can see Lilly clutch the notes Nate left behind. Lilly takes a deep breath before looking straight at the people in the first two rows. "I am Nate Hamlin's sister and his first"—she pauses for what I count seven breaths—"victim." Lilly's chest is heaving, and I know the signs. Unless she can calm herself, she is going into a panic attack. I take one step, and her eyes find me instantly. I halt, waiting for her cues. She looks at me, and I hold her gaze. I don't know how long we stare at each other when she finally dips her chin and faces the parents again. She's back in control. I expel a sigh of relief.
"My apologies. This is still hard for me, as well. As I said, I was my brother's first victim. My biological mother had an affair with Nate's father, Brooks Hamlin. Neither Nate nor his mother or sister knew about me, nor I of them. After Audrey and Payton Altman's death, Nate found out about his father's affair through a number of letters my mother had sent to him. At the time, my brother was in a very dark place. He had just been released from his stay at the hospital and was highly medicated. Medication that impacted his judgment and thinking to a point where—"
"ARE YOU MAKING EXCUSES FOR THIS FREAK’S CRIMES?" the man from earlier shouts in the first row.
Fuck. This is getting ugly.
I'm ready to storm to the stage; Marcus is already front and center.
Lilly faces the man with a sad smile. "No, Mr. Lynn. I am not. My brother needs to account for his crimes. I have told him that from the day I found out who I was and what he had done to your daughters and me. There is no excuse for that." Someone else is standing up, about to say something, but Lilly holds up her hand. She looks like she does this every day, and my chest swells. I'm even a little turned on.
This is so not appropriate right now.
"Please let me finish. I understand that this is hard for you, and I promise you will get the answers you need. I have had time to come to terms with what has happened to me and worked alongside my family and my brother to deal with the past."
"Why didn't you come clean when you reappeared last March?" Lancaster shouts.
So much for no questions.
"Mr. Lancaster, please let me proceed. As our head of security has informed you, we will not allow questions."
I can't help myself and glance back at the guy who had camped out on our front lawn for weeks. His face is a mixture of surprise and shock, and I grin to myself. I wonder how many times he's been told off by an eighteen-year-old.
Lilly continues. She tells the room everything. Every detail that led to today. With some topics, she’s vague, like how she lost her memory. With others, there is uncensored explicitness, like Emily's blackmail and abuse. When Lilly mentions Henry, all eyes are on him, but he only focuses on his daughter. At Lilly’s recollection of Turner breaking into the Hamlin Estate and what Emily did to her to get her inheritance, a collective gasp goes through the room. One of her hands leaves the podium and rubs over the scar hidden underneath her skirt. She does that whenever someone brings up those few days.
"The reason I am telling you all of this is for you to understand why it took so long for my brother and me to hold this conference. The Altman board of directors was notified last week of my existence and that I will take over for my brother, effective immediately. While I continue my education, I will rely on the board's experience and guidance to make sure my family's business is handled appropriately. Upon completion of my degree, I will take on the official role as the president of the Altman Hotels until my brother returns."
"Returns from where?"
Fucking Lancaster.
Lilly ignores him and focuses back on the parents of the four girls. "My brother has given his statement to Agents Camden and Lanning of the FBI. Upon finishing this press conference, he is voluntarily checking himself into a facility specialized for this type of disorder. At the same time, his attorney will collect the testimony of the pharmaceutical companies, Dr. Stern, who prescribed the medication that caused his impulsive and erratic behavior, and any witnesses before taking the case to trial. During his treatment, my brother will learn how to cope with his actions and—"
"THIS IS FUCKING RIDICULOUS. THE BASTARD NEEDS TO GO TO JAIL!"
Lynn is losing it, and this time, neither his wife nor George can calm him down. His yelling becomes louder, and when he takes a step toward the podium, George's men are on him, grasping his arms. Marcus has positioned himself directly in front of Lilly, making her peer around his large frame. The guys drag Chloe’s father to a side entrance while his wife stands there staring after her kicking husband.
