Page 123 of Lilly

"Don't take too long on this. It would be best to get rid of him before he's presented to the group."

"Yes. I understand."

"Enough talk about business. How about a game of chess?"

"Perhaps with a glass of scotch?"

"Absolutely," he says, getting up to go to the bar.

We don't mention Dean again for the rest of the night. William has given me an option and now I have a decision to make. It's not as though this option hadn't occurred to me before, but I was hoping it wouldn't come to that. I'm not that person anymore. I don't live in that world. But William does and would have no problem doing this for me. The question is...am I willing to take it that far?

The next day, I drive into Manhattan to see Katherine. I didn't tell anyone I was going there, not even Rachel. She'd try to talk me out of it, fearing I'll do something to Katherine. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do. Killing her is certainly an option. I know it's wrong, but if Katherine is determined to kill Rachel, then I have no choice.

It's odd, but when I think about killing Katherine, I don't feel that same hesitation I feel when thinking about killing Dean. Maybe because I don't have the same history with Dean. And because I know, deep-down, he doesn't want to hurt people. He was forced to kill that associate, just like I was forced to commit similar crimes years ago. Dean told me about hiring that man to kill Rachel because he wanted to save her. He didn't have to do that, and doing so could've gotten him killed, yet he still told me. So although I don't like Dean, killing him isn't as easy as killing Katherine.

Katherine destroyed my life for many years. She destroyed Garret's life, and Lilly's. She took Rachel from me, and then attempted to do it again. She's evil and destructive and having her gone would be good for all of us.

When I arrive at Katherine's building, the doorman lets me through without question. When Lilly was younger, I dropped her off here so many times that the doorman knows me. I haven't seen him in years but he still remembered me and was friendly as always.

I take the elevator up to Katherine's penthouse apartment and am surprised when she answers the door. Usually the maid greets me.

"Pearce." Katherine steps back, clearly shocked to see me.

"Hello, Katherine." I shove the door aside and walk in.

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to speak with you."

"You can't just show up here."

"I was in town. I didn't have a chance to call first." I go over to the long beige couch and sit down. The whole apartment is beige and white, just like our old house. She refuses to decorate with any other color. My home in California is full of color. I find it warm and soothing. The white is cold and stark, but fitting for Katherine.

"Have a seat," I say.

"You're not staying." She plants her hands on her hips, her bony arms sticking out on both sides. She's wearing a fitted white dress and I can see her hip bones sticking out. Being that thin can't possibly be healthy.

"I will be staying until we're finished talking. So have a seat, unless you'd prefer to stand." She doesn't move. "Fine. We'll stand." I rise up from the couch and walk over to her. "I know what you did."

She can't stop her lips from creeping up. "I don't know what you mean."

"Your attempt to kill my wife."

She laughs. "I did no such thing."

"I've already spoken with Phillip. And even before I did, I knew you were behind it."

"Why would I bother?" she asks. "I have better things to do with my time."

"Don't pretend you didn't do this. We both know you did. But it ends now. Your obsession to get back at me and your jealousy of Rachel needs to stop."

"I am NOT jealous of that woman. Why on earth would I be jealous of that low class piece of trash?"

"Because she's my wife and you're not. And because she's raising our daughter and doing a far better job than you ever did."

"How dare you! She is not Lilly's mother and never will be!"

"You've been jealous of Rachel since the day you met her. Your jealousy is what led your father to try to kill her. You wanted what Rachel had, and for all those years she was away, you had it. You got exactly what you wanted. Me as your husband. Your dream house. All the money you could ever desire. And yet you still weren't happy. Nothing will make you happy, Katherine. Killing my wife will not bring you happiness. You and I will never get back together. Rachel is the only woman I'll ever love. And as for Lilly, you've destroyed your relationship with her. Even if Rachel wasn't around, Lilly still wouldn't want to see you."

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