"Maaamaaa..." Sam started calling for Lilly as he stretched his arms towards his mother in hopes that she would come running to him.

His face was drenched with tears and was turning red every second. It was then when Lilly finally lost it.

But before she could say anything Arthur interrupted, "Elsie, give the boy to Lilly. If he didn't stop crying then it will become difficult for him to breathe."

"But Arthur-"

"Elsie," Arthur called in a stern voice. "Give the boy back to Lilly."

Finally, Elsie resigned. Just as Lilly was about to take the toddler Ashton interrupted.

"Let me hold him. Have you brought his extra change of clothes?"

"Yes. It's in the car."

"Call the driver. He will bring it."

Within the next 60 seconds, Lilly had Samuel's change of clothes in her hands and she was glad that she had brought it with her. Sam was still sniffling in Ashton's neck as he hugged him tightly. Ashton tried to console the baby by rubbing his back gently and bouncing him slowly on his arm.

"It's alright, Sam. I'm here." He assured the toddler ignoring the death glares he was getting from Elsie. He wasn't a small boy anymore. He wasn't going to give in to her death glares again. Those times had passed.

Lilly helped Sam change into a fresh pair of clothes. He was looking really tired and frustrated after all that crying so Lilly suggested, "I am already full so you please continue with your dinner and I will take Sam out for some fresh air. It's already time he goes to bed and that's why he is feeling tired."

"It's alright." Arthur agreed.

More than a necessity it was an excuse that Lilly had given. She thought maybe it was her presence that was making it difficult for Arthur to talk to his son so she wanted to leave them alone for a while in hopes that the father and son duo will talk their problems.

Other than that she was already full and couldn't handle the dinner surrounded with that heavy atmosphere.

So she took Sam in her embrace as he rested his head on her shoulder and headed towards the garden.

"It's alright, baby. I have got you." she cooed to the baby hoping for him to calm down and fall asleep quickly.

Ashton was now left alone with the old couple. He had lost his appetite the moment he had left his house and sat in the car to come to this hell again. At this moment just thought of sitting again on the dining table and going through that torture of pretend 'eating with good family' again was nauseating. He would rather spend his time pondering over the data sheets he never really liked than to sit here and pretend happy family again.

The thought of following Lilly and Samuel to the garden seemed more pleasing. Without looking at the old couple he said, "You both can continue with the dinner. I am full so I'll just follow Lilly and Sam to the garden."

But before he could take a step further Elsie's voice interrupted him.

"I know what you are trying to do Ashton. But I won't let you succeed."

This house was always a part of his worst of nightmares. He could still remember the child who used to sit in a corner of his room and cry at the loss of his mother. Cry for the loss of a family he now doubted ever existed. But he wasn't a child anymore and he wasn't going to lose anything or anyone to Elsie anymore.

He turned around and looked into her eyes. "What are you trying to say?"

" I know you don't want me to take Sam's custody."

"Haven't you already given up on his custody?" Ashton questioned even though he was well aware of the fact that Elsie wasn't one of those who gave up easily on anything that she thought belonged to her.

"Sam is my Sebastian's child. If you think you can take him away from me then you are wrong."

" I am not taking anything away from you. In his last words, Sebastian told me to look for his child and now I am looking after him." Ashton replied calmly.

"He told you to find his child. He didn't ask you to raise him."

"You have grown old, Elsie. It's time for you to take a break because I don't think you will be able to look after a small child who doesn't even like your company."

Ashton could see the angry flush that stained Elsie's cheeks and for some reason, it gave him a little satisfaction.

"You are crossing your line, Ashton." she accused. "Sam is my grandson so of course one day he will start to like me. If he can't live without Lilly then she too can stay with us. I'll provide her with all the necessities and comforts that she wouldn't need to work anymore." Looking at him Elsie smirked as she finished. "And as for you, you do not deserve either of them."

"Who are you to decide what I deserve and what not?"

"Oh come on, Ashton. Did you forget you were the reason your mom died?"

Ashton didn't reply to her snarl remark because he didn't know what exactly to say. He had no words that could refute her statement.

"So letting Sam and Lilly stay with you would be dangerous."

"I am not giving you anything that belongs to me, Elsie. Neither Lilly nor Sam."

His words fumed her and she hissed.

"You bastard!"

"Elsie." she stopped as Arthur interrupted. "Leave it."

"But Arthur he-" she bit back her words as she got one stern look from her husband.

"Ashton." Arthur now looked at his son as he continued, "Have you forgotten your manners?" Is this the way to talk to your mother?"

"She's not my mother. My mom died years ago. Your wife on whose demise you didn't even shed a year probably because you were busy with someone else." Ashton threw the words coldly at his father as he glanced at Elsie's reddening cheeks.

"Ashton!" Arthur glared at his son.

"Look at the way he is talking to you, honey. This impudent child of yours."

Ashton didn't flinch at those words because he was hearing them for a long time now so he had gotten used to them. They didn't hurt anymore.

"Elsie, if you consider me to be the cause of my mom's death then who do you think is a reason for Sebastian's downfall? Who is responsible for him getting addicted to drugs and alcohol and finally him dying a painful death?''

The next thing he felt was a stinging sensation on his cheek. Elsie had slapped him and looking at the length of her fingernails he knew she must have left a mark on his cheek but now he had grown accustomed to all this so it didn't hurt anymore. He just stood there looking at her. He neither moved nor tried to defend himself.

"How dare you?" Elsie almost shouted as she took a step closer to him and was about to grab him from his collar when her hand was stopped in mid-air.

Now all eyes turned to Lilly who on one arm was holding the sleeping toddler while with the other she stopped Elsie's attack mid-air. She glared back at Elsie, her eyes filled with rage.

"Who do you think you are to raise your hand at my husband?" Lilly questioned as the anger shone in her eyes and her grip tightened on Elsie's wrist.

Lilly's grip was so strong that Elsie hissed in pain and quickly withdrew her hand. Rubbing the wrist she tried to soothe the pain.

"Lilly, you are misunderstanding this situation. Trust me, Ashton is not good for you. You don't even know what he did to his mother. He is the cause of her dea-"

"Enough!" Lilly interrupted. "I don't need to hear from you what my husband is like. I don't need you to tell me what he has done or not. He is my husband and if you can't respect him then don't come looking for me ever again." She held Ashton's hand and pulled him along with her only to stop in the doorway.

Giving Elsie a sideways glance she said in a warning tone. "Make sure Elsie, you don't come anywhere near my family or else I am sure your opinions of me will not remain good after that meeting. If you still love your hand then stay away from my husband and my son."

And with that, they moved out of the house. She didn't know what happened after that. The next moment she found herself seated in the car beside Ashton. Sam was still in her arms as his head rested on her breasts. He was breathing softly and smiled in his sleep. He was the only one who looked at peace in the tumultuous world of Lilly and Ashton.

She looked at Ashton from the corner of her eye. He was sitting silently. His head turned to the other side. She had wanted to reach out to him, wanted to touch him, wanted to tell him that they were going back home where everything will be alright but then there were a lot many questions that she had wanted to ask but she just couldn't bring herself to even look at him.

She remembered that Ashton had said that his mom died due to postpartum depression then why was Elsie saying that Ashton was the one who was responsible for his mom's death? If Grace's words were true then the years his mom was alive Ashton was a happy child which means his mom must have been healthy and happy too. Then the postpartum depression must have started after the birth of Sebastian. Ashton had no role in all this then why she blamed him, Lilly frowned.

And above all why Arthur didn't say anything? Why didn't he refute his wife's words? Why didn't he stop his wife? There were all sorts of questions that were going on in her mind but she couldn't bring herself to ask even a single of them.

Was Ashton the cause of all this, Lilly wondered and hated the answer is positive. Something in her had wanted to defend him and say no, he is innocent while a part of her was still not sure if she could trust him.

The questions were messing with her brain so much that she couldn't even speak to him, talk to him or even look at him. Until and unless she was sure of his stand in this situation Lilly decided to stay quiet.

She didn't realise when the car came to a stop and Ashton had opened the door of her side. He stretched his hand for her to take. She looked at his hand and then into his usually confident eyes which today had an alarmed look in them. There was something indescribable in his gaze today and Lilly was failing to understand what it was.

She took his hand and got out of the car as she adjusted Sam in her embrace. Before Ashton could offer his help Lilly spoke up. "I'll put Sam to bed."

With those words, she left. She disappeared into the house without waiting for a word from him. Leaving him out there at the villa gates as he looked at her retreating back.

'How much of it did she hear? Does she believe Elsie's words?'