The Rabbit Girl Who Shook the Walker Family Chapter 17
Lucas’s knuckles tightened.Â
“Did she believe it?”Â
Aunt Grace shook her head.Â
“She didn’t.”Â
“That’s why she kept all the evidence.”Â
Lily dragged a small box out from under the bed.Â
“Lucas, this is Mommy’s too.”Â
Inside the box was a tiny baby outfit. A small cloth pouch was sewn into the inside of the outfit.Â
Ethan cut it open. Inside was the other half of theÂ
family crest pendant. Old Mr. Walker was sitting inÂ
the estate living room when he received the call.Â
Half an hour later, he personally rushed to the rental apartment.Â
When he saw that half of the family crest pendant, his fingers trembled. Lucas took the half pendant from Lily’s neck. The two halves of the family crest fit together. The broken edges closed exactly. InÂ
the center was a tiny engraved W. Old Mr. WalkerÂ
sat on the old chair.Â
For a long while, he said nothing. This family crestÂ
pendant had been made by his order when Lucas was born. Later, when Lucas came of age, he had split the pendant in half. One half was given to Lucas. The other half was kept for the nextÂ
generation of the Walker family. Lucas’s half had disappeared three years ago.Â
He had said he lost it. It had been with Emma. OldÂ
Mr. Walker studied Lily.Â
“What else did your mother say?”Â
Lily sat on the little stool. Her small hands restedÂ
on her knees. She thought for a long time.Â
“Mommy said the family crest pendant was aÂ
ticket.”Â
Old Mr. Walker’s eyes reddened slightly. He turnedÂ
his face away and coughed.Â
“What else did she say?”Â
Lily counted on her fingers.Â
“She said Lucas was busy with work.”Â
“She said Ethan looks scary, but he is reasonable.”Â
“She said Grandpa doesn’t like to smile.”Â
She turned to Old Mr. Walker.Â
“Mommy was wrong.”Â
“Grandpa smiled yesterday.”Â
Old Mr. Walker looked down at her.Â
“What else did she say about me?”Â
Lily thought about it.Â
“She said Grandpa can be wrong.”Â
No one in the room spoke. Old Mr. Walker’s handÂ
rested on his cane.Â
After a long time, he asked, “How did she say it?”Â
Lily imitated Emma’s tone. Her little face wasÂ
serious.Â
“Everyone can be wrong.”Â
“But if grown–ups are wrong, they have to say sorryÂ
to children.”Â
After she finished, she touched the rabbit.Â
“Mommy said I have to do that too.”Â
Old Mr. Walker looked at her. Emma had not saidÂ
those words only for Lily. They were for them. Old Mr. Walker leaned on his cane and slowly stood. He walked to Lily. Then he bent down.Â
The movement was not easy for him. He had anÂ
old injury in his knee. When he bent, his cane.Â
tapped lightly against the floor. Lily quicklyÂ
reached out to support him.Â
“Grandpa, be careful.”Â
Old Mr. Walker looked at her little hand. His voiceÂ
dropped low.Â
“Lily.”Â
“Grandpa was wrong.”Â
Lily froze. She had never heard such a big grown–up say he was wrong. She thought about it, then patted the back of his hand. Like Emma usedÂ
to pat hers.Â
“Then change next time.”Â
Old Mr. Walker’s eyes grew redder.Â
“I will.”Â
Lucas stood by the window. He studied theÂ
handwritten list and did not move for a long time. Lily walked to his side.Â
“Lucas.”Â
Lucas looked down.Â
“Mm.”Â
Lily looked up.Â
“Why didn’t you come find me then?”Â
The air in the room seemed to freeze. Aunt Grace turned her face away. Ethan said nothing either.Â
Lucas crouched down. This time, he did not useÂ
work, misunderstanding, or evidence as anÂ
excuse. He looked into her eyes.Â
“Because I was wrong.”Â
Lily glanced at him.Â
“You can be wrong too?”Â
Lucas nodded.Â
“Yes.”Â
She asked again, “Then will you change nextÂ
time?”Â
Lucas said, “I will.”Â
Lily thought about it. She took a wrinkled littleÂ
rabbit sticker from her pocket and stuck it on hisÂ
cuff.Â
“Then you get one.”Â
“If it’s stuck on, you have to remember.”Â
Lucas glanced at the rabbit on his cuff. Pink. Tiny.Â
It did not match his black suit at all. He did notÂ
tear it off. Ethan’s phone rang.Â
After he answered, his face turned cold.Â
“Rachel has produced a statement.”Â
Lucas stood.Â
“What statement?”Â
Ethan sent the file to the group chat.Â
“A custody waiver signed by Lucas three yearsÂ
ago.”Â
Old Mr. Walker snatched the phone. It was there in black and white. The signature was Lucas’s. The date was the third day after Lily’s birth.Â
Rachel had her lawyer pass on a message:Â
“If the Walker family continues pursuing this, sheÂ
will make the statement public.”Â
Lucas studied the document.

