“I can't with people who already started hating Water Lily and its author bc "wah wah why do many FLIs". Like oh noe Emily how you'll survive this when you have 50+ stories where there's always been a choice between 2-3 MLIs (sometimes more) when ppl who romance FLIs had only 1 sidelined branch for literal years and even the mandatory 2/2 system doesn't mean author can't sideline one or both of them like in TTS, WLBE, AN3, SC and etc
But sure possibly having 3 FLIs in one story will instantly make RC an app only for lesbians and bisexual women”
We still don’t know who Riley is. We don’t know anything about her family. We don’t know why everyone treats her like a child or why she just goes along with it.
I’ve got a theory forming about who she might be. Here’s the breakdown.
Riley’s family
In the first episode, she mentions that her car was actually her grandmother’s.
But then in this update, Mrs. Romano calls her an orphan and a charity case. I don’t know if she meant that Riley was actually an orphan or if she was just insinuating that Riley wasn’t one of them.
But if she truly is an orphan, it would explain why we haven’t heard anything about her parents. So maybe Riley lost her parents somehow, then was raised by her grandmother until she died. After that, she was put in the system. The Fairchilds then took her in as a foster child. It makes them look generous and charitable just in time for Marcus’s reelection. It also conveniently overshadow’s Lily’s terrible behavior.
That town & Fairchilds
I’m getting the feeling that Riley wasn’t actually from that town. We know she stayed with the Fairchilds for that one summer when they were 16. But she wasn’t present for the first mixer with Lily’s harp performance. Sheriff Hawthorne also didn’t recognize her when she drove in.
I had previously assumed Riley was staying with the Fairchilds for the summer because she was friends with Lily. But I don’t think that’s it. I think the Fairchilds took her in and she lived with them for some time—no more than a year.
After Lily’s death, she was no longer part of the LIs’ lives. They all continue to live their lives in that town without her. Yeah, she goes to college out of town, but she left before they even finished high school.
So where did she go?
If she was being fostered by the Fairchilds, it makes sense that she’d be removed from their home following the death of one of their own children. They would’ve been deemed unfit to foster her. She would’ve been placed into a different home after that.
This also aligns with my White Oleander comparison. It would also explain why Riley doesn’t seem to have her own identity.
Not only that, Lily was about to be shipped off to a boarding school. If Riley really was being fostered by the Fairchilds, she would’ve then replaced Lily while Lily was away. But Lily dying threw a wrench in that plan. The state took her away and they were no longer able to make her part of the family.
Now fast forward five years, they’re throwing this elaborate wedding and Vivienne is oh so eager to induct Riley as an official Fairchild.
Why is everyone worried about Riley?
Declan, Fabian, Luna, and Emma all seem extra protective and worried about her. They treat her like she’s fragile. Declan and Emma have both implied that she might be a danger to herself.
So my next question is this: What happened to Riley in the aftermath of Lily’s death? Did she feel guilty and try to kill herself? Did she have a mental breakdown and get sent to a psychiatric facility? Or are they aware of some tragic past that we just don’t know about yet?
Surely, she must have some sort of traumatic past. She shakes off trauma like it’s a regular thing. She’s almost numb to it. She just picks herself up and keeps going, because that’s how she’s had to live her whole life.
I think we also haven’t seen much of her past because her life has been lived in fragments. Years with Mom. Years with Grandma. Year with the Fairchilds. Year in Foster Home 2. College.
Putting it altogether, my theory is this:
Riley was an orphan the Fairchilds were fostering as a charity case. It was supposed to make them look good. Lily had issues with the law and made them look bad. Riley was agreeable and everybody took a liking to her. They decided to ship Lily off to boarding school and to keep Riley, eventually adopting her. Everyone would forget about Lily and celebrate Riley instead. They would also get the glory for whatever success Riley achieved in the future, because without them, none of it would’ve been possible.
Lily was onto their plan and began her own plan of sabotage. She decided that if she died, then everyone would mourn her and remember her positively. While it also would make Marcus and Vivienne look like terrible, negligent parents. Marcus would lose his election. Most importantly, they wouldn’t be able to replace her with Riley, because Riley would get taken away. That’s exactly what happened.
Oh. Another thing, Lily sabotaged Riley’s future chances with Fabian/Luna. By dating them, she’s permanently put Riley in her shadow. And we see this now in the present. Riley feels uneasy pursuing anything with Fabian and I’m assuming Luna for wlw. They will always remember Lily first and are now marked with feelings of betrayal, secrecy, and being left behind.
Years later, Amelia is getting married. This is the perfect opportunity to invite Riley because she was “like part of the family.” Conveniently, Marcus is also running for reelection.
The wedding event is three months long because it’s all a plan to absorb Riley into their world. This is why Vivienne is trying to set her up with Julian. If Riley marries Julian, then she would stay in town permanently. Vivienne could continue to pretend to be the benevolent mother figure and act like Riley was the long lost daughter who returned. Riley then fulfills her role as the “trophy daughter”. She makes them look good and erases their tarnished reputation left behind by Lily. And again, whatever success she achieves in the future would be credited to the Fairchilds for their wonderful, benevolent hearts.
Going forward
Riley needs to decide who she really is and who she wants to be. She has to learn that she’s an adult now. Her life no longer needs to be dictated by her circumstances. She has the power to drive her own plot and to change it. But it’s been so engrained in her that nothing is within her control. I think somehow she’s going to have to learn how to fight for that control: for her identity and her future.
Waterlily
Water lilies grow in murky water. They’re a symbol for rebirth and resilience. I think this represents Riley’s and the LIs’ difficult upbringings. They will grow from and in spite of their terrible circumstances and transform into people who flourish.
Title: Envy [TiffRiley]
Book: Waterlily
Ratings/Warning: T / Physical abuse (just a small part in the fic), Toxicity.
WC: 1,077
Tags: @rc-catalog
(If you guys saw me yapping abt Tiff being envious of Riley at some point in my twter its that, in this fic but more on just Tiff being envious. This is actually more on just tiff honestly. Also im lowk back, heavy on lowkey bc my job is jumping on me. I think for Tiff who's surrounded by what she should be her entire life, it will difficult for her to differentiate her feelings for Riley. She was conditioned after all to be that way. A looot of unlearning to do. No edit btw.)
It was in early summer of her youth when Tiffany got drilled into her head the heights she should achieve as a Romano.
She should be a symbol of wealth that their family shows. She's drowning in the opulence and shines brightly with the expensive jewelry and dresses her parents will buy for her. It was, a norm, something she's born into. Anyone who's not part of the elite society, people wearing in uniforms are not like them.
Dressed in unattainable fashion for normal people is what separates her from the rest. Envy and vapid adoration is expected from her peers not only with their staffs.
As a Romano, she easily adapts to their concealed knives. Charming them with her wealth and undeniable beauty. She also understood she only have to be friends within the wealthy. It's mainly for transactional relationship. Building rapport, appealing to their likeness and voila, she got them on her side. It was a chore, soon she gets bored and undeniably leaked her real self. When her mother learned she was slacking, a red hand print was almost embedded to her. She snaps, clarity washes over her. Her dreamy youthful eyes replaced with reality. Staring at her beloved mother, she sees the truth.
She's a tool. Declan and her are on the same family. Looking at her stupid brother fuels her with gnawing irritation of how he carries himself so casually in this family. Something fragile in her was pushed down to the depths, she needs to make up for everything she lacks.
No matter, she already have the wealth and treaded well in the society because of it.
A Fairchild isn't an obstacle with her. From what she gathered, Lily was just like her, rich and up and coming heir for their family. She vouches for Lily, as her mother prescribed her to do.
It will be easy.
It is true, Lily seems a breath of fresh air from the other pompous rich kids like her. They had exchanged few pleasantries to confirm it. Soon maybe she can find a common ground with her.
It was hopeful until the memory from the boutique. Another girl was with Lily that time. Riley. The way they exchange glance and smiles is so casual, together they have their arms linked together. A knot in her formed but no matter, maybe this Riley is like them too. Until her mother started hissing on the younger girl, she learned that Riley isn't what she expected.
Another concept lodged into her head, she might need to sit down on this one.
An orphan girl, being best friends with a high-society. Rather than being irritated, she's curious.
Riley, she remembered her brother being so irritable but oddly invested in their conversation.
She scoffed which didn't escaped Declan's hearing.
"What?" His breath ragged and grating. "You have a crush." She simply announced.
"With that annoying know it-all? No chance, Tiff." He rolled his eyes but the blush on his cheeks betrays him. She rolls her eyes.
He can be so dense and could not figure out his feelings well, well she's different, she's curious about this Riley. A bubbling mix of feelings makes her unreasonable to the point their first conversation turned ugly.
She couldn't find an area to compliment her, she's so—plain.
"You look really nice, for someone who just tags along with Lily like a dog." She plaster her signature smile which boosted by her ensemble but Riley wasn't pleased. Who would anyway?
"Tiffany, you also looked nice for someone who's only redeeming quality is your appearance." Riley bit back with every inch of her being.
"What?" Her poise shattered and her heel clacked beneath her.
"Yeah, Tiff." Lily's already at Riley's side being protective. "I thought you're different from your mother but actually, you're just a copy of her."
Tiffany's all red, profanities starts entering her brain.
She just scoffed. "It's true." Adding fuel to the fire. "There's not an ounce from her that is remarkable."
Lily understood what she meant but chose to shield Riley. "If your definition of being remarkable is by only status and money, I fear that what I say to you is also nothing but the truth." Tiffany inhaled.
"That being said, excuse us Tiffany and have a wonderful afternoon." Lily starts to drag Riley along with her.
Unbelievable!
Lily Fairchild humiliated her in expense of that orphan!
She immediately collected herself. Looking at her brother who's been giving her disapproving look, she felt small but she just raised a brow at him. "What?"
He shook his head and walked off.
She didn't say Riley is ugly. She believes what she said is truth, what's wrong being plain? If anything Riley was excruciatingly nice. Annoying sure, but the way she got to be closed to the Fairchild makes her feel small. She can't match herself to her, she already have the Fairchilds fawning over her like their third daughter.
Something like thorn inside her grow.
What is it up with Riley anyway?
She's free to do what she wants, being carefree of her choices and still being adored by everyone. Even by her brother!
She bit the inside of her cheek. The sun was glaring down at her and she's sweating profusely because of it, but her eyes still on the spot where Riley originally is.
She doesn't know or want to admit, but being just proximity of Riley might be enough to get to know her. She'll stick to Lily's side just to see Riley.
Curiosity turned ugly; Extreme dislike that akin to obsession warps itself in Tiffany.
She carries it until adulthood, now mixed with something twisted.
Witnessing Riley again back in the Fairchilds, for Amelia's wedding. Her eyes were saucers, old feelings gets revived. Suddenly she wants to sprint towards her, for what?
It's the same Riley. Who have it easier navigating life. Actually no, she have it easy, Tiffany's much more aware of her wealth and can push people into the corner whenever she wants.
A comforting feeling of twisted connection revived, it gave her comfort that she's still irritated by Riley. Tiffany watches her like birds of prey that even Declan can't even read if his sister wants to tear Riley apart and eat her right there and there, he also noticed something deeper along with those emotions. Desire, in a way it's the same as previous one but he cannot picture what it truly is.
