Marcus leaned back in his office chair, the phone pressed against his ear. He was quiet for a moment before finally speaking.“Lily called me last night,” he began, his tone calm but cold. “She said she was sick and needed me to come over immediately. I rushed to her house, of course, thinking something was seriously wrong. But when I got there, it was a lie. She said she just missed me and wanted to see me.”There was a pause on the other end of the line before Nicholas, his best friend, responded.“Wait, what? She faked being sick just to get you to come over?” Nicholas asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.“Exactly,” Marcus confirmed, his jaw tightening at the memory. “At first, I thought it was just some immature ploy for attention, but then… things got strange.”Nicholas was silent for a moment before replying, his tone laced with curiosity. “Strange how? What do you mean?”Marcus hesitated, recalling the unsettling sequence of events. “She tried to grab me. At one point, she e
Marcus turned his attention back to his laptop, trying to focus on the work in front of him, but he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something wasn’t right. Lily sat across from him, her smile unwavering, her demeanor as calm and innocent as ever. Despite his suspicions, her act was impeccable, and it left him questioning his instincts.“Are you sure you’re okay? You seemed really off yesterday,” Lily asked again, leaning slightly forward. Her voice was soft and tinged with concern, but Marcus couldn’t help but wonder if it was genuine.“I told you I’m fine,” he replied, his tone clipped. He adjusted his tie and focused on the numbers flashing on his laptop screen.“I’m sorry for lying to you about being sick,” Lily said after a moment of silence. “I just missed you so much. You’re always busy, and I just wanted some time with you.” Her voice cracked slightly, and Marcus glanced up to see her pouting, her eyes shimmering as if she might cry.Marcus sighed. He wasn’t sure if her
“You don’t look happy to see me,” Marcus said as he took a seat across from her, his eyes scanning her features with a quiet intensity.Lilian glanced at him before rolling her eyes. “Who would be happy to see their crazy ex?” she replied with a carefree shrug, sipping her coffee as though she were unaffected.Marcus raised an eyebrow at her nonchalant response. “Crazy?” he repeated, letting the word linger in the air between them.Lilian set her cup down, her eyes narrowing as she looked at him. “Yes, crazy. And if you’ve forgotten, we’re divorced now, so stop acting like we’re still tied to each other.” Her voice was firm but measured.He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as he observed her. “Oh, so now I’m crazy, huh?” he said, his voice cold with a hint of amusement. “What do you want, Lilian? You think we can’t talk like normal people?”Lilian met his gaze without flinching, her voice steady as she spoke. “If people see us together, they might think we’re involved, that
Lilian stepped through the door of the company building, the familiar, reassuring clink of her heels echoing in the otherwise quiet corridor. It had been another exhausting day, but nothing compared to the chaos she had experienced earlier. The weight of the morning’s events lingered in her mind as she made her way to her office, ready to tackle whatever else was thrown her way.Before she could even reach the door to her office, she saw him. Moses. His broad frame filled the doorway, his sharp eyes watching her every movement. He hadn’t been standing there long, but it felt as if he had been waiting for her all day.The moment she spotted him, Lilian raised an eyebrow in surprise. “You’re here?” she said with a smile, her voice light and slightly teasing. There was always something about Moses that made her feel safe, but she couldn’t help but playfully question his sudden appearance.Moses didn’t take long to respond. “I heard Marcus was at the coffee shop today,” he said, his voice
Lilian waved her hand repeatedly, her delicate fingers moving back and forth in a deliberate motion. She waited patiently until the receptionist finally snapped out of her trance.“You…” The receptionist’s voice faltered as her trembling hand pointed at Lilian. Her eyes were wide, brimming with disbelief, as if she had just seen a ghost.“What?” Lilian asked, breaking into a soft laugh. She tilted her head slightly, feigning confusion at the receptionist’s dramatic reaction. Deep down, though, she had anticipated this. After all, such a response was only natural.“You’re really siblings?” the receptionist asked, her voice rising with incredulity. She leaned forward, her gaze darting between Lilian and the elevator as though Moses himself might suddenly reappear to confirm this shocking revelation.Lilian nodded with a small smile, her lips curving just enough to tease. She raised a finger to her lips in a mock secret gesture and whispered, “Secret.”The receptionist blinked rapidly, n
Lily strolled through the opulent shopping mall, her heels clicking against the marble floors. Bright lights reflected off every polished surface, highlighting luxurious store displays adorned with gowns, jewelry, and accessories. The mall bustled with activity: shoppers chattering excitedly, clerks adjusting displays, and the faint hum of a distant piano playing a soft melody. For Lily, this was no ordinary day—this was wedding shopping, the day she’d anticipated ever since she had said “yes” to Marcus.Her two closest friends, Joy and Medusa, accompanied her, their arms laden with shopping bags from previous stops. Joy, ever lively and opinionated, seemed almost as thrilled as Lily herself. Medusa, on the other hand, was quieter, occasionally offering a hesitant smile or a murmured agreement.They arrived at a high-end jewelry store, its entrance marked by shimmering chandeliers and a red carpet runner that hinted at exclusivity. Lily’s eyes immediately scanned the dazzling array of
Medusa smiled politely at Lily, her demeanor calm and composed. “Thank you for your offer, but I don’t think there’s any need for that,” she said, her voice even, though there was a trace of unease behind her words.Lily’s expression hardened instantly. Her perfectly manicured nails drummed against the counter, and her jaw tightened as her eyes bore into Medusa. “Medusa!” she snapped, her tone sharp enough to cut through glass. “If you want to attend my wedding, you must get a new dress!” Her voice rose with each word, filled with the kind of authority she had perfected over years of getting her way.Medusa’s polite smile faltered as her brow furrowed. “Why does it matter so much?” she asked, her voice soft but tinged with frustration. She looked at Lily, her shoulders tensing as though bracing herself for the inevitable.Before Lily could launch into what would no doubt be a tirade, Joy interjected with a cheerful laugh that seemed almost out of place. “Of course, she’ll get a new dr
“Huh?” Medusa blinked her eyes innocently, tilting her head slightly as if she didn’t understand why Lily seemed so upset.“You picked a gown worth $550,000?” Lily’s voice was sharp with disbelief, her eyes narrowing as she stared at Medusa.Medusa smiled, not even flinching under Lily’s gaze. “It was the most beautiful and rare piece there,” she said with a touch of smugness. “I couldn’t resist.”Lily scoffed. “Can you afford to pay for it? Do you even have that kind of money in your account?” She crossed her arms, her voice thick with condescension.Before Medusa could respond, Joy quickly jumped in, trying to smooth over the situation. “I think the dresses here are all quite expensive, Lily,” she said, her tone calm and reassuring. “This is actually one of the more affordable options here.”Lily’s expression flickered, her posture stiffening before she forced a smile. “Oh, really?” she asked, her voice still laced with suspicion.Joy nodded, her smile unwavering. “Yes, you can even
Hello, dear readers, This book will soon be marked as complete, and I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for everything—your comments, your votes, and your support from the very beginning to the very end. Last month was my birthday, and it was also a month of fasting, so I wasn’t able to update as often. But you can follow me to stay updated on my new stories! Thank you so much—I love you all! ❤️
“Daddy! Mom is looking for you!” Matt called out, his voice urgent.Marcus immediately stepped into the room and hurried toward Lilian, who sat on the bed, cradling her swollen belly.“Are you okay?” he asked, his eyes scanning her face for any sign of distress.Lilian let out a shaky breath. “I think my water just broke,” she said.Marcus’ eyes widened. He turned to Matt without hesitation.“Go find your uncles and grandma. Tell them your mom is in labor.”Matt didn’t waste a second. He spun around and dashed out of the room, his heart racing with excitement. His baby sister was finally coming!Lilian was rushed to the hospital without delay.Inside the delivery room, Marcus refused to leave her side. He hadn’t been there for Matt’s birth, and he wasn’t about to miss this one.But as he watched Lilian endure contraction after contraction, pain twisting her face, he felt helpless. His fists clenched at his sides. He wished he could take the pain for her.He tightened his grip on her h
Matt’s eyes were fixed on the big screen, his brows furrowed in deep concentration.“Is it impossible to crack?” he asked, turning to Marcus.Marcus shrugged. “Seems like it.”Matt studied him for a moment, then narrowed his eyes at the screen. “I can try,” he said.Marcus stood up, making room for Matt to take his place at the laptop.The moment Matt’s fingers touched the keyboard, they moved with a speed and precision that left Marcus stunned. He had never seen Matt type before, and watching him now was mesmerizing. He did it with such ease, such confidence—it was clear he knew exactly what he was doing.Marcus crossed his arms and nodded in approval, feeling an unexpected surge of pride.“Done!” Matt announced, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.Marcus immediately leaned in, eyes scanning the screen. His breath caught for a second—Matt had actually done it. The code was cracked.“Wow,” Marcus muttered, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Good job.”Without
Lilian walked into the house that evening, surprised to see her father with an elderly man. They were deep in conversation, as if they had been friends for years. “Dad,” Lilian greeted him. Gabriel looked up and smiled. “You’re back. How was work?” he asked. “It was fine, Dad,” she replied, turning her attention to the elderly man. “Good evening, sir,” she greeted him politely. “How are you doing?” the man asked, his face lighting up with a warm smile. “I’m doing very well, sir. What about you?” Lilian responded, offering him a smile of her own. “I’m doing fine. You look so beautiful,” the old man said, nodding his head approvingly. Lilian blushed at the compliment. “Thank you, sir.” “This is Marcus’ grandfather,” Gabriel introduced. Lilian froze in surprise. She had never met Marcus’ grandfather before. This was her first time meeting him. “Oh! Hello, sir!” she greeted him warmly, now understanding who he was. “We never met when you and Marcus were still together,” the old
The next day, Linda was arrested and charged with attempted murder and kidnapping. Additionally, her history of bullying had led to a young woman’s suicide, further worsening her case. The weight of her crimes was undeniable, and with the overwhelming evidence against her, there was no room for denial.As soon as the police took her into custody, news of her arrest spread quickly. Social media was flooded with posts about the woman who had orchestrated kidnappings, attempted murders, and had driven someone to their death through sheer cruelty.In the cold, gray confines of the prison, Linda sat on a hard bench, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The prison cell smelled of rust and sweat, and the metal bars that caged her in seemed to close in more with each passing second.Then, the sound of approaching footsteps made her stiffen. She looked up, and her expression immediately twisted into one of pure hatred.The man she had once deceived—manipulated into risking his life for her
Marcus sat at his desk, fingers moving swiftly across his laptop keyboard as he reviewed the latest security reports. His office was quiet except for the rhythmic tapping of his fingers. The sunlight streaming through the window cast a soft glow on the room, highlighting the expensive furnishings and the neatly organized stacks of paperwork on his desk.A sudden knock at the door interrupted his focus.“Come in,” he called out without looking up.The door swung open, and when he finally looked up, he was surprised to see Lilian standing there with Matt by her side.His brows lifted slightly, but his expression quickly softened. He hadn’t expected to see them today.Matt, beaming with excitement, didn’t wait for an invitation. He stepped forward, walking straight toward Marcus’s desk.“Good morning!” the boy greeted enthusiastically.Marcus stood from his chair, his gaze shifting between Lilian and Matt. His lips curled into a rare, genuine smile. “Good morning, Matt. How are you?”“I’
Marcus shrugged and turned to Moses, pulling out his phone. With a swipe, he brought up a picture of Linda and held it out for him to see.Moses squinted at the image, his brow furrowing. Something about her seemed familiar, but he couldn’t quite place it.“She…” he muttered, trying to recall. He knew this woman—he was sure of it. But from where?“She used to work for your company,” Marcus supplied, his tone flat. “She got fired, and after that, she developed a deep hatred for Lilian. She believed Lilian was the reason she lost her job.”Moses clenched his fists. “Damn it.” His jaw tightened as guilt weighed down on him. He should have been keeping an eye on Linda, should have monitored her actions. If he had, maybe Lilian wouldn’t have been dragged into this mess.Marcus exhaled sharply before turning back to the captive man. He crossed his arms and studied him carefully. “Sooo… are you ready?” he asked, his tone casual but laced with authority.The man slowly lifted his head, his ex
Marcus pulled out his phone as he strode into the dimly lit warehouse. His fingers moved swiftly across the screen as he dialed Moses’ number.The call connected after two rings.“Who else did you tell about me taking those men to the warehouse?” Marcus asked, his voice calm but firm.Moses hesitated for a second before answering, “Noah.”Marcus frowned slightly. “Is he a hacker?”“No, he’s not. Why? What’s wrong?” Moses’ voice carried a hint of concern. “Did they escape?”“No, they didn’t.” Marcus’ eyes darkened as he recalled the email Hilary had received. “But my assistant just got an email… and it contains every detail we need.”There was silence on the other end for a moment before Moses spoke again. “Where are you right now?”“I’m on my way to the warehouse,” Marcus replied as he continued walking.“Okay, I’m coming now,” Moses said. Marcus could hear the rustling of movement, as if he was already getting up.“Alright.” Marcus ended the call.The cold, musty air of the warehouse
Lilian woke up to the sound of the door creaking open. A soft shuffle of footsteps followed, and she turned her head in the direction of the noise. The doctor and a nurse walked in, their expressions neutral but observant as they approached.She sat up slowly, rubbing her temples as confusion settled in. Something felt… off. Her eyes widened when she looked down and realized she was lying on the hospital bed.How?She clearly remembered sitting on the chair by Marcus’ bedside. She had rested her head against the mattress for a bit, but she was certain she had never moved. Had someone placed her on the bed while she was asleep? But who?Her gaze flickered toward Marcus, who was still sitting in the chair beside her, watching her with a calm expression.The doctor and nurse also seemed surprised to find her in bed instead of the chair. The doctor hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.“Good morning, sir,” he greeted Marcus respectfully.Marcus gave a curt nod, acknowledging him