The following week, Lilian did not go to the company for a while. She needed time to process everything that had happened—the sudden change in her position, the realization that she was now in charge, and the responsibility that came with it. For days, she stayed home, contemplating whether she was truly ready to take on this role.Eventually, she knew she couldn’t delay it any longer. Monday morning arrived, and she made the decision to resume work.Unlike before, when she used to enter the building as an ordinary employee, today felt different. The moment she stepped out of the car and walked toward the entrance, there was an unfamiliar weight on her shoulders. Everything about this moment felt significant. She wasn’t just an assistant anymore—she was now the CEO.Moses walked beside her, just like he always had, but this time, their positions had officially switched. The once-powerful CEO was now her assistant. It was a strange and amusing turn of events, but Lilian knew he had no
The news was everywhere.Social media, online blogs, and even major news outlets were flooded with headlines about the latest scandal. Two names dominated the trending list—Lily and Lilian. However, while one was trending for something positive, the other was at the center of sheer humiliation.Lily’s disastrous wedding had become the biggest topic of discussion.The headlines were brutal.“Abandoned at the Altar: Lily’s Wedding Disaster!”“The Thompsons Humiliate Bride—No Groom, No Family!”“A Wedding Without a Groom? What Really Happened?”The comments under the articles and posts were relentless, with thousands of people expressing shock, sympathy, and speculation.“She really got abandoned?” one user wrote in disbelief.“I thought the Thompsons were a responsible family?” another replied.“Exactly! Why did they treat her like that? Poor girl.”“She was engaged to the CEO for more than five years. And then, on the day of her wedding, her groom didn’t show up. Not him, not his famil
For a brief moment, the scandal surrounding Lily’s wedding seemed to fade from public discussion.The internet had found a new obsession—Lilian.Clips of her grand introduction as the heiress of the Gabriel family flooded social media, capturing the attention of thousands. The way she carried herself with elegance and confidence left people in awe.Comments poured in from every direction:“Wow. She’s stunning!”“Right? But… she looks so familiar.”“Honestly! I feel like I’ve seen her before.”“Wait a second—wasn’t she just a nobody? And now she’s the heiress of the Gabriels?”Speculation spread like wildfire. People dug into her past, trying to uncover details about the mysterious woman who had suddenly become one of the most powerful figures in the city.Lily’s Growing JealousyMeanwhile, in the quiet yet tense atmosphere of the Wilson family’s luxurious living room, Lily sat stiffly on the couch, her eyes locked on the television screen. Her expression was dark, her knuckles white f
Lilian had no idea about the chaos unfolding online.She hadn’t checked the internet all day.She wasn’t aware that her name was trending, nor did she know that thousands of people were discussing her, analyzing her face, comparing her to Lily, and debating her identity.She simply didn’t care.Her life had changed so drastically in such a short time that she barely had the energy to focus on anything outside her immediate world.At this moment, all she wanted was some peace.She walked into the spacious, elegantly furnished living room, where her brothers and father were seated. The large crystal chandelier cast a soft, golden glow over the room, making everything feel warm and inviting.Yet, despite the comfortable atmosphere, there was a strange tension in the air.Something felt off.Lilian smiled brightly when she saw them. “I’m back,” she said in a cheerful tone.Noah, who had been leaning lazily against the couch, immediately perked up.“Welcome back,” he greeted. Then, with a
Matt walked into his room and closed the door behind him. His small face was scrunched in frustration, and his lips were pressed into a thin line.He sat down at his desk, turned on his computer, and quickly logged in.Something felt off.He had sensed it the moment he left the living room.And now, curiosity burned inside him like an itch he needed to scratch.He opened his browser and went straight to the internet to see what was happening.He didn’t even have to search for long.His mother’s name was plastered all over the headlines.Matt’s heart dropped.With slightly shaky fingers, he clicked on one of the trending articles.As soon as the page loaded, his eyes skimmed over the comments section.It was full of hatred.“She’s beautiful, but she has such a wicked heart.”“Right? I heard she changed the wedding hall at the last minute just to ruin Lily’s big day.”“I think she’s just jealous that Lily was going to marry a handsome man like Marcus.”“Exactly! Women like her are t
Noah raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled by the situation unfolding before him.Moses, unfazed, shrugged his shoulders. He glanced at the email address once again, but there was nothing. The address was null—completely untraceable. Frustrated, Moses looked up at Franklin, his expression turning more serious. “Can you find the person’s email address? If we could find a way to become friends with them, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. We could use that to our advantage,” Moses suggested, his voice calm but with an edge of determination.Franklin shook his head, the frustration evident in his own voice. “No, it’s impossible. The person used a one-time email address. It’s designed to disappear once it’s been used. No way to track it,” he explained, his tone apologetic but firm.Moses furrowed his brow at the news. “But how did they know we’d need this information?” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. “Who is this person? Why are they so involved in all this?” His mind was racing wit
“This will be the last warning.”Marcus frowned as he read the message on his phone, his fingers gripping the device tightly.A sense of foreboding settled in his chest as he tapped on the image attached to the message. The moment the photo loaded, his expression darkened. His jaw clenched. He immediately understood the warning.Shaking his head, he scrolled down, reading through the harsh comments under the news article. The story was about Lilian, and the comment section was flooded with insults, gossip, and outright lies. People were tearing her apart, dragging her reputation through the mud.Marcus exhaled sharply.He already had a strong suspicion about who was behind this.Lily.But he had no idea just how far she was willing to go.His fingers hovered over the screen before he forwarded the message to Lily. He didn’t add any words—just a single question mark.Barely a second later, his phone rang.He glanced at the screen. Lily.Marcus answered, pressing the phone to his ear.“
Marcus said nothing.His grandfather observed him carefully before speaking again. “Your mother told me the other day that it’s Lily you love. Is that true?”Marcus met his grandfather’s gaze but did not answer the question directly. “I will find a way to solve the problems,” he said, his voice steady but distant. Then, without another word, he stood up, bowed his head slightly as a sign of respect, and walked out of the house.Grandpa Thompson didn’t stop him. Instead, he turned to Isabella, his eyes weary. “You can leave too,” he said, his tone quiet yet firm.Isabella hesitated for a moment, watching as her father closed his eyes. She could tell he was exhausted—not just physically, but emotionally. Whenever he closed his eyes like that, it meant he didn’t want to be disturbed.She let out a small sigh and stood up, leaving the room without another word.Marcus drove aimlessly for what felt like hours, his thoughts a whirlwind of emotions he wasn’t ready to face. His hands gripped
Lilian stepped into the restaurant, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. The dim lighting cast a warm glow over the room, but it did little to ease the tight knot in her stomach. She had been at work when she received Noah’s text, asking her to meet him here. The urgency in his message had unsettled her, but he hadn’t given her any details. Without hesitation, she had dropped everything, grabbed her keys, and driven straight over.Now, as she took in the scene before her, confusion swirled in her chest like a brewing storm.Noah was already standing, his gaze fixed on her the moment she walked in. But what caught her attention even more was the presence of two others at the table—Moses and a woman she didn’t recognize right away.Her steps slowed, and her brows furrowed as her eyes darted between them. Something about the woman seemed oddly familiar, but Lilian couldn’t place it.She swallowed hard, a sudden feeling of unease creeping in. “What is going on?” she asked
Lily stepped out of the car as soon as Moses parked. A gentle breeze brushed against her face, making her long hair sway slightly. She stood beside him, adjusting the hem of her dress, a radiant smile lighting up her features.“Where is this?” she asked, her eyes scanning the massive glass-fronted building before her. There was a slight furrow in her brows as she tried to process her surroundings. Everything about this place screamed wealth and power.Moses, standing tall beside her, kept his face emotionless. His sharp jawline was set in its usual cold expression. He barely spared her a glance before looking away. “One of my workplaces,” he said, his tone indifferent.Lily’s eyes widened, her jaw dropping slightly. She turned back to the imposing structure before her, marveling at its grandeur. “Wow,” she breathed, her voice laced with admiration. “You have so many sources of income?” She turned to face him, studying him like she was seeing him for the first time.She had always know
Lily stepped into the restaurant, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. The place exuded an air of quiet elegance, with dim lighting and hushed conversations filling the space. Almost immediately, a waiter noticed her and approached with a polite smile.“Hello, Miss. Do you have a reservation, or would you like to book a table now?” he asked, his tone warm and professional.Lily gave a small nod, masking her impatience. “Someone is already waiting for me,” she replied, forcing a smile even though she found the entire process irritating.The waiter’s expression remained courteous. “May I ask which room?”“Five,” she answered without hesitation.“Ah,” he murmured with a knowing nod. “Please follow me, Miss.”He turned gracefully and led the way through the restaurant, weaving between tables occupied by well-dressed patrons engaged in quiet conversations. The scent of expensive wine and gourmet dishes lingered in the air, but Lily barely noticed. She had more important th
Lilian pushed open the gate and froze in shock at the sight of her brother, Moses, standing outside.Her breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t expected to see him there.Moses stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over her with concern. “You didn’t drive in? Why?” His voice carried a note of suspicion as he studied her expression.Lilian quickly nodded, forcing a yawn as if she were simply exhausted. “Oh, I’m just tired, that’s all,” she said, adding a weak smile for effect.Moses raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t convinced. He reached out his hand toward her, palm up.Lilian blinked, confused. “What?”“The key,” he said, his expression unreadable.“Oh.” She hesitated for a moment, then instinctively glanced behind her, scanning the street. Her pulse quickened. Marcus’s car was gone. He must have driven off already.“What’s wrong?” Moses asked, narrowing his eyes. He had caught the way her expression shifted.“Nothing,” she answered too quickly, shaking her head.“Then give me the key,” he
Lilian walked back into the room. The moment Timothy saw her, he stood up immediately, concern flashing in his eyes.“Are you done?” he asked kindly.Lilian nodded. “Yes, I am,” she replied, her voice steady.At that moment, Marcus walked in as well. His eyes landed on Lilian and Timothy, and a surge of irritation coursed through him. Their closeness unsettled him, but he swallowed his frustration. He was still treading carefully, hoping to earn Lilian’s forgiveness.“CEO Marcus, are you okay?” one of the executives asked, noticing the way Marcus’s expression had darkened for a moment.Lilian didn’t even bother turning her head in Marcus’s direction. Instead, she focused on Timothy and the executive who had organized the dinner.“I’ll be heading home now,” she said with a bright smile, shifting her purse onto her shoulder.“Oh? Leaving so soon?” the executive asked, his tone laced with concern. “Are you sure you can drive home safely? Maybe you should let someone take you instead.”Li
Lilian raised an eyebrow as she observed Marcus. The way he played was too smooth, too calculated. He didn’t look like a novice at all.Her eyes narrowed slightly. From the moment he picked up the controller, she had been watching him closely. There was a certain confidence in the way he moved, the way his fingers glided effortlessly over the buttons, executing each move with precision.Timothy noticed it too. And judging by the fact that Marcus had won every single round against him, there was no way this man was a beginner.“I thought CEO Marcus was a learner? How come you play better than me?” Timothy asked, chuckling, trying not to sound too loud.Marcus shrugged nonchalantly, leaning back in his seat with an air of self-assurance. “That just means I’m a fast and skilled learner,” he said, his tone carrying a hint of boastfulness.Lilian’s mouth twitched at his words. Typical. Always so sure of himself.Leaning back in her chair, she let out a small sigh, her boredom creeping in.
Lilian looked at Timothy and smiled.Marcus’ eyes darkened even further, his jaw tightening as he watched their interaction. The way Timothy leaned in, speaking in hushed tones, and the way Lilian responded with that effortless, radiant smile—it all grated on his nerves. He wasn’t one to let emotions control him, but right now, irritation clawed at him, demanding to be acknowledged.Lilian, seemingly oblivious to Marcus’ reaction, sat up straight and took a sip of her wine. The deep red liquid swirled elegantly in her glass as she held it with practiced grace. She wasn’t doing anything out of the ordinary—just enjoying herself. And yet, the effect it had on Marcus was undeniable.The hall had grown noticeably quieter. Conversations had dwindled, replaced by subtle, expectant glances in Marcus’ direction.Everyone was waiting to see how he would respond.Would he lash out? Walk away? Or do something entirely unexpected?The tension in the air thickened.Marcus let out a slow breath, su
Lilian walked into the private room, her heels clicking softly against the polished marble floor. The air carried a subtle hum of conversation as several CEOs were already present, chatting amongst themselves in low voices. Heads turned briefly when she entered, though most of them quickly returned to their discussions, only sparing her a glance.“CEO Lilian, you’re here!” the host exclaimed warmly, his voice breaking through the quiet hum of the room. His welcoming smile was broad as he stepped forward to greet her.Lilian nodded politely, her expression composed yet approachable. “Yes, I am,” she replied, her voice steady and professional. Her gaze swept the room subtly, taking in her surroundings. It wasn’t overly crowded—just enough people to make the gathering feel important but not overwhelming.The host gestured toward a seat in a more secluded section of the room. “Please, let me show you where you can sit.”Lilian followed his lead, her movements measured and graceful, reflec
Moses walked into the living room with a deep frown etched across his face. He sank onto the couch, the weight of his thoughts dragging him down. Franklin, seated beside him, turned to look at him with concern. “Are you okay, brother?” he asked, his voice low but steady.Moses turned his head slowly to meet Franklin’s gaze. “I got an email from Lily,” he began, his tone laced with confusion and frustration. “She said we’ve made a mistake—that she’s actually our younger sister.”Franklin’s brow furrowed in response, but before he could say anything, Noah let out a loud chuckle from across the room. “What kind of nonsense is that?” he said, shaking his head in disbelief. “She must be dreaming. Someone needs to wake her up.”Franklin nodded in agreement, a scowl spreading across his face. “Ridiculous. She’s just being stupid,” he added dismissively.Moses didn’t respond immediately. His silence filled the room like a heavy fog, thick and suffocating. He leaned back against the couch, his