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
Lily stared at her phone, gripping it so tightly that her knuckles turned white. A deep frown settled on her face, frustration and disbelief swirling in her chest.“How did he know she was the one?” she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible.Across the room, Sarah, her mother, caught the words and looked up sharply from the magazine she had been flipping through. Her sharp gaze landed on Lily, immediately sensing that something was wrong.“What did you just say?” Sarah asked, tilting her head slightly. “Who are you talking about?”Lily’s heart pounded. She hadn’t meant to say anything aloud. Quickly composing herself, she sat up straighter, trying to force a nonchalant expression onto her face.“No one,” she said, feigning disinterest. “I didn’t say anything.”Sarah wasn’t convinced. She gave Lily a long, assessing look, her piercing gaze trying to uncover whatever was hiding beneath her daughter’s mask. Lily fought the urge to fidget under the scrutiny, keeping her eyes
Isabella, Mrs Thompson sat at a dimly lit restaurant with a group of friends, the warm ambiance buzzing with cheerful conversation and laughter. The soft clinking of glasses and the low hum of background music filled the space, creating a cozy and elegant atmosphere.She had been trying to enjoy the evening, but something felt off. There was a lingering unease in the pit of her stomach, though she couldn’t quite place why.Then, out of nowhere, one of her friends turned to her with an inquisitive expression.“You adore Lily so much. So why did you cancel the wedding?” The friend leaned in slightly, her voice laced with curiosity. “Did she do something?”The question hit Isabella like a cold gust of wind.For a moment, she sat frozen, her fingers tightening slightly around the stem of her wine glass. She had anticipated this question at some point, but not tonight. Not here.The truth was, Lily hadn’t done anything wrong. The decision to cancel the wedding had been hers alone, and the
The news of Lilian and Marcus sitting together in a café spread like wildfire across the internet. She had no idea, though—she rarely checked her social media.Her brothers, however, found out first. Noah, to be precise.He walked into the living room, his face clouded with irritation. The sharp set of his jaw and the furrow in his brows were enough to tell everyone present that something had happened. He turned his head toward Lilian and spoke in a clipped tone.“Did you meet Marcus at a café?”He settled onto the couch, his voice carrying a weight that immediately put Lilian on edge.She frowned slightly, trying to recall. “Marcus?” she repeated. Then, as if a switch had flipped in her mind, she remembered. “Oh… yes. Matt and I went to buy coffee, and he happened to walk in too.” She tilted her head, a sense of unease creeping into her tone. “What’s wrong? How do you know about this?”Noah’s expression darkened as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “A reporter took
Marcus had also found out about the news circulating on the internet. His personal assistant was the first to tell him.“Tell them to take the news down,” Marcus instructed, his tone serious.“Oh, alright, sir,” his assistant responded. His fingers moved quickly across his phone screen, but moments later he blinked, looking confused. “I think the news has already been removed,” he said, his expression mixed with surprise and disbelief.Marcus raised an eyebrow. “It must be Moses,” he murmured to himself, letting out a heavy sigh. “She has so many people who care about her, people willing to protect her at any cost.” He felt a wave of relief wash over him as he thought of how surrounded Lilian was with people who cared for her deeply, her family especially. Though he couldn’t be the one protecting her, it comforted him to know that there were others looking out for her.As his mind lingered on Lilian, the shrill sound of his phone ringing cut through his thoughts.Ringggg.Marcus glanc
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