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 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 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 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
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
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
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
Moses drove home faster than usual, gripping the steering wheel tightly as his mind raced with unanswered questions. The evening had taken a turn he hadn’t expected, and he wasn’t sure how to process it. The tense dinner at the restaurant, Lilian’s abrupt departure, the words left unspoken—it all sat heavily on his chest.The city lights flickered past him in a blur, but he barely noticed. His focus was singular: getting home and making sure Lilian was okay.As he pulled into the driveway, he took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He knew he had to keep his emotions in check, but it wasn’t easy. This wasn’t just about him anymore.The moment he stepped inside, the familiar warmth of the house should have calmed him, but it didn’t.Franklin, Gabriel, and Matt were seated in the living room, engaged in quiet conversation. But their focus quickly shifted the moment Moses walked in. His tense expression did not go unnoticed.Franklin raised an eyebrow, his sharp gaze scanning Moses
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