Lily stepped out of the house, her eyes immediately landing on Marcus, who was standing alone in the driveway. The sight of him, distant and lost in thought, made her chest tighten. She had hoped for a different outcome, but now it seemed inevitable.“Marcus,” she called out, her voice shaking with the mix of confusion and hurt that she was trying desperately to suppress. “Why are you doing this?” The words came out with an air of betrayal, her face a mask of vulnerability as she stood there, hoping for some kind of explanation.Marcus turned slowly, his gaze meeting hers with an unreadable expression. He took a moment to study her as if seeing her for the first time. It unsettled her. The warmth she had once felt in his presence seemed to be fading. “What do you mean?” he asked, his voice steady but distant. “And what’s going on with you? Are you still the same Lily? How did you become so… so evil?” His words cut deeper than she anticipated, his eyes clouded with disbelief.Lily stoo
Lilian drove into the compound, her grip on the steering wheel tight. She barely registered the surroundings as she pulled up in front of the house. Her mind was still reeling from the events of the day.She stepped out of the car, carefully cradling Matt in her arms. He squirmed slightly, his small hands pushing against her shoulder as he tried to get down.“Mommy, I can walk,” he mumbled, his voice carrying a trace of frustration.But Lilian held onto him a little longer, unable to let go. Something inside her needed to keep him close, as if the moment she set him down, something—or someone—would take him away.She finally sighed and placed him on the ground, but her hand remained firmly wrapped around his. Together, they walked toward the house.Reaching the door, she twisted the knob and stepped inside. The familiar scent of home washed over her, but tonight, it felt different. Almost foreign.In the living room, Gabriel sat with Moses and Franklin. The three men looked relaxed, c
Lilian sat on the edge of her bed, carefully dressing Matt in fresh clothes. Her fingers worked through the buttons of his shirt with slow, deliberate movements. She didn’t want him to sense her fear, but deep inside, she was terrified.She hadn’t let him out of her sight since the incident. Even though they were home now, safe—or at least, as safe as they could be—she still couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling settling in her chest.What if Lily came back?What if she tried to take him away again?Lilian swallowed hard, her hands briefly pausing.No. She wouldn’t let that happen.Matt fidgeted under her touch, glancing up at her with innocent eyes. “Mommy, am I done yet?”She forced a small smile. “Almost, sweetheart.”Just as she finished buttoning the last one, a sudden knock echoed from the door.Knock.Lilian’s body tensed instantly.Her head snapped toward the door, heart pounding. Who could it be?Matt perked up at the sound. “I’ll go open it!” he chirped and started to move towar
Lily smiled excitedly as she stepped into the living room, her heart pounding with anticipation. The golden afternoon light filtered through the large windows, casting a warm glow across the neatly arranged furniture. She could barely contain the energy bubbling inside her as she smoothed down her dress and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.Her mother, seated on the couch with a pile of freshly folded laundry beside her, glanced up and raised a suspicious eyebrow. She took in Lily’s bright expression, the slight bounce in her step, and the purse slung over her shoulder.“Where are you going?” her mother asked, her tone sharp and laced with suspicion.Lily’s smile didn’t falter. She clasped her hands together and replied sweetly, “I’m going to Gabriel’s house. Brother Moses asked me to come.”At this, her mother’s expression darkened. She placed the shirt she was folding on the couch and straightened up, crossing her arms over her chest. “I hope you understand just how dang
“Come in,” Franklin said.The door creaked open, and Lily stepped inside with a gentle smile, her heart thrumming in her chest. She moved carefully, as if aware that every step she took would be analyzed by the people in the room.As her eyes swept across the spacious living room, she nearly froze. Sitting there, comfortably settled in one of the luxurious armchairs, was Gabriel.Her breath hitched slightly, though she quickly masked her reaction. This was the first time she was seeing him in person. Before today, she had only ever watched him from a distance—on television, in newspapers, in pictures that barely did justice to the intimidating presence he carried in real life.This man will soon be my father, she thought, the realization sending a spark of excitement through her.She schooled her expression, making sure not to give away the thrill that ran through her veins.“Hello, Mr. Gabriel,” she greeted him politely, her voice carefully measured. She didn’t want to sound too eage
They walked into the hospital together, their footsteps echoing against the pristine white tiles.Lilian stood beside her father and two brothers, their expressions a mix of anticipation and unease. On the opposite side of the room, Moses and Lily stood together. Moses’ jaw was clenched, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in his stance was impossible to miss.A thick silence hung in the air, weighing down on them all.Finally, the doctor entered the room. He was a tall man with sharp features and an air of authority about him. He approached them with a serious expression, his hands gripping a large manila envelope.“Good morning,” he greeted, his gaze settling on Moses.Moses gave him a short nod. “What are the results of the DNA test?” His voice was firm, devoid of any pleasantries.The doctor hesitated for a brief moment before handing him the envelope. “Here,” he said, his tone neutral, professional.Moses took it without a word.
Lily walked into the house, her legs feeling as heavy as lead. Her mind was clouded, her body drained of energy. She had spent the entire day in a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from.Her mother, who had been lounging on the couch, immediately sat up when she saw the expression on Lily’s face. A frown creased her forehead as worry settled deep in her features.“What’s wrong? What happened?” she asked urgently.Lily didn’t answer right away. She felt numb, as though her brain had short-circuited from the weight of everything that had happened. Slowly, she made her way to the couch and sat down, pressing her palms against her lap.Her mother’s frown deepened.“Did something happen?” she pressed. “You told me Moses asked you to come over. Why do you look so restless now?”She had expected Lily to return home full of joy, just like she had been in the past few weeks. Instead, her daughter sat there looking as if the world had collapsed on top of her.Lily took a shaky breath, her heart st
Mrs. Thompson sat in the grand living room of the Thompson estate, her hands trembling with excitement as she dialed Marcus’s number. She had been trying to contain her emotions ever since she received the news, but it was impossible.Her heart pounded in her chest as she pressed the phone to her ear.After a few rings, Marcus finally answered.“Mom,” he said, his voice tired and slightly irritated. “I’m at work. What’s wrong?”Mrs. Thompson barely noticed the exhaustion in his tone.“Marcus!” she called out eagerly.Marcus sighed. “What is it?”Mrs. Thompson took a deep breath, trying to control the excitement in her voice.“Is it true?” she asked, her voice laced with anticipation. “The child in Lilian’s care—he’s yours? Your biological son?”There was a brief pause on the other end.Marcus’s tone sharpened. “Who told you that?”Mrs. Thompson gasped, her excitement only growing. “So, it’s true? The child is really yours?” She let out a breathless laugh. “This is wonderful!”“Mom!” M
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