The next day, Lilian didn’t go to the office. She had woken up with a headache, and Moses insisted she stay home and rest. “You can go tomorrow,” he had said firmly.Lilian spent most of the morning lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. The boredom was unbearable. She rolled over with a sigh, scrolling mindlessly on her phone until—Beep.A notification popped up. It was a text message from an unknown number. Curious, Lilian opened it.“Hello Lilian, I got your contact from Moses. I forgot to ask you the other day. It’s Arthur.”Lilian raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. She sat up slightly, rereading the message. After a moment, she started typing back.“Hi Arthur. How are you doing?”She read her message twice before hitting send, unsure of what to expect. Tossing her phone onto the bed, she leaned back, thinking it would take a while for him to respond. But almost immediately, her phone beeped again.She picked it up and opened the new message.“I’m fine, thank you. Are you fr
“Do you want to go to an amusement park?” Arthur asked with a hopeful smile, clearly reluctant for their time together to end so soon. “That sounds good,” Lilian replied, glancing at her watch. “But I need to pick up Matt from school first.” She didn’t shy away from mentioning her son; she was certain that either her father or Moses would have told Arthur about him by now. “That’s not a problem at all,” Arthur said, his smile widening. “We can pick him up together and head to the park. What do you think?” Lilian hesitated briefly, then nodded. “Sure. He’d love that.” A smile touched her lips at the thought of Matt’s excitement. She knew her son had been wanting to explore the amusement park, but her busy schedule had kept her from taking him. This felt like the perfect opportunity. Arthur’s face lit up. “Great! Let’s go, then.” They stood, and Arthur stepped ahead to hold the door open for her. Lilian smiled politely, appreciating the gesture. Once, such chivalry might have m
They were happy as they walked toward their car, laughing lightly, their voices blending with the distant chatter of families enjoying the amusement park. Lilian’s steps were purposeful, her hand brushing against Arthur’s as they moved. But then, without warning, she stopped in her tracks.Arthur turned to her, confused. “Lilian? What is it?”Her face had gone pale, her lips parting slightly as if to speak, but no words came. Arthur followed her gaze, his brows knitting together when he spotted what had made her freeze.Standing just a few feet away was Marcus.Lilian’s breath hitched as Marcus’s gaze swept over her, then flicked to Arthur, and finally settled on Matt. He frowned, his expression darkening with every passing second.Panic gripped Lilian. Without thinking, she bent down and scooped Matt into her arms. She held him tightly, her heart pounding as fear clawed its way through her chest. What if Marcus saw it? What if he noticed the resemblance?Marcus’s eyes lingered on the
The ride home was quiet. Lilian sat in the back seat with Matt, while Arthur drove in silence. No one said a word, but it wasn’t uncomfortable—it was just a reflective kind of quiet. When they finally reached the house, Arthur parked the car by the gate since he’d be heading to his own home after dropping them off.“Thank you so much for today. We had a great time,” Lilian said as she unbuckled her seatbelt, her tone warm and sincere.Arthur smiled, a soft expression crossing his face. “No, thank you. I had a great time with you two as well. It’s been a long time since I felt this relaxed.”Lilian smiled back, her heart light. “Well, we’ll be on our way now. Thanks again, Arthur.”“Wait,” Arthur said, stopping her just as she reached for the door handle.She turned to him, curious. “Yes?”“Can I ask you something?” he said, hesitating slightly.“Of course,” Lilian replied, her voice steady.Arthur seemed to deliberate for a moment before finally asking, “Are you a twin? Why does that
The next morning, Lilian arrived at the company earlier than usual. She had skipped work the previous day, and there was plenty to catch up on. As she walked into the building, the receptionist noticed her immediately and stood up with a bright smile.“Good morning, Miss Lilian. How was your night?” the receptionist asked politely.Lilian returned her smile, her tone warm. “It was okay. And how’s your mom? Is she feeling better now?”The receptionist’s eyes softened with gratitude. “Yes, she’s recovering well, thanks to you. I really appreciate your help.”Lilian waved it off with a small smile. “It was nothing, just a little assistance,” she said modestly. “You were here yesterday, right?”“Yes, Miss,” the receptionist replied. She had been surprised not to see Lilian the day before, as she had wanted to thank her in person.“Oh, alright,” Lilian said with a nod, and then she made her way to the elevator.Once she reached her office, Lilian set to work immediately. Stacks of files wa
At lunch break, Aria and Marcus drove to the school. Earlier that day, while they were in his office, Aria had mentioned offhandedly that Lilian’s son attended the same school as their nephew, Jack.This detail had instantly piqued Marcus’s interest, and he insisted on accompanying her to the school. Although Aria found his sudden curiosity a little strange, she decided not to question it.When they arrived, Marcus stepped out of the car first. His tall frame and confident stride immediately drew attention from a few parents waiting nearby, but he paid no mind.Aria followed behind, looking up at him with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. “Jack’s class should be the same as Matt’s,” she said casually, though she wondered why Marcus seemed so eager to see a child he had no connection to—or so she thought.“Alright, lead the way,” Marcus replied, his tone calm.Though his expression remained stoic, he couldn’t ignore the odd flutter of nerves in his chest. He was usually composed and u
“What’s your name?” Matt asked, his curious eyes glancing up at Marcus.Marcus hesitated. He didn’t want Lilian to know he had approached her son. If she found out, she might cut off any chance of him seeing Matt again. Thinking quickly, he kept his expression neutral and lied. “Harrison,” he said smoothly.Matt nodded, seemingly satisfied for the moment. “Oh.”Marcus leaned back in his chair, watching the boy. “Do you think you’ll tell your mom about meeting me today?” he asked with a friendly smile, testing the waters.Matt tilted his head to the side, pretending to think hard about the question. “Should I?”Marcus shook his head with a faint chuckle. “No. Let’s keep this as our little secret,” he said, lowering his voice playfully.Matt muttered an “Oh,” his small hands fidgeting with the edge of the table. After a moment of silence, he looked directly at Marcus. “But why did you lie about your name?” he asked suddenly, catching Marcus off guard.Marcus raised an eyebrow in surpris
Noah glanced at Lilian, his smile warm and genuine. “The house is big enough to accommodate everyone. I’ve missed Matt so much,” he said.Lilian nodded in agreement, her own smile soft. “He missed you too,” she replied, her tone warm.Matt and Noah had always shared a special bond. Among all his uncles, Matt was closest to Noah. That was why Lilian hadn’t told Matt that Noah would be arriving today—she wanted it to be a surprise. As she thought of Matt’s likely reaction, a grin spread across her face.The car pulled into the driveway, and Lilian parked smoothly. She turned to Noah, noticing he was still engrossed in his phone. “We’re here,” she said pointedly.Startled slightly, Noah put his phone away and stepped out of the car. He stretched briefly before following Lilian toward the house.Lilian unlocked the front door and stepped inside, glancing around the living room. “Matt, baby!” she called out loudly.No response.She frowned slightly and checked the time on her phone. “Matt?
Matt blinked innocently at the question, his expression earnest. “We only met Grandma Clara, and she took us to the shopping mall. She bought me some toys before we went to the restaurant,” he said, carefully leaving out everything else that had happened.Lilian glanced at her Eldest brother, her lips lifting into a faint smile. “I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me.” She tried to sound convincing, but deep down, she understood why they were concerned. They cared about her—it was as simple as that—and that thought melted her heart.“Why wouldn’t we worry about you?” Noah said, his voice tinged with both affection and exasperation. “You’re our only sister.”Lilian let out a soft laugh and nodded. “Yes, yes, I know,” she replied, brushing off their concern as gently as she could.Moses, the quieter of the two older brothers, gave her a small smile. “Just be careful,” he said, his tone firm but caring.Lilian met his gaze and nodded again. “I will, I promise. It’s just that Aunty C
Lily felt awkward. She had wanted to see a pained, vulnerable expression on Lilian’s face—something to prove her presence still affected her—but Lilian’s features remained cold and indifferent, as though she were looking at nothing more than a passing stranger. That wasn’t the reaction Lily had hoped for, and it gnawed at her.“We’re leaving,” Clara said, her voice firm and crisp. She turned to Marcus with a look that brokered no argument. Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Matt’s small hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Let’s go,” she added, nodding toward Lilian.Lilian nodded silently, her expression neutral, and rose to her feet. Without a glance back, she followed Clara out of the restaurant. Her movements were slow, deliberate—steady in a way that seemed to irritate Lily even more.Left behind, Lily turned to Marcus with wide eyes, playing up her confusion and innocence. “It seems Aunty Clara still doesn’t like me,” she said softly, her tone carefully layered with
They started eating in silence. Clara seemed more focused on Matt than ever before, her attention unwavering as she carefully observed him. Lilian couldn’t help but feel a warm sense of happiness at how well Clara treated her son. The tenderness in Clara’s actions brought comfort to Lilian’s heart.Clara kept putting food into Matt’s bowl, making sure he had enough to eat. Then, suddenly, Marcus picked up a piece of fish and placed it in Matt’s bowl as well.The table fell silent. Everyone froze.Lilian blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected gesture. It felt strange, an odd shift in the air that unsettled her. Across the table, Lily’s face darkened, her expression turning sour as she frowned deeply.Matt, noticing the fish in his bowl, frowned too. For a moment, he stared at it as though unsure of what to do. Then, without a word, he picked it up and placed it into his mouth, chewing silently.Marcus smiled faintly when he saw Matt eat the fish, the small success lighting up his
Clara, Lilian, and Matt left the shopping mall promptly after Clara paid for their purchases. Lilian had offered to pay, but Clara shut her down immediately with a dismissive wave of her hand.“Not today, Lilian. This one’s on me,” Clara said firmly, a small but satisfied smile on her face.“Alright, fine,” Lilian relented, shaking her head slightly. “Thank you, though.”Clara simply smiled, her attention quickly shifting to Matt, who was already preoccupied with staring out the window of the car, waiting for it to move.Once they were all settled inside, Clara glanced back at her grandson through the rearview mirror. “Are you hungry, sweetheart?”Matt, still fiddling with his seatbelt, immediately perked up at the question. He looked up, his eyes bright with excitement. “Yes, Grandma! I’m really, really hungry,” he said earnestly.Clara chuckled lightly as she started the car. “Well, let’s fix that, then. We’ll get something good to eat.”The drive was quiet and comfortable. Lilian s
When Lilian arrived at where the commotion, her brow furrowed at the sight before her. Her son, Matt, stood stiffly near a brightly lit toy display, his little fists clenched at his sides. Beside him stood another boy, roughly the same age, though his posture was far less composed—one hand on his hip, the other gripping a toy car. Facing them both was a woman Lilian didn’t recognize. The tension in the air was palpable, and all three wore expressions that hinted at a brewing argument.“What’s going on here?” Lilian asked, addressing the store attendant nearby, her voice edged with concern.Before the attendant could respond, Matt turned sharply at the sound of her voice. Relief washed over his small face, and he immediately ran to her side. “Mom!” he said, his voice a mixture of urgency and relief.The woman scoffed, folding her arms tightly across her chest. Her expensive-looking jacket crinkled as she shifted, her glare unwavering. “Oh, you’re his mother?” she said, her tone sharp a
“Yes, that is Moses,” Lilian said softly, her tone tinged with both surprise and reflection.Clara, seated in the driver’s seat with her hands loosely gripping the steering wheel, raised an eyebrow. “Oh,” she muttered, as though trying to process this bit of information. Then, shaking off her curiosity, she smiled warmly and said, “Well, get into the car so we can go.”Her voice was cheerful, coaxing Lilian into movement.Lilian nodded and turned to Matt, holding out her hand to guide him. “You first, buddy.” Matt clambered into the backseat, his little legs barely reaching the car floor. Lilian slid in next to him, securing his seatbelt before settling into her own spot.Clara waited until Lilian had closed the door before starting the car. The engine hummed softly as she backed out of the driveway and onto the main road. The three sat quietly for a moment, each lost in their thoughts, until Clara glanced at Lilian through the rearview mirror.“The mall’s our first stop,” she announc
The next morning, Lilian emerged from her room and walked into the living room. The house was already alive with small movements. Moses was seated at the far end of the couch, engrossed in his laptop, the light from the screen reflecting on his focused face. Meanwhile, Noah was sprawled comfortably on the other couch, casually munching on a bag of snacks.“Good morning, brothers,” Lilian greeted cheerfully, her voice light as she walked into the room.Moses looked up, the corner of his mouth lifting into a smile. “You’re finally awake? How was your night?”“It was okay,” Lilian said with a nod, taking a seat near Noah. “What about yours?”Moses leaned back slightly in his chair, stretching his arms before answering. “I woke up feeling a lot better today,” he said, a small smile tugging at his lips.Lilian smiled back. “That’s good to hear.” She looked over at his laptop. “You’re not heading to the company yet?”Moses let out a small sigh, shutting the laptop for a moment. “I will, but
Finally, they were done.Clara and Lilian stepped out of the restaurant, ready to call it a night.“Do you want me to drop you off?” Clara asked as they walked toward the parking lot.Lilian shook her head, offering a smile. “No, we came with a car.”Clara nodded, smiling back. “Oh, that’s true.”She would’ve said yes if she hadn’t driven her own car there.They walked toward Lilian’s car, and Clara waited until Lilian pulled out of the parking space and drove away. She watched the taillights fade into the distance before walking over to her own car.Lilian and Matt finally arrived home. Lilian opened the front door, and they stepped inside to find Moses and Noah sitting on the living room couch.A smile tugged at Lilian’s lips when she saw them.“Welcome back,” Moses said, raising an eyebrow playfully.Lilian chuckled under her breath. “Brother,” she muttered warmly as she closed the door behind her.Matt broke into a run toward Moses. “Uncle!” he shouted, throwing his little arms ar
Lilian smiled when she heard Clara’s voice. She nodded slightly, acknowledging the unspoken truth—technically, it made sense. Clara and Mrs. Thompson were practically the same age.“Oh,” Matt murmured when his mother confirmed it. His expression shifted, brightening into an innocent, radiant smile. “Grandma,” he said, his voice cheerful as he looked up at Clara.Clara froze for a moment, her lips parting slightly in surprise before breaking into a warm smile. The word lingered in the air, filling her chest with a strange, comforting joy. She could feel her heart soften at the little boy’s words.As she looked at Matt—his round cheeks, curious eyes, and bright expression—Clara couldn’t help but wonder how her sister would react. Her sister, who hadn’t even heard the word “Grandma” from her own grandson yet. Oh, what a story this would make, Clara thought with a sly smile tugging at her lips.Clara seated herself across from Lilian and Matt, her smile lingering as she took in the sight