Lilian frowned, her gaze shifting toward the source of the voice.It was Marcus.Her expression darkened further as irritation washed over her. What could he possibly want this time?“What are you doing?” she asked, her tone sharp, her face an icy mask of disinterest.Marcus clenched his jaw, anger simmering beneath the surface. The coldness in her eyes stung more than he cared to admit. He had come here to save her from Moses’ suffocating control, but instead of being grateful, she treated him like an annoyance.“He’s grown tired of you, hasn’t he?” Marcus asked, his voice low and laced with disdain. “Now he’s sending you to seduce men just to get contracts signed for him?” A bitter smile twisted his lips.“What?” Lilian’s voice rose in disbelief, her confusion evident as her eyes widened. Where is this nonsense even coming from?Marcus stepped closer, his gaze intent. “Come with me,” he said, his tone softening just enough to be persuasive. “I can save you from him.”Lilian couldn’t
“What’s going on?” Lilian asked as she stepped beside Moses, her eyes darting between him and Emily.“The receptionist isn’t here,” Moses replied in his usual calm tone, his expression unreadable. He turned to Emily. “Emily mentioned you told her not to come in today. Is that true?”“Oh,” Lilian said, her face lighting up in sudden recollection. “She called me early this morning. Her mother fell sick, so I gave her the day off.” She paused, realizing she might have overlooked something. “I forgot to tell you.”Emily’s lips curled into a slight smirk, sensing an opportunity. Crossing her arms, she tilted her head and asked pointedly, “Why didn’t you get permission from the CEO before giving her time off?”Lilian turned to Emily, meeting her gaze directly, her tone measured but laced with authority. “And exactly how is that your concern? Is this part of your job description?”Emily’s smirk faltered, but she quickly composed herself. Her tone turned sharp as she spoke again. “It seems Se
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
At the same time, Franklin pulled out his card and handed it to the cashier, his movements calm and deliberate. Mrs. Thompson, standing at a distance, shook her head in visible disgust as she watched the scene unfold. Her lips tightened, and her arms crossed over her chest, her disapproval practically radiating from her.She had been watching Franklin and Lilian the entire time, though she pretended not to. Her eyes occasionally darted away to feign indifference, but her glances were sharp and judgmental, as if silently cataloging every flaw she perceived.The cashier swiped Franklin’s card, her professionalism unbroken, and handed it back to him with a polite smile. “Thank you,” Franklin said curtly, picking up the shopping bag with one hand.“Let’s go,” he added, glancing at Lilian. She nodded without a word, her face neutral, and together, they walked out of the mall. Their exit was quiet, but it left a tension hanging in the air.Mrs. Thompson, watching their retreating figures, f
Marcus nodded, barely acknowledging the item Mrs. Thompson had suggested. His focus remained glued to his phone, his thumb moving in a rhythmic pattern as he scrolled. The faint glow from the screen illuminated his face, highlighting his disinterest.Mrs. Thompson sighed, her lips curving slightly upward into a knowing smile. “Let’s take it,” she said, her voice brisk but decisive as she turned to her daughter, Lily.“Okay, Mom,” Lily replied obediently, adjusting the strap of her purse.They didn’t head to the cashier immediately. Instead, they wandered the aisles a bit longer, their steps leisurely as they perused the shelves. The mall’s ambiance was lively yet refined, with the soft hum of conversations and the occasional ding of registers creating a backdrop of familiarity. Shoppers moved with purpose, some clutching baskets overflowing with items, while others strolled with less urgency, seemingly enjoying the experience.Eventually, Mrs. Thompson and Lily made their way to the c
The next morning, Lily walked into the living room, her steps slow and deliberate. She had spent the night at Mrs. Thompson’s house because today was the day they were set to visit Marcus’s grandparents. The thought of the visit made her stomach churn, and as much as she wanted to avoid it, she knew there was no escape.“You’re awake,” Mrs. Thompson greeted warmly, looking up from the sofa where she sat sipping tea. Her smile, as always, was bright and welcoming.“Yes. How was your night, Mom?” Lily asked, attempting to mirror Mrs. Thompson’s energy despite her inner anxiety.“It was fine, dear. And you? Did you sleep well?” Mrs. Thompson asked, setting her teacup down on the table.Lily nodded. “Yes, I did. Thank you.”Mrs. Thompson beamed at her. “Marcus will be here soon. I already called him.”Hearing this, Lily raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Oh, we’re going this morning?” she asked, unable to hide the slight reluctance in her voice.“Yes, dear,” Mrs. Thompson replied, her tone c
Lilian descended the stairs slowly, her hand brushing against the smooth wooden railing. The sound of muffled voices from the living room reached her ears, sparking her curiosity. She hesitated at the bottom step, tilting her head slightly as she tried to discern who her father was talking to. When she stepped into the living room, she paused, surprised to find her dad sitting with another man she didn’t recognize.Her eyes flicked between the two, and her brow furrowed. Who’s this? she wondered. Her father wasn’t exactly the most sociable person. In fact, he barely interacted with others outside their family. The idea of him befriending someone so quickly—especially since it hadn’t even been a week since he’d returned home—seemed odd.“Dad,” Lilian called, her voice breaking the quiet hum of their conversation. She smiled as she spoke, her tone warm and familiar.Francis looked up, his expression betraying a mix of surprise and amusement. “Oh, Lilian. You’re home?” he asked, clearly
“Did he take you to meet his grandparents yet?” Mrs. Thompson asked suddenly, her voice breaking through the calm of the afternoon.Lily froze, her heart skipping a beat at the unexpected question. “They’re back?” she asked, her voice tinged with both surprise and unease.Mrs. Thompson nodded with a warm, reassuring smile. “I suppose they were informed about the wedding, so they came back. You don’t need to be nervous, dear. They’ll accept you—they’ve always trusted Marcus’s judgment,” she said confidently.“Oh,” Lily muttered, nodding slowly. Her mind was already spinning. Grandpa Thompson, back so soon? She had hoped to avoid another encounter with him until after the wedding.Mrs. Thompson studied Lily’s face for a moment, then continued. “I’ll talk to Marcus and make sure he takes you to meet them this week. It’s important to pay your respects before the wedding. That’s how it’s always been done in this family,” she added firmly but kindly.Lily forced a small smile, though her st
“Have you made a list of the guests you want to invite to the wedding?” Mrs. Thompson asked once they had finished eating, her tone gentle but filled with curiosity.Lily shook her head. “I’ll just let you decide,” she replied with a warm, effortless smile.Mrs. Thompson’s expression softened even more, her pride in Lily evident. “That’s very considerate of you. But surely, you’d like to invite some of your friends, wouldn’t you? Or do you not have anyone in mind?” she asked, tilting her head slightly, a knowing smile on her face.Lily thought for a moment, her gaze drifting to the window. “Well… I do have a few friends I could invite,” she said softly, as if she hadn’t considered it before.“Good. Just give me their names, and I’ll add them to the guest list,” Mrs. Thompson said with a nod, her organizational mind already at work.“Sure, Mom,” Lily replied, her smile bright and sweet.Mrs. Thompson leaned back slightly, looking at Lily thoughtfully. “Have you seen Marcus this week?”
Lily breathed a sigh of relief as she scrolled through her phone, checking the news and social media updates. There was nothing—no mention of her confrontation with Lilian at the mall. The tense exchange still lingered in her mind, replaying in flashes of sharp words and raised voices. If someone had seen them and posted about it, she would have been mortified. More importantly, Mrs. Thompson might have found out. The thought alone made her shudder.Mrs. Thompson valued poise and self-control, qualities Lily had worked hard to demonstrate since meeting Marcus’s family. If the older woman learned that Lily had been publicly arguing with Marcus’s ex-wife, it could damage her carefully built reputation. It didn’t matter that Lilian had provoked her—what mattered was the perception. Thankfully, it seemed the incident had gone unnoticed, allowing Lily to relax for now.She adjusted her dress as she stepped out of the car, the soft fabric falling neatly into place. The Thompson residence lo
The attendant clenched her fists tightly, her eyes fixed on Lilian, filled with frustration and anger.“Security!” the manager called out, his voice sharp as he noticed the attendant still kneeling on the floor. His face was flushed with embarrassment, the scene drawing unwanted attention from nearby shoppers.A security guard entered the store almost immediately, his posture firm but professional. The manager pointed toward the attendant, his expression stern. “Throw her out,” he ordered.The security guard approached her, his tone calm but commanding. “Please stand up and leave,” he said.The attendant let out a deep, frustrated sigh. Slowly, she rose to her feet, brushing off her uniform as if trying to regain some dignity. “Fine, I’ll leave,” she muttered under her breath. Then, turning to Lilian, her voice rose with bitterness, and her glare hardened. “Are you happy now? You’ve cost me my job! I’m the breadwinner of my family, and because of you, they’ll starve. I hope you’re pro
The manager noticed the commotion brewing near the front desk and quickly descended the stairs to investigate. His polished shoes clacked sharply against the marble floor, each step reverberating through the quiet tension that hung in the air. His brow was furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line as he approached the group.“What is going on here?” he demanded, his deep voice slicing through the awkward silence. He directed his question at the attendant, whose eyes darted nervously between him and Franklin. The manager’s gaze lingered briefly on Lilian, her flushed face and clenched fists a testament to her frustration, before finally landing on Franklin, whose calm yet imposing presence filled the room.The moment the manager’s eyes fell on Franklin, his expression shifted. The irritation etched into his face melted into something resembling recognition, then alarm. His posture stiffened, and his tone softened, carrying a note of deference. “Sir,” he said, addressing Franklin with