Marcus and his friend Nick decided to collaborate on a project. They went to a nearby restaurant to grab some coffee and finalize the document they had been working on. It was a busy afternoon, and the café was filled with people chatting, sipping their drinks, and typing away on laptops. The smell of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.Sitting across from each other at a small round table, they both took a moment to enjoy their drinks. The clinking of cups and the hum of conversation around them created a comfortable background noise. Nick took a sip of his coffee and then glanced up at Marcus with a curious expression.“When are you getting married to Lily?” Nick asked suddenly, raising an eyebrow. It was a question that seemed to come out of nowhere, catching Marcus off guard.Marcus frowned slightly. The idea of marrying Lily had been floating around for a while, but something about it didn’t feel right. He couldn’t quite put his fin
Here is the expanded, revised version of your chapter with enhanced detail, improved flow, and grammar corrections, extended to about 1000 words while strictly maintaining your original scenes:Lilian did not notice Marcus when she entered the coffee shop. Her eyes swept briefly over the tables and customers, but she seemed preoccupied, heading directly to the counter where a young waiter stood, looking a bit tired.“Hello, I need two cups of coffee,” she said politely, her tone calm yet firm.The waiter looked up, slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected such politeness from her for some reason. “Do you want an Americano or just regular coffee?” he asked with a smile, trying to be friendly.“Regular,” Lilian replied without hesitation, her gaze fixed on the menu board above his head, though it was clear she wasn’t really reading it.“Alright, please hold on,” the waiter said as he quickly began preparing the order. He glanced back at Lilian, curious about her demeanor. There was someth
“Does she come here often?” Marcus asked the waiter, his tone sharp and commanding. His dark eyes bore into the man behind the counter, leaving little room for hesitation.“W-who?” the waiter stammered, clearly startled.“The lady who just left,” Marcus clarified, his frown deepening. He was already irritated, and the waiter’s stuttering response wasn’t helping.“Oh, yes! Yes, she does,” the waiter replied quickly, nodding as if the movement might save him from further questioning.Marcus gave a slight nod of acknowledgment but said nothing further. He turned and walked back toward Nick, his frustration evident in his measured steps.“Let’s go,” Marcus said curtly, his voice low and tense.Nick raised an eyebrow, watching his friend with an amused smirk. “What did you ask him? You scared the guy half to death,” he teased, his tone light despite Marcus’s evident bad mood.Marcus ignored him, striding toward his car with purpose. He unlocked it with a click and slid into the driver’s se
The next day, Lilian walked into the coffee shop, her heels clicking against the tiled floor. The faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, a pleasant but ordinary comfort in her busy day. Her expression was calm, her posture upright, and her steps deliberate as she approached the counter.This time, the attendant behind the counter was different from the one she had seen yesterday. A young woman with a bright, polite smile was stationed there, her hands busy as she adjusted the cups on the counter.“I need two cups of coffee,” Lilian said, her voice steady and polite but devoid of any unnecessary warmth.The female attendant immediately looked up and nodded, her smile broadening. “Alright. Please hold on,” she replied with practiced professionalism as she turned to begin preparing the coffee.Lilian gave a small nod of acknowledgment, her hands reaching into her bag to retrieve her phone. She unlocked the screen, her fingers deftly scrolling through her emails and messages
Lilian looked at Marcus, her patience wearing thin. “I don’t think that’s any of your business,” she said, her tone sharp, a frown settling on her face. Her irritation was evident, and she no longer cared to hide it.This entire encounter was exhausting, and she felt the tension building in her chest. She had no idea what else to say to get him to stop.“Your coffee,” the female attendant said, cutting through the heavy atmosphere.Lilian turned her head toward the counter and immediately handed over her card. “Here,” she said, her voice soft but curt as she addressed the attendant.The barista accepted the card with a polite smile and swiped it. A brief beep signaled the successful transaction. “Thank you,” the attendant said, handing the card back to Lilian.Lilian gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, her attention already shifting away from the interaction. Without sparing another glance at Marcus, she turned on her heel and began walking toward the door.The sound of her heels ech
“Hi, I haven’t seen your face here before. Are you new here?”The question came from a young woman seated beside Marcus at the bar. Her dress was short and elegant, though its hemline left little to the imagination, exposing her toned thighs. She leaned toward him with an inviting smile, her confidence apparent as she toyed with the rim of her glass.Marcus had no idea why he was here. He hadn’t planned to come to this bar or even leave his home tonight. His hands had simply gripped the steering wheel, and before he knew it, he had arrived at the hotel. He sat at the bar now, nursing a drink, his mind in turmoil.When the woman spoke, he turned his head slightly, his gaze barely meeting hers. Then, with a dismissive wave of his hand, he said flatly, “I’m engaged.”The woman’s smile faltered for a moment before it returned, sly and determined. “Oh,” she said casually, as if the information hardly mattered. “That doesn’t mean anything. Your fiancée doesn’t have to know. It’ll just stay
Marcus stood in the middle of the bustling club, the flashing lights and pounding music doing little to distract him from the heaviness in his chest. Around him, people were laughing, drinking, and dancing, their joy only amplifying his sense of isolation.Why was he even here?He didn’t belong in this crowd. The suffocating noise felt like an assault on his already turbulent thoughts. Unable to bear it any longer, Marcus pushed his way through the throng of partygoers and headed for the exit.The cool night air greeted him as he stepped outside. It did little to sober him up, but at least it was quiet. He fumbled for his car keys, his movements a little sluggish from the alcohol he had consumed, though his mind still functioned well enough to get him home.Sliding into the driver’s seat, Marcus started the car and drove in silence. The streets were almost deserted, and the rhythmic hum of the engine was the only sound accompanying him on his way back.When he finally pulled into his
Marcus snapped out of his daze at the sound of Lily’s voice. He blinked a few times, his gaze landing on her. She looked so much like Lilian that sometimes, it made his heart skip. The resemblance wasn’t perfect, though; there were differences that only someone as familiar with Lilian as he was could notice. The slight curve of their noses, the subtle distinction in the color of their eyes, the way their expressions shifted—Lily’s smile never carried the same warmth that Lilian’s did.“Are you okay, Marcus?” Lily asked, her head tilting slightly as her brow furrowed. She was watching him with concern now, her playful tone momentarily subdued. “You’ve been staring at me for a while. Am I that beautiful?” she teased, the corners of her lips lifting into a grin.Marcus shook his head slightly, dragging himself out of his thoughts. “You are beautiful,” he said quietly, his tone distant despite the sincerity of his words.Lily’s eyes lit up with surprise, and a soft blush rose to her cheek
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