“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
Lilian tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall back asleep. The clock ticked softly in the quiet room, the faint hum of early morning filtering through her window. After a few more futile attempts, she gave up, stretched, and got out of bed. She decided to take an early shower to prepare for the day ahead.The warm water cascading down her back helped wake her up fully. After finishing, she wrapped herself in a towel, stepped out of the bathroom, and walked to her wardrobe. Lilian chose a casual dress, slipped it on, and headed downstairs.The kitchen was quiet, and the faint scent of coffee from yesterday lingered. Lilian started preparing breakfast for her five-year-old son, Matt, and her elder brother, Moses. She liked getting an early start—her busy mornings demanded it. Matt needed to be ready for school, and Moses, though an adult, had his own chaotic routine.As Lilian was plating the last of the scrambled eggs, the sound of the living room door opening caught her attention. S
Lilian sat in her office, the soft hum of her computer filling the room as she typed away. Her focus was unwavering as she worked to complete a detailed report. The neatly organized stacks of paper on her desk and the color-coded planner next to her laptop were proof of her methodical nature.The door to her office suddenly creaked open. Without looking up, Lilian already knew who it was.“You’re still working?” Moses’ familiar voice broke the quiet.Lilian finally lifted her gaze, a smile spreading across her face when she saw her eldest brother. “Yes, I am. You know how it is,” she said with a playful shrug. “Matt’s in school, right?” she asked, needing confirmation about their youngest sibling’s whereabouts.Moses stepped closer, his hands tucked into his pockets. “Of course. Don’t you trust your reliable brother?” he teased, his tone lighthearted.Lilian chuckled softly and shook her head. “You’re very reliable. Very, very reliable,” she replied, emphasizing her words. She meant i
“Hope you are doing very well?” Arthur asked with a warm smile.Lilian blinked in surprise. Was this the same man who had answered them with such a cold, distant voice earlier? The stark difference in his demeanor left her momentarily wondering. Still, she returned his smile politely.“I’m very well, thank you. What about you?” she asked, keeping her tone friendly and professional.Arthur nodded. “I’m good too,” he replied simply. Then, reaching for a small bell on the table, he gave it a quick ring.For a few minutes, the room fell silent. Then came a soft knock on the door.“Come in,” Arthur said, his voice calm yet authoritative.The door opened, and a waiter entered, bowing his head slightly as he spoke. “What would you like to order, sir?”Arthur turned to Lilian, his gaze inviting. “What do you want to eat?”Lilian shook her head lightly. “I’m not that hungry,” she replied.Arthur raised an eyebrow at her response. “You don’t want to eat anything?” he asked, his tone carrying a
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
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