“Are you leaving now?” the receptionist asked, looking up from her desk.Lilian glanced at her and nodded with a smile. “Yes, yes. I have some work to do outside,” she explained, trying to sound casual.“Oh, alright then,” the receptionist replied, her voice soft but polite.Lilian turned and walked out of the company’s front entrance. She hadn’t noticed that Emily had been watching her leave. As soon as Lilian stepped out, Emily hurried to the staircase and quickly ascended to the upper floors. She was determined to find out where Lilian was heading.Lilian hailed a taxi to Clara’s hotel. She hadn’t driven herself to the office today. Instead, Moses had dropped her off in his car, and since she wasn’t sure when she’d be back, she hadn’t taken her own vehicle.The taxi pulled up to the hotel, and Lilian paid the driver before stepping out onto the pavement. She took a deep breath, glancing up at the hotel’s entrance before walking through the revolving doors.As she entered, the recep
Finally, Clara answered the call. Her voice was calm, tinged with a hint of guilt. “I’m so sorry, I was taking a bath. Where are you now?”Lilian sighed audibly before responding, her tone low and exhausted. “I’m outside, in front of the hotel,” she said, her words clipped.“I’ll come to meet you now,” Clara assured her quickly before ending the call.Lilian exhaled deeply, slipping her phone back into her pocket. The evening air was cool, but the situation made her feel strangely restless. Thankfully, she didn’t have to wait long before Clara came downstairs, her hair slightly damp, as though she’d hurried out of her room.Clara approached briskly, her face creased with concern. “Why didn’t you wait inside at the reception?” she asked, her brows furrowing in disapproval.Lilian shook her head, her lips pressing into a tight line. “The receptionist asked me to leave the building,” she said simply, her voice steady but carrying an undertone of frustration.Clara’s expression hardened i
Clara led the way to her hotel room, her heels clicking softly against the hallway floor. Once they arrived, she slid her keycard into the lock, the light turning green with a faint beep. She opened the door and gestured for Lilian to enter first.“Come in,” Clara said warmly.Lilian stepped inside, her gaze sweeping across the neatly arranged room. She wasn’t surprised to see Alex, Clara’s husband, sitting at a small desk with his laptop open. She knew Clara and Alex were traveling together, so his presence didn’t catch her off guard.“Hello, Uncle,” Lilian greeted him politely, a small smile curving her lips.Alex looked up from his screen, recognition lighting up his face. “Oh, Lilian, how are you doing? It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” he said, his tone friendly.Lilian nodded. “I’m doing fine, thank you. And you? How have you been, Uncle?”Alex smiled warmly, closing the lid of his laptop. “I’m doing great. And might I say, you’ve grown into such a beautiful young woman.”Lilian ch
“Oh. I had no idea Lilian was also here. Hello, Lilian,” Lily greeted, her voice carrying an air of forced innocence as she flashed a small smile.Lilian returned the greeting with a polite but noticeably dry smile. “Hi.”Her clipped response hung in the air, intensifying the awkwardness. Lily shuffled uncomfortably, clearly unsure of how to proceed.“We’re leaving now,” Clara said abruptly, her tone dismissive as she moved toward the car.Before she could climb in, Alex interjected, his voice calm yet purposeful. “Why don’t they just see us off to the airport? That way, when Lilian heads back home, she won’t have to go alone.”Clara froze, her expression darkening as she turned to face him. Her sharp eyes scrutinized Alex for a moment before she responded, her voice laced with sarcasm. “I don’t think there’s enough space in the car.”Alex gestured to the front seat, his tone remaining neutral. “The passenger seat should be able to fit three people, I think.”Before Clara could protes
Finally, the time to board had arrived. Clara stood up, adjusting the strap of her bag with a deep sigh. Her eyes lingered on Lilian, who had remained quiet since they arrived at the airport. Reluctantly, Lilian stood as well, already feeling the weight of the impending goodbye.Clara opened her arms wide, inviting Lilian in for a hug. Lilian stepped forward without hesitation, wrapping her arms tightly around Clara. The embrace was warm, almost reluctant, as if neither of them wanted to be the one to let go.Lilian leaned closer, pressing a soft kiss to Clara’s cheek. “I’ll miss you,” she said quietly, her voice thick with emotion.Clara smiled, though it was bittersweet. “I’ll miss you too,” she replied softly, her eyes glistening. “I’m already missing you,” she added with a sigh, pulling Lilian into another hug.This time, Lilian clung to her even tighter. It felt like an unspoken promise, a way of holding onto the bond they shared, even as the distance between them grew.“We need
Moses drove straight home, the car humming steadily beneath him. As soon as they pulled into the driveway and parked, Lilian stepped out, a faint weariness etched on her face. She walked toward the house, her thoughts swirling. Opening the front door, she was greeted by the sight of Noah and Matt lounging on the couch.The moment Matt saw her, he sprang up, his small feet padding quickly across the floor. Lilian bent down just in time to catch him, wrapping him in a warm, tight hug.“Grandma’s gone, isn’t she?” Matt whispered, his voice tinged with sadness.Lilian felt a lump rise in her throat. She held him closer for a moment before answering softly, “Yes, sweetheart. Her plane has taken off.”Matt, trying his best to be brave, patted his mother on the back. “It’s okay, Mom,” he said with surprising maturity for his age.Lilian managed a small smile and withdrew slightly, cupping Matt’s face in her hands. “Whenever we’re ready, we can visit her, or she can come visit us. Anytime, ok
The next morning, sunlight poured through the living room windows, casting warm streaks of light across the furniture. Lilian stepped in, her steps light yet purposeful. Noah was seated on the couch, one leg propped up as he scrolled through his phone.“Good morning, Brother,” Lilian greeted, her voice soft but cheerful. She glanced around the room, her brows furrowing slightly. “Where’s Brother Moses?”Noah looked up lazily from his phone and stretched before replying, “He’s already left for the company.”Lilian’s lips parted in surprise as she instinctively glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. It was barely past 7:30 a.m. “He already left?” she echoed.“Yup. Early start, I guess,” Noah said with a shrug, clearly unbothered.Lilian frowned. “He could have waited for me to wake up. We could’ve gone together,” she muttered, mostly to herself.Noah let out a soft chuckle and set his phone down on the coffee table. “You know Moses. The man’s a machine. No delays, no waiting around.
Lilian glanced at Emily, her lips twitching into a small, unimpressed smile. “I always come early,” she said calmly, brushing past the implied dig in Emily’s tone.Emily smirked and tilted her head slightly, clearly enjoying the conversation. “Well, the boss isn’t here right now. He went out earlier. Oh, and did you hear? The party where they’ll announce his sister is happening next week,” she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness.Lilian blinked, her mind catching up with Emily’s words. The party. She had completely forgotten about it. If Emily hadn’t mentioned it, it would have slipped her mind entirely.“Oh, right. That’s good to know,” Lilian replied evenly, forcing a polite smile.Emily leaned in slightly, her smirk growing. “You should try to get on her good side,” she said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I heard she’s… sassy. Apparently, she doesn’t take kindly to people stepping out of line.”Lilian’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Sassy? Her? She almo
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