"Sign it, Lilian, we are getting a divorce." Marcus's voice cut through the air like a glacial wind, its icy tone sending shivers down her spine.Lilian's brow furrowed as she heard the words, fear creeping into her heart like a chill."Remember the. birthday party we need to attend? It's almost time for it. We are supposed to leave now." Lilian forced a smile, trying to act like nothing happened but her eyes betrayed her with a hint of imperceptible hurt and tears."It is not necessary. Just sign the paper. This is best for both of us." he frowned, his voice was cold and cruel before he turned on his heel and strode out of the house.Lilian's knees trembled, her weight sinking into them as if the floor had given way beneath her. Her hands fluttered to the ground, bracing herself against the impact, as a sob escaped her lips.How could he just drop that and leave without any explanation?Lilian's thoughts raced back to the countless moments she'd sacrificed for Marcus— the late nights
Marcus entered the hall, his soft smile preceding him as he approached, a radiant expression Lilian had never seen before.Lilian's eyes snapped open, wide with shock. Her breath hitched, throat constricting. Her heart skipped a beat, racing with a mix of confusion.Lilian's gaze flicked between the woman and herself, noticing the similarities in their features - the same nose shape, the same eye color, the same curve of their smiles. Lilian's agitation grew, her fingers quivering like leaves in an autumn breeze, her palms slick with a cold sweat as she struggled to contain her emotions. She rubbed them together and struggled to process the strange sense of familiarity.Lilian convinced herself that it was just a coincidence, but her eyes lingered on the woman, her mind still grappling with the uncanny resemblance. She wondered who she was to Marcus that made them so close. Lilian's chest caved under the weight of her emotions. It felt like a physical force, crushing her heart. Brea
Lilian had no idea how she made her way back to the party. Her face was white, and her lips were red from biting back tears. She stood there in a daze.Suddenly, a scream came out with the sound of shattered glass.“Oh my God, what happened?”Lily crumpled to the ground, with wine and glass under her, and her arm was bleeding.Lillian stood in front of her, startled.“What kind of person would do that?” “She was standing right there. She must be the one who pushed her!” There was an outbreak of muttering at it.“I mean, you think you know someone.” People pointed at Lilian, judging her with disapproval and disgust.Lily tried to stand up, but the broken glass in her palm made her cry in pain.Just as Lillian was about to help her and pull her up, Marcus pushed Lilian away."What did you do to her?" She heard Marcus' cold voice.Marcus's eyes were icy glaciers, their frosty gaze piercing through Lilian like a winter storm, their coldness a palpable force that left her shivering, Like
“What?” She asked in disbelief.Lilian thought she had some ear problems, maybe she misheard his words.“You heard me. Apologize to Lily now!” Marcus demanded, lowering his voice to a stern tone. “Why should I?” Lilian shook her head doubtfully.“Just drop the act. You need to apologize for pushing her,” Marcus laughed scornfully.“I did not push her. She fell down herself,” Lilian took a deep breath.“Why are you still lying? Everyone witnessed it! How could you be so cruel to do that? ” Marcus looked at Lilian with an incredulous stare.Lilian suddenly chuckled, “Is it because of her you wanted to divorce me? You cheated on me with her?” "Is that why you push her? Because of some ridiculous jealousy?" Marcus snorted."Stop dodging my question. Answer it," Lilian said firmly."That's not important. I'm saying you need to apologize,” Marcus said in annoyance."Why did you marry me in the first place?" Lilian's voice cracked, her eyes searching Marcus's face for a glimmer of truth. T
Three days laterA frown creased Marcus's face as he gazed out the window. It had been three days and he had not heard anything from Lilian. She did not call him or even send him a text message like she always does, which was very unusual of her. Marcus's mind during the drive home. As he arrived, he didn't hesitate, getting out of the car and walking into the house with a sense of purpose.It was quiet which was not normal.Marcus walked into their room, he had not slept there for a while and this was the first time he was entering here after a long time.It was unexpected that Lilian was not inside the room.“What trick is she playing this time? What I gave her is plenty for her to live a comfortable life for the rest. Does she think that’s not enough? So greedy.” He thought with a slight frown between his eyes.He scoffed at the thought of this. This annoyed him and made him wonder why he was still thinking about that scheming woman.He turned and was about to walk out of the roo
The high heels clicking on the marble floor, a stylish woman stepped into the airport; she looked confident in a custom-made dress with her designer handbag swinging from her shoulder, and she easily gained others' attention.As Lilian gazed around the airport, the familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee and the hum of announcements enveloped her, transporting her back in time.She had never been back to this city since then. She thought the city would be strange to her now, but she was wrong. The moment she landed, the first breath of the air brought her back.This city was special to her with so much memory and, of course, the person she refused to think of.“Are you okay?” Moses asked.''Yes, I'm fine," Lillian forced a smile.Moses looked at her in worry; he wanted to say something, but Lilian changed the subject.“Where is Matt?” Lilian suddenly sounded severe, realizing Matt was not here.Lilian's breath came in short gasps, her hands shaking as she grasped her phone, her mind r
As Marcus stepped into his office, he surprisingly found out someone was in his office already.“How do you get in here?” Marcus frowned, thinking maybe he needed to hire another secretary.He was tired of Lily just showing up without telling him. She had no boundaries; she just came and went freely, like his office was some kind of amusement park.Lilian would never do that.Seeing Lily's face, with its identical almond-shaped eyes and petite nose somehow cooled him down.“Who is she?” Lily sneered, sitting on Marcus's seat while throwing a stack of photos on the table. Marcus walked towards her. Lily's perfume enveloped Marcus, its sweet scent curdling in his stomach like some poison, making his gut twist with discomfort.“She is my business partner.” He answered coldly as he picked up one of the photos.“A business partner? Do I look like a fool to you?” Lily asked in a sarcastic tone."Yes, believe it or not, she is just a business partner," Marcus explained patiently again.Marc
Marcus walked out of the room hurriedly, he scanned the club, his eyes scouring the crowd.He stumbled downstairs faster with his heart beating so fast against his chest when he saw the familiar figure.Marcus grabbed the lady’s hand, but soon with a disappointed look on his face. That was not the one he was expecting to see.Marcus closed his eyes and opened them with a deep breath.“I’m sorry,” he apologized before he buried his face into his hands with a crushing sense of powerlessness.He should have given up a long time ago. How could he still expect she would come back to the city after she left in despair?“Watch out!” He heard a voice shrieking behind him.Marcus immediately turned around. He was shocked to see the person he was looking for in front of him.Lilian?‘Could it be that I am hallucinating again?’ He thought.Marcus just stood there and stared at her thoroughly, but she didn't disappear as it always did.Marcus's eyes locked onto Lilian's, and for an instant, time
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
The next morning, Lilian was home. She hadn’t gone to work because Moses insisted that she stay back and rest.“You’ve been pushing yourself too hard,” he’d said the night before, his tone leaving no room for argument. Lilian had sighed, but deep down, she knew he was right. Between work, running the house, and caring for Matt, she’d barely had time to breathe.So, there she was—at home, alone, with nothing to distract her except her own thoughts. But rest wasn’t easy. Lilian wasn’t used to stillness, and the quiet made her restless. She found herself cleaning dishes that didn’t need cleaning, reorganizing drawers, and pacing back and forth between the living room and kitchen.Her eyes kept drifting to the clock on the wall. She’d promised to pick Matt up from school today. He’d been so happy when she told him. “You’re coming, Mom? Really?” he’d asked with wide eyes, as if he couldn’t believe it.Lilian smiled now, remembering his excitement. She glanced at the clock again. Almost tim