Mrs. Thompson frowned deeply when she heard this. “Moses?” she asked Lily, her voice laced with suspicion.“Well…” Lily trailed off, glancing toward where Lilian was seated. Her eyes studied the man sitting with Lilian and the boy.Mrs. Thompson followed her gaze and raised an eyebrow when she saw someone entirely different. “Who is that? She’s dating this one too?” Mrs. Thompson asked, her voice raised slightly in disbelief.Lily shook her head quickly. “I don’t think so. It might just be business,” she replied, trying to sound calm, though her uncertainty was evident.Mrs. Thompson scoffed, her lips tightening. “Business? Look at the way they’re sitting together, so close. You’re far too naive if you think there’s nothing more to this,” she said, her tone firm.“Well… maybe,” Lily conceded softly, glancing away to avoid her mother-in-law’s piercing gaze.Mrs. Thompson’s friends, noticing the exchange, turned their attention toward Lilian’s table. One of the women leaned closer, her
Lily couldn’t stop smiling as she drove away from the restaurant. Her heart raced with excitement as Mrs. Thompson’s words played on repeat in her mind. Soon, she would finally become the official mistress of the Thompson family. After years of waiting and patience, her dreams were about to come true. She couldn’t wait to share the news with her parents and friends.Most of all, she couldn’t wait to flaunt it in front of Lilian. That woman had no right to Marcus, no right to the Thompson family. Everything Lily had worked for, everything she had endured, was finally paying off.The buzz of her phone broke her thoughts.Ringgg…Lily frowned as she saw the name on the screen: Aria. She considered ignoring the call but thought better of it. With a sigh, she pressed the green button and answered.“Hello?”“Where are you?” Aria’s voice sounded curious, almost nosy.“I’m on my way to a friend’s place,” Lily replied curtly. “Why are you asking?”“Did you hear about the banquet Moses is organ
Marcus sat at his desk, the hum of the air conditioning blending with the faint rustling of papers as he sifted through a stack of documents. His office was quiet, save for the occasional creak of his chair or the soft scratch of a pen. The silence suited him. Work had always been his sanctuary, a place where he could focus and leave the noise of the outside world behind.Then, a knock interrupted his thoughts.His brows furrowed. He wasn’t expecting anyone. “Come in,” he said, his voice steady, though a hint of annoyance crept in.The door opened, and in walked Mrs. Thompson. Her presence instantly made Marcus straighten in his chair.“Mom?” he said, standing as she approached.She smiled warmly, holding out a bowl wrapped in a pristine white napkin. “I brought you some soup. You need to take care of yourself, Marcus. Drink it while it’s still hot.”Marcus sighed but accepted the bowl. He motioned to the couch. “Have a seat.”Mrs. Thompson settled onto the plush sofa with the grace o
Lily could not calm down. Mrs. Thompson still had not called her to confirm whether Marcus had agreed to the marriage.She had already broken the news to her parents, and they were eagerly anticipating the union. They had even begun spreading the word, using it as an opportunity to brag about their daughter’s soon-to-be prestigious match.Lily could not afford to wait any longer. She decided to visit Mrs. Thompson in person.Upon arriving at the house, Lily parked her car in the garage, stepped out, and adjusted her dress. With a bright smile plastered on her face, she walked toward the door, her heart pounding in anticipation.“Aunty,” Lily called out as she stepped into the living room.Mrs. Thompson was seated on the couch, chatting with her younger sister’s family. Her face lit up the moment she saw Lily.“Lily, you’re here!” she exclaimed, patting the empty space beside her. “Come, sit here.”Lily nodded politely, flashing a warm smile at Mrs. Thompson’s visitors before making he
Marcus walked into his house and flicked on the light switch. The soft hum of the bulbs filled the silence as he stood still for a moment, scanning the room. Slowly, he walked toward the couch and sank into it, exhaling deeply.Ringgggg.The sudden shrill of his phone startled him. He reached into his pocket, retrieved the device, and glanced at the screen. The name “Aunty Clara” flashed across it.He hesitated for a second before answering.“Hello, Aunty,” he said, his voice respectful but curious.“I’m at your gate,” Clara’s voice came through, calm but direct.Marcus blinked, confusion creasing his forehead. “My gate?” he asked, needing to confirm he’d heard her right.“Yes,” she replied. “Come and open up.”Marcus stood abruptly, the surprise evident on his face. Without another word, he ended the call and walked briskly out of the house. As he opened the gate and peered outside, his disbelief turned to certainty. Clara stood there, looking as composed as ever.“Are you not happy
Lilian and Moses sat on the couch in the living room, the air between them calm and quiet. The TV hummed softly in the background, though neither of them paid it much attention.The front door creaked open, and Noah stepped into the house with Matt trailing close behind. Noah, full of energy as always, called out excitedly, “I heard something!”Moses let out a low groan and rolled his eyes as he leaned back on the couch, clearly unimpressed. Noah always had something to say—whether it was important or not was another matter entirely.Lilian, on the other hand, tilted her head, curiosity getting the better of her. “What is it?” she asked, looking at him expectantly.Noah’s grin widened when he realized Lilian was interested. “You won’t believe this,” he said, pausing for dramatic effect. “I heard that Marcus is getting married to Lily!”He dropped onto the couch with a satisfied look, as though he had just delivered groundbreaking news.The moment the words left his mouth, the living r
The next day, Lilian stepped into a small tea shop, the chime of the doorbell ringing softly as she entered. The warmth of the place enveloped her immediately, a welcome escape from the brisk air outside. She rubbed her hands together as she approached the counter, eyeing the menu before placing an order for a warm cup of green tea.As she waited, her gaze drifted over the room, taking in the few customers scattered around the tables. That was when she saw her.Clara.For a moment, Lilian thought her mind was playing tricks on her. It had been so long since they last met, and this was the last place she’d expected to see her. She blinked, as though to clear the vision, but Clara was still there—sitting at a small corner table, staring into her cup as if deep in thought.Lilian froze. Her heart raced as a wave of emotions washed over her: surprise, happiness, and something she couldn’t quite name. Before she could overthink it, she moved toward the familiar figure.Clara, noticing the
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
Marcus said nothing.His grandfather observed him carefully before speaking again. “Your mother told me the other day that it’s Lily you love. Is that true?”Marcus met his grandfather’s gaze but did not answer the question directly. “I will find a way to solve the problems,” he said, his voice steady but distant. Then, without another word, he stood up, bowed his head slightly as a sign of respect, and walked out of the house.Grandpa Thompson didn’t stop him. Instead, he turned to Isabella, his eyes weary. “You can leave too,” he said, his tone quiet yet firm.Isabella hesitated for a moment, watching as her father closed his eyes. She could tell he was exhausted—not just physically, but emotionally. Whenever he closed his eyes like that, it meant he didn’t want to be disturbed.She let out a small sigh and stood up, leaving the room without another word.Marcus drove aimlessly for what felt like hours, his thoughts a whirlwind of emotions he wasn’t ready to face. His hands gripped
“This will be the last warning.”Marcus frowned as he read the message on his phone, his fingers gripping the device tightly.A sense of foreboding settled in his chest as he tapped on the image attached to the message. The moment the photo loaded, his expression darkened. His jaw clenched. He immediately understood the warning.Shaking his head, he scrolled down, reading through the harsh comments under the news article. The story was about Lilian, and the comment section was flooded with insults, gossip, and outright lies. People were tearing her apart, dragging her reputation through the mud.Marcus exhaled sharply.He already had a strong suspicion about who was behind this.Lily.But he had no idea just how far she was willing to go.His fingers hovered over the screen before he forwarded the message to Lily. He didn’t add any words—just a single question mark.Barely a second later, his phone rang.He glanced at the screen. Lily.Marcus answered, pressing the phone to his ear.“
Noah raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled by the situation unfolding before him.Moses, unfazed, shrugged his shoulders. He glanced at the email address once again, but there was nothing. The address was null—completely untraceable. Frustrated, Moses looked up at Franklin, his expression turning more serious. “Can you find the person’s email address? If we could find a way to become friends with them, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. We could use that to our advantage,” Moses suggested, his voice calm but with an edge of determination.Franklin shook his head, the frustration evident in his own voice. “No, it’s impossible. The person used a one-time email address. It’s designed to disappear once it’s been used. No way to track it,” he explained, his tone apologetic but firm.Moses furrowed his brow at the news. “But how did they know we’d need this information?” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. “Who is this person? Why are they so involved in all this?” His mind was racing wit
Matt walked into his room and closed the door behind him. His small face was scrunched in frustration, and his lips were pressed into a thin line.He sat down at his desk, turned on his computer, and quickly logged in.Something felt off.He had sensed it the moment he left the living room.And now, curiosity burned inside him like an itch he needed to scratch.He opened his browser and went straight to the internet to see what was happening.He didn’t even have to search for long.His mother’s name was plastered all over the headlines.Matt’s heart dropped.With slightly shaky fingers, he clicked on one of the trending articles.As soon as the page loaded, his eyes skimmed over the comments section.It was full of hatred.“She’s beautiful, but she has such a wicked heart.”“Right? I heard she changed the wedding hall at the last minute just to ruin Lily’s big day.”“I think she’s just jealous that Lily was going to marry a handsome man like Marcus.”“Exactly! Women like her are t
Lilian had no idea about the chaos unfolding online.She hadn’t checked the internet all day.She wasn’t aware that her name was trending, nor did she know that thousands of people were discussing her, analyzing her face, comparing her to Lily, and debating her identity.She simply didn’t care.Her life had changed so drastically in such a short time that she barely had the energy to focus on anything outside her immediate world.At this moment, all she wanted was some peace.She walked into the spacious, elegantly furnished living room, where her brothers and father were seated. The large crystal chandelier cast a soft, golden glow over the room, making everything feel warm and inviting.Yet, despite the comfortable atmosphere, there was a strange tension in the air.Something felt off.Lilian smiled brightly when she saw them. “I’m back,” she said in a cheerful tone.Noah, who had been leaning lazily against the couch, immediately perked up.“Welcome back,” he greeted. Then, with a
For a brief moment, the scandal surrounding Lily’s wedding seemed to fade from public discussion.The internet had found a new obsession—Lilian.Clips of her grand introduction as the heiress of the Gabriel family flooded social media, capturing the attention of thousands. The way she carried herself with elegance and confidence left people in awe.Comments poured in from every direction:“Wow. She’s stunning!”“Right? But… she looks so familiar.”“Honestly! I feel like I’ve seen her before.”“Wait a second—wasn’t she just a nobody? And now she’s the heiress of the Gabriels?”Speculation spread like wildfire. People dug into her past, trying to uncover details about the mysterious woman who had suddenly become one of the most powerful figures in the city.Lily’s Growing JealousyMeanwhile, in the quiet yet tense atmosphere of the Wilson family’s luxurious living room, Lily sat stiffly on the couch, her eyes locked on the television screen. Her expression was dark, her knuckles white f
The news was everywhere.Social media, online blogs, and even major news outlets were flooded with headlines about the latest scandal. Two names dominated the trending list—Lily and Lilian. However, while one was trending for something positive, the other was at the center of sheer humiliation.Lily’s disastrous wedding had become the biggest topic of discussion.The headlines were brutal.“Abandoned at the Altar: Lily’s Wedding Disaster!”“The Thompsons Humiliate Bride—No Groom, No Family!”“A Wedding Without a Groom? What Really Happened?”The comments under the articles and posts were relentless, with thousands of people expressing shock, sympathy, and speculation.“She really got abandoned?” one user wrote in disbelief.“I thought the Thompsons were a responsible family?” another replied.“Exactly! Why did they treat her like that? Poor girl.”“She was engaged to the CEO for more than five years. And then, on the day of her wedding, her groom didn’t show up. Not him, not his famil
The following week, Lilian did not go to the company for a while. She needed time to process everything that had happened—the sudden change in her position, the realization that she was now in charge, and the responsibility that came with it. For days, she stayed home, contemplating whether she was truly ready to take on this role.Eventually, she knew she couldn’t delay it any longer. Monday morning arrived, and she made the decision to resume work.Unlike before, when she used to enter the building as an ordinary employee, today felt different. The moment she stepped out of the car and walked toward the entrance, there was an unfamiliar weight on her shoulders. Everything about this moment felt significant. She wasn’t just an assistant anymore—she was now the CEO.Moses walked beside her, just like he always had, but this time, their positions had officially switched. The once-powerful CEO was now her assistant. It was a strange and amusing turn of events, but Lilian knew he had no
Gabriel smiled with satisfaction as he observed his children. They were all making him proud, each excelling in their own way. Tonight had been a significant moment, and he couldn’t have been happier with how things had turned out.As he sat at the table, a group of CEOs approached him, their eyes gleaming with admiration and curiosity. One of them, a well-dressed man in his fifties, extended his hand in greeting.“Mr. Gabriel, it’s a pleasure to see you,” he said. “When did you return to the country? I didn’t hear any news about your arrival.” His tone carried genuine surprise.Gabriel shook his hand with a polite smile. “It has been about a week or two now,” he replied, his voice calm and composed.Another CEO, an older gentleman with silver-streaked hair, leaned in slightly, his gaze shifting to Lilian. He smiled in admiration. “You have a beautiful daughter, Mr. Gabriel,” he remarked. Then, with a chuckle, he added, “Is she single? How about arranging a blind date between her and