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
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