Noah glanced at Lilian, his smile warm and genuine. “The house is big enough to accommodate everyone. I’ve missed Matt so much,” he said.Lilian nodded in agreement, her own smile soft. “He missed you too,” she replied, her tone warm.Matt and Noah had always shared a special bond. Among all his uncles, Matt was closest to Noah. That was why Lilian hadn’t told Matt that Noah would be arriving today—she wanted it to be a surprise. As she thought of Matt’s likely reaction, a grin spread across her face.The car pulled into the driveway, and Lilian parked smoothly. She turned to Noah, noticing he was still engrossed in his phone. “We’re here,” she said pointedly.Startled slightly, Noah put his phone away and stepped out of the car. He stretched briefly before following Lilian toward the house.Lilian unlocked the front door and stepped inside, glancing around the living room. “Matt, baby!” she called out loudly.No response.She frowned slightly and checked the time on her phone. “Matt?
The next day, Moses suggested Lilian take the day off from work and spend time with Noah and Matt instead. Lilian readily agreed; after all, she had missed her brother and knew Matt would enjoy the time as well.Once Moses left for the company, Noah leaned back on the couch and grinned. “Let’s go to the shopping mall. I need to get some stuff,” he suggested.Lilian smiled, knowing Noah always had a way of making outings fun. “Alright,” she said, “Matt will love it too.”Together with the driver, they headed out. The car pulled up in front of the shopping mall, and Lilian stepped out first, taking a moment to adjust her dress before helping Matt climb out. Noah followed, stretching his arms casually as he joined them.Inside the mall, Noah turned to Matt, his eyes playful. “What do you want, champ?”“Toys!” Matt exclaimed, his face lighting up with excitement.Noah chuckled. “Toys it is,” he said, taking the lead toward the toy section.Lilian followed closely behind, shaking her head
The female attendant stood frozen, her mind racing as she tried to find a way out of the escalating situation. She was caught between two determined women, and no matter her choice, it felt like she would end up in trouble. With a nervous smile, she turned to Aria and Lilian. “I’m truly sorry, Miss,” she apologized, her tone hesitant.Aria rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “Why are you making this difficult for the poor attendant?” she sneered at Lilian. “There are plenty of other dresses you can pick. Just leave this one.”Lilian turned to Aria, her gaze steady and her lips curling into a cold smile. “I want this dress just as much as you do. You can’t bully your way into stealing it.”Noah, sensing the growing tension, cleared his throat. “I’m willing to pay three times the price,” he said firmly, addressing the attendant.The female attendant looked even more flustered. She felt like a pawn in a game where any move she made would backfire. “Well, um…” she stammered, clearly uns
Aria took the dress from the female attendant, her smug expression growing as she turned to Lilian. “Do you want this dress? I’ll give it to you for free if you kneel down and beg me,” she said with a smirk, clearly enjoying herself.Lilian chuckled softly at the audacity. “No thanks. I don’t want a dress that’s already damaged,” she replied with a calm, confident smile.Aria’s brow furrowed, but then she let out a sharp laugh. “Damaged? Please. It’s brand new! You’re just jealous because you can’t afford it.”Lilian shrugged, her nonchalance only adding fuel to Aria’s temper. “Believe what you want,” she said, turning to Noah. “Let’s go.”Noah, who had been silently observing, gave Aria a cold glance before nodding to his sister. “Alright, let’s get out of here,” he said, following Lilian as they left the store.Aria’s smile faltered as she watched them walk away. A flicker of doubt crept into her mind, and she quickly unwrapped the dress, frantically inspecting it. She saw nothing w
Lilian carried Matt to his room, holding him carefully as if he might slip away. Once inside, she helped him take a lukewarm bath, her hands gentle as she scrubbed his little arms and legs. When they were done, she wrapped him in a fluffy towel, drying his hair with the utmost care. Matt giggled softly, his cheeks rosy from the warmth of the bath.Lilian handed him his pajamas. “Here, sweetheart. Change into these,” she said, her voice soft and motherly.Matt obeyed without complaint, slipping into the comfortable pajamas his mother had picked out for him.She unplugged the hair dryer after using it to finish drying his hair. “Alright, it’s bedtime now. You’ve got school tomorrow,” she said, holding his hand as she led him to his bed.Matt climbed onto the bed, and Lilian sat beside him, placing a cool hand on his forehead to check his temperature. She sighed in relief when she found it normal—just a habit she had developed over time to ensure he was always okay.Before leaving his si
Lilian arrived at the office early that morning, as she always did. The quiet hum of the building was soothing at that hour, a stark contrast to the buzz of activity it would soon host. Settling into her chair, she immediately got to work, her hands moving swiftly as she reviewed and organized the files stacked neatly on her desk.The company telephone rang, breaking her focus. Without looking away from her laptop screen, she picked up the receiver. “Hello?”“It’s me. Come to my office—I need to show you something,” Moses said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement, as though he had just stumbled across something funny.Lilian raised an eyebrow at his tone. “Alright,” she replied before placing the receiver back on its cradle.Rising from her chair, she smoothed the creases on her blouse and walked out of her office, her heels clicking lightly against the polished floor. She approached Moses’s office and knocked gently on the door.“Come in,” came Moses’s voice from inside.Lilian op
Lilian glanced at her wristwatch and saw that it was getting late. Taking a deep breath, she made her way to the conference room. The door was closed but, as usual, left unlocked. Without hesitation, she twisted the doorknob and stepped inside.The shareholders were already seated, their expressions a mix of seriousness and indifference. They barely acknowledged her entrance, most assuming she was just another assistant. Only a handful of them truly knew who she was.“Hello,” Lilian greeted warmly, a bright smile lighting up her face.The shareholders gave her a quick nod, some barely looking up from their documents. Their lack of enthusiasm didn’t bother Lilian. She had long stopped expecting recognition in such settings.She made her way to where Moses was seated at the head of the table. Without a word, she took the seat beside him. A few of the shareholders exchanged questioning glances, visibly puzzled by her boldness, but no one said anything—especially since Moses didn’t object
They walked out of the conference room to find Emily standing just outside. Emily’s gaze lingered on Lilian, studying her carefully.Moses frowned as soon as he saw her. If not for his sister’s involvement, he would have fired Emily without a second thought that very day.“What are you doing here?” Moses demanded, his face darkening with irritation.Emily shook her head, her gaze darting nervously between Moses and Lilian. “I’m sorry,” she stammered. “I just went to make some coffee and was heading back to my department.”Moses scrutinized her silently, his expression hard to read.Lilian, however, looked at Emily with an amused smile. She clapped her hands lightly, as though she had just thought of the perfect idea. “Excellent timing! There are some coffee cups left behind by the shareholders. You should clear them and rinse the cups,” she instructed, her tone both sweet and commanding.Emily’s expression soured at the suggestion. “I’m not an errand girl,” she protested, frowning. “Y
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