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
The question caught everyone off guard. Mrs. Thompson turned to Grandpa with a cautious, observant look, trying to gauge his mood before responding.“Grandpa, this is her,” Mrs. Thompson said, pointing at Lily with a forced smile.Grandpa Thompson’s sharp, scrutinizing gaze shifted to Lily. His eyes raked over her from head to toe, lingering long enough to make her visibly uncomfortable. Lily froze under his stare, unable to move or even look away. Her wide, fearful eyes mirrored the storm of emotions raging inside her.“You think you can fool me with a substitute?” Grandpa finally snapped, his authoritative tone cutting through the tense atmosphere. “I want to see your wife! Not a stand-in!”Despite his age, his voice carried the same commanding presence it likely had decades ago, and the room seemed to shrink under the weight of his words.Lily clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as her face flushed with anger. I’m not a substitute, she thought bitterly. Lilian is t
At the same time, Franklin pulled out his card and handed it to the cashier, his movements calm and deliberate. Mrs. Thompson, standing at a distance, shook her head in visible disgust as she watched the scene unfold. Her lips tightened, and her arms crossed over her chest, her disapproval practically radiating from her.She had been watching Franklin and Lilian the entire time, though she pretended not to. Her eyes occasionally darted away to feign indifference, but her glances were sharp and judgmental, as if silently cataloging every flaw she perceived.The cashier swiped Franklin’s card, her professionalism unbroken, and handed it back to him with a polite smile. “Thank you,” Franklin said curtly, picking up the shopping bag with one hand.“Let’s go,” he added, glancing at Lilian. She nodded without a word, her face neutral, and together, they walked out of the mall. Their exit was quiet, but it left a tension hanging in the air.Mrs. Thompson, watching their retreating figures, f
Marcus nodded, barely acknowledging the item Mrs. Thompson had suggested. His focus remained glued to his phone, his thumb moving in a rhythmic pattern as he scrolled. The faint glow from the screen illuminated his face, highlighting his disinterest.Mrs. Thompson sighed, her lips curving slightly upward into a knowing smile. “Let’s take it,” she said, her voice brisk but decisive as she turned to her daughter, Lily.“Okay, Mom,” Lily replied obediently, adjusting the strap of her purse.They didn’t head to the cashier immediately. Instead, they wandered the aisles a bit longer, their steps leisurely as they perused the shelves. The mall’s ambiance was lively yet refined, with the soft hum of conversations and the occasional ding of registers creating a backdrop of familiarity. Shoppers moved with purpose, some clutching baskets overflowing with items, while others strolled with less urgency, seemingly enjoying the experience.Eventually, Mrs. Thompson and Lily made their way to the c
The next morning, Lily walked into the living room, her steps slow and deliberate. She had spent the night at Mrs. Thompson’s house because today was the day they were set to visit Marcus’s grandparents. The thought of the visit made her stomach churn, and as much as she wanted to avoid it, she knew there was no escape.“You’re awake,” Mrs. Thompson greeted warmly, looking up from the sofa where she sat sipping tea. Her smile, as always, was bright and welcoming.“Yes. How was your night, Mom?” Lily asked, attempting to mirror Mrs. Thompson’s energy despite her inner anxiety.“It was fine, dear. And you? Did you sleep well?” Mrs. Thompson asked, setting her teacup down on the table.Lily nodded. “Yes, I did. Thank you.”Mrs. Thompson beamed at her. “Marcus will be here soon. I already called him.”Hearing this, Lily raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Oh, we’re going this morning?” she asked, unable to hide the slight reluctance in her voice.“Yes, dear,” Mrs. Thompson replied, her tone c
Lilian descended the stairs slowly, her hand brushing against the smooth wooden railing. The sound of muffled voices from the living room reached her ears, sparking her curiosity. She hesitated at the bottom step, tilting her head slightly as she tried to discern who her father was talking to. When she stepped into the living room, she paused, surprised to find her dad sitting with another man she didn’t recognize.Her eyes flicked between the two, and her brow furrowed. Who’s this? she wondered. Her father wasn’t exactly the most sociable person. In fact, he barely interacted with others outside their family. The idea of him befriending someone so quickly—especially since it hadn’t even been a week since he’d returned home—seemed odd.“Dad,” Lilian called, her voice breaking the quiet hum of their conversation. She smiled as she spoke, her tone warm and familiar.Francis looked up, his expression betraying a mix of surprise and amusement. “Oh, Lilian. You’re home?” he asked, clearly
“Did he take you to meet his grandparents yet?” Mrs. Thompson asked suddenly, her voice breaking through the calm of the afternoon.Lily froze, her heart skipping a beat at the unexpected question. “They’re back?” she asked, her voice tinged with both surprise and unease.Mrs. Thompson nodded with a warm, reassuring smile. “I suppose they were informed about the wedding, so they came back. You don’t need to be nervous, dear. They’ll accept you—they’ve always trusted Marcus’s judgment,” she said confidently.“Oh,” Lily muttered, nodding slowly. Her mind was already spinning. Grandpa Thompson, back so soon? She had hoped to avoid another encounter with him until after the wedding.Mrs. Thompson studied Lily’s face for a moment, then continued. “I’ll talk to Marcus and make sure he takes you to meet them this week. It’s important to pay your respects before the wedding. That’s how it’s always been done in this family,” she added firmly but kindly.Lily forced a small smile, though her st
“Have you made a list of the guests you want to invite to the wedding?” Mrs. Thompson asked once they had finished eating, her tone gentle but filled with curiosity.Lily shook her head. “I’ll just let you decide,” she replied with a warm, effortless smile.Mrs. Thompson’s expression softened even more, her pride in Lily evident. “That’s very considerate of you. But surely, you’d like to invite some of your friends, wouldn’t you? Or do you not have anyone in mind?” she asked, tilting her head slightly, a knowing smile on her face.Lily thought for a moment, her gaze drifting to the window. “Well… I do have a few friends I could invite,” she said softly, as if she hadn’t considered it before.“Good. Just give me their names, and I’ll add them to the guest list,” Mrs. Thompson said with a nod, her organizational mind already at work.“Sure, Mom,” Lily replied, her smile bright and sweet.Mrs. Thompson leaned back slightly, looking at Lily thoughtfully. “Have you seen Marcus this week?”
Lily breathed a sigh of relief as she scrolled through her phone, checking the news and social media updates. There was nothing—no mention of her confrontation with Lilian at the mall. The tense exchange still lingered in her mind, replaying in flashes of sharp words and raised voices. If someone had seen them and posted about it, she would have been mortified. More importantly, Mrs. Thompson might have found out. The thought alone made her shudder.Mrs. Thompson valued poise and self-control, qualities Lily had worked hard to demonstrate since meeting Marcus’s family. If the older woman learned that Lily had been publicly arguing with Marcus’s ex-wife, it could damage her carefully built reputation. It didn’t matter that Lilian had provoked her—what mattered was the perception. Thankfully, it seemed the incident had gone unnoticed, allowing Lily to relax for now.She adjusted her dress as she stepped out of the car, the soft fabric falling neatly into place. The Thompson residence lo
The attendant clenched her fists tightly, her eyes fixed on Lilian, filled with frustration and anger.“Security!” the manager called out, his voice sharp as he noticed the attendant still kneeling on the floor. His face was flushed with embarrassment, the scene drawing unwanted attention from nearby shoppers.A security guard entered the store almost immediately, his posture firm but professional. The manager pointed toward the attendant, his expression stern. “Throw her out,” he ordered.The security guard approached her, his tone calm but commanding. “Please stand up and leave,” he said.The attendant let out a deep, frustrated sigh. Slowly, she rose to her feet, brushing off her uniform as if trying to regain some dignity. “Fine, I’ll leave,” she muttered under her breath. Then, turning to Lilian, her voice rose with bitterness, and her glare hardened. “Are you happy now? You’ve cost me my job! I’m the breadwinner of my family, and because of you, they’ll starve. I hope you’re pro