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
Matt blinked innocently at the question, his expression earnest. “We only met Grandma Clara, and she took us to the shopping mall. She bought me some toys before we went to the restaurant,” he said, carefully leaving out everything else that had happened.Lilian glanced at her Eldest brother, her lips lifting into a faint smile. “I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me.” She tried to sound convincing, but deep down, she understood why they were concerned. They cared about her—it was as simple as that—and that thought melted her heart.“Why wouldn’t we worry about you?” Noah said, his voice tinged with both affection and exasperation. “You’re our only sister.”Lilian let out a soft laugh and nodded. “Yes, yes, I know,” she replied, brushing off their concern as gently as she could.Moses, the quieter of the two older brothers, gave her a small smile. “Just be careful,” he said, his tone firm but caring.Lilian met his gaze and nodded again. “I will, I promise. It’s just that Aunty C
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