“What the hell?” Mrs. Thompson exclaimed, her eyes glued to the screen.Aria was caught off guard. She had just come back from dropping her cousin off at school and was entering the house when she heard her mother’s exclamation.“What’s wrong?” Aria asked, her voice filled with confusion.“She’s back!” Mrs. Thompson said, her frown deepening as she pointed at the TV.Aria blinked in confusion. “Who?” she asked, still trying to make sense of the situation.“Lilian,” Mrs. Thompson replied, her voice laced with distaste, her finger still pointing at the screen.Aria followed her mother’s gaze to the TV. On the screen, Lilian was standing behind Moses during an interview. Aria’s eyes immediately landed on Moses, her breath catching in her throat.‘He looks so handsome,’ she muttered to herself, a dreamy expression forming on her face.“Did you say something?” Mrs. Thompson asked, her tone sharp as she turned to look at her daughter. She had caught the murmur but wasn’t sure what Aria had
The office phone rang, slicing through the quiet of Lilian’s workday. She glanced at the screen, slightly annoyed by the interruption. Without hesitation, she picked up the receiver.“Hello?” she answered, her voice steady but laced with curiosity.“Miss Lilian, there’s a delivery for you—flowers and a gown,” the receptionist said, her tone a little shy, as if unsure how to break the news.Lilian’s brow furrowed at the mention of a delivery. She hadn’t ordered anything, and she wasn’t expecting a gift from anyone. The idea felt foreign, almost out of place.“Oh?” she replied, her voice tinged with suspicion. She raised an eyebrow. “I’ll be downstairs in a moment,” she added, before hanging up and standing from her desk.As Lilian stood up, her heart began to beat a little faster. It wasn’t fear—more a sense of confusion. The unexpected nature of the delivery threw her off. Who could be sending her flowers and a gown? It seemed unlike her to have such surprises.She walked out of her o
Back at the CompanyMarcus sat in his office, dressed in his finest suit, checking his wristwatch for the umpteenth time. The moment had finally come. He had carefully planned this. It had been years since he last saw Lilian—since they were married, in fact—but today, he hoped to make a gesture that might bring them back together. He had chosen a beautiful dress and a bouquet of flowers, hoping they would remind Lilian of the good times they once shared.Marcus reached for the small bottle of perfume on his desk. It was a gift from Lilian, given to him when they were still together. He hadn’t paid much attention to it at the time, but now, as he spritzed it onto his wrist, he realized how pleasant it smelled. He had never truly appreciated it before. The fragrance seemed to envelop him with a sense of nostalgia.He took one last look in the mirror, checking his appearance. His hair, freshly trimmed by his stylist yesterday, was perfectly styled. He had tried to look his best for this
Marcus’ assistant walked in the moment Marcus called for him.“Sir, you called for me?” His assistant asked respectfully.“Give the gift to her,” Marcus said, running a hand through his hair, his expression serious but a hint of uncertainty in his eyes.“What?” His assistant was stunned. He knew the gift was meant for Lilian, not Lily. He was shocked by Marcus’ change of mind.“Didn’t you hear me?” Lily said, her voice dripping with a mixture of smug satisfaction and playful confidence. “I asked you earlier when I saw you at the receptionist’s desk if the gift was for you, and you told me no. So, it’s clearly meant for me now, right?”Her words stung, but Marcus’ assistant kept his thoughts to himself. But it’s really not for you, he thought inwardly, though he dared not challenge his superior’s decision.“Alright, I will bring the gift then,” the assistant said, bowing slightly before turning to leave. “Please excuse me, Miss Lily.”Lily watched him walk out of the office with a sati
Lilian swiftly finished typing the last few sentences of her report and double-checked the numbers in her spreadsheet. Satisfied, she saved her work and closed her laptop. With a sigh of relief, she leaned back in her chair, stretching out her arms to release the tension from a long day of staring at the screen.It was already past 5 PM, and she knew her brother Moses had gone to pick up their younger cousin, Matt, from school. That meant she didn’t have to worry about running any errands today. She could head home straight from work, and she was looking forward to a quiet evening to herself—maybe a nice takeout dinner and a movie.Grabbing her bag and slinging it over her shoulder, Lilian took one last look around her desk, making sure everything was in order. She flipped off her desk lamp and made her way to the door, her heels clicking softly on the polished floor.She pressed the elevator button and waited, glancing around the nearly empty office floor. Most of her coworkers had a
Marcus and his friend Nick decided to collaborate on a project. They went to a nearby restaurant to grab some coffee and finalize the document they had been working on. It was a busy afternoon, and the café was filled with people chatting, sipping their drinks, and typing away on laptops. The smell of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.Sitting across from each other at a small round table, they both took a moment to enjoy their drinks. The clinking of cups and the hum of conversation around them created a comfortable background noise. Nick took a sip of his coffee and then glanced up at Marcus with a curious expression.“When are you getting married to Lily?” Nick asked suddenly, raising an eyebrow. It was a question that seemed to come out of nowhere, catching Marcus off guard.Marcus frowned slightly. The idea of marrying Lily had been floating around for a while, but something about it didn’t feel right. He couldn’t quite put his fin
Here is the expanded, revised version of your chapter with enhanced detail, improved flow, and grammar corrections, extended to about 1000 words while strictly maintaining your original scenes:Lilian did not notice Marcus when she entered the coffee shop. Her eyes swept briefly over the tables and customers, but she seemed preoccupied, heading directly to the counter where a young waiter stood, looking a bit tired.“Hello, I need two cups of coffee,” she said politely, her tone calm yet firm.The waiter looked up, slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected such politeness from her for some reason. “Do you want an Americano or just regular coffee?” he asked with a smile, trying to be friendly.“Regular,” Lilian replied without hesitation, her gaze fixed on the menu board above his head, though it was clear she wasn’t really reading it.“Alright, please hold on,” the waiter said as he quickly began preparing the order. He glanced back at Lilian, curious about her demeanor. There was someth
“Does she come here often?” Marcus asked the waiter, his tone sharp and commanding. His dark eyes bore into the man behind the counter, leaving little room for hesitation.“W-who?” the waiter stammered, clearly startled.“The lady who just left,” Marcus clarified, his frown deepening. He was already irritated, and the waiter’s stuttering response wasn’t helping.“Oh, yes! Yes, she does,” the waiter replied quickly, nodding as if the movement might save him from further questioning.Marcus gave a slight nod of acknowledgment but said nothing further. He turned and walked back toward Nick, his frustration evident in his measured steps.“Let’s go,” Marcus said curtly, his voice low and tense.Nick raised an eyebrow, watching his friend with an amused smirk. “What did you ask him? You scared the guy half to death,” he teased, his tone light despite Marcus’s evident bad mood.Marcus ignored him, striding toward his car with purpose. He unlocked it with a click and slid into the driver’s se
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