A stunned look on Clara's face as the man's imposing figure emerged from the crowd.“Hello, Mr. Stephan. Is there anything wrong?" Clara put on a smile. Clara didn't expect it would draw Mr. Stephan's awareness. Mr. Stephan was not the kind of person who would get into things like this. So what brought him here now? Clara refused to think about the worst possible scenario."She’s with me." The man's chin pointed in Lilian's direction slightly and a simple statement of his was powerful enough.Clara's biggest fear came true."I'm truly sorry, Mr. Stephan. I don't know that. This must be a misunderstanding." Clara apologized right the second and her face grew pale with great anxiety.The Stephan family was a low-key family which meant it was extremely hard to make a connection with them. Clara's father put in so much effort and prepared a lot to finally have a tiny possibility. The Stephan family was the only reason the whole party existed. Her father would kill her if Clara was the on
“Sorry, I just lost my footing and did not stand still,” Lily's lips curled into a strained smile as she stood up straight, her shoulders squaring, and her eyes wandering in embarrassment. Lilian revealed a hint of disdain in her eyes. She knew exactly what happened, another textbook example of Lily's little tricks, trying to escape and also frame her again, two birds with one stone.If Lily still thought she was the same person Lily could make a fool of, then she was wrong. The old Lilian had died and she was not naive anymore.“It seems you are the one here with no invitation card tho,” Lilian scoffed, she would not let Lily get away easily this time.Lily was shaking in pressure and her breath caught in her throat when she saw everyone whispering and pointing at her.How could she be the one down in the confrontation with Lilian? From when things started to out of her control exactly? What could she do to save it now?Lily's hands fluttered involuntarily and her eyes blinked faste
“I’m so sorry for all the troubles that happened.” Lily's apology spilled out a rush of sincerity and regret the second they got in the car. Her voice trembled when facing Marcus, the dim car interior accentuating the vulnerability etched on her face.Marcus's silence hung heavy, fixed his gaze on the road ahead with his jaw clenched in restraint, punctuated only by the soft hum of the car engine.“I didn’t mean to disturb her, I thought we could be friends but it seems like Lilian still thinks worse of me.” Lily's voice tinged with frustration.Marcus did not pay much attention to what Lily was saying, he was still distraught by everything about Lilian. Why did Lilian come back at this point? Where was she all these years? What was she doing with that man? Why they were so close?There were still a lot of open questions about her on his mind and he couldn't figure out."Have you always been kept in touch with Lilian?" Lily's question drew him back to reality suddenly.Her voice trem
As Lily and Marcus made their way back to the party, they sat down close to each other this time. “I have talked to my business partner, he will take us to meet him later” Marcus told Lily.Lily nodded her head, she was immediately happy when Marcus said this. “Thank you” She smiled.Marcus nodded his head.Soon his business partner approached them. “Moses have agreed to let you meet” He said.“Thank you” Marcus thanked him.“Thank you so much” Lily thanked him with a smile on her face.“It is fine” His business partner said to her before walking away.After a while, Marcus' business partner came to where they were. “He said he is ready to meet you now” He said to him.They both stood up and followed him into one of the rooms.The business partner opened the door, and walked in. Marcus and Lily followed him behind.Lily was taken aback when she spotted Lilian. She had assumed this meeting was purely business-what was a mistress doing here? A familiar frustration bubbled beneath the s
Lilian's brow furrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line. She crossed her arms tightly, her gaze narrowing as she turned away, trying to mask the frustration bubbling inside her. “Who told you that?” She asked him.Matt shrugged. “Nobody I just thought you two will look so compatible that is all” He said with a smile on his face. He looked at Lilian and saw that she was a bit angry. Matt blinked his eyes. “Did I say anything wrong?” He asked her.Lilian shook her head, “No it is not your fault” She answered.“I will tell grandpa then when he calls” Matt said smiling happily.“Matt” Lilian called in a serious tone.“That man is already engaged with someone else and they are planning to get married soon. So you don’t want to ruin the engagement right?” Lilian asked him gently.Matt's brow furrowed, disappointment flickering in his eyes. With a reluctant nod, he acquiesced, knowing he had no choice.“Good boy,” Lilian said with a smile on her face. “Come let’s go and give you a hot sh
The party has already started before she got there. Lilian glided into the party, her red dress flowing gracefully around her. The sharp click of her heels echoed in the bustling room, a confident rhythm that announced her arrival.As soon as the CEO spotted her, he moved forward with a welcoming smile. “Hello, Miss Lilian! I'm glad you made it,” he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up.Lilian surveyed the hall. Though the gathering was modest, it buzzed with distinguished guests, each one deep in conversation and laughter.There were also several company bosses at the dinner and everyone was drinking and chatting happily. “Yes, hope you are fine?” Lilian asked him with a soft smile on her face.“Of course. Is Mr Moses here too?” He asked as he looked behind her. Lilian smiled, “No he is not coming” She answered.He was a bit disappointed because he felt that Lilian might not really be good in this but he was still happy regardless because at least she showed up. “Come and have a sit h
“Do you even know how to play it?” Marcus asked in a cold tone. Marcus's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening as he watched Lilian roll the dice. A flicker of disbelief crossed his face, as if he expected her confidence to crumble at any moment.Lilian ignored him and acted like she did not hear his words.They started the game.The first person threw a dice and will ask the person next to it to guess the number of dice. If the person guesses wrong. The loser will drink alcohol.Soon it got to Lilian’s turn, she looked at the dice carefully as the person used his hand and covered it. “Seven” Lilian said.The person removed his hand and she was right. It was really seven. A rush of excitement surged through Lilian as the dice revealed the number. She couldn't help but smile, the thrill of the game igniting a sense of confidence she hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe this night would turn out better than she expected.Marcus crossed his arms, a skeptical frown etched on his face.As Lil
CEO rave now expression lit up when he saw this. He smiled, because he knew that she had failed even before she starts.“That is a deal then” He said with a smile.“Lilian” Nicole called, with a worried expression on his face.Lilian smiled at him reassuringly.Marcus looked at them, the anger in his eyes intensified because he sees it as them flirting with each other.Lilian walked up to Marcus with a glass of wine in her hand.She smiled sweetly. “Please have a drink with me,” Lilian said.Marcus looked at her wondering if she would really forgive him, maybe that is why she was offering him a glass of wine.“Do you finally come back to your senses?” Marcus asked in a low tone. Lilian rolled her eyes when she heard this. “Are you drinking or not?” She asked him.Marcus wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her closer to his chest. Her hot breath fanned his face and he gulped.Marcus stiffened slightly and a boiling hot blood surged within him.He actually got a hard on?Lil
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