Chapter 25Lila stared at Aunt Kendy in silence. She wished there's a way age could escape answering that question.“Miss Lila,” Aunt Kendy waved her hand over her face.“Did I say something wrong?”“No. Not at all.” I'm just wishing that I see that good Samaritan that brought me here.” Lila tried to convince her with a lie.She pointed her things to Aunt Kendy, who helped her arrange them in a bag before they left.“Please don't forget, ma'am Lila, you have an appointment with the obstetrician in the next three days. Hope to see you soon.” Nurse Tonia concluded before waving her goodbye.“Obstetrician? Isn't that a doctor that handles pregnancy issues? Does that mean my miss Lila is pregnant?” Kendy thought to herself, but fear won't let her voice her curiosity out.Lila called her cap driver to come pick them up.While they engaged in conversations in the car, Kendy observed that Lila was always finding a means to terminate or change the focus of any discussion that had to do with h
Chapter 26Seeing the fierce look in her eyes as she made such a declaration, Aunt Kendy was moved with pity for her, as she imagined the pains her princess must have passed through for the sake of marriage.“If you have any stuff you'll love to carry along, please do that by tomorrow. Our flight is in the next two days. Try and ensure you don't forget any valuables.” Lila suggested.“Mum, you've been quiet since you got back from the hospital. Is everything okay?” Grey asked his mother.“Besides, you've been looking so pale lately.” He added.Mrs. Shun’s mind and emotions had been shattered since the day Lila overheard her conversation with her stepmother.“Of course, I'm sure she heard us. That girl is a devil! I know she was just lying when she said she didn't hear anything.” She thought to herself.“I'm fine, son. I'm just worried about Cynthia's dad's condition. I really pray he should get well soon, you know. Because Anabella is too close to him, and it would be bad if that litt
Chapter 27Evil Plan“Not at all,” she shrugged.“Like I've always said, I'm forever indebted to your mother for her kind gesture.” She added casually. But there was no hint of indebtedness in her tone. As even the smile she was wearing was evidently a forced one.“It's nothing, ma'am. She has to do that because you've given her the best daughter-in-law any woman could ever ask of.I'll be forever grateful as well,” Grey appreciated with a smile.“I'll be at the reception,” he added when Cynthia and Janell stepped in. He needed to give them some privacy as a family.“Cynthia, can you plead with your husband to give us Lila's address? I don't mind going there by myself to get her to come see your dad; he has been demanding to see her since he woke up." Elena said with much worry in her tone.“Mum, don't tell me that you'd stoop so low to beg that witch just for the sake of dad!” Cynthia scoffed.“Cynthia, you and I know that we have to find something that would make her look bad before
Chapter 28 THE AIRPORT Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome on board. Flight reference MB3R2H.This is Captain James Toner speaking, and I have some information about our flight. Our flight time today will be 10:00am UTC+8, and our estimated time of arrival in the United States is 11:00 pm UTC+8.We ask that you please fasten your seatbelts at this time and secure all baggage underneath your seats or in the overhead compartments.We also ask that your seats and table treys are in the upright position for takeoff.“Hello boss, we're at the airport now, and they just finished making the preflight announcement.” One of the men put Mrs. Elena on call.“Find her! You just have to do everything possible to make sure she doesn't escape! Or you better don't come back alive!” Mrs Elena threatened.Since she left the hospital, she had stayed hidden, sending some thugs to go after Lila, which was her main reason for insisting that Cynthia shouldn't go by herself.The men paraded the ai
Chapter 29 NEW ENVIRONMENT “We can't probably go back to report this kind of news to boss Elena. We need to find a way out!” One of the thugs suggested after they've left without accomplishing their mission.They've been working for Elena for long. They know how cold-hearted she can be when one fails at executing a task she gives.“Then let's fake her death! That's the only way we can ward off her punishment,” the other suggested.Mrs. Elena had returned to the hospital to check on her husband, with hope that her accomplices were doing a great job out there.“Mum, why didn't you come back with Lila? Cynthia demanded, feigning concern.“I ran out of patience in waiting for her,” Mrs. Elena responded coldly.“But, mum, I...”“Enough! Cynthia. Hearing that name over and over again makes me sick!” She yelled with a frown.“I've done my own part; whether she comes or not, right now I don't care if your father just dies!” She declared sternly, her voice devoid of any emotions.“Excuse me,
Chapter 30Lila took a deep breath and squinted. Finally, this day has arrived. A day where she can dress and appear the way she wants. She lifted her eyes and looked at the tall building before her, admiring every feature of it. For the past three years, she had ceased to appear like the way she did today.“I know today will not be the last, but I'll be coming here every day.” She assured herself and navigated her steps to the HR office.“Miss Lila, based on your CV, it shows that you've worked as a journalist for a long time before you stopped. And I seem not to have found any working experience after that. So, why do you suddenly want to go back to the career that you've long abandoned?”The interviewer remarked, exchanging gazes between the woman seated in front of him and the CV he was holding.Lila remained quiet after giving him convincing reasons why she quit her previous job, trying by all means to conceal her crashed marriage as the reason for her resignation.While sitting,
Chapter 31Keeping Secrets Lila was seated in the dining room, enjoying some tea while talking on the phone. Her tone sounds like she’s making a confidential call.She spoke for long, while she kept monitoring to know if anyone was watching her, yet she didn't even notice that Aunt Kendy was stealing glances at her.Aunt Kendy could only guess that she was speaking with a man, but certainly not a friend nor a lover. The tone doesn't sound like one who is in love!To keep the confidentiality of her communication, Lila had put her phone on the lowest volume."Please make it snappy and be extra careful. I'll be at the airport, waiting for you,” she said in a low voice with a serious but calm look.“What is she up to? Oh, I just hope my angel has not gotten herself entangled in any criminal act because of the hardships of this life.” Aunt Kendy couldn't help but feel worried about Lila's nature of call.“Young Miss Lila,”Aunt Kendy interrupted.Lila growled at the moment she heard Aunt
Chapter 32 New Home“Do you think I care if your master is still alive or dead? Well, I'm sure he should be dead by now, but do you know what is unfortunate now is the fact that you are still alive? It would have been more perfect for you and him to join Lila in the eternal journey of no return; at least you can form a big family of four in heaven or hell,” ma'am Elena declared without any hint of concern over her husband's disappearance.“You know what? I only picked up your call because the number appeared without an identity on my phone screen, so be warned and stay clear of my life and my family!”“Do you know my only concern now is his will and nothing else?" She added hoarsely and hung up the call.“Old witch! It would never go well with you!” Aunt Kendy cursed inwardly and dropped the phone.She wished there was something she could do to help in the search for her master.Aunt Kendy sat down worried and devastated, feeling bad at how pitiable her master would look if he's stil
CHAPTER 55 “Don't you have some little shame in you, Miss Ricks? Look how you're flaunting yourself on a married man in public." Cynthia rambled as soon as she got close to them and pushed Lila away from her husband's grip, which made her almost slip on the floor.Lila remained mute. She calmed herself down because she knew it would be pointless arguing with a demented woman.“Well, congratulations on your new achievement, Mr. & Mrs. Grey Shun. And to you, Mrs. Shun, I wish you a glamorous birthday. It's really nice meeting you, and I hope we meet again,” Lila said politely and sashayed back to her partner with her smiles, ignoring the bitter looks Cynthia was throwing at her.“I said it! I know Derrick can never be associated with any good person in this life!” She continued.“Enough! Cynthia, this is the last time I'll ever tolerate you talking ill of my brother again!” Grey yelled with a thunderous voice, which began to draw unwanted attention to their side. He had gotten enough
CHAPTER 54EXCHANGE OF PARTNERS Cynthia slowly dropped her hands, which were clenched to Grey's shoulders, with an absent-minded look on her face. “Are you okay? You look tired,” Grey observed with a bit of concern when he saw the mood swing in his wife immediately after his mother left.“What did she tell her?” He wondered.“Isn't this what you wanted? That I go dance with your good-for-nothing brother while you dance with your mistress?” You and your mother are so despicable, Grey!” She said hoarsely with teary red eyes and made an attempt to move.“Where do you think you're going?” Grey demanded while he held her wrist tightly, drawing her back with force.“Let go of my hands! You're hurting me!” Cynthia screamed, hitting his hand hard with a violent pull of her wrist out of his grip.“What are those two doing? Fighting in an event they planned?” Derrick, whose eyes had been glued to them since he noticed their silly dance steps, muttered loudly with a frown.“Well, that's what w
CHAPTER 53UNFORESEEN THREATSDerrick watched as Lila's smile gradually faded at the mention of her resemblance to Mishell.Seeing that he was beginning to get suspicious of her, Lila fixed her innocent eyes on him with furrowed brows as though in deep confusion."M...I...shell? Who is she? Plus, the name sounds familiar!” She claimed.“You know her, right?” Derrick replied immediately with a light grin on his face.“Is she your sister? Or your aunt? Or, is she your mother? Is she,”“Hey—hey—hey! Calm down.” Lila interrupted his speech, pressing her hands in the air to calm him down.“Who is the lady to you, and why are you so obsessed with knowing my connection to her? Besides, I don't even know her! I mean—this is the first time I'm hearing such a name!” Lila claimed with a plain face.“Is this woman cracking a joke or something?” he said inwardly, looking more confused at her funny act.“Lila, are you serious? You live in New York City, yet you don't know who Miss Mishell is? The m
CHAPTER 52Lila looked scornfully at the aggravated woman who had just been helped by her husband from falling off the stairs.“You shouldn't have done that, Derrick!” She scolded sneeringly as if she cared, with a surge of pity on her face, while her heart flushed with a smile, seeing Cynthia's face gripped with fear.“How could you do that to my wife, Derrick!” Grey yelled, but his tone instantly turned low, forcing a faint smile on his face when the woman he can't fail to admire moved closer.“Hey, Cynthia, are you hurt?” She demanded softly, her tone laced with concern, while she swirled her hands and rolled her hands around Cynthia's body back from head to toe.“We're really sorry for what happened, Mr. Grey. It's all my fault! All this wouldn't have happened if I hadn't stepped in with the intention of salvaging the situation.” Lila added calmly, leering at Grey with a corner eye.She turned to Derrick and lifted his hands off her shoulders, shifting a seductive gaze at him. “De
CHAPTER 51 THE RETURN OF LILA What Derrick never knew was that the woman he's planning to woo knows him more than he even knows himself. He insisted until Lila smiled with her eyes as she continued to pick the berries on the table, chewing them slowly. “You know for sure that no woman would say no to a handsome man like you, right? And you shouldn't expect that from me either! But—the problem is, what if I'm only moved by your physical demeanor without having true feelings for you?” She asked with a polite smile. “I only need you to love me, Lila. The reason behind the love doesn't matter,” Derrick said reluctantly but with a serious face. “Except if you're with your escort already,” he added, his voice leaking with a hint of flirtatiousness and jealousy. “You know already that I can't be here with you if I were already married or engaged; moreover, I don't flirt,” Lila responded with a plain look. Soon, the commissioning ceremony started, and Lila saw a young lady whos
Chapter 50 JEALOUSY STRINGS While Grey was thinking of the fastest means to capture Lila's heart by blocking Derrick, Cynthia's mind felt at ease, heaving a deep sigh of relief. Just at first sight, she had pictured Lila as her rival already. “If you don't mind, can I at least take my guest to her seat?” Derrick said politely with a rich smile. “Sure. Make sure you give her the best treatment she deserves, please,” Mrs. Shun said with a smile, and Derrick's arm spread wide to receive Lila's hands. “Thanks, ma'am, it's really nice meeting you,” Lila returned the warm welcome with a mischievous smile, and her folded dimple didn't fail to captivate Derrick and Grey's hearts. Grey watched as Derrick and Lila walked towards the VIP seat. Swaying her waist deliberately, Lila's lips curled up with a smile at each step she took, not because Derrick was sounding funny but because she can't just imagine what must be going on in Grey and his wife's mind. Slowly, she turned her eyes and
CHAPTER 49 INSTILLING FEAR “Oh, sorry, my attention was just caught by the beautiful couple standing over there,” Cynthia feigned an explanation when she saw a couple she knew walk in. “I gave them the invitation late, and I'm just surprised to see that they still made it,” she added with a faint smile, covering her guilt. She was gripped with fear; there was no way someone who had been declared dead some years ago would still be alive, right? “Well, I'm Cynthia, wife to the most handsome and richest man, as you can see, and thanks for gracing our occasion,” she said after heaving a sigh of relief, but the fear in her was still very evident. Lila nodded; the displeased frown on Grey's face for his wife's interruption was too evident to remain unnoticed by her, but that was her plan, by the way, so it gave her more satisfaction. The fear and doubt in Cynthia slowly dispelled when she quickly checked through her phone and confirmed from the pictures and the news about Lila'
CHAPTER 48 THE RETURN FOR REVENGE Lila stood at the corner while she stared at her ex-husband, Grey, with his wife, Cynthia. She's there to watch the commissioning of the new company, the S&S Wine Empire, a collaboration of the Shuns and the Sims family. The venue was filled with men and women of the hierarchy dining harmoniously as they celebrated the new accomplishment of the Shuns and Sims family. She watched Cynthia and her mother dressed in pink alongside her ex-husband and his family. An achievement worthy of celebration to them was a heart-wrenching event for her. She felt her heart pounding in her chest whenever she saw their faces ignited with joy. The more she sees them wear a smile, the greater the pang of hatred and revenge burns in her heart. She just wished she could turn the whole table around and dismiss everyone from the hall. “Where do you think you are going? And... what are you trying to do, Lila?” A familiar voice whispered into her ear, and sudden
CHAPTER 47Meeting With Brian Silence and confusion were welcomed in the atmosphere for a while. Barrister Joe and Aunt Kendy were totally naive of what was going on, while Brian and Lila, on the other hand, tried to conceal the reality of them knowing each other before now.“Yes, I mean, no,” Like answered counter actively.“His face just looks familiar because I've once seen him on social media before now,” she claimed.“Yeah, she's right. I can remember her following me on all my social media handles and would always give a thumbs up to our quality product advertisements,” Brian concluded and agreed with what she said.“Wow! That's good to hear. It shows that Mrs. Lila has been in love with the company since before she even married my client. With this, I believe you'll manage it well, as my late client has always wished it to be.” Barrister Joe agreed to their explanations and commented.Lila and Damian exchanged side glances and heaved a sigh of relief for successfully convincin