Lillian's perspective."Sorry, I was wrong again." I shrugged again."Has anyone ever told you how much I abhor hospitals? I would have this urge to hurl whenever I smell the disinfectant here. I don't believe in any doctors."Well, no one had ever told me that!"You only have two choices: stay or stay!" Meylani's voice suddenly sounded at the door. She then came in with Helen.Meylani was outraged at the fact that Ismail had fainted and had been hospitalized. As soon as she entered the door, she scolded him with a straight face, "How many times have I told you that money isn't everything? On the other hand, you have only one body. Leave the matter of the army to Seth and your uncle-in-law. I keep on telling you to not overexert yourself, but you never listen to me.""Mother is right," I went up to her, took her arm, and helped her sit on the chair.Before she sat down, she raised her hand and slapped the top of Ismail's head, scolding him, "Rascal! Are you trying to drive me to an ea
Third-person perspective.In the afternoon, when Hazel pushed the door open during the routine ward round, she was greeted with the sight of Ismail leaning against the head of the bed and playing with his mobile phone attentively. Beside him, Lillian was lying on her side, an arm wrapped around his waist, sleeping quietly and peacefully.Ismail had always been indifferent to Lillian for as long as they had been married. Hazel had never seen them so intimate.In fact, when Ismail saw her coming in, he had even put his finger on his lips to signal her to lower her voice. He didn't want to wake her up.Hazel lowered her voice as she asked, "Have you taken your medicine?""No, I'll take it in a bit." He was engrossed in his game."Don't forget," said Hazel.Although she had deliberately lowered her voice, Lillian was still disturbed and woke up. She opened her eyes faintly and saw the last of Hazel walking away. When she looked down again, she found that she was tightly clinging to his bo
Lillian's perspective.During the evening, I was getting bored in the house, so I grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil to sit on the terrace to sketch.The tip of the pencil cut across the snow-white paper, leaving deep lines. Soon, the outline of a man appeared on the paper.I stared blankly for a moment, only to find that the face on the paper bore a strong resemblance to Ismail. What was wrong with me? Since when had the pencil I wielded brought Ismail's face to life and not Kayden's?Had I really begun to fall for the ruthless man? How could I?Ismail didn't belong with me nor to me. His heart belonged to that mysterious woman, and his body belonged to Chloe. I had no right to fall for the man who had never belonged to me! Not in the past, not then, not ever.Irritated, I crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it into the trash can. Then, I stood up from my chair.After brooding for a while on the terrace, I turned around and went into my room. As I swept my eyes over the dress
Lillian's perspective."You know, their prayer room is huge. What you've seen and been to is only the front hall of the prayer room"—Hazel brought her finger to her red lips, lowering her voice, "I heard these from word of mouth, though. It can be hard to determine if they're real or fake. So, let's just keep it between you and me. Don't be so stupid as to ask Ismail about this or to try to snoop around the prayer room playing detective. You don't want to see Mother unhappy."I nodded quietly, "I got it."I wanted to heed her warning, but I still found myself at the door of the prayer room as soon as I got the chance. Meylani had gone with Helen to the famous church of the Azure Pack and would stay there for three days. Ismail, too, was at the base, and I was told that he would only come back late at night.I may be full of fear of the place, but the desire to find out the truth compelled me to walk deeper into it. Was the lover in his previous life somehow connected to the portrait
Lillian's perspective.Yet again, I found myself in a series of nightmares. Ever since I married Ismail, I often had nightmares. However, the previous nightmares weren't even half as horrendous as the one at the moment. I almost woke up with a scream.It was already bright outside the window, and the clock on the wall pointed to eight.Raising my hand to touch the cold sweat on my face, I closed my eyes. Everything in my dream came back with a vengeance to my mind again.In my dream, I had gone alone to the strange prayer room of the Amus family. I had seen the "Madam June", and a woman in repose lying in the crystal coffin, and then even Ismail had appeared...I suddenly opened my eyes. No, it was not a dream. It was reality!I really had gone to the prayer room the night before. I really had. That meant Ismail had really said those words to me."Are you awake?" A calm voice rang out from the side.I was stunned for a moment, and then I found out that Ismail had entered the bedroom a
Lillian's perspective.Mechanically, I walked to my own seat and sat down.Meylani had also recovered her usual seriousness. She looked around at everyone and said, "Today, I'll repeat myself here: The prayer room of the Amus family is the house of the divine artifacts of our ancestors. It is sacred and it is inviolable. Whoever dares to trespass in the future will risk my wrath. Am I clear?""Yes." The room echoed with replies.Ismail set down his knife and fork, wiped the corners of his mouth with a tissue, and sneered, "Mother, here I was, thinking you would finally kick her out and find me a new wife."Meylani gave him a sidelong glance, avoiding his glare that was shot straight at her. After clearing her throat, she said, "The ring is in her hands. Consider it her luck. However, if she does it again, I will definitely not let her off just because of a ring."The latter part of the sentence was for my ears.I lowered my head. "I understand."However, in my heart, I secretly gritte
Lillian's perspective.Ever since she found out that I was pregnant, Meylani had appeared to be unchanging in her strictness toward me. However, when no one was looking, not only did she order the chef to make me nutritious meals every day, but she also inquired about my health endlessly.However, I wasn't exactly euphoric about the change in her attitude, because I knew that everything she was doing was for the baby in my belly.I knew for a fact that without the child, I would still be a nobody—or worse, nothing—to the Amus family!It was the weekend. When it was time for breakfast, Melylani glanced at me and Ismail, who were more distant than two strangers, and said, "It's rare for the weather to be so good today. Ismail, why don't you take Chloe to shop for some new clothes and jewelry?"As soon as these words came out of her mouth, not only was everyone at the table surprised, but I was also stunned for a moment. I whipped my head toward Meylani at the same time as everyone else.
Lillian's perspective.Seeing that I was in such a rush, he did not stop the car but taunted, "What, are you going to frolic with those feral kids again?""Ismail! Watch your mouth!" I retorted, my courage fueled by outrage. "For the last time, they're not feral kids. They're just poor kids abandoned by their parents. They are either lacking in a limb or physically sick. To put it bluntly, they're just like you, a child born with an illness. It's just that they're not as lucky as you to be born into a rich family, to be spoiled and loved by so many people."I couldn't go on. I touched the tears on my face and shouted at him, "Stop the car! I want you to stop the car right this minute!"His expression changed slightly as he continued to press his foot against the accelerator.Seeing that he didn't intend to stop the car, I didn't care whether it was dangerous or not. I grabbed his arm and shook it hard, crying out, "Didn't you hear it? Rainy is on the verge of dying! He just wanted to