"I will see what's for breakfast!" Sophie expressed excitedly, opening the door to Lillian's room.
Sitting in front of the dressing table, Lillian brushed her hair. Her eyes were on her phone, waiting for a message.
Sophie skipped out of the room. The freshly mopped floor was still wet, causing Sophie to slip. Her eyes fell on a figure in front of her.
She quickly grabbed the black jacket in front of her. In turn, a yelp left her mouth as both of them next collided against the ground. She landed on top of the man with a harsh sound.
A wince left the man's mouth. "What are you doing?" His irritated voice followed.
"Sorry, I slipped," Sophie said, immediately sitting up.
Then, her eyes fell on the man's face, and they immediately brightened up. Irritation was written on his face as the silver hair was messily scattered.
It was the same beautiful face as last night.
She thought it would take them a long while to meet again.
What an unexpected surprise!
Sophie immediately grabbed on to his jacket. Her voice was loud and beaming as she exclaimed, "You're that guy from last night! What are you doing here?"
Jasper brushed her hand away coldly and stood up. Sophie got on her feet as well. Hearing the commotion, Grace came out of the kitchen, and Lillian stepped out of her room.
Grace frowned upon seeing Jasper and scolded, "You finally know how to show your face at home! How long has it been? I almost thought you died outside!"
Jasper muttered, "I came here to get some things."
"This child," Grace expressed. Then, she went over to Lillian and held her shoulders.
"This is Lillian. I told you three brothers to come home and welcome here. None of you bastards are reliable!"
Jasper glanced at Lillian and nodded before maintaining his alienated attitude and walking into his room.
Grace sighed.
"This is your third brother, Jasper," Grace introduced, "don't mind him. That child has always been difficult to handle."
Lillian wondered what Jasper's attitude towards her was.
She owed him in her previous life and was determined to not let him go through the same tragedy. However, no longer would she try to please people who didn't like her.
Whether he cared for Eva over her did not matter to her as well.
"I don't care," Lillian said calmly.
Sophie noticed the discomfort on Grace's face and grabbed on to her hand.
Resting her head on her shoulder, Sophie voiced out, "Aunt Lu, I am starving! What delicious food did you make?"
"Your Aunt Lu can't cook, but I ordered breakfast from the most delicious diner here," Grace responded.
Following that, they sat around the dining table. Sophie greedily devoured the chicken soup in front of her.
"Aunt Lu, this is too delicious!" Her brown eyes were teary. "Everyday, I wake up to cold and stale meatbuns. There is no decent food where I live."
"Sophie, you live too miserably. What about this? Eva's room is empty. Why don't you move in?" Grace offered.
"Aunt Lu!" Sophie cried out, "are you an angel?"
Jasper then stepped out of his room with his bag on the shoulder. As he was about to leave the house, Grace's smiling face hardened. She slammed the chopstick on the table.
"Stop right there!"
Jasper paused.
"At least have some breakfast before leaving." Grace's cold, commanding voice followed.
Sophie leaned closer to Lillian and whispered, "Aunt Lu can be real scary it seems."
Jasper maintained an eye contact with Grace, and his mother's narrowing gaze made him give up. His shoulders slouched subtly as he walked over to the table.
As Jasper began to eat his food, Sophie leaned forward and commented, "What a coincidence! Yesterday, when Lillian and I got into trouble, you protected us. This has to be some kind of fate, don't you think?"
"You met him yesterday?" Grace asked.
Lillian explained, "He passed by."
She didn't go into the details.
However, Jasper brought up, "Keep an eye on your daughter. She was messing around the wrong crowd and almost got beaten up."
This made Lillian shoot him a displeased glance.
Jasper indifferently continued to eat.
"Wrong crowd? Got beaten up? What's the matter? You said it wasn't a big deal, Lily." Grace's concern laced voice held solemness in them. "Who are the ones harassing you?"
Lillian's lips parted, trying to come up with a story that would allievate Grace's worries. This time, as she looked forward to Sophie's sweet mouth, the girl stared at her in anticipation.
Lillian could only lower her head and mutter, "It isn't that serious. I can handle it."
"Lily," Grace enunciated, "I know it will take time for you to open up, but I hope you realize you can rely on us, hmm?
Don't be like those foolish brothers of yours, and try to seek so-called independence. Look at each of them. Their lives are a mess! Mom is always there for you so that you can take it easy."
Overwhelmed by strange emotions, Lillian picked up the dumpling in front of her and stuffed it in her mouth, chewing on it as she nodded.
Jasper's eyes fell on her.
"What a fool."
Sophie instantly clapped her hands.
"That's what I have been telling her. Baby Lillian was always foolish! She acts all hard-hearted and all that, but in the end gets bullied by everyone. Baby—"
Before Sophie could carry on speaking, Lillian shoved a dumpling in her mouth. With a crease etched on to her forehead, she coldly ordered, "Eat."
Seeing this made Grace chuckled.
"I can see you have been a great friend to Lily all these years," commented Grace.