There is something about the outdoors. The easy feelings that erupt within you and burst out in freedom. The cool breeze beneath and the warm sun melting them in or the giggles, laughter and the mind at one pace.
The feeling is so natural and it only happens when you let all go and have fun.
But fun was far more different for these people. Fun is a flimsy excuse to dodge responsibilities. Fun is the weakness of the mind that makes you lose focus and direction of life but what they don't know is that the house is about to experience a turn around very soon.
Lilian was bothered and distraught.Even though things are beginning to make sense a little to her. This hasn't still removed that tingling in her gut. There is still something going on in the house but it would only take a rat to sniff it out.
Lilian, contemplating hard on what to do, stumbled upon Timothy and a wicked smile erupted on her face when she found the rat. She called him with so much enthusiasm.
"Timothy."
"Yes, Mrs. King. How can I be of service?" Timothy replied ,still retaining that smile, warm and curious.
"Urm.. I am bored and obviously I don't have anything to do. Can you keep me company? I need someone to talk to."She lamented dramatically , rolling her eyes in between.
"Oh. Sure. When do we begin?" He replied, still unsure why.
"Good. Give me some time to get ready and I will join you downstairs." She said and sprang upstairs before he could reply.
Dean left afterward, leaving Mrs Landon who was tending to his needs. She was dressing his bed as he took his bath. Her face still showed no emotions but her heart was full with pain, hurt from the past , unresolved conflicts and deep secrets.
All her life, she has devoted them to the King's Group. She became their maid at an early age and has tended to their needs in good ,bad and ugly times. Sometimes, she regarded herself as 'soulless' . Things she had done was something the world shouldn't know. Even when she was assigned to be his nanny. Mrs Landon did worse things that the only she could do then was pretend , ignore and play dead. That was how she survived this long and even now.
The only thing that gives her hope and a second chance to redemption is Lucas. She had nurtured him from when he was a baby and was glad that she had to move from the King's Group to take care of him. She got married many years ago but fate had a way to break someone entirely. Her husband and her son died in a fire accident. This was difficult for her and the only person who showed her kindness and was there for her was her Lucas.
Still then, she vowed to spend her remaining days devoted to Lucas and when he had an accident. The holes that he was trying to feel in her heart got bigger. Mrs Landon wanted to take her life but surprisingly, he got a good fate. He survived.
Till now, she has shown him so much care and love because it was the only thing to make up for her past mistakes. Devotion becomes a sacrifice for her.
"Susan?" Lucas called from the bathroom.
"Yes." She replied, wiping her secret tears away. Her eyes were sad but shove it away and returned to her stern looks.
"I wanna ask you something and I need your honest opinion." He requested and she replied in approval.
"What do you think about Lilian? Like tell me how you feel towards her?" He asked curiously. Mrs Landon hissed silently and was upset. She doesn't feel like talking about her.
"Why do you ask?" Mrs Landon replied, intentionally avoiding giving him an answer.
"I don't know. I think I like her personality. She is fun, freespirited, and outspoken. She is cool, like dope cool." Lucas explained from the bathroom. He was shaving his beard and picturing her smiles on his head.
"Oh. Okay. She seems… nice but I don't like her. She is all over the place. She is trouble." She said dryly, feeling irritated by talking about her.
"But it's a good trouble. She has something that draws me in when she is in the room. Like everything lit up in front of me. I don't know but I want her around." He concluded with a cheeky smile. Mrs Landon rolled her eyes ,listening to his blabbing. Lilian was going to cause havoc in this house.
Timothy and Lilian took a stroll to the garden at the side of the house, close to her window. They sat down and conversed together. They were both entertained by each company. Her loud giggles can be heard from afar. They talked about so many things that made him so comfortable around her.
"Well. That is for that. Timothy, it is really nice talking to you here. I thought I was going to explode. I am so alone and bored. Thank God I have you to talk to." Lilian said, playing the victim. Timothy bought it and encouraged her with a big reassuring smile.
"If you need me, I will be available. It is part of my job to make you confortable. So it is no big deal." He chuckled deeply and drank his juice.
"Timothy."
"Yeah."
"Can you tell what happened to the woman before me. I heard she left." Lilian asked carefully, watching his emotions. She was being careful and when she asked him, his smiling face turned to a frown. Lilian knew that something had prickled him. It will be a matter of time for him to spill.
"Why are you asking? Aren't you comfortable here?" He asked nervously, avoiding her intense stare.
"I am more than comfortable but I am curious. No woman would want to leave this comfort and walk away. Come on, something must have happened. I just wanted to know so that I won't make errors. I can't afford to leave Lucas king." lilian said dramatically and she stylishly looked away, watching him contemplate hard within himself. His eyes were ready to spill but his mouth was hesitating.
"Come on, spill." Lilian thought within and he bent closer to spill. Lilian bent forward to listen.
"I am not supposed to say. We were asked not to say anything but her name was Rose. Rose Drew, She stayed for almost a year and was found that she couldn't carry his child."
"Why?"
"She had no womb. She lied and was thrown at her."Timothy spilled with caution. His eyes gazing around for any suspicious person.
"How did they find out?" Liilan asked curiously. Her eyes poked out in a hungry way to get every information out of him.
"Well. She was supposed to have conceived but no child. The King's Group investigated the matter and found out that her family paid the doctor to forge the document that she was healthy. They sued the hospital and threw her out." He explained.
"What did Lucas say? At least she was his wife." She asked,still trying to put the puzzles together.
"He confirmed that he had never had any intimacy with her." He dropped the bomb and her eyes widened in disbelief.
"What? No, that is a lie."
"It is the truth. She admitted too." He defended. Lilian was stunned by what he said. Hmm… Lucas is a gentleman.
"Woow but what about the secrecy in this house? Why is everyone avoiding me?" Lilian asked immediately,sensing the jinx she had on him might break soon.
"That is too much of a question today. Mrs Landon might be looking for me." He lied, to avoid her question. Lilian tried to stop him from leaving but he hurried away, apologizing in between, leaving her hanging and doubling her curiosity.
Lilian pondered hard on what she had heard but something wasn't still adding up. Still in deep thought, she heard his voice.
She turned to her back to see Lucas walking towards her with a walking stick. Her face went from brooding to a shocked one. Her mouth opened wide in disbelief.
"Oh my… what are you doing here?" She asked,standing up on her feet. He was walking wobbly and needed assistance which she offered. Lucas sat down heavily ,panting hard from that vigorous exercise.
"You could have used the wheel chair." She suggested, chuckling lightly for his bravery and sat beside him. Lucas rested properly,tilting his head backwards, allowing the sun to touch his bare face. He gave a full satisfying smile that amused her.
"I would give everything to be able to come outside. This feels so good." He exclaimed with joy. His grey eyes were no longer sad or empty but now, it was glistened with joy and hope.
"We can be doing this often. It feels good to be outside." Lilian commented.
"It was you who made it possible. Thank you, Lilian. You were the motivation I needed." He admitted as his eyes roamed around the garden. The scent from the flowers filled his nostrils, he sniffed more and felt alive. He was quite energetic today.
"You looked different. Like a newborn but something more than that."She noticed, trying to figure it out.
"What? How is it different?"
"It is not the outfit but… wait… You shaved!" Lilian exclaimed deeply and he was puzzled by her reaction. Shaving isn't a big deal or is it? He wondered within.
"What happened ? Is it a crime to shave now?" He asked,really curious to know.
"Not really. You look cute. It brought out a part of you that is ready to try again, ready to start again. You know, that kind of vibe."She replied him in a thoughtful way that made him rethink her words.
"Woow. That's amazing. Thank you for the compliment." He said with a smile. For some reason, he was happy to be around her. Her positivity baffles him and they conversed as if they had known each other for a while.
Someone watched them and kept on scribbling something on the notepad. The person was observant and had a dark aura that showed danger.