It is not every time that good things happen to us. That is life, sadly.
It's been a month since her arrival and things have been the same. The cold stare and pretentious looks were still the same. Lilian had chosen not to care anymore but focus on why she was there.
She had been a frequent guest in his bedroom. They found each other's company very helpful, especially Lucas who was always anticipating her presence. They could talk for hours, pissing Mrs Landon who could not tear them apart.
The more she protested, the more they got closer. Their friendship was growing stronger and Lilian sometimes wondered if things were moving too fastly between them.
One of their meetings, Lucas asked her a question as they took a stroll around the company and this time, he was in his wheelchair.
"What about your family? Did they agree to this marriage?"
Lilian froze immediately, her smiling face went to a frown. She hated talking about her family. He noticed her silence and stopped moving . Lucas pressed the button and turned to face her.
"Hey, are you okay? Did I upset you by asking?" He asked ,worryingly. Lucas had always enjoyed her smiling face and when he saw her sad face, his heart sank.
"No. It's just that I remember." She replied to him. Her countenance showed a hidden rage that might burst out if he questioned further.
"Oh, I am so sorry about that. I was just curious to know about your family." He mentioned sadly. His face was downcast. It is funny how her emotions affect him on a different basis.
"Let's go. I will tell you when I am ready to talk but the only thing I can tell you now is that I don't have any family. I am an orphan." She dropped the shell which made him stunned. No hint of any emotions, just straight and dry. He could feel her pain strangely. Lucas sighed deeply and followed her behind.
They strolled back into the house to see Mrs Landon standing by the door, waiting for him with her hands crossed to the back. Her face, stern as ever.
Lilian caught sight of her and threw her face away. Mrs Landon ignored her and walked to him, assisting him inside the house.
Lucas saw how quiet she was and decided to bring her back. He called her and she turned.
"What do you want for lunch? You said earlier that you are hungry. Tell Mrs Landon ,what are you craving?" Lucas said with a smile that made her give in. He was really funny with his expression.
"What do you want to have?" She returned the questions.
"Well. Honestly I am craving pasta but it is not required for me to eat right now. So don't worry about me. Just tell me what you want and it will be prepared for you." He said,smiling back. A smile that wasn't sincere.
Lilian gave an odd face and observed the situation. She would not settle for less. He saw how he was craving for the pasta and everything about him shows that he wanted to have some pasta.
"You know what? I will prepare the pasta. I am a good cook too and the good news is, you are eating." She announced, walking towards the kitchen. Mrs Landon objected and stopped her.
"You can't cook for him. Not especially pasta. His doctor personally said it." She said with gritted teeth. Lilian was moving out from her boundary and things will get chaotic if the king's Group finds out.
"Lilian. It is okay. I will have anything that is avaliable." He interrupted,trying to stop the argument between both women.
"Anything available? What about the No limit stuff ? What about when you said you want to do everything that you want and enjoy? I know you want to eat pasta and you are going to have it. That is final!" She snapped. Lucas couldn't say anything and this riled her up. Mrs Landon stood her ground,insisting he wasn't going to have the pasta.
"Okay, you what? Let's give his doctor a call. We need his permission to grant us the right to give him his pasta." Lilian stated with anger.
"What?" Both of them said in disbelief.
"Yes. Give him a call." She urged them and sat on the stairs, waiting for them to make a move.
"She is crazy." Mrs Landon admitted. This girl was getting on her nerves.
"Yes, Crazy enough to defend him. He has the right to his choices. You can't just give him options because he is vulnerable now. Treat him right and in the right way." She retorted in anger, making her mute. Lucas watched in awe, still finding it hard to stop admiring her audacious boldness. Something in him stirred that afternoon. Something that sparks hope.
"I will have your pasta and that is final." He said with authority and dominance. Something he hadn't done in a long time. Being sick can make someone lose themselves and be less of a human.
"Lucas…. But you can't." Mrs Landon protested with a pleading eyes.
"It is fine. I want it."
"Okay, but let me prepare it for you. I still don't trust her. She might try to harm you." She begged and his looks in his eyes when she said those words made him angry.
"Don't say that again. She is my wife and must be treated with respect." He scolded, wondering where that willpower came from. Lilian was dumbstruck when he said that. This triggered something in her. No man had ever stood up or defended her. She has seen Lucas in another light since that day.
Mrs Landon couldn't say anything as she was dumbstruck. Lucas had never raised his voice at her before and doing it in front of her was humiliating. She lowered her head in shame and walked out.
Lilian felt bad when she saw her in that state but shook it off when Lucas assured that everything was going to be okay.
"So what is your favorite pasta?" Lucas asked to change the question. He was more shaken from his outburst than any of them. He couldn't believe that audacious character resides in him. He concluded that Lilian's presence was rubbing off on him and he loved it.
"Seafood pasta." She mentioned as they walked to the kitchen.
"Me too!" He responded excitedly.
"Then we have another thing in common again." Lilian laughed as their voice receded inside the kitchen.
The strange person happened to witness the situation coincidentally and hid behind the door to listen. This evidence was something to put a call to Fiona king.
Cooking was fun as both of them enjoyed each other's company. Lucas, who hadn't stepped into the kitchen since he was born, got a chance to enter one, thanks to Lilian.
He was marvelled by the sight of the kitchen which made her curious and he admitted that this was his first time. Lilian jeered and made fun of him all through the cooking.
They had their lunch there in the kitchen. Lucas ate to his fill and requested for more.This made her laugh at the way he rushed his food. Mrs Landon came to check up on them and when she saw him eating so well. Her heart melted for inner joy but her face showed otherwise.
She silently excused them and smiled warmly for this miracle at the door. Lucas had been a food picker since he fell sick. No food that seems to get his palate working. He eats just to survive the effect from his drugs but for the first time, he was eating perfectly well.
"This is the best pasta I have tasted in a long while."He admitted, looking so full and fulfilled. He still couldn't believe that he was able to eat what he craved,thanks to her. There were so many things he was grateful for because of her.
The next morning, a car drove into the compound, blaring horns so loud that woke Lilian from her sleep. Lilian sluggishly strode to the window to see a car at the compound. The last car she had seen since she was here was the one that brought her.
The figure stepped down and a gasp left her mouth. It was no other person than Fiona King and Gladys, the P.R.O of the King's Group.
They took one glance at the place before they walked into the mansion. Mrs Landon hurried to the door with Timothy and stood to welcome them in.
Immediately, they entered. Fiona king requested for Lilian who was still in her room panicking.
"Where is she?" She asked Mrs Landon with high contempt.
"She is in her room, Ma'am." Mrs Landon replied with a bow. Her heart pounded faster, her mind full with worry and her face tried to maintain the situation.
"Go, get her." Fiona king requested and ordered Timothy to bring her down. He bowed and hurriedly ran down the stairs,almost losing his balance.
"Where is my brother?" Fiona King asked at the top of her voice which sent shivers to their bones.
"He is still sleeping." Mrs Landon replied. Praying hard that he won't be disturbed by the expected commotion.
She paced around before finding herself in a chair. Glady walked majestically and sat beside her. Holding a brown file like a judge ready to give her judgement. Her glasses hung on her nose to observe the situation because it was going to be bloody.
"What can I offer you?" Mrs Landon asked,trying to figure out their mission. When she saw the envelope. She knew why they were here.
"Tea. No sugar." Gladys requested with a blunt smile. Not sincere. Not fake.
"Give me water. A lot of them." Fiona king said breathlessly. Fuming and waiting impatiently. Timothy ran down and delivered his message. Mrs Landon left for the kitchen. She stylishly called Timothy into the kitchen. Dean wasn't around that morning. He went out to get his medications.
Lilian came down after some minutes, dressed stylishly. Something to keep them talking. Boldness on check, Confidence is A1, Attitude is giving and her wit is still shaking inside her.
Fiona King watched her every move as she walked down the stairs. Graciously swooned by her aura that shows she was ready for what was coming to her.
"Good morning ,Fiona king or should i say My sister inlaw?" Lilian said with a smirk on her face. Fiona was impressed by her boldness. She knew Lilian was different from the rest. Submission isn't her style.
Mrs Landon walked into the situation and quietly dropped their drinks and walked away, not after giving Lilian a stare gaze to maintain herself lest she would be thrown out of the house.
"Good morning . I must have disturbed your beauty sleep with your husband and from the way you looked, he must be taking good care of you." Fiona commented and sat properly on the chair, crossing her legs to show that she was serious.
"Yes. Lucas has been sweet to me. He is loving too." Lilian laughed with softness.
"Did you remember Gladys? The P.R.O and your coach ?" Fiona asked.
"Yeah. Good morning Gladys. It is nice meeting you again." Lilian said to her dryly but got a nod from her.
"What do I own on this visit?" Lilian pressed further when she saw the brown envelope on the glass table. Her heart skipped a beat when Gladys brought out the content outside. Some white papers spread neatly on the table.
"You might be wondering what is this or why am I here this morning?" Fiona asked menacingly. Her face was in stern mode and proceeded to Gladys to explain their purpose here.
"Lilian. There is something you need to know. You are being reprimanded for breaking some rules and that would cause you some punishment." Gladys explained professionally which made Lilian scoff hard from her statement.
"What rules? Who broke what rules?" Lilian asked in disbelief.They ignored her question.
"I am going to read the rules and regulations governing this contract." Gladys said, adjusting her glasses to see properly
"I know the damn rules ! Tell me what rules I broke?" Lilian snapped instantly which made Fiona king chuckled.
"So fiesty. I like it. Go on Gladys." Fiona ordered in a deep voice.
Gladys hesitated before reading them out one by one. Lilian was really pissed off. Her rage was so high that her stifled smile slowly turned to a deep frown and Fiona king was enjoying every bit of it.
She was done with the 10 rules and stated the ones she broke.
"The rules you broke are as follows; 1. You are not to talk to the workers here unless authorised.
2. You are to have intimacy on the first and last week of every month until you conceive.
3. You are to obey and respect the rules and regulations, if broken, there is a penalty of paying the allocated money or facing the law.
"Are you done because I still need to give you time to say your piece?"
Lilian responded angrily. She needed to deal with them by lashing at them. She was at a point of no return. It is high time they got their own medicine.
"Well, well. Lilian. I must say that you are very persistent at what you do. I don't think you understand the gravity of this situation. Let me break it down for you." Fiona king suggested and pulled close to her.
"You are to pay 10 million dollars and for the damage fees, another additional 15 million dollars. Or you faced the law and rotted in jail. What would you choose?"Fiona King offered with a smirk that burned through her makeup.
Lilian was baffled by the outrageous demand. Gladys didn't help matters and started quoting some legal terms in accordance to the contract.
Lilian felt cornered. She was intimidated. No help, No way out. Just her Ego. Fear started seeping inside her , breaking the walls and destabilizing her. She was left alone in the hands of her predator.
She thought of begging. To be given another chance to make it right but something saved her or someone, I mean.
"No one is going to jail and definitely not my Lilian." Lucas said from the stairs in a commanding tone.
All heads went to him and everyone was stunned to see him there. Standing without any aid.
Fiona King stood up in surprise, staring at him so intensely. She couldn't believe that he was standing in front of her.
"Lucas." Lilian called breathlessly.A part of her wanted to run into his arms for protection. He turned to face her, assuring her with his awkward expressions. This made her have hope.