"Lilian, it would have been appreciated if you had reached out to us since you left. We were concerned that we may have inadvertently caused you any hurt that we were unaware of," Maureen's mother expressed.
"I'm sorry for not keeping in touch. I've been processing everything, but I appreciate your understanding," Lilian replied apologetically.
"I completely understand, dear. Your return will mark the beginning of a new and positive chapter in your life, Lilian. I have no doubt that you and your daughter will embrace life to the fullest," Maureen's mother said reassuringly.
"I hope so, thank you for your support," Lilian responded with a hint of relief in her voice.
Maureen's mother then added with enthusiasm, "I would love to meet your friend, Doctor Ryan. Some people, like him, bring kindness into their work naturally, and they deserve recognition."
"I'll definitely introduce you to him. He's a wonderful person," Lilian promised.
Showing her happiness, Maureen's mother continued, "I'm thrilled that you made the wise decision to keep your daughters. Some may have chosen differently, but your strength shines through. You are going to be a fantastic mother, Lilian, and your daughter will be the most precious thing in your life."
"Thank you for believing in me. I'm determined to be the best mother I can be," Lilian said gratefully.
"Lilian, please pass on our appreciation to Ryan and invite him over. I heard you're buying a house tomorrow based on his recommendation?" Maureen's mother inquired.
"Yes, he suggested a great place, and I'm looking forward to it," Lilian confirmed with a smile.
"Tomorrow, I will be moving out with Aurora and starting her new job the day after tomorrow. I'd like you to come along and see the house, Maureen," Lilian explained.
"Of course, I'll take the day off and join you. I must admit, I trust you too easily again. Who knows, you might just take your daughter and disappear from the house once more," Maureen teased with a playful grin.
Joining in the banter, Maureen's mother chimed in, "Oh, come on, Maureen. I highly doubt Lilian would behave so childishly now. She's grown up."
After a round of laughter, Maureen's mother excused herself, leaving the two friends to catch up on old times.
As they settled in, Lilian turned to Maureen and asked the burning question, "So, how are things with your boyfriend?"
Maureen let out a soft chuckle, followed by a sigh.
"Well, he's been seeing someone else behind my back. He actually invited me to lunch one day just to break the news of our breakup," she revealed with a hint of resignation in her voice.
Maureen added that he had regretted leading her to believe they would one day marry, only to shatter her trust and deceive her with false feelings of love.
"He mentioned that he no longer loves me. He had already started seeing someone else and realized he needed to set me free," Maureen uttered, her voice quivering with emotion.
"Sometimes the wrong one has to leave so that the right one can enter your life," Lilian advised, drawing from her own experiences.
She encouraged Maureen to have a candid discussion about love and relationships, emphasizing the importance of learning from past mistakes.
On the other hand, Lilian told Maureen that she was finished with men and no longer needed their presence in her life. Her focus was now on living happily with her daughter.
Expressing doubts about ever falling in love again, she questioned whether the concept still held meaning for her. In response, Maureen gently reassured her that happiness would find its way back into her life.
"It's hard to believe that he could do this to you, Maureen. But remember, you deserve someone who truly values and respects you," Lilian said softly, offering her a tissue.
Maureen wiped away her tears and nodded, grateful for her friend's support.
"Thank you, Lilian. I hope you're right. I just need time to heal and find my happiness again,"
The two friends then reminisced about old times before bidding each other goodnight and retiring to their respective rooms.
That night, it took Lilian quite some time before she could drift off to sleep. Her thoughts lingered on her life five years prior.
Alex and Isabel must be leading a happy life now. Her sister appeared to have effortlessly taken her man away without a second thought.
She and her ex-husband no longer harbored any romantic feelings for each other. However, it was unsettling that her sister was now with him.
Camille had successfully poisoned Isabel's mind against her. Despite the close bond they shared growing up, her sister seemed to have turned against her. Their resemblance was so striking that no one would believe they weren't biological siblings.
Their father always treated them as twins, ensuring they received identical treatment. If he couldn't acquire two of something, he would rather abstain from the purchase than give it to just one of them.
As they both grew older, their desires for each other remained unchanged. However, the passing of her father cast a new light on everything.
While Lilian believed that Isabel and Alex were content, a hidden turmoil plagued their relationship.
Alex found himself discontent. Despite being married for four years, he felt pressured to conceive a child and had been consistently intimate with her for that reason. Feeling drained, he expressed the need for a break.
"Why have you been neglecting me? We should be intimate more often, especially now when we're trying to conceive," Isabel urged.
This wasn't the time for Alex to distance himself, particularly when she needed his support the most.
"Are you going to force me if I choose not to? I want to rest, and I dislike being disturbed," Alex retorted, his frustration evident in his tone.
If she persists in bothering him, he will leave the room and not return that night. What's the point of squandering his masculinity on a woman who has nothing to offer in return?
Isabel remained silent once more. She also turned away from him and left him alone. She had been monitoring her ovulation in hopes that she and Alex could conceive naturally if they made love.
Having undergone two failed IVF attempts, she couldn't fathom that Alex would undergo a complete transformation after the last failure. She felt she needed to bring this to his mother's attention. She wanted to inform her about the kind of person her son had become, someone unwilling to give her a grandchild.
The next morning, Alex had breakfast and seemed a bit more cheerful. He gave Isabel a kiss on the cheek before heading off to work. He appeared to be a different person from the one who had shouted at her the previous night. Isabel found it hard to believe that a man would avoid intimacy with his wife, especially when they were trying to conceive.
She had made up her mind to go see Kristy and report her son to her. If he doesn't change, she would then take the matter to her own mother.
Her mother has been worried sick about why Isabel can't hasn't been pregnant for the past four years. And when the second IVF failed, she almost became sick about it.
Isabel got dressed and took her car keys. She drove herself to her mother-in-law's place and was glad she met her at home.
"Hello, Kristy," Isabel greeted warmly as she entered the house.
"Isabel, dear, how nice to see you. How's everything going? How's Alex doing as well?" Kristy asked, gesturing for Isabel to sit down.
Isabel sat down and sighed before replying, "Everything's fine, Kristy, except that I've been having sleepless nights because of Alex's behavior recently. He doesn't have s*x with me anymore."
Kristy's expression turned concerned.
"Oh dear, that's not good to hear. Tell me more about what's been happening. I trust that my son doesn't have any interest in having a mistress. So why is he not willing to get intimate with you? I was looking forward to carrying my grandchild. How is that going to be possible if he doesn't get intimate with you? What kind of son is Alex becoming?"
"I'm worried about him too. I don't understand why he's so distant these days…" Isabel complained bitterly, appearing visibly worried.
"I will have a word with my son. Get yourself ready for him tonight. He will definitely be with you.", Kristy assured with a gentle pat on Isabel's shoulder.
A sly smile appeared on Isabel's visage.
"Oh, thank you, Mother-in-law."