As I step out of the shower, I realise that in a hurry to get away from Chloe, I left James's credit card on the kitchen island. If I misplace it, he'll be on my case forever regarding it. Sighing, I pull up a pair of jeans that somehow fit me and a yellow blouse.

I dry my hair before putting on a thin line of kohl and picking up my wallet and checking for my personal credit card. As I get downstairs, I go back inside the kitchen only to find it empty and no trace of James's credit card.

"Mrs. George?" I call out and Shanley steps out of the back door.

"Mrs. Clark?" She frowns, "I mean, Lillian, is there any way I can help you?"

I don't know whether it would be appropriate to ask the staff about the missing credit card or not, but I think James mentioned something about trusting Mrs. George.

"Is Mrs. George around?" I ask her and she shakes her head.

"She went out for grocery shopping. Is there something you'd like me to tell her?" She asks.

I nod, "Yeah, just ask her to give me a call when she returns. Can I feed my phone number somewhere?" I ask her.

She pulls out her phone and hands it to me. I recall my new contact number and type it down before giving myself a missed call and handing the phone back to her.

"Thanks, Shanley." I smile at her before leaving.

As soon as I get out of the house, I realise that I don't have a car to drive here, but then I leave the mansion. When I am on the streets, I finally hail a cab.

"Where to?" The driver asks.

"Lenox Square." I tell him before my phone starts ringing and I wonder if it's Mrs. George already.

But then my mother's name flashes on the screen, causing me to smile. "Mom, hey." I greet her gleefully.

"Hey, Lil. How are you, sweetheart?" She asks, making me realise how much I miss hearing her voice.

"Good, how are you? What are you upto today?"

"I am great, hon. And I just had a cup of tea, missing you. Are you out?" She asks.

Just then, an idea strikes me, "Yes, I am on my way to Lenox Square. You can always join me." I offer, hoping that she would accept because I've been dying to be around a familiar face.

"Oh, that's a great idea, I'll see you in half an hour."

As soon as she hangs up, I smile to myself at the thought of meeting my mother after one and a half week. I miss her, even though I did meet her on weekends, I was so occupied with college assignments that my week was swamped with work. But now that I have loads of time to myself, I don't really have anything else other than missing my family.

When the cab driver stops, I pay him with the cash I am carrying with myself and make my way inside the mall. If I can't find anything here, I can go to Phipps Plaza across the road. But I know if my mother said half an hour, she would still take her sweet time in coming here so I start with a few stores.

I only like one blouse so far, which I've picked out when my phone rings and my mother's name appears on it. I immediately pick up the call.

"Where are you?" She asks.

"Ann Taylor." I tell her and she hangs up.

Moments later, she enters in, wearing pair of dark blue jeans and a black blouse. I notice from far as her eyes roam around the store, before they finally come to settle on me. A smile slowly takes over her features before she starts walking towards where I stand with the blouse in my hand.

She doesn't say anything, just as she reaches me, she wraps her arms around me and I sigh into her embrace because I missed her incredibly.

I am not sure how many twenty year olds feel this kind of attachment to their family or home, but I have seen people back at the college going over a month without talking to either of their parents. It surprised me at times, because I cannot go a day without doing that.

Ashley used to tease me for being a pampered kid, but that's not it. I wasn't smothered back home, I just had my own form of attachment to my parents and Jeremy. I have never been able to form that kind of bond outside family, and it used to scare me earlier regarding trust issues but now I understand that I have never really met someone who deserves that kind of care from my side.

"Oh sweetheart," My mother wraps her arms around me, squeezing my shoulders in the process, "You look beautiful."

I smile, as she pulls back and her eyes roam over my face, "Thanks, Mum. You don't look too old yourself."

She swats my shoulder, laughing and I grin. Her eyes shift to the blouse I am holding in my hand and she takes it from me before putting away, making me pout but she speaks up, "You're not wearing that. It looks hideous."

Her words make me roll my eyes, "You think my whole dressing sense is hideous."

She shakes her head, her eyes on the clothes I am currently wearing, "That looks just fine."

I am about to tell her that this isn't something I shopped for myself, rather James's assistant did it but I let it slide, shrugging. She takes my hand as she leads me to the dress corner and I sigh.

"C'mon, you should be wearing fancy dresses and nothing else. I have no idea why you even protested earlier to fit yourself in jeans when you have such beautiful tall legs to show off."

"Mother, it's because dresses aren't always comfortable." I protest and she shakes her head at me before pulling out at least three dresses and shoving them in my direction.

"Go on, try these." She says.

I don't have it in me to argue with her today so I do as she says. But the problem is my big bust, that doesn't always lets me keep the dresses I like so when I look in the mirror, and the way these dresses cling to me, I sigh because it isn't the first time I reject a beautiful dress only because of how uncomfortable I feel in it.

I wish I could explain this to my mother because this is partially the reason I feel comfortable in jeans and a blouse that's always one size larger than what would fit me.

"You didn't like any of them?" She asks and I shake my head.

"Nope. We can try elsewhere." I say and she nods.

"Come on then, we don't have whole day."

I grin because I forgot how commanding my mother can be at times. I mean, she's naive and can be a complete sweetheart but she likes to have control on things.

When we finally pick two dresses from another store, we make it to the billing counter and I pull out my credit card. My mother's eyes immediately snap to it and she frowns.

"You're using your card?" She asks, and I nod.

"Is there something wrong with that?"

She shakes her head, "No, I just assumed—"

"I know what you assumed but you know me. I would rather spend my savings than ask him for the money. It just doesn't feel right." I tell her and her smile doesn't go unnoticed by me.

"Your father is right, you're way too self righteous at times."

Her words make me laugh, "He should know I get it from him. Anyway, how is he? I haven't talked to him in two days."

As much as I love my father, we spent time in each other's company in absolute silence than anything else. Just the comfort of sitting by each other's side seemed enough for us. Unless we were discussing business, because then we would talk a lot until Jeremy told both of us to shut up.

"He's stressed, really. With Carrack joining in, things are changing a little and he understands that his decision can't be taken primarily and him and Carrack have to come to terms with everything together for it to be a final one." She explains and I nod in understanding.

"It's better for the company, Mom." I say.

I know Dad hates including anyone in his decisions, but ever since his partner screwed him up and lost millions from the company, he has no choice than to adjust. I think one of the reasons his ex-partner ever made such a stupid mistake was because Dad didn't let him be in control. So in order to prove his authority, the partner really screwed up more thousands of millions deal — leading to the company to almost bankruptcy until Carrack swooped in to invest.

When we are done paying, we move out to another store and I finally convince her to let me do the shopping on my own accord. So I indulge in totally when I buy five new blouses for myself, pair of four jeans and even pick out two more casual dresses that I would have definitely worn to college in the past.

"You want to go across to the Phipps Plaza?" My mother asks after a while and I shrug.

"Sure, let's go. You should shop too, I feel bad spending all this money on myself." I tell her truthfully, causing her to laugh a little.

"That's alright, sweetheart. I have plenty clothes back at home." She explains.

"Mum, is there anyway I can come home to get my clothes? I mean, while new clothes are fine, when I shifted back from dorms, a lot of the things I left in my closet aren't even worn out once." I say and she frowns at me.

"Why are you asking for permission? Feel free to come any time, sweets."

I nod, and we leave Lenox Square before she asks me to keep the bags in her car so that we don't have to carry it around in Plaza. When we reach there, I end up buying myself a few more dresses and blouse because of my mother's constant insistent talk. When she indulges in her own shopping for a while, I move to the lingerie store because that's not something I want to shop with my mother.

Exhausted, we finally move to the foodcourt and I groan, "My legs hurt." I complain and she rolls her eyes.

"You need to start working out if your legs hurt in just three hours of shopping." She says as she puts a fry in her mouth.

"Yes, like you're super fit, aren't you." I tease and she laughs before going somber and her expressions change a little.

"You happy there, kid?" She asks, her question catching me off guard and I gulp, looking away a little before I sip on my coke.

I nod, meeting her eyes, "I am. They are nice people." I shrug, lying and she nods.

"They are. I visited Dr. Lea earlier this week and she said you haven't made any appointments with her."

This drastic change in the topic makes me sit up a little straighter as I frown at her, "Why would you talk to her about me?" I ask.

"Because you're married now, girl. Do you want to be pregnant so soon?" She frowns at me and I can't help how my cheeks heat up at that mention of being pregnant.

The fact that I've never really dated anyone gave me no reason to ever go on the pill. Dr. Lea is the Ob-Gyn I visit for usual check-up at times but the fact that my mother asked her if I visited her to go on pill is super embarrassing. Why can't parents just sometimes let their kids be?

"I don't want to be pregnant, Mom." I tell her because that's the last thing I want, or the last thing that's going to happen in this lifetime.

I am going to die virgin. How great is the sound of that?

"Look, sweetheart, I am sure James is a very mature man and knows what he's doing if he hasn't asked you to be on pill yet but you need to be careful on your side. It never hurts to have double protection, you know?" She chews on her burger, and I grimace at the fact that we are really having this conversation.

"Sure, Mum." I mumble to put an end to this.

The last thing I want to tell her is that James doesn't need to be careful because nothing is happening between us. I am not sure how she would respond to it so I keep my mouth shut.

"You ready to head back home?" She asks and I sigh, nodding.

"I just need to grab my stuff from your car then I'll be on my way." I say.

"You came here with a driver or drove yourself?" She asks me as we exit the mall.

"Taxi, I hailed a taxi, Mum. It's a thing." I say, a little annoyed because how can my family never look past the luxurious life for once.

She rolls her eyes, "I am driving you there, come on now."

She tugs on my arms and I don't protest because I am aware it would go in vain. When I keep the bags in the backseat, I buckle the seatbelt and she starts driving. It takes us fifteen minutes to reach the mansion as we discuss a little about Jeremy and his acceptance in Columbia, so he would be going to New York in few months.

She parks in the driveway and I turn to her, "Come on in."

She shakes her head, "Some other time, Lil. I have to go home now."

I sigh, nodding as I get out and move to open the backseat door of the car to get my shopping bags. I realise that I shopped shitloads because there's no way I can carry this inside in one go. But then I hear a presence behind me and I turn to face Shanley who gives me a smile.

"Here, I'll help you." She takes more than half of the bags from my hand and my mother rolls down the window.

"See you soon, Mum." I smile at her.

She nods, "I'll book you an appointment with Dr. Lea for Monday. Sounds alright?" She asks and I nod, "Take care, Hon."

She drives away and I make my way inside the house before going upstairs. When I reach my floor, I notice that Shanley is nowhere to be seen but Mrs. George is shutting my bedroom door behind her.

"Mrs. George?" I say and she turns to me.

"Lillian, you're back." She smiles and I nod, turning the doorknob before stepping in. I keep the bags on the bed where the rest of the stuff is and she turns to me, "Shanley was setting it up in the other room, so I told her I'll take care of it."

Her words make me realise that everyone assumes that James and I share a room, which is weird but even Mrs. George knowing otherwise makes it seem awkward.

I nod at her before my eyes move to James' credit card lying on the desk. I turn to her and give her a huge smile.

"Is there anything else you need?" She asks and I shake my head.

"Thanks, Mrs. George."

She exits the room and I sigh before picking up the credit card and keeping it in my wallet securely to return it to my husband. Then, I go on to hang the clothes I bought in the closet. Just as I am about to be done, there's a knock on the door.

I move to open it and notice James standing on the other side, "Dinner's ready." He says and I nod.

I close the door behind me before I turn to him and notice that he's wearing the same clothes he wore to office this morning and wonder if it gets tiring for me to stay in suits all the time.

"Are you not going to change before dinner?" I ask him as we approach the stairs and he looks at me in surprise, as if me talking to him is something abnormal.

But then he does answer me, "No, I'll freshen up before bed."

I nod and when we reach the dining table, he pulls a chair for me, surprising me but I mumble a quick thank you before he sits by my side which is quite unusual. Carrack and Chloe join us and the latter's eyes linger on the two of us when she notices us sitting side by my side but I don't pay heed to her.

"Had a nice day, Lillian?" Carrack asks as Shanley sets up the table and I nod.

"Yes, you?"

"Yup. I met your father today back at his office." He tells me.

"Oh, is he good?" I ask.

Before he can reply to me, Chloe speaks up, "Shouldn't you know already? You spent the day with your mother."

Her words surprise me because I never told her about it, and she wasn't there when I came back either. I frown at her but don't respond until I feel James's gaze on me.

"You shopped with her?" He asks and I nod, wondering how does he know I even went shopping.

He nods but doesn't say anything else before all of us start having the dinner. Carrack and James don't talk about business at the dinner table, which I have realised in my short time here. But Chloe whines a little as she huffs about wanting to go for modelling in New York.

"It's just one shoot, you have to stop being so overprotective." She tells James, but her smile tells otherwise because she actually enjoys that he cares for her.

"I am not being overprotective. I am being protective. And we're not having this conversation again."

The finality in James tone makes me swallow back my argument because Chloe not being here for a while sounds pleasant to me but I just shake my head to myself. After having dinner I pick up my dishes and move to kitchen, rinsing them before I turn to Mrs. George.

"You never called me up." I say, wondering if Shanley forgot to ask her to do so.

"Regarding what?"

"I asked Shanley to tell you to give me a call, did she not mention it?"

She shakes her head, frowning, "Was it something important?"

"Nothing, it was regarding the credit card but I saw you already left it on the desk in the bedroom." I say.

She gives me a confused look, "What credit card?"

Her words make me frown, but I sigh, "Never mind."

I leave the kitchen and notice that James is also about to head upstairs. We both silently walk by each other's side till we reach our doors but something feels really off so I turn to him.

"How did you know I went shopping today?" I ask him, and he gives me a questioning look.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I didn't take any car and Mark was with you in the office. How did you know I went shopping?" I say and he takes a few steps towards me.

He opens my bedroom door before motioning me to step in so I do that before he does the same and closes the door behind him.

"Why didn't you take a car?" He asks and I shrug.

"I don't know a lot of things about how things work here." I tell him truthfully.

His emerald eyes search for my face before he speaks up, "There's a garage on the left side of the house. I'll give you keys to one of the cars and you can take it whenever you want. Otherwise you can always call up Mark."

I nod at him, "But again, how did you know?"

"You told me in the morning you'll be going, and then I received an email statement regarding the purchases."

"Why would you receive a statement for my card?" I frown at him, clearly confused.

"What do you mean your card? I am talking about the card I lent you in the morning." He says and I can tell he's getting annoyed quickly.

"I never used it." I mumble, hoping he doesn't hear it, "How much money do you think I spent today?" I ask him.

"I got a statement of around two thousand."

What? I would never spend two thousand dollars on shopping in one go. I mean, I did spent over fifteen hundred today, but two thousand is where I draw a line.

"I forgot your card in the kitchen, because I never planned on using it. But when I came back, it was lying on the desk so I assumed Mrs. George kept it there." I sigh turning to retrieve my purse and handing the card over to him.

"So you didn't spent around a thousand dollar at Pink today?" He arches an eyebrow and my cheeks immediately heat up.

"God, no." I breathe, shaking my head because I don't have some weird obsession with lingeries.  I pull out my credit card receipts and hand it over to him, "I used my own card and I am not sure who shopped from yours, but it wasn't me."

He sighs, running a hand through his hair, "It sounds kind of unbelievable to me, Lillian."

My brows crease together as I look at him in disbelief, "Why would I lie to you?"

"I don't know. I am sure Mrs. George doesn't spend that much money on lingerie." He says and the embarrassment takes over me.

"Do you have a full transcript?" I ask him and he pulls out his phone, clicking on it before handing it over to me.

I read through it and almost choke at the amount of lingerie shopping done before my eyes take in something, making me frown, "Yup, that's not me."

He looks down at the list before turning to me, "You got proof?"

His words make me scoff, "You don't have to trust me because I don't trust you either. But I am not a liar, especially not when it comes to money."

"You're forgetting money is the exact reason why you're here in the first place."

My mouth falls open at his words because that was a low blow even for him. I shake my head, blinking back the tears that emerge out of nowhere.

"You should leave, Mr. Clark." I say and he must realise the impact of his words because he opens his mouth to speak but shuts it right back up.

He pulls something out of his pocket before handing it over to me, "You start on Monday." He says before leaving and I look down at the document.

It's a letter from my previous college, in my name, saying that I join back this semester. This time when I cry, it's not out of sadness but out of pure frustration towards James Clark.

•••
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