Isabel is a bully.

"Believe me, Lilian and I are nothing more but close friends," Ryan explained, turning to the side to glance at Maureen.

"Lilian has already been through a lot. What if she harbors feelings for you that you haven't noticed yet? I am the only woman she considers a true friend. I don't want to..." Maureen began to explain to him.

"The same applies to me. She places a great deal of trust in me, and I don't want to betray that trust. I'm not just a doctor; I also study psychology, so I can tell when a woman has a crush on a man. Lilian's feelings towards me are pure and innocent, not what you are concerned about," Ryan reassured her.

This exchange helped Maureen relax a bit, and she nodded in acknowledgment. Ryan then asked if she had already accepted him, causing Maureen to blush. He chuckled and started the car's engine. Upon arriving at the company where Maureen worked, he drew her close, giving her a gentle and sweet kiss.

They became lost in each other's embrace, sharing kisses. Maureen closed her eyes and surrendered to his passionate kiss until he pulled back, smiling.

Feeling bashful, Maureen quickly turned her face away, opened the car door, and departed without looking back.

Ryan watched her enter the company before starting the car and driving off. Maureen licked her lips, impressed by Ryan's kissing technique.

As the workday drew to a close, Lilian drove to the kindergarten to pick up her child, only to unexpectedly encounter a familiar face:

The last person Lilian ever thought she would see at the kindergarten was Isabel. Lilian briefly glanced at her before walking past to get her daughter.

Isabel was taken by surprise. She hadn't expected to find Lilian at the kindergarten.

She had finally emerged from hiding. Maybe she had crossed paths with Alex and had been pleading with him using her body.

Her husband and Lilian were having affairs. He was making love to her, calling out Lilian's name. Everything became clear to her.

She had Alex all day, only to come home and hear that he wasn't interested in being intimate with her. She needed to warn Lilian to stay away from her husband.

As she saw Lilian walking out, holding her child close, Isabel noticed the pride on her face. Both mother and child were giggling as they headed towards the car. That's when Isabel called out to her.

Lilian opened the car door for her daughter, letting her get in before turning to face Isabel. This wasn't the old Lilian who could be bullied by others and find comfort only in tears.

"Yes, Isabel. How can I help you?" Lilian asked, walking with a raised chin and locking eyes with her.

Isabel narrowed her eyes. Lilian had changed. She wasn't as timid as before. She almost regretted reaching out to her in the first place.

"I see you've come out of hiding. Welcome to the spotlight. However, I don't want any more issues between us. That's why I need to warn you about what could cause trouble." She glared at Lilian as though she would kill her.

"Stay away from Alex! He's my husband, and I don't plan on sharing him with you. I know you're already trying to seduce him and have a physical relationship.

But that needs to stop. If I find out that you're still seeing him, I will make you regret ever being a part of the Simmons family. I'm warning you now so I don't have to act like an unforgiving sister. If you don't want me to destroy you and leave you destitute!" Isabel warned, glaring at Lilian.

There's nothing that women like her wouldn't try. She aimed to ensnare Alex and become pregnant by him to manipulate him into giving her everything she desired. However, she won't be given the opportunity. Being an illegitimate daughter, she cannot introduce an illegitimate child into her household and marriage.

Lilian simply shook her head and muttered through clenched teeth as she walked away, got into her car, and drove off. What's the point of arguing with someone like Isabel? It's beneath her to engage in such degrading behavior.

Isabel almost felt disgusted. How insolent, what a fool. How dare she walk away? Who does she think she is to act with such audacity?

She had the power to make her disappear from the city permanently. Despite not asking her to apologize for intruding on her husband, she simply hissed and walked away. Isabel planned to make her suffer for her disrespectful behavior towards her. Just because she is now involved with Alex, does she think she is now on par with her?

In frustration, she stomped her feet and walked away. She had only come to pick up her nephew, not expecting to run into Lilian.

"Who's that woman, mommy?" Aurora asked, observing Isabel and sensing the disdain in her eyes directed at her mother.

"Oh, that woman? She's not worth talking about," Lilian responded. There are certain people she preferred not to expose her daughter to, and Isabel was one of them.

"Did she bully you, mommy?" Aurora persisted. She was determined to stand up to Isabel or anyone who dared to bully her mother, despite being just a child.

In response, Lilian smiled warmly and affectionately patted her.

"I didn't allow her to bully me, darling," Lilian replied, smiling. Aurora was so caring and loved her mother deeply.

"If anyone ever tries to bully you in the future, please tell the police, mommy," Aurora added, eliciting laughter from Lilian.

"Yes, Mommy, we have to ensure our safety in the big city! That's what my teacher says," she continued, as Lilian lovingly squeezed her cheek.

"Your teacher mentioned that? They sound very wise indeed!" Lilian exclaimed as she started the car. The mother and daughter continued their conversation, with Aurora enthusiastically sharing how wonderful her new school was. Despite her young age, she was articulate and intelligent in her speech, which filled Lilian with pride and joy.

Meanwhile, Lilian found herself unable to shake off thoughts of Aiden. Why did he bear such a striking resemblance to her daughter? Could he possibly be Aurora's father? However, Alex and his group of conspirators had labeled him as a gigolo. It seemed unlikely that a wealthy man like Alex would lower himself to such a profession.

Perhaps the resemblance was merely a coincidence. Aiden was certainly not likely to be the man in question. One day, she vowed, she would come across this mysterious man and uncover his true identity.

As things unfolded according to plan, three days later, the designs she had been tasked to create were completed, and the client was summoned to review them.

Upon seeing the designs, Max Hardin, the client, expressed his satisfaction and praised Lilian. He admitted that he couldn't envision a better design than the one she had produced. Initially skeptical upon learning that the designer was newly hired, Max was impressed by the quality of her work.

He had initially agreed somewhat reluctantly, with a hint of doubt, and was curious to see what she would create. However, upon viewing the final result, he was more than satisfied and expressed a desire to collaborate with them for a longer period. He rewarded Lilian with five thousand dollars as compensation and informed her that he would continue to commission further designs from her.

Aiden was pleased with the outcome. If his brother were present, he would have been impressed by Lilian's work. Aiden intended to share Mr. Max Hardin's positive feedback with his brother.

Lilian was thrilled. The appreciation for her first project boosted her confidence, motivating her to focus on creating new drafts and designs. She planned to use her earnings to purchase special gifts for her daughter.