Pack your things and move in

Lia had no name, or at least she thought she didn't. But her grandmother, whom she loved dearly, called her Lia. 

Her grandmother wasn't even her biological relative, yet she gave Lia the warmth of family, something Lia had never known before. It was strange, but the old woman felt closer to her than anyone else in her life. 

The servants of the Valen family often tried to convince Lia that she had no obligation to pay for her grandmother's medical bills since she wasn't her real granddaughter. They told her to stop being so foolish, to save her money for herself.

But what they didn't understand was that without her grandmother's support, without the sacrifices her grandmother had made for her, Lia would never have become who she was today. 

Lia had endured years of bullying from Lucas, the Valen family's son. Despite being well-behaved and never resisting, her quiet demeanor only made him bolder, his arrogance growing with every passing year.

As she got older, Mrs. Selena saw that her son was naughty, so she let Lia go to an aristocratic school, guarding her baby son for fear that he would suffer any grievances, while giving Lia the opportunity to complete her studies with the help of the Valen family. 

Lia had no complaints about that. Without their help, she wouldn't have had a chance at education. But after years of working tirelessly, of being treated like a servant, she couldn't help but feel that her efforts should have earned her more than just a roof over her head.

"Lia," her grandmother called softly, breaking her thoughts.

Lia quickly wiped away the tears that had gathered in her eyes. She smiled and hurried to her grandmother's side. "Grandma, you're awake! Are you hungry? Let me peel some fruit for you."

Her grandmother shook her head gently. "I'm not hungry, Lia. But why do you look so tired? You've been working yourself too hard, haven't you?"

Her grandmother's gaze fell on the dark circles under Lia's eyes, and a look of deep concern filled her face. It pained her to see her granddaughter in such a state, especially when she knew it was all because of her.

"I'm fine, grandma," Lia reassured her, though she knew the truth.

The old woman reached out and touched her granddaughter's face, her fingers trembling. "You're burning up. Have you caught a cold?"

Lia smiled softly, trying to hide the worry. "It's just a little hot. I'm fine, really."

Her grandmother sighed. "Lia, don't lie to me. I may be old, but I know when something's wrong."

Lia paused, unsure of what to say. "I'm okay, Grandma, really."

The old woman gently patted her granddaughter's head, her eyes wet with unshed tears. "I know how serious my illness is. Don't spend any more money on me. Don't worry about me, Lia. Everyone must face this day eventually. I'm not afraid of it."

Lia's heart twisted painfully. "Grandma, Dr. Arthur said the chances of the surgery being successful are very high. Don't you still want to see me get married?"

At the mention of marriage, her grandmother's expression faltered. She looked down, sadness creeping into her face. "I would love to see you get married, Lia. But I don't know if I'll be around to witness it. Your mate... hasn't come yet."

Lia refused to let her grandmother be disappointed. She quickly wiped her eyes and tried to smile. "Grandma, I already have a boyfriend. After your surgery, I'll bring him to see you. How about that?"

For her grandmother's sake, Lia was willing to lie. She hoped that the old woman would feel happy, even if it meant she wasn't telling the whole truth.

Her grandmother's eyes brightened with hope. "Really? Is it true?"

Lia hesitated but then nodded. "Yes, grandma. He's a classmate from high school. We met again when I was delivering something to the young master."

Her grandmother's face lit up, eager for more details. "Is it really true, Lia?"

"Yes, grandma. He said he likes me. At first, I didn't believe it, but... but..." Lia trailed off, unsure of how to continue the story.

Her grandmother leaned forward, eager to know more. "But what?"

Lia hesitated, then offered the best version of the truth she could muster. "He said he liked me since high school. I had a good impression of him, too, so we ended up together. It's still too soon to tell anyone. We wanted to wait until we were more stable before telling you."

Her grandmother's face softened, and she smiled. "I see. Well, I'm happy for you, Lia. It's good to know you have someone."

Lia smiled as her grandmother's joy lifted her spirits. "So, you need to stay in a good mood, grandma. After the surgery, I'll bring him to see you. Promise."

"Okay, okay," her grandmother chuckled. "I can't wait to see who our Lia's future husband will be. He better treat you well!"

Lia could hardly contain her relief. She smiled and reassured the old woman, "Don't worry, grandma. He's a good person."

"Good, good," the old lady murmured, content. "Now go, Lia. You don't need to stay here with me. Don't let your work suffer because of me."

"Grandma, I'm on vacation right now," Lia said quickly, not wanting to worry her grandmother with the details of her resignation. She didn't want the old woman to think she was struggling financially.

"Vacation?" Her grandmother was surprised. "Did the young master allow it? That's unusual."

Lia nodded. "Yes, grandma. He agreed."

"Good, good," the old woman murmured. "But you need to take better care of yourself, Lia. You're getting so thin. I know you're looking after me, but you need to look after yourself too."

"Grandma, I'm not thin. I'm just fine," Lia replied, smiling softly.

Her grandmother chuckled. "You're not thin? My granddaughter is perfect. You should be plump. Women need a little meat on their bones."

Lia smiled at her grandmother's words. Growing up, she had always been a little more mature than her classmates, and her body had developed earlier than others. Male classmates would often glance at her, and female classmates would whisper behind her back, accusing her of showing off. For a while, she'd felt insecure about it, but over time, she had learned to embrace her body.

"Grandma, I'm going to get some hot water. Would you like some?"

As Lia went to prepare the water, her grandmother sighed, changing the subject. "I wonder how your father is doing at work. Has he heard anything from the Valen family? Is he alright?"

Lia froze for a moment, her hands stilling. She didn't want to tell her grandmother the truth that her adoptive father had been fired from his job at Valen Group. Not yet. 

"Don't worry, grandma," Lia said quickly, pouring the water. "Dad's doing well. Everything's fine."

Her grandmother seemed to accept her reassurance, nodding slowly. "Good, good."

Just then, Lia's phone buzzed, breaking the quiet moment. 

"Lia, don't worry about me. Answer your phone," her grandmother urged, knowing how busy her granddaughter was.

"Okay, grandma," Lia said, tucking the blanket around her grandmother before stepping outside to answer the call.

The number on the screen was familiar, though she hadn't saved it. It was Cassius. 

"Mr. Cassius, how can I help you?"

There was a slight pause before he responded. "Privately, call me by my name."

Lia felt a little uncomfortable. "Cassius... is there something you need?"

"If there's nothing urgent, can't I just come to see you?" His voice was casual, but there was something behind his words that made her pause.

Lia wasn't sure how to answer, and the silence stretched between them.

He seemed to realize his words were a bit abrupt and cleared his throat. "By the way, is your cold any better?"

Lia was surprised. She hadn't expected him to care. "Much better, thank you for asking."

He didn't seem convinced. "Your voice sounds hoarse, and you're still a little congested. Are you sure you're better?"

She felt a little embarrassed. "I'll be fine by tomorrow. Thank you for worrying."

There was a brief silence before he spoke again, his voice steady. "Do you know my home address?"

Lia blinked in confusion. "Yes…"

"Pack your things and move in."

Lia's heart skipped a beat. She must have misheard him. "Cassius, why? Why should I move in with you?" They should have an embarrassing and secret relationship.

"I have mysophobia," he explained, his voice cool. "I don't like staying in hotels."

Lia was speechless for a moment.