Lily giggled softly and after Mira had released her from the tight hug she walked inside the bedroom.
" See?... your sister likes me too." Mira chuckled then sat down again.
" Ehmmm... Clara? About yesterday. . ." her expression turned sullen while she gazed at her friend worriedly.
Clara smiled softly and slowly shook her head. " It's alright Mira... I trust him, " she said softly and Mira's expression brightened.
" Ahhh... that's great to hear." Mira sighed in relief and hugged her friend.
" Clara, do you still want to go shopping?" She asked cheerfully.
Clara nodded then her eyes turned to Lily who had emerged from the bedroom again.
" Here." Lily handed the invitation card to Mira and sat down on the opposite couch.
" Oh, for Jack's engagement"? She opened it and stared at the flight ticket inside.
" Yeah," Clara nodded and stood up. " Lemme freshen up, " she muttered with a small smile then walked toward the bedroom.
Mira nodded then placed the card inside her bag and turned to Lily.
They started chatting with Mira talking the most while the girl will just reply or nod with a soft smile.
After a while, Mira's phone started ringing and she muttered an excuse then picked it up.
" Hey babe, how's she? can I come inside now?" Zach's anxious voice came from the other end and Mira chuckled.
" She's doing fine, " she replied and glanced up at Clara who had just emerged from the bedroom. " We'll come down in a few minutes, " she added and Zach nodded an okay from the end.
" I'm ready, let's go, " Clara said after Mira had hung up then turned to her sister. " Lily, won't you come with us."
Lily shook her head with a small smile then waved them goodbye and watched as they walked out of the apartment.
She looked down and opened her palm, revealing a small hairpin then a soft sigh escaped her lips.
_____
" Clara, why isn't Lara's apartment opened? I want to give these to the twins, " Mira said while fidgeting with the large bag she was holding then took out two dolls as they stood in front of the door.
Clara shook her head with a small smile and sighed. " Lara had moved out... But she's still in the hospital. We can stop there and give it to the twins. "
" Oh." Mira nodded then dropped the dolls back inside her bag. " What happened to her?" She asked worriedly and Clara explained everything to her then she sighed heavily.
" Clara, what are you planning to buy?" Mira asked after a while as they walked down the stairs.
Clara glanced back at her and smiled. " A necktie."
" Necktie?" Mira's brows furrowed and Clara nodded.
" What are you__" she stopped midspeech as her phone started ringing.
" Hello." She placed the phone on her ear and frowned slightly while listening to the voice on the other end.
" Zach... Wait... Shit! damn you Zach. " she cut off the call and huffed.
" What is wrong?" Clara turned to her with knitted brows and Mira sighed.
" He said something came up at the basement, so he couldn't drive us to the mall, " she replied while putting the phone inside her bag.
" Huh? Basement?" Clara stopped in her steps and stared at her in confusion.
" Huh?... Oh, I mean somewhere... business. yes, some business came up, " Mira replied hurriedly then Clara nodded and continued walking down the stairs.
Mira sighed in relief and remembered that she had just told to her that they worked together without mentioning the kind of work. ' But didn't Big brother tell her?' She frowned then shrugged and followed behind her.
********
__ The Next Day __
__ Cha Mansion __
The house was eerily quiet as the servants carried out their tasks quietly and the only sound that could be heard in the vast living room apart from the chirping of the birds from the garden outside as the sky slowly turned from dark to light was the slight sobbing that kept coming from upstairs.
" Auntie, what do I do... I love big brother so much... why can't he see that... am I not trying enough, " Vivian sobbed as she buried her head on the woman's lap who was sitting on the bed while she sat on the floor.
" It's alright dear. . . stop crying. . . I'm sure your big brother was just mad for not being told in advance. " The woman sighed and patted her back.
" No, Auntie." Vivian shook her head and sniffed. " It's all her fault __ she had totally bewitched him."
" Vivian dear. . ." the woman sighed again and thought back to what her brother had said.
She didn't expect her father to know the truth. Was he willing to forget everything and forgive? was that why he had come to also talk about the wedding.
Wiping the tear that had streamed down her face, she sniffed and looked down at the girl. " It's alright dear. . . don't cry. leave it to me, " she whispered and slowly patted her back.
Vivian looked up at her with red eyes and slowly nodded. " Okay, Auntie. . ."
" Now go back to your room. Okay? and don't cry again... please." The woman wiped her tears then helped her up.
Vivian sniffed and nodded then turned and strolled out of the room with slumped shoulders.
The woman sighed again as her gaze lingered on the door then sat down on the bed.
She took hankie and wiped her tears then retrieved her phone from the bedside table and dialed a number.
______
Vivian sauntered through the hallway and slowly wiped her tears then retained her nonchalant expression.
She stopped in front of a door then pushed it open and walked inside.
Lucy gasped then quickly hid a box under her pillow and jerked up from the bed with dilated pupils." Sis Viv... when did you come back?" she stammered and slowly took a step back.
Vivian slowly walked forward with a chuckled then she carefully sat down on the bed. " Little Sis, come here, " she said softly and the girl cowered.