362 A whole new rebirth!

Lillian's smile never disappeared from her face. The plastered grin remained undisturbed ever since leaving Giselle's place. There was no recollection of any memory except a serene silence that envelops Lillian's heart. She was feeling content.

As a reflection, even the most familiar image of the outside world suddenly illuminated her sight. Like a child who's hearing about Christmas for the first time, Lillian goggled at the streets in awe, as if she had undergone a whole new rebirth.

Every little detail gleamed to her vision, spoke to her soul, making Christmas more than just a festival.

Following the lyrics to sing along, Lillian Grey enjoyed the ride back. However, halfway through, a call came to interrupt her tranquility.

And it was her dear friend, Anna.

Lillian's face brightened as soon as she saw the name and quickly seized the chance to answer the call.

***

Meanwhile, Giselle speedily rushed to her apartment. She couldn't withstand all that surprising anymore and bid a quick farewell to flee.

Making a haste entry through the front door, she left it unlocked, racing to her room.

Ethan and Lia still haven't returned, and it gave Giselle an opening to unwrap Lillian's Christmas present energetically. She grabbed an empty glass to set the black rose on her nightstand and worked to removed the gift wrapper.

Unveiling to her sight was a set of two small hoya heart plants in the shape of hearts.

A smile blossomed on Giselle's face, recalling Lillian's earlier comment about unable to resist buying this gift as she considers it to be a ritual.

Giselle's soft smile broke into laughter. She stood up, walking towards the bookshelf.

Giselle put the hoya heart set on the top rack, admiring and welcoming them to their new home. She kept cherishing their presence deeply that the incoming of two heads instantly frightened her.

Giselle shrieked to jerk away from the scare.

"Mother, it's us!"

"We're back!"

Lia greeted.

Giselle felt that her heart just got exploded for a moment. Soon, she recognized the faces, witnessing Ethan and Lia in front rather than a stranger.

"Yo- You're home!" she gasped in shock.

"Yeah, we're home!" Ethan returned.

As if it was his first time being present in that room, Ethan's gaze explored the space, scrutinizing every corner with regard. He spotted the plant that Giselle kept admiring first. The set with two heart-shaped plants itself gave away the story. Regardless, the hunt went on along the room to spot the black rose next.

Not only Ethan but Lia also did the same as the father and daughter investigated the space vividly.

"Wow, is it a black rose?" Lia called out to reach for it.

Giselle flinched to warn Lia that it is not the real black rose but painted to made it look like one.

Ethan raises his brows in surprise. Followed by a playful snort, his gaze returned to Giselle.

Giselle felt that chill as she figured what was coming next.

"Did you buy them for yourself?" Lia inquired.

"Or Were those gifts from Lillian Grey?" Ethan joined.

Out of two, both acknowledged Ethan's approach as it suited Giselle's bewildered face.

Lia's eyes instantly shifted to her mother's, eagerly awaiting to hear the answer.

Facing two different gazes: one unharmful but plentiful intention to tease and another overly expectant, Giselle grew anxious, suffering from the pressure.

"Y- Ye- Yeah, they- they were Christmas presents from Lillian. She- She-"

"Did she surprise you with these gifts?" Ethan helped her finish.

Giselle swallowed the rest of the word to feel embarrassed.

"Y- Yes," she shyly sang.

The confirmation gave Ethan more opening to tease, whereas little Lia happily embraced as she went back to stare at the black rose in awe.

Giselle patiently endured Ethan until she saw Lia slowly beginning to get distracted by his playful remarks. As soon as the little girl confusedly turned around, Giselle made a move by presenting the preserved box of chocolates.

What followed next was obvious!

Lia jumped up and down in joy from receiving the chocolate box along with the message of it being her Christmas present from Lillian Grey.

Lia requested her mother if she could have a bite to taste.

Thankfully, Giselle's plan worked as she escorted little Lia to the dining table. Ethan watched the smart move quietly, only to join them later at the table.

Giselle let Lia have more than one bite, and soon, the chocolates were disappearing from their slots. Seizing it from the child, Giselle let Lia taste the last piece for the night, saving the rest for tomorrow.

Lia frowned and went glum.

It is when Ethan reminded the child of their delicious dinner takeaway, resting on the kitchen counter.

The light returned to Lia's face.

The three went on to have dinner.

Ethan continued to tease Giselle whenever he found the opportunity. Meanwhile, Lia kept glancing around, speculating where the remaining box of delicious chocolates safely hidden from her eyes.

****

Lillian greets Anna boisterously.

"What's going on? Why do you sound so happy?"

Anna skipped the basic greeting to confront Lillian immediately about her current state.

"Guess?" Lillian challenged.

For a while, their call froze as Anna took the time to give it a thought earnestly.

All of her intentions pointed at one figure, and it was Giselle. Something related to Giselle must have happened for Lillian to express such delight in her voice.

Anna's sentence never ended as Lillian meddled to verify it for her.

"Ding Dong Dang!"

"Did I guess correct?" Anna asked in doubt.

"One hundred marks!"

Anna sounded relaxed from guessing rightly. She went on to inquire about details, presuming if these two lost love birds finally kiss or something.

Lillian's bright mood clasped from hearing Anna guess accurately once again. The silence itself became a confirmation from Lillian's end.

Anna chuckled, envying to see Lillian's face right now.

"Congratulations! You finally made progress after thousands of years," she added teasingly.

Lillian steadied herself to return to the lively mood. She wasn't planning to hide it from Anna, so it was, in a way, convenient for her to skip the big reveal. Frankly, Lillian thanked Anna for taking the correct guess. If left for Lillian to explain, then it would have taken all night for her to admit without feeling shy.

"Thank you, An," Lillian replied as the memory of the kiss brushed past her mind.

"So, this means you two are a couple now?" Anna inquired out of genuine interest.

"No," Lillian cried.

"What?"

"We kissed, that's true, but- it was in the heat of the moment."

However, the fact that Lillian still went on to reveal her true feelings for Giselle somehow pleased Anna's ears.

"That's bold. What did Giselle say?" she asked.

The prolonged silence following felt nostalgic but gave a different assumption.

Anna understood.

"So- you just- vomited everything without getting a response?"

Lillian admitted.

"You're an idiot, Lillian. You should have asked her then and there!"

It wasn't like Lillian had no such follow-up thoughts, but other reasons were stopping her from doing so. One of them being she didn't want Giselle to get scared.

"And why do you think she would get scared?"

"Because- she's- it's not like the old days. She has Lia now- I don't want to rush things. Wouldn't want her to run away again."

"We don't know if the first time is because of you, Lillian," Anna interrupted to remind.

"Anyways, I don't want to risk anything this time. I will take time to make sure I do this the right way."

"Plus, I finally met that guy!"

"Who? Lia's father?"

"Yes!"

Usually, Lillian admits to Anna about everything. However, this time, she reserved Ethan's words to herself and only mentioned his loud presence with his daughter and Giselle.

"I hate to admit, but he is a good fellow, but I hate him so badly. Just the thought of him together with Giselle makes me go insane-"

Anna chuckled again, weakly. It appears that she is having a lot of fun from this conversation.

"She did leave him, right?" Anna corrected.

"Plus, from what I heard from Giselle, he's very supportive, so-"

"I know, and I saw it with my eyes, how he cares for Giselle and Lia."

Lillian sighed, feeling intimidated every time by Ethan's genuine love for his family. Even though she told herself to do things the right way this time, she can't help but wish to speed up.

"Of course, whether you like it or not- it's his family-" Anna exclaimed.

Probably, it is the first time Lillian noticed Anna's voice faced a slight shiver while talking. Nevertheless, the flow of the conversation kept her preoccupied.

"I guess, but I don't think I have to wait anymore. I'm going to keep seeing Giselle until she accepts my feelings."

Anna allowed, encouraging Lillian's new resolve. Being her friend and watching Lillian hurt and depressed all these years made Anna always look out for her. There were times when even Anna gets exhausted from keeping an eye on Lillian. Still, she never gave up. Secretly, she endures the struggle and puts up with her friend's tantrum to take care of her.

Hearing Lillian say that she no longer wishes to remain hurt relieved Anna from keeping a constant worry. However, the only difference is that Giselle and Lillian are no more kids. Giselle has her own child now, and the fact that going back to their past feeling means setting aside every little indifferences they've faced until now to start afresh. It sparked a new concern for Anna, and the restless mind continued to remain anxious.

"Do you think Giselle still loves you as she did in the past?" Anna dared to ask.

"What if she is not like that now?"

The newly rose doubt surprised Lillian as well. She drove quietly, reflecting what Anna's hinting about their affection.

"Lillian?" Anna called to make sure she didn't upset her dear friend.

Instead, Lillian's broken laughter answered.

"Why would you say that?" she muttered along.

Feared, Anna carried her doubts and threw them away at least for now, for they were having a pleasant conversation. She didn't want to spoil Lillian's mood, especially after she took the initiative not to be concerned with needless worries.

"I'm sorry! No- No, I didn't mean in that way-"

"Forget it! It's nothing. No matter what, I still believe that Giselle loves you the same," Anna apologized and kept comforting Lillian.

Finally, when Lillian calmed down, she could share her thoughts freely.

"Hmm. It's alright if Giselle's feelings were not the same," she revealed.

"Frankly, I don't want it to be the same. I want more. I want Giselle to like me more because no matter how much we age, I keep falling for her regardless. That young Giselle who was weak to stand for herself or this more matured and calm woman that appeared in front of me after years, it doesn't concern me as the fact that I fell for her will remain true forever."

Lillian's explosion of confession returned the vigor to her dull life. Nonetheless, Anna warned Lillian to control herself and not let Giselle fly to another country from her overwhelming affection.

Lillian obeyed.

The topic of Giselle soon came to an end.

Lillian sighed to feel more confident. Now that she got Anna's blessings, her joy just doubled. Having sensed that their call weighed over one side for a long time, Lillian took the lead to ask about Anna.