Chapter 44 Living Together
"You've already helped me so much. We're both doing our jobs in different areas. I'm really grateful to you. Without your support and help, the branch office would never have succeeded. I might still be a useless housewife now."
Zachary sent a tongue-out emoji, then said: "Don't say things like that anymore. Opening the law firm was your idea. I just gave you an option. Whether you chose us or not, with your abilities, you could have made it all work."
Facing Zachary's praise, although I thought it was a bit exaggerated, it still warmed my heart.
Whenever I felt down, Zachary's words always brought me different kinds of comfort.
Me: "Do you have that girl's contact information?"
Zachary: "I already gave her your contact info. She should reach out to you soon."
Me: "That's good."
Zachary: "Keep going, victory is just around the corner."
I replied with a励志 emoji.
I stayed in the study for a long time, until I heard the sound of a car engine and voices from downstairs, then I pulled myself away from work.
It seemed Liliana was back.
I mentally prepared myself, got up, and walked out of the bedroom.
Coming to the hallway and looking downstairs, Liliana was standing there talking non-stop. Her hair was shoulder-length, she wore a knit vest with puff sleeves, jeans, and a pair of limited edition pink sneakers. She looked both youthful and student-like.
"Isla, Gray, I missed you guys so much! I bought lots of gifts for everyone. Hayden is unloading the car." Liliana was lively and cheerful.
Gray looked at her with satisfaction. "It's good you're back. This is your home."
Isla also said, "Right, stay as long as you want. Gray and I have discussed it—we'll postpone going back to the country to spend more time with you. It's so nice for our family to be together."
Liliana jumped with joy. "That's great! Then I'm going to stay here and not leave."
Isla smiled from ear to ear. "Of course, this is Tyler's house. You can stay as long as you want. No one can make you leave."
Listening to their conversation, my eyes darkened, but then I adjusted my mood and went downstairs.
When Liliana saw me, a flash of dislike clearly crossed her eyes, but she still smiled and said, "Sophia."
I just nodded slightly, then said politely, "Hope the journey wasn't too tiring."
"Not at all. Thinking about coming to stay here, I was happy the whole way." A faint smile appeared at the corner of Liliana's mouth.
Then Liliana pushed a suitcase toward me and said, "Sophia, this has my clothes from the past few days abroad that I didn't have time to wash. The maid needs to cook for me. Can you help me wash them?"
My expression shifted slightly, and I frowned a little.
The maid quickly took the suitcase. "I have time, I have time. The weather's been good these days. I'll wash them after cooking."
"That's too much work for you. Sophia has nothing to do at home all day anyway. Can't she help me wash some clothes?" Liliana said, putting on an innocent face.
Isla chimed in, "That's right, Sophia. Don't you feel bored being idle every day? Liliana is your sister too. Isn't it normal for a sister-in-law to help her sister wash clothes?"
Watching the two of them go back and forth, my eyes flickered, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of my mouth. "I'm not that free either. Besides, I don't even wash my husband's clothes. Isn't that right, honey?"
I deliberately threw the question to Tyler. He looked calm. "Yes, we have maids at home. Sophia doesn't need to do any housework. Liliana, do these clothes have to be washed today? If they must be washed today, then wash them yourself after dinner."
Liliana was displeased. "Tyler! Are you taking her side like this?"
Hearing this, Tyler frowned slightly. "What's wrong with me taking my wife's side? What do you look like right now? Acting like this as soon as you get back?"
Seeming to realize she was being too emotional, Liliana pressed her lips together and could only reluctantly explain, "You misunderstood me, Tyler. I just thought if Sophia washed my clothes, I'd feel happy wearing them."
I almost laughed out loud. She could actually come up with such a lame excuse. Seems like she didn't learn anything cultured abroad.
"Alright, take Liliana to her room and help her organize her things."
Liliana asked again, "Tyler, I found a bedroom decoration style I like. Can you decorate one for me?"
My eyes flickered—I instantly understood Liliana's little scheme.
Tyler wasn't stupid either. He looked calm. "This isn't your house. You're just staying temporarily. If you want to decorate a bedroom, do it in your own house later. You can decorate however you want. I can pay for it."
Immediately, Liliana's face changed. She continued acting cute. "Tyler, after my parents passed away, you and I became family. Plus your house is so big—a three-story villa with so many rooms. Can't I live with you guys? It's more lively with more people."
"My parents don't live here permanently either. After they decide to settle down in the country, you can go live with them in the old house. I'll have it cleaned up."
No matter what Liliana said, Tyler remained unmoved.
Setting everything else aside, this time Tyler finally did something that satisfied me.
Seeing she couldn't persuade Tyler, Liliana started pinning her hopes on Isla. She held Isla's arm and acted cute. "Isla, look at Tyler. Such a big house—I want to live with Tyler. Wouldn't that be nice?"
Isla also said, "That's right, Tyler. What's wrong with letting Liliana live with you? Such a big house with just three of you—don't you find it lonely?"
I didn't say a word, just quietly watched this group perform.
I also wanted to see how Tyler would handle this.
"This is my home. I make the decisions. Besides, the Thompson family has plenty of properties. Why must you live with Sophia and me?" Tyler's expression became serious, with a hint of sternness in his tone.
Isla still felt that as Tyler's mother, she had a say. She continued, "Tyler, you won't even listen to me? Liliana is twenty-three. In three or four years at the earliest, five or six years at most, she'll get married. What's wrong with her living at your place until she gets married?"
I snorted silently. Isla was quite something—even bringing up marriage.
Liliana looked pitiful. "Tyler, I want to live with you. I had so much fun playing with Jasper just now. Right, Jasper? You want me to live with you, don't you?"