Since She Met Lucian

It was a quiet evening at SJ Garden. Shelly was wearing a beautiful, pink dress adorned with intricate lace. For the past half hour, she had been busy arranging a candlelight dinner for her and Lucian.

"Lily, get me the roses I had delivered from France!" she shouted, not looking up from the table.

Lily was standing close by.

There was something going in her mind as she stared coldly at Shelly.

Looking up, Shelly noticed that Lily had not moved an inch. "Hey! Are you deaf? Do I need to tell you twice? Bring me the roses that came in today!" Shelly shouted impatiently, glaringly angrily at Lily.

"Ah.. Y-yes, I'll be right back!" Lilt stammered, finally coming back to her senses. Sighing begrudgingly to herself, she went downstairs to get the roses.

Ever since Shelly moved in at SJ Garden, Lily was shouted at nearly every day. At some point, she already wanted to quit her job. However, Lucian had told her that he was working on getting Amelia back soon. That was enough reason for Lily to endure Shelly for the meantime and keep working at SJ Garden.

Lily was not a complainer. Even though Shelly constantly scolded her, she did not want to tell Lucian about it. After all, Lucian was already busy and preoccupied with work.

Since Shelly arrived, she had been sleeping in the guest room. With all her might, she tried to get closer to him -- calling him honey and generally being a loving wife. But no matter what she did, Lucian never smiled at her, nor did he respond to her with the same amount of endearment.

Although the villa had gotten much livelier, it was really far from pleasant. 'It's as if Shelly's doing a solo performance around here,' Lily thought to herself resentfully.

Even Lucian tended to avoid Shelly as much as he could. Every night, he would intentionally come back from work after dinner so that he wouldn't have to eat with Shelly. Eventually, Shelly started making dinner at a later time. Lucian had no choice then but to eat outside just so that he could spend as little time as possible with Shelly, making her incredibly sad and disappointed.

'When will this woman realize that things will never go her way if she forces it too much?' Lily thought. The more Lucian rejected her, the more Shelly pushed even harder, trying everything she could possibly think of to be closer to him.

Now she even bought a bouquet of French roses to surprise Lucian.

With a cold glare, Lily couldn't help but think that the flowers might appall Lucian more than it would surprise him.

"Miss Shelly, it's almost time for dinner," Lily said, handing the roses to Shelly, "I have to go prepare. Call me if you need anything else."

Turning around, Shelly looked at Lily in indignation. "Excuse me? How many times have I told you? I'm Lucian's wife now! You should address me as Mrs. Shelly!"

"I..." Lily stammered. But in her heart, she was screaming, 'Mrs. Amelia is the real wife of Mr. Lucian!'

"And what exactly were you about to say just now?" Crossing her arms over her chest, Shelly glared unhappily at Lily.

pretty the roses are!" Lily answered quickly. At this

Shelly snorted. With that, Lily did not say another word, and

that night, Lucian came home just in time for dinner. 'Ah! Mr.

are back." 'Did he come back home early

ready?" Lucian asked, loosening his silk

quite a long time since Lucian came to SJ

"Where is Miss Shelly?"

or not she should tell him the truth. 'If Shelly's plan worked and Lucian was moved

asked, glancing up the staircase with his deep

"She said she didn't want to have dinner with you so that

There was not much emotion or concern in his voice and expression.

make up an excuse to avoid Lucian and Shelly from

can go

Lucian sat

came to a point that Lily would cook so many different dishes in the hopes that Shelly might like at least one. Lucian, on the

Lucian, can I ask you something?" Lily asked in a low

want

breath, Lily tried to muster all the courage she had.

Lily's question. After taking a sip of his soup, he looked at

finally be able to see Mrs. Amelia again," Lily said as she burst into

too loud, Lily," Lucian

tried to restrain her smile.

couldn't help

You're back!" The warm and happy atmosphere

she went into the kitchen and

initially thought. If I didn't come downstairs, I would have never known that

was afraid of Shelly, but rather she felt ashamed that Lucian had

quick glance at Lily's direction, Lucian knew that Lily was up to something. "I was the one who told Lily to get dinner started," he said

Lucian would say something like that. "Lucian, we're husband and wife," she complained

Lucian put down his bowl. The appetite he had earlier was completely ruined

can't even have a decent meal around

was preparing a