"Brother? Big brother? BIG BROTHER!!" Lily's voice echoed through the house.
From the hallway, Alex groaned. "What is it? Why are you screaming at the top of your lungs this early in the morning?" he replied, clearly annoyed.
"What do you mean, what is it? I'm getting late for college, and you're still in front of the mirror grooming yourself—for who, exactly?"
"Excuse me? Am I your driver now? Do you pay me to drop you off at college? Besides, I've got an urgent meeting today, so I won't be able to take you." Alex turned toward the kitchen. "Mom, I'm skipping breakfast. I'm already running late."
"But—" their mother began, only to be cut off.
"No ifs and buts, Mom. I have to go. Bye!" And with that, Alex rushed out the door.
"Brother, no—wait!" Lily called after him, but he was already gone.
She turned to their mom, eyes brimming with tears, when a calm voice broke the silence.
"I'll drop you. Don't worry."
Lily looked up to see Liam standing there. Without hesitation, she ran to him and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you, big brother. Thank you so much!"
Liam smiled softly and patted her head.
"And you," their mom said, narrowing her eyes at him, "don't even think about leaving without eating breakfast. That rascal Alex may have gotten away with it, but you won't!"
Liam chuckled nervously. Truth be told, he was also running late. But he knew better than to argue—especially when it came to their mother and breakfast. Swallowing his excuses, he sat down for a quick meal.
After all, even if he was the CEO of his own company, he believed one thing strongly: if he expected his employees to be on time, he should lead by example.
Breakfast wrapped up quickly, and the siblings soon found themselves in the car, Liam eager to drop Lily off as soon as possible. The ride didn't take long, and before she knew it, the car rolled to a stop in front of one of the most prestigious colleges in the city.
Lily waved goodbye with a smile and stepped through the gates, while Liam waited a moment to make sure his youngest sister was safely inside before driving away.
Despite the Lennox family's wealth and influence, they were known for avoiding the spotlight. Fame never mattered much to them. That was exactly why Lily Lennox chose to attend a humble college—quiet, respectable, and far from the glitz of her family name.
"Hey, good morning, sister!" Lily greeted with a huge grin, throwing her arms around Dalia and giving her a tight hug, tight enough to nearly choke her.
"Okay, okay, now please let me go," Dalia responded, patting Lily's back, more like pleading for her release.
"Uh-oh—oh, I'm sorry!" Lily quickly stepped back, guilt flashing across her face.
Dalia was Lily's best friend—or at least, that's how Lily saw it. Maybe because, to her, the term "best friend" wasn't just a label—it was a feeling.
"It's all good, good," Dalia said with a small smile, making Lily feel a little better about the overly enthusiastic hug.
They didn't share many classes—actually, just one. That too only happened because Lily had limited electives left to choose from. Rather than taking a history course, which didn't interest her, she ended up enrolling in Introduction to Botany the study of plants and trees. Ironically, she had no real interest in plants.
Lily had always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, so most of her schedule was packed with classes like textile design, fashion illustration, and sewing techniques. Botany was the odd one out, and honestly, she was only dragging herself to that class for one reason—and one reason only: Dalia was there.
Dalia, on the other hand, was quite the introvert. She preferred quiet moments and cherished the time she spent with Lily—after all, Lily was her first real friend, if you didn't count family or relatives, because let's be honest, they don't exactly qualify as friends.
Dalia had a deep love for plants. In fact, she owned a spacious yard filled with all kinds of greenery—flowers, fruit trees, and even vegetables. She had been passionate about gardening since she was little, and caring for plants brought her a sense of peace and purpose.
"Hey, beautiful. Good morning," a guy said as he walked into the classroom, running a hand through his hair while flashing a confident smile at Dalia.
"Tell me, Mr. Spikes," Lily jumped in with a teasing grin, "don't your fingers get scratched sliding through that hair? Honestly, with how sharp it looks, I'm surprised the classroom curtains haven't torn just from being near you. What kind of oil do you use, huh? Hedgehog brand?"
"Pfft!" Dalia burst into laughter, covering her face at Lily's comment.
"Don't you think your mouth works a little too much, Miss Lily?" the guy replied with a dramatic sigh. Wearing an exaggeratedly annoyed expression, he walked past them with a flick of his hand.
"That was a good one," Dalia whispered to Lily, still giggling. "Thanks."
Lily tossed her hair back with a smirk. "Please, he was talking to you with that face. And honestly, even if I said you deserve better than him... the word deserve would just give up and jump off a cliff."
Ha ha ha, okay, okay, enough now—my stomach hurts," Dalia laughed, clutching her side.
Lily nodded, still smiling, as the classroom started to settle down. The teacher cleared her throat and began writing on the board.
"Alright, everyone, settle down," the professor said in a calm, voice. "Today, we'll be covering the basics of........
.
.
"Good morning, sir! Good morning, sir!" Liam Lennox was greeted by several employees as he entered the building, making his way toward his office.
From the assistant's desk, Jason Kai heard the familiar ding of the elevator and immediately knew who had arrived.
The office door clicked open, and Jason looked up with a smile. "Good morning, Mr. Lennox."
Liam chuckled, shaking his head. "Good morning? More like late morning."