Mrs. Zander held up a shimmering navy-blue gown, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Doesn't this look good?"
Lydia exhaled, crossing her arms. "Mum, you bought almost the same thing yesterday. Why are you…"
"Women never get tired of shopping," Mrs. Zander cut in with a giggle.
"Well, I do."
Mrs. Zander ignored her, placing the dress into Lydia's hands. "Try this one. It will look good on your skin."
Lydia groaned but took the dress, dragging herself to the fitting room. Five minutes later, she stepped out, struggling to walk.
Mrs. Zander clasped her hands together. "Oh, you look breathtaking, darling!"
Lydia shifted uncomfortably. "Mum, I can barely breathe. This is too tight."
"We'll take it," Mrs. Zander told the sales assistant without hesitation.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Yes ma'am"
"That bag, and that one too."
"Can I change now?" Lydia sighed.
"No dear, we will go back home like this." Mrs Zander smiled, checking her daughter out.
"Ugh" Lydia groaned.
As they exited the boutique, a deep voice called out. "Mrs. Zander?"
Both women turned to find a tall, well-dressed man standing near the entrance. Rowan.
Rowan how are you?" Mrs Zander said, stretching her hand to which Rowan shook.
"I'm good ma, How is the president?" Rowan asked.
"Good."
Rowan eyes darted to Lydia who was avoiding contact with him all this while.
"This is…" Rowan said.
"Meet my daughter…Ly"
"Lydia" Rowan completed the statement.
Mrs. Zander raised an eyebrow. "You two know each other?"
Rowan chuckled. "Yes. She's the woman I pulled out of the pool. I'm surprised to see you here Lydia." Rowan said excited, at the same time curious.
There was an awkward silence.
Lydia stiffened
Mrs. Zander's smile vanished. "Pool?" She turned to Lydia who was feeling uneasy.
Rowan glanced between them, suddenly aware of the tension. "I… didn't realize she hadn't told you."
"Lydia?"
Lydia swallowed hard. "Mum, I'll explain when we get home."
"I'm sorry." Rowan apologized.
Mrs. Zander cut him off with a curt nod. "We'll talk later, Rowan." Then, without another word, she climbed into the car.
Lydia threw him an apologetic look. "Bye."
As soon as the car door shut, her mother's voice lashed out.
"What was that?"
"I…"
"You nearly drowned, and I had to hear it from a stranger?"
"I didn't want to worry you."
"Oh, but now I'm worried, aren't I? Didn't I tell you never to hide things from me?"
"I know, I'm wrong. I'm sorry." Lydia reached for her mother's hand.
Mrs. Zander exhaled, rubbing her temple. "Tell me everything."
Lydia hesitated before admitting, "I fell into the pool at my ex-in-laws' house."
Mrs. Zander's eyes flashed. "That's ridiculous! You can't swim! You can't swim so why will you go close to the pool and do the mistake of falling."
"I slipped."
"Do you want to keep on lying to me."
"I'm not lying, Mum. Please believe me."
"What about Clinton? Wasn't he there? Why did Rowan save you and not him?"
Lydia's throat tightened. "Clinton jumped in too… but Rowan reached me first."
Mrs. Zander scoffed. "Of course he did. Ugh, what am I expecting from a loser. Clinton must've only jumped in because he saw Rowan going for you. That coward."
"Mum, don't…"
"Whatever, don't hide things like this again."
"Alright mum."
"Promise?"
"I promise"
Her mother pulled her into a brief hug before pulling away.
"Now, tell me, dear. How do you feel about Rowan?"
Lydia frowned. "What?"
Mrs. Zander grinned. "Think about it. You fall into a pool, and he saves you. It isn't coincidence. You both are match for heaven. Then today, out of all the places in this massive city, you run into him. It's fate!"
Lydia nearly choked. "Mum, no. Just no."
Mrs. Zander ignored her. "It's a sign! The universe made you fall so your soulmate could find you."
"He is a good man, I meet him a meeting with your dad. He owns King's comestics and King's shopping mall." Mrs. Zander said with so much excited.
Lydia pinched the bridge of her nose. "Mum, you need to stop watching so much Zee World and K-Dramas."
Mrs. Zander smirked. "We'll see about that."
They got home, Lydia got down immediately and left.
"I can't be wrong. I just need to set them up." Mrs. Zander said, leaving the car, servants rushed in carrying all the things she bought.
Later That Night, At Dinner Table.
Lydia was halfway through her meal when she noticed her mother's expectant gaze.
She sighed. "What now?"
"Oh, nothing." Mrs. Zander's tone was too sweet. "We were just talking about Rowan."
Lydia froze mid-bite.
Her father, Mr. Zander, looked up from his steak. "Who's Rowan?"
"The owner of A&B Company. King's Cosmetics."
Mr. Zander raised an eyebrow. "Impressive. What about him?"
Mrs. Zander beamed. "I'm thinking of setting him up with Lydia."
Lydia choked on her drink, coughing violently.
Mrs. Zander handed her a napkin. "Careful, dear."
"Why?" Mr. Zander asked, unfazed.
"He's successful, kind, and…"
"That's what we thought about Clinton,"
"Clinton bad behavior was showing from the beginning, he never liked Lydia from start. It was Lydia who thought she would change him."
"Honey, setting her with Rowan isn't a good idea, she just got free from a broken marriage."
That's why she need to move on. Nowadays men wouldn't want to marry a divorcee, now that she is young, let her go out, explore."
Lydia slammed her hands on the table in annoyance.
"Mum, dad, please stop. I'm not marrying anyone. I'm taking over dad company." Lydia said.
"Oh… but I'm not asking you to re-marry. Just go out with him."
"Enough, please! It's my life. Let me decided on my own."
Mrs. Zander scoffed.
The last time you decide on your own, you married Clinton. I and your dad was against it but you were so much in love, you even dropped your identity as the president daughter and his heir just because of him! No more you making decisions, the last time you did it was disastrous." Mrs. Zander said.
Lydia's chest tightened. She forced a laugh, though it lacked humor. "I'm done eating." Pushing back her chair, she walked away.
Mr. Zander glared at his wife. "That was harsh."
Mrs. Zander sighed, rubbing her eyes. "I know. But she's stubborn. She won't listen. Look at Clinton, he had move on already, on the day of the divorce, he brought in another woman, how long will she mourn over her lost marriage"
"She has moved on. She said she's taking over the company."
"Tish. Yesterday, I saw her crying over her wedding photos."
Mr. Zander's face softened.
"And two days ago…" Mrs. Zander hesitated. "She drove past Clinton's house. She saw him hugging that woman. She sat outside in her car for twenty minutes watching them before leaving."
His brows furrowed. "You're watching her?"
"I was there for a meeting. When I saw her car parked outside, I stayed behind to make sure Clinton didn't do anything."
Mr. Zander sighed. "You can't control her life."
Tears welled in Mrs. Zander's eyes. "She already wasted years on Clinton. I just want to protect her."
He reached over, patting her hand. "I know."
1 AM, Lydia's Room
Lydia was buried in company reports when a soft knock interrupted her.
"Come in."
Her mother stepped inside, eyes hesitant. "Still awake?"
Lydia nodded. "Work."
Mrs. Zander sat beside her. "I came to apologize for what I said earlier. I'm sorry dear, I was wrong."
Lydia glanced up. "Did Dad tell you to?"
"No." She hesitated. "I was wrong. I thought Rowan might be a distraction, but… I just worry about you."
Lydia sighed. "I don't need a man to move on, Mum."
"But I saw you crying over your wedding photos."
"I was deleting old pictures. I cried because… I was happy that day. Young. In love with someone I thought cared for me."
Mrs. Zander's throat tightened. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
"Promise me something?"
"What?"
"Give love a second chance."
Lydia hesitated.
"Please?"
She sighed. "I'll try."
Her mother brightened. "And go out with Rowan. Just as friends."
Lydia rolled her eyes. "Fine. For you."
Mrs. Zander hugged her.
"Alright, I will get late snacks for you." As she left, Lydia stared at the reports, but her mind was elsewhere.
Fate, huh?
She didn't believe in it.
But why did Rowan's face keep flashing in her mind?