"Just a second." I shout over as I rinse out the toothpaste.

I move to the adjoined door on my right to open it and notice an annoyed looking James standing there in running shorts and a white t-shirt that seems to sticking to his built up body with sweat.

"Sorry, I was just brushing." I apologise, hoping to avoid an argument this early in the morning.

"Yeah, can you not do that around this time? I have to be at office and I need the bathroom vacant." He snaps, getting in and turning on the shower while I still stand there, a little dumbfounded by his harsh tone as I look at him through the mirror reflection.

He turns his back towards me and pulls up his shirt, making my eyes widen as I stare at his defined and toned body. James' suit always outline his arms muscle but as I stare at his naked back, I honestly find it hard to breathe.

I notice how his thumbs tug at the elastic of his running shorts after he checks the shower temperature and when I realise he's about to pull down them, I audibly gasp, catching his attention. He turns around, his intense gaze fixed at me in the reflection as I stand there like I have lost my voice.

Holy shit.

His back has nothing on the toned pack of abs resting on his front, making me stare at his body shamelessly. But when I realise what I am doing, I immediately focus my eyes back on his face and notice that he just caught me staring at him.

He arches an eyebrow, "Do you want something?"

I manage to command my brain to actually respond to him as I shake my head frantically. He cocks his head to side as he continues to stare at me, making me swallow visibly.

"Well?" He asks, gesturing for me to move and I nod, turning to my right to walk out.

I am just about to step out when he clears his throat and I finally turn around, coming face to face with him with a good five feet distance between us. But suddenly this big bathroom seems to small for my own liking. James's lips turn a little upward into a slight smirk, making me frown.

"That's my room, Mrs. Clark." He motions towards the door where I was just about to enter and the realisation hits me.

Is it possible for me to become invisible right this moment?

I shake my head to snap out of my thoughts as I offer him an apologetic look before moving towards the door that connects to my room and step out. When I close the door behind me, I rest my back against it, sighing and closing my eyes as I bring up my hands to my cheeks to realise that they are heated up with all the blushing.

It's just seven thirty in the morning, and he's already getting ready for office. And from what I could see, he had been up for hours. His routine sounds exhausting and I know he works out in the morning, making me realise how opposite we really are. I run a hand through my hair as I make my way out of the room and go downstairs to kitchen in order to get a glass of milk for myself.

When I get to the kitchen, I notice Mrs. George scrambling eggs. Everyone in this house seems to be in sync with James' routine. When she realises my presence, she smiles at me.

"Good morning, Mrs. Clark." She says.

"Morning, Mrs. George. And please call me Lillian." I tell her as I move to the refrigerator.

She looks at me with surprise in her eyes, "That wouldn't bother you?" She asks and I frown.

"No, I actually prefer being called my first name," I assure her, confused as to why she would ask such a question.

Shanley enters the kitchen and when she sees me opening up the milk gallon, she comes to me, "Here, let me do it, ma'am." She moves to take it from my hand.

"Alright, this is for both of you, Mrs. George and Shanley. I like to do a few things myself, otherwise I would be completely useless and I would hate that. Also, please call me Lillian from now on." I add a small smile at the end and they both nod at me as Shanley backs off.

"Ah, hearing such things in the morning has a charm about it." I hear Carrack's voice from behind me and I turn around, a little embarrassed to be in sweatpants when he's all dressed up.

"Good Morning." I give him a sheepish smile and he chuckles lightly.

"Morning, Lillian. Let me guess, my son wouldn't let you shower first?" He asks and I try to resist the blush that fights to take over as I think about the events that took place.

"Something like that." I mumble, "Would you like some coffee?"

He smiles, "Sure."

I realise that James would want coffee too, so I turn to Mrs. George, "Does Mr. Clark like his coffee black or with milk?"

She smiles a little, almost in amusement before she answers, "Black."

I nod, wondering if there's anything that's common between us. I take up the coffee pot, making two cups of coffee for Carrack and James as I fill a glass with milk for myself.

"What would you like to have for breakfast, Lillian?" Shanley asks.

"Whatever you're making is fine." I assure her.

I would actually like to have a shower first before eating but I don't want to cause them too much hassle to make breakfast for me again and wait until I get dressed up.

"Here, I'll get it. You go sit." Shanley takes the two cups from me, setting it on a tray before doing the same with my glass of milk.

I nod, going out to sit on the dining table where Carrack is already reading a newspaper. He turns to me, "Which section would you like?"

It's a question my father always asked me at the breakfast table back when I was in high school. The nostalgia hits me as I appreciate Carrack's kindness towards me.

"Business Chronicle, if you're not already reading it." I say, and he takes a moment before handing over to me exactly what I asked for.

"Business doesn't start for me until I step in the office, until then politics it is." He says and I can't help but smile at him.

Mrs. George comes out and sets down the breakfast on table, putting a plate of scrambled eggs and toast in front of me, doing the same for Carrack. Just as she sets down James's plate across me, I notice him coming down the stairs in a navy blue suit and a red tie, with white shirt underneath.

He looks surprised to see me at the dining table  but I avert my attention away as I focus my eyes on the newspaper. Although I can still see from the corner of my eyes as he pulls back the chair and settles down.

"Morning, Dad." He mumbles.

"And what section would you like to read today, Mister?" Carrack smiles amusedly at him, catching my attention.

"You know which one. Hand it over." He holds his hand out, making his father shrug.

"Sorry, son. Your wife already asked for it."

I pale at his response, realising that even James reads Business Chronicles first thing in the newspaper. Well, at least now I know we have something in common. His heated gaze fixes on me as he arches an eyebrow, questioning it.

"Uh, here, you can have it." I fold the paper to hand it over to him but Carrack cuts off my action.

"No, I am sure James can read it later. Is there any other section that could interest you? Perhaps, sports." He looks at his son who continues to stare at me, making me swallow nervously.

"That's okay, Dad. I think I'll go without reading today." James speaks, but his eyes are still fixed on me, making me shift uncomfortably.

I shake my head, "I'll read it later, you can have it. I am sure there's another copy of it somewhere in the house."

He doesn't say anything, just takes the paper from my hands before starting to read it and I sigh, picking up the glass of milk and drinking it. Carrack frowns at the two of us, but doesn't say anything until I am halfway through my breakfast.

"I'm not judging you, but why the plain milk and not coffee or tea?" Carrack asks, looking at me and I shrug.

This seems to catch James attention as well, because I actually had milk for breakfast every day on our honeymoon.

"Just a childhood habit that stayed with me." I shrug, telling the truth.

My mother always said that drinking milk first thing in the morning is a healthy habit and something about that has stayed with me since as long as I can remember. Whereas Jeremy literally rolls his eyes whenever I have milk for breakfast, but it's a habit and even he knows it by now.

"Well, it's a healthy habit." He smiles, sipping on his black coffee. He turns to James, "You have a meeting with Alfred Industries at nine."

James nods, chewing on his breakfast before he slides away his plate and focuses his attention on his father, "I am aware, but I thought you'll be there?"

"Well, you need to handle these things at your own now, don't you think? Upcoming CEO and all." Carrack smirks a little, surprising James.

"You serious?" He asks, a genuine smile taking over his features.

His father nods, "Of course. You're a married man, now. I think it's about time you deserved it."

I look at the way James smile falters a little when Carrack mentions him being married but I think the news of him taking over his father's position means more to him than anything else at the moment. I knew he was the Vice President of Marking department in the firm, but obviously what he really wanted was to be a CEO.

"Thanks, father." James gives him a small smile and Carrack nods at him.

Before anyone can say anything further, Chloe steps down in dining room, still in her sweats, much like me as she takes a seat next to James.

"God, I hate mornings." She grumbles and reaches for his cup of coffee which he snatches out of her reach.

"Get your own, it's rare that I get to have a good cup." He tells her and she pouts at him. "And no, that pout isn't getting you anywhere, Chloe."

"Ugh, Pamela! Get me a cup of coffee." She shouts over, making me frown as to who she's talking to.

But then Mrs. George steps into the room and sets a cup of coffee in front of her. She sips on it and groans, "This is no good, Jim. What the hell are you talking about?" She turns to James.

"Well, mine tastes good." He shrugs.

"That's because Lillian made it." Carrack looks at the two of them and James looks surprised while Chloe narrows her eyes at me.

An awkward silence falls over but Chloe musters up a sweet smile that I know is fake by now, "You think you can make me some?"

"Uh.." I look down at my unfinished plate of food. "Sure."

"You should finish your breakfast first, dear." Carrack tells me.

But before I can reply, James speaks up, "I don't think she minds, Dad."

The way he's staring at me, I slide my chair back before standing up and forcing back a feeling I absolutely loathe taking over me. I am about to turn to walk to the kitchen, when Chloe speaks up again.

"Lil, your dishes." She points towards my unfinished breakfast, "Remember what you said last night?"

I remember what I said, but I planned on finishing my breakfast but suddenly I don't want to look at her face while I finish the rest of it. She smirks a little when she sees me picking it up while James keeps his expressions neutral, aggravating me to no extent.

Taking a deep shaky breath, I make my way back to the kitchen and put the plate on the island before putting up a cup of coffee for the evil sister in law. Mrs. George gives me a sympathetic smile and I shrug, taking a seat by the island to continue eating.

When her coffee's done, I turn to Shanley, "Hey, do you think you can pour the coffee and give it to Chloe?" I ask.

"Of course." She smiles at me before doing what I asked for, and I mumble a thank you because the last thing I want is to see her face.

Just as she leaves the kitchen, James enters in and frowns when he looks at me finishing my food and clears his throat as he comes to stand across the kitchen island.

"You could've finished eating outside." He says.

I glare at him for the first time I've met him, because I've always maintained my composure around him, afraid for the response I would receive but all he has done since the day he has met me is humiliated me. And his sister and him tag-teaming against me is where I draw a line.

"Do you want something?" I ask when he doesn't move and I notice how Mrs. George moves out of the door at back of the kitchen, leaving us alone.

He frowns at me, "A reply would be nice. Why didn't you finish eating outside?"

Is he trying to fool me right now? But when I look at him, he looks clueless, making me wonder how can a man so smart and intelligent be this oblivious to things around him.

"I didn't think Chloe wanted me to." I say, not even trying to smoothen out my harsh tone.

"What are you talking about? She hasn't been anything but nice to you." He defends his sister, making a humorless laugh leave through me.

"Were you even out there?" I slide out of the stool and move to wash the dishes in the sink when I feel him stare at my back.

"I have no clue where your head's at but Chloe would never want anything like that." He says, and I know the reason we're still talking is because he doesn't want me to tamper the image of his sister in my mind.

"Sure, I believe you." I respond to him, obviously being sarcastic as I wash my hands after washing the dishes and turn to face him.

He stares at me with a blank face before running a hand through his hair. I notice how he pulls out his wallet and slides over a credit card.

"I know you need to shop, you can go today." He tells me and I frown, looking at the credit card. There's no way I am using that. But just to get rid of him, I nod.

As soon as he leaves, I sigh, pinching the gap between my brows as I calm down my breaths. A little later, Chloe enters the kitchen, a smirk on her face as she goes over to the sink and tilts her cup, literally pouring down the entire cup of coffee I made for her.

"What do you think you're doing?" I ask her.

She shrugs, "Oh, I don't know, I just thought it was pathetic how easily Jim seems to fall for my antics and seems to be oblivious to you." She chuckles, clearly amused.

"What are you getting at, Chloe? I am sick of you playing around." I glare at her. I am not going to stay mum and listen to talk shit like I did on the day of wedding.

She comes over and stands in front of me, staring right into my eyes, "What I am saying is, you're new and Carrack might be giving you his attention right now but soon it'll die down. I am the most pampered one in this house, and there's no way in hell you're ever changing that. Especially for Jim, I would always be above you."

Her words make me scowl at her, because she doesn't make any sense at all. I'm aware I am new, but I hate being here, and the last thing I want is one of these people pampering me — the thought is as unpleasant as it sounds and I continue to stare at her in curiosity. And I know James loves her like a sister, then why is she so threatened that I am here?

"Listen, Chloe, I think you've got the wrong idea. I don't want to replace you, because I am not his sister, remember? I am his wife, so I know my place and I know you're his priority. You need to back the hell off, because this isn't mean girls." I tell her, sounding a little exasperated and she frowns at me.

"Mean girls? You wish, Vince. Yeah, right, Vince because you would never be a Clark. And you're damn right I'm his priority." She snarls at me.

I give her a look, "I'll never be a Clark, huh? Well, I guess we have something in common then, Chloe Maddison."