On The Tv

"Mama, you're on the TV next to a handsome uncle and a pretty sister who's not as beautiful as momma. Mom looks so beautiful." Iris suddenly announced with a giggle. Her blue eyes were fixated on the TV as she played with a strand of her wavy chestnut brown hair that fell to her waist while swinging her legs playfully.

Hearing Iris's sentence made Valencia freeze. She stopped typing and shut her laptop before speeding out of her room in her cute print cat pajamas.

Valencia quickly sped down the stairs without catching her breath.

She placed her two hands on her thin waist as soon as she arrived in the living room. She feigned a cold and lecturing expression and stance as she chided the extremely cute quadruplets whose attention was now placed on Valencia.

"I told you not to watch the news anymore; watch cartoons and children's shows instead." Valencia chided in exasperation. She only knew about children wanting to watch cartoons and children's shows, but her children were the opposite.

Her quadruplets frowned on many childish shows and would rather watch daily news, science news, forecasts, business predictions, etc. than watch a normal show their age.

When Valencia was young, she hated watching the news and such comprehensive things, which means her children must have taken their habits from that damn man who only saw her as a substitute. Even Iris would rather watch adult fashion news and shows, etc. than watch children's shows.

"Our teacher said watching the news is good." Orson, the first of Valencia and Maverick's quadruplet, uttered, with a childish smirk. He had black eyes, a long nose, thin red lips, jet-black hair that fell to his ears, and an extremely cold yet cute face. He was the tallest of the quadruplets.

Valencia turned to Orson with a chiding look, her hand still on her waist. She never expected that the children would reply to her that way. She feigned a fierce glare and reproached, "Who'll you listen to?"

Iverson, the third of the quadruplets, got on the chair while holding an apple he was nibbling. He stood up and stretched his hand toward Valencia. "Mom sent us to school to learn from the teacher." Iverson simply replied, which made Valencia speechless. She didn't expect the children to attack her with such an explanation.

Valencia feigned anger and pulled Iverson's cheeks playfully. "Gosh, you smart mouth," Valencia commented and purposely pretended not to see Iverson's outstretched hand.

Iverson pursed his lips with grievances and tried to wrap his hand around Valencia's. He tiptoed in a bid to wrap his hand around Valencia's neck, but he kept failing. Iverson paused his lips in grievance.

"Mom. Mom." Hudson, the second of the triplets, suddenly crawled out of heaven-knows-where while holding a bucket of popcorn.

Valencia froze and gave Hudson a warning gaze. "I told you to stop having snacks too early, Hudson."

Hudson blinked his eyes and puckered his lips in feigned grievances. "Mom, this is my first snack, and it's just mom's popcorn. It does not have much sugar in it. I know mom's worried that I'll get my teeth removed; mom, don't worry. Quadruplets are smart and won't do anything to harm mom or quadruplets." Completing his words, Hudson carefully placed his popcorn on the chair and sat behind it before continuing his eating.

Valencia rubbed her forehead in distress, not understanding if she was the one raising the quadruplets or if they were the ones raising her. Thankfully, she's smart, or else she'll have been swept off the floor by her children's smartness.

'President Maverick, what's your relationship with popular star Tatiana?' The sudden interrogation from the TV made Valencia freeze in shock.

Valencia bit her lower lips and turned to stare at the TV. Her eyes fell on Maverick's face showing on the screen. Even though it was six years, time doesn't seem to leave a trace on the man; instead, he looks more mature and handsome.

Valencia's hand was raised toward her chest, her heart thumping against her chest. Even after what that asshole had done, even the six years of separation had only temporarily curbed the love she had for the man.

Valencia had purposely avoided every news story and prevented her children from watching the news. She had always believed that the affection she held for Maverick had dissipated, but now she realizes that she had been lying to herself.

"President Maverick, in terms of looks, Miss Valencia and Miss Tatiana looked similar; is that the reason you're meeting with each other?"

"Président Maverick, are you finally moving on from Miss Valencia after six years?"

'Hi everyone. I'm Tatiana. I'll answer your questions. The relationship between Maverick and me is that of a childhood sweetheart. Maverick and I had fallen in love ever since we were young, so he's not replacing me with anyone else. And for the last question... Maverick isn't moving on because Maverick has always been mine in the first place. As for any other woman affiliated with Maverick in the past, I'm sorry, Maverick, and I just had a disagreement at that moment. Ah, sorry, I just arrived, and I'm currently jet-lagged. Maverick and I will take our leave.'

Valencia froze when she heard Tatiana's response. How can Maverick be so cruel to declare this to the world?

Valencia understood that Tatiana meant that the reason Maverick took an interest in her was because Maverick wanted to get Tatiana's attention, or else Maverick wouldn't put Valencia in his eyes. That means not only was she labeled a substitute, but Tatiana was implying that Valencia was just a pawn that Tatiana didn't put in her eyes.

Although there are shameless people in the world, Valencia never expected Maverick and Tatiana to be so shameless.

Even though it's been five years, Maverick never stopped trying to find her, and it almost made Valencia believe that Maverick had finally realized his feelings for her, but now...

Valencia's fist clenched in anger; her heart had never turned as cold as it currently did. She must have been blind to love this asshole, two-faced jerk!

'Mr. Maverick, if you mean that actress Tatiana has been your childhood lover for the past few years, does that mean Miss Valencia is a substitute bride?'

'Maverick was being cajoled by the shareholders, so he had to marry a random woman. Please don't call her his bride; they didn't marry each other.'

Valencia's fist clenched tightly in anger. Even though she tried to move on from her past, that fox dared to shame her and call her a random woman in front of the media. The two were definitely a match made. One is a scheming fox, and the other has bad taste.

Valencia's eyes were fixed on the TV, waiting to hear Maverick's words. However, in less than three seconds, the TV suddenly turned black.

Valencia turned toward the culprit, her face filled with bewilderment.

"Mom seems to hate the news." Orson simply replied and pursed his lips coldly, the TV remote control in his hand. His eyes held a dislike for those people on TV who made Mom sad.

Valencia's lips twitched.

"Besides, Mom looks sad when Mom sees that not-so-pretty sister and that uncle, which means Mom hates those people. Babies also hate them." Iris, the exact miniature and female version of Maverick, except for her blue eyes and her chestnut brown hair, wrapped her hand around Valencia.

Orson, Hudson, and Iverson also wrapped their hands around Valencia as if to comfort the 'sad' Valencia. The three looked identical with their black eyes, black hair, and thin red lips.

The quadruplets pursed their lips sullenly. Those people are now on the quadruplet's blacklist. Quadruplet don't want them hanging around Quadruplet or Mummy!

Valencia smiled, bent to her knees, and wrapped her hand around them. How can she feel sad when she's already blessed with four smart treasures?

"Mom isn't sad because Mom has beautiful treasures. You four are the biggest gift to Mom, so you have to be extremely careful, or else if you get hurt, Mom will also be hurt." Valencia explained softly while patting their hair.

"Mom, don't worry. We're really capable of taking care of ourselves." Iverson declared and patted his chest boastfully while staring at Valencia with black eyes.

The quadruplets all had the same features as Maverick except Iris, who had taken Valencia's chestnut brown hair but with blue eyes, which none of her parents have.

Valencia sighed in distress. The reason she was exactly worried was that her children were more capable than their age.

That damn Maverick! It was all his fault! It must be his genes that made her children overly smart. All Valencia wished for were children who'd rely on her and call 'mom' sweetly every time, but Valencia's children?

They hardly asked for anything because they never wanted to stress her. As if? She never complains! She wants them to!