Irrelevant

Lillian’s POV

“Tell me you're joking, Lillian,” Nora gasped, her hands covering her gaped mouth as she stared at me in shock.

I had just finished narrating yesterday's events to her, specifically how I had met Stefano at Mrs Laughlin's place and how he turned out to be her grandson.

She had gone on a work trip a week ago, and had just returned earlier today. Currently, we were at my apartment.

“I wish I was, Nora,” I sighed. “But there's nothing I can do. I need the money for lots of stuff. I want to start looking into getting a small restaurant space for myself and the money I make from Mrs Laughlin's event would probably cover a whole lot of the cost.”

Taking my hand in hers, Nora sighed. “But are you sure you can face him? You said the event is for a week and based on what Mrs Laughlin told you, it seems he's going to be here for a while. Can you handle being in the same proximity with him for a week?”

Swallowing harshly, I shrugged. “I can. I will just think of him as one of the numerous assholes I usually come across whenever I go for a catering job. It can't be that bad.”

Although various thoughts and questions were currently swirling within my head with the most prominent one being whether I was really ready for the job like I claimed I was.

Just the fact that I saw Stefano yesterday had been enough to give me a sleepless night full of depressing thoughts.

To think I would probably see him for days during his grandmother's events sent chills racing down my spine, but I shook the dampening feeling away as Nora darted me a pitiful look.

“You know I can always take out a loan for you,” She said. “I just don't want him to ruin you again.”

“Don't worry about me, Nora. I am older and wiser now,” I replied. “I can never get swayed by his deceptive lies. Plus it's just for a week, it's not like I will be working for him for a lifetime.”

“You're right,” Nora muttered then gasped. “A thought just crossed my mind. You don't think Stefano would tell his grandma that you were both married, do you?”

Right.

How could I have forgotten about that possibly?

Given how much of an egoistical bastard Stefano was, he could do something like that or even worse to get back at me, after I told him off yesterday.

Fuck.

“Let's hope he doesn't,” I said, doing my best to remain calm as my heart scudded. “And if he does, I will just hope another opportunity opens up for me.”

“I truly hope it goes well for you, babe,” Nora replied. “You deserve every good thing in life with everything you've been through.”

In response, I just smiled before standing up.

“Give me five minutes to check up on the triplets. Their mischievous little selves may be awake and playing,” I said, glancing at the wall clock, which read nine in the evening.

“Okay, babe.”

True to my words, the triplets had gotten out of their beds and were sitting on the floor when I entered their room.

Darting me sheepish looks accompanied by wide grins, they stood up.

“Hi, mummy,” They said in unison, to which I sighed, and shook my head in disapproval.

“Shouldn't you guys be asleep?” I asked, as Connor let out a tired yawn.

“We were waiting for you, mummy,” Carter said, and my brows furrowed in confusion before I quickly assessed them for any visible injury.

When I didn't see any, I folded my arms across my chest and looked at them.

“Did something happen?” I asked, and the three of them shared a strange look before Caleb started to speak.

“We want to ask you a question about our daddy,” He began, and my heart sank. “Tomorrow is father's day, so Miss Solis asked us to make bracelets for our daddy. We maked it but we have no one to give it to.”

It was finally happening.

The moment I decided to have my sons, I knew a day like this would surely come, but I never knew it would come so soon.

I was no longer enough for the triplets and they were now asking for their father.

Their excuse of a sperm donor who had abandoned us, the moment his ex-girlfriend walked back into his life.

It was crazy how the universe always seemed to work against me because the triplets had never asked me about him until now.

Now that he had relocated to London.

“Do we have a daddy, mummy?” Connor piped, and my heart sank further into the deepest pit of despondency.

“Yes, you do but something happened, so we seperated,” I replied calmly.

“Did he do something bad to you?” Connor asked, and I smiled before nodding, to which the three of them oohed.

“Sorry, mummy,” Caleb muttered. “Did he say sorry?”

“No,” I replied because Stefano apologizing five years after our divorce didn't and would never count.

“That's bad. He's a scorpion bag,” Carter uttered, which made me frown in confusion.

“What is a scorpion bag?” I asked.

“Aunty Nora called someone that when we followed her to the mall last week,” Carter divulged. “His car was in front of us and he was driving really slow.”

It was then it clicked.

“You mean a scumbag,’’ The word slithered out of my mouth before I could help it.

“Yes, mummy,” Carter nodded, and I burst into a peak of hearty laughter. By the time I regained myself, tears were still rolling down my cheeks.

My sons were truly comedians.

Adorable ones.

“Don't say that to people, okay?” I said, and my sons nodded.

“Yes, mummy,” They chorused before removing something from their pockets–the bracelet.

“We don't need a meanie like him anymore because we have you and we love you, mummy,” Connor said, as they all outstretched their hands to give me the beaded bracelets.

Tears of joy filled my eyes as I collected the bracelets from them and pulled them into a hug.

“Mummy really appreciates these and loves you three too,” I whispered, suppressing my tears. “Thank you, babies.”

“Welcome, mummy.” They replied.

Thereafter, I led them to their respective beds and told them goodnight for the second time that night, before heading downstairs to Nora, who had fallen asleep on the sofa.

Covering her with a blanket, I headed upstairs to get some rest.

+

Stefano's POV

“I found her, Gregory,” I said into the phone, as I stared at the view from the windows of my office. “I finally found Lillian. She lives in London.”

My Lillian.

I could still remember how pretty she was at Grandma's place. I was relieved to see that she still had that beautiful, radiant smile that always revealed her healthy set of teeth.

Although deserved, her cold demeanor toward me was heartbreaking, I was now more determined than ever to win her back.

“That's great news, sir,” Gregory replied. “I can imagine just how elated you must be.”

“I am, but I still know nothing about her current life,” I said. “All I know is that she's a professional chef, nothing more. So I want you to get me any type of information you can about her. I don't care how trivial it may seem.”

“Noted, sir.”

I couldn't trust my new assistant over here with getting Lillian's information.

“Very well then. I hope things are running smoothly back there?”

“Yes, sir,” I replied.

“By the way, sir,” Gregory said. “Your mum called the office earlier today. She said she's been trying to call you but your number is unavailable.”

She had probably called to complain about how we were drifting apart, like we were ever close from the start.

My birther was truly a hypocrite.

“What did you tell her?”

“I told her you were in London.”

“Good. Don't give her my new number,” I replied. “I'm hanging up.”

“Alright, sir.” Gregory replied before I ended the call.