Lessie's POV After showering them with hugs and kisses, I still found James and Jasmine clinging tightly to me."Alright, that's enough," I said, gently peeling them off as I stood up."Are you hungry?" I asked, knowing it had been hours since their morning meal, and after all their play, they must be feeling hungry by now."Yes, Mommy," they both nodded, and I glanced around. Thankfully, the spacious room had a small kitchen; otherwise, relying on hotel meals all the time would have been a bother."Okay, Mommy will make us something to eat," I said, heading towards the kitchen. But James suddenly spoke up."Mommy, you're going to cook?" he asked, and I casually nodded without turning around."But where are the groceries?" he added.I quickly turned back, clicking my tongue in realization. "Oops! I can't believe I remembered to buy my dress and other goodies but forgot the groceries," I said, feeling a bit embarrassed. The kids burst out laughing at my forgetfulness."You're laughing
Lessie's POV I blinked to regain my composure before heading to our table. How did I let that slip into my thoughts? It must be a different Freddie—or even if it’s the same one, it shouldn’t matter to me.“Oh my, Lessie, you look stunning today!” Lucy exclaimed, standing up to hug me. Even Charlotte and David joined in.“Thank you,” I replied, admiring Lucy's wine-colored dress. “You look gorgeous too, Lucy.” She blushed, and I greeted Charlotte, David, and the others before taking my seat.A server passed by with a tray of drinks, and I grabbed a glass, sipping slowly while checking my phone.Suddenly, someone snatched the phone out of my hand. I looked up, almost annoyed.“Benjamin? You took my phone?” I asked, confused as I stared at his frowning face.“Yes, I did,” he replied without hesitation.“Why?” I questioned, still puzzled.With that, my other colleagues, who had been chatting amongst themselves, turned to watch us.“Do you really not know?” Benjamin asked, sounding a bit
Lessie's POV “Freddie!”It was really him… standing right in front of me. Our eyes locked for a moment.I forced myself to stay calm, even as my head throbbed with pain. Slowly, I stepped back, keeping my gaze lowered, then turned and started to walk away as if I hadn't seen him at all.Running into him like this was unexpected and irritating, but I knew I needed to leave immediately.Just as I was about to walk away, relieved that I hadn’t been stopped, I felt a hand grab my arm.“Lessie,” he said, blocking my path.I sighed but kept my eyes down. I just wanted to get out of there, as if our paths had never crossed.“Lessie,” he repeated, his voice insistent.“Excuse me, can you step aside, please?” I asked, glancing at the door he was blocking with his body.After speaking, I suddenly felt the temperature drop. Was it because of him? I was curious but resisted the urge to look up.I fiddled with my hands, waiting for him to move, but he stayed rooted, like an immovable object.I wa
Lessie's POV “Mr. Rodriguez, could there be a misunderstanding?” I asked suddenly, disrupting the stunned silence around me.I could see the surprise on my colleagues' faces, they were shocked that a billionaire like Freddie, owner of an entire conglomerate, had decided to partner with us. But for me, it was more than surprise; I was in a state of panic.How… how could he have partnered with us? No, this can’t be happening.“No, there’s no mistake,” Mr. Rodriguez replied calmly.“I’m sorry, but you must be mistaken. Adding new companies wasn’t part of our original plan,” I continued, my words spilling out in a rush as anxiety tightened my chest.“You’re right; we hadn’t discussed this before. But Mr. Green approached me just a few minutes ago, and we agreed to the partnership today,” Mr. Rodriguez explained, but I could barely focus, frustration building inside me.“But you… you can’t just add someone in like this,” I said softly, a headache beginning to throb at my temples.All I wa
Freddies POV“Why are you standing? Come and sit with me,” Mom said.“Uh, is that okay?” Judie’s voice followed, and I could hear them as I approached the living room.I sighed, a headache forming at the sound of their voices. I wanted to turn around and quietly leave, but Mom had already seen me.“Ah, my son, you’re back already,” she said, stopping me in my tracks.I couldn’t slip away unnoticed anymore, so I stepped inside, handing my suitcase to the servant.I sat down on the sofa, deliberately keeping some distance from them, and loosened my tie. “Water,” I instructed.The servant had just gone to drop my suitcase in my room, so I expected her to bring me water after that.“I’ll get it for you,” Judie suddenly said, springing up before I could stop her, and she hurried off to the kitchen.I sighed in frustration. Mom noticed and tried to soothe me.“Son, I know you’re upset, but Judie just wants to bring you water.”“Please, Mom, not this again,” I said, rubbing my throat, unwill
Lessie's POV Adele had finished cooking and served everyone at the table. Since there wasn't a dining table, we made do with the only table available.Even though Jasmine had just eaten chocolate, she devoured her food hurriedly. At first, I was amused watching her eat, but I quickly cautioned her, worried she might hurt herself."Sweetheart, don’t rush your food," I said gently."Okay, Mommy." Jasmine replied obediently. I glanced at James, smiling as he ate modestly and neatly.Once we finished eating, I took the plates to the kitchen and washed them quickly. Adele had also finished, so I washed hers as well.When I returned to the room, the kids were already lying on the bed. Adele looked at me and asked, “Ma’am, when are you leaving?”I sighed, unsure of what to say. No one truly knew, so I just smiled as I walked in. I couldn’t let them sense how my night had been ruined at the party; the kids might unfairly blame themselves for something beyond their control.“Ma’am?” she calle
Lessie's POV “Don’t ‘Freddie’ me! Don’t think you’ve hidden everything so well—I know everything now!” he shouted furiously.I had already calm myself, but his yelling only brought on a heavy headache.Why on earth is he shouting?“Just ignoring me at the party yesterday, that’s what you thought would get under my skin? You’re despicable!” His voice cut through the phone, laced with anger, his heavy, furious breathing even audible.“Could you please stop shouting and speak calmly?” I asked softly, trying not to escalate things further. I couldn’t understand his fury, or why he was calling me after all this time. And yet, all he could do was yell.Unexpectedly, frustration welled up in me. How could his first call in years be filled with shouting? Then again, what did I really expect from someone who despises me?Without thinking, I snapped back, “Enough!” Silence fell on the other end, and I could sense his shock. “Now, can you tell me how you got my number?”I scowled. I clearly rem
Lessie's POV “They’re fine. They even asked about you the other day. Why didn’t you call them? Were you busy?”Ella laughed, a proud sort of laugh. Before I could ask, she explained.“No, I wasn’t busy. I just wanted to see if my babies missed me,” she said. “When I asked James if he missed me, that little rascal told me he didn’t!”I scratched my nose at her words. Actually, I wasn’t lying when I said the kids missed her—Jasmine had asked about her. I could tell James missed her too, even if he didn’t say it. But I kept that to myself, not wanting to spoil Ella’s excitement.“Well, I’d say your plan worked,” I chuckled, and Ella hummed in satisfaction.“I miss you, Ella,” I blurted out, my emotions getting the best of me.“I miss you more, Lessie. You have no idea how much I miss seeing your pretty face,” she replied, sounding emotional too.“I know my Ella loves me,” I smiled.“Yes, I do. Lessie… do you think you’ll ever come back to Syracuse?”I could hear her voice quiver. I wasn
Lessie's POV “No way! I need to save some for later,” she pouted, kicking her hands in the air.James rolled his eyes. “Stop throwing a tantrum and just eat already.”Jasmine scoffed. “You should be on my side, but no! Instead, you abandon poor little Jasmine.” She let out a dramatic sob.I pressed my lips together, trying to stifle my laughter. What was Jasmine doing? Her fake tears were painfully obvious.James rolled his eyes even harder this time, and I just couldn’t hold it in any longer.“Hahaha!” I burst into uncontrollable laughter.“Mommyyy!” Jasmine whined, already knowing why I was laughing.“Fine, I’ll eat.” She huffed, pulling the plate closer. Without looking at any of us, she grudgingly began eating.James’ cheeks puffed out, clearly trying to hold back his own laughter.I picked up my food and started eating too, but midway through, I noticed Nanny Adele hadn’t touched her meal. She simply sat there, watching the kids.“Aren’t you eating?” I asked.She lowered her hea
Lessies POV Before I could say another word, Jasmine had already leaped onto me."Yay! Mommy, are you serious?" she squealed, bouncing with excitement. I knew just how much she loved outings."Yes, I am," I chuckled softly."Alright, alright, let’s go already!" She dusted off any stray hair from her clothes before standing straight. Her excitement was unmatched, and I would do anything to keep seeing that joy on their faces.Even James seemed pleased. He didn’t show it outright, but I could tell from his demeanor."No, first, we need to pack our luggage so that when we return, all we’ll have to do is take them out," I said firmly."Okay!" Jasmine spun around and immediately got to work.Nanny Adele followed suit, checking for any clothes or items that still needed to be packed. It wouldn’t be ideal to leave the city only to realize we’d forgotten something important at the hotel.James looked around for anything that needed packing, but when he found nothing, he decided to help by ha
Lessie's POV “Was he threatening me?” I exhaled sharply, frustrated."Fine then, let's see what he can do to me." I shrugged, tossing my phone aside before slipping into my clothes.Today was our last day here. Our flight was scheduled for the night, which meant we still had the entire day to prepare.I refused to let Freddie ruin this for me.After dressing, I peeked into the kitchen and spotted Nanny Adele cooking. I waved at her before glancing down at the children.They were already dressed up nicely for the trip.Q"Mommy, how does little Jasmine look?" Jasmine kept her eyes on her dress, waiting for my response."My baby girl looks the best. You're beautiful." I smiled warmly, and I wasn't even exaggerating.I had to admit, proudly, that I had given birth to truly beautiful children. Even at the airport when we arrived, people couldn’t stop staring at them. They were just that stunning.I gently ruffled their hair, but before I could relish the moment, my phone rang again.I si
Freddie's POV "Mr. Freddie, are you on the line?""Can you hear me?"I didn't get to hear any word from him since my phone was on the floor.I clenched my fist, trying my best to suppress the anger bubbling inside me."So, this is it? She never cared about me." I let out a bitter scoff.I had been foolishly happy when she called last night. Not even in my worst nightmares did I think she was planning to leave again.She’s leaving again—just like before.Forcing a dry smile, I swallowed my emotions and bent down to retrieve my phone."Hello? Are you still there? Maybe it’s a connection issue?" Mr. Rodriguez’s voice came through the speaker.I cleared my throat and responded, "I’m hanging up now. Goodbye.""Wait, but—"I didn’t let him finish. Frustrated, I ended the call.I knew I shouldn’t take my anger out on Mr. Rodriguez, but I couldn't ignore the fact that he planned everything without telling me. How could he allow them leave without informing me? Damn it!Just as I was lost in
Lessie's POV“What?” the kids exclaimed in unison, their faces a mixture of shock and disbelief.James even jumped to his feet. “Mommy, what are you saying?”I stood frozen, my mind spinning. I wanted to speak, to say something—anything, but my lips refused to move.“Answer James, Mommy! What did you say? He’s our daddy? Who is that?” Jasmine rushed toward me, grabbing my arms and shaking me urgently.Her expression was a mix of anticipation and fear, as if she were terrified that she had misheard me.“Mommy, what do you mean? What daddy?” James pressed, growing more impatient with my silence.I looked down at him, an emptiness settling inside me.James had never acted like this before. He was always the calm one, yet now he was reacting so strongly. Just the mention of his father had ignited something in him. Was this how much they longed for their dad?“Mommy! Mommyyy! Mommyyyy!” The kids kept shaking me, desperate for an answer, but my body wouldn’t respond.I felt numb, wishing I
Lessie's POV “Are you even listening to me? I’m telling you to leave the club right now and go home. And make sure you eat properly,” I said, raising my voice slightly to emphasize the seriousness of my words.Freddie didn’t respond, not to my earlier words or this latest demand. The silence was frustrating.“Freddie, are you there? Don’t just sit there acting dumb!” I snapped, my patience slipping as I raised my voice even more.I could hear his faint breathing on the other end, so I knew he was still there, listening. He just wasn’t saying a word—or maybe he didn’t want to.“Fine. Since you don’t want to say anything, I’ll just hang up now,” I said sharply, my thumb hovering over the end-call button.But just as I was about to hang up, his voice came through, hoarse, low, and unexpectedly electrifying.“What?”The sound of that one word sent an odd jolt through me. I froze.“Goodness, Lessie, get a grip!” I mentally scolded myself, smacking my forehead. “Don’t tell me you’re losing
Lessie's POVAfter the meal, I sat on the balcony with the kids and their nanny. The fresh air felt refreshing, the perfect way to relax after eating.“Mommy, are you serious?” James asked, his curious eyes fixed on me.I nodded with a small smile. “Yes, son. We’ll be heading back in two days.”It was already a new day, and I hadn’t shared the outcome of the meeting with them yesterday. Now seemed like the right time.A quick glance at my phone told me it was already afternoon.“We’re going back, James!” Jasmine’s slower, childlike mind took its time processing the news, but once it clicked, she shot up and started bouncing around excitedly.I couldn’t help but chuckle, feeling lighter as I watched her joyful expression.“Sweetheart, are you happy we’re going back?” I turned to James, curious about his reaction.“I don’t mind,” he said with a casual shrug.It was exactly what I expected from him. No matter where we were headed, as long as Jasmine and I were with him, he was content.F
Freddie's POV “It's nothing. Just want to free my head.” I remained tight-lipped. “But-” Tyla wanted to persuade but Collin quickly spoke.“Let's Freddie be. If truly he's in trouble he won't keep it from us.” He said."I'll be in another room," I said, standing up abruptly. Before anyone could question me, I walked out.Once outside, I instructed the manager to arrange a private room for me. He quickly obliged, and as I approached the room, I turned to Zenith."Go and explain to them why I left," I said, hoping he’d come up with a reasonable excuse for my sudden departure. I just couldn’t face them myself."Understood, boss," Zenith replied, bowing slightly before heading toward their room.Without lingering, I entered the private room the manager had prepared. Inside, a staff member stood by, waiting for instructions."Bring me three bottles of alcohol," I ordered, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over me.The staff member quickly complied, and within two minutes, three bottles w
Freddie's POV "Boss, it's almost evening," Zenith said, standing to the side while I remained completely engrossed in my laptop.I didn’t even bother looking up at him.“Boss,” he called again, more insistent this time.Reluctantly, I raised my head. “What?” I asked curtly.“It’s evening already,” he repeated.“And so?” I snapped, my irritation bubbling over.Zenith had been on my case since morning, and my patience was wearing thin. He knew it, yet he wouldn’t let me be.“You should eat something,” he said softly.I glared at him before turning my attention back to the laptop. Anyone with half a brain could tell I was upset and wanted to be left alone, but Zenith? He had a knack for doing the exact opposite.“Boss.”“Zenith, can you just leave my office? It’s almost evening, not evening yet. I’m busy and have a mountain of work to deal with. Do you understand?” My tone was sharp, laced with frustration.“Yes, I understand, Boss,” he replied. “But you’ve been working late for days no