CHAPTER 102LILY’S POVAfter I got out of the taxi, I quickly rushed into the house. I slammed the door shut and pressed my back against it as though I just encountered something horrifying. That horrifying thing was Robert. I broke down in sobs that I had been holding back all through the ride as I screeched my back against the door and crumpled hopelessly on the floor. I tried to hold back my outburst as Liam was probably upstairs in his room and I didn’t want him to hear me crying. But my sharp intake of breath was making it extremely difficult.Shaking my head in agony, I managed to get a grip and pushed myself up. I dragged myself to the refrigerator in the kitchen. I pulled its door open and rummaged through but didn’t find what I was looking for. A frustrated groan escaped my lips as I slammed it shut and checked the shelves but still couldn’t find it.I was desperately searching for a strong alcoholic drink to drown the storm of emotions raging inside me and hope it would som
CHAPTER 103LILY’S POV~ I lifted my head and looked at her. “What about Liam?”“He’s playing a video game in his room.”I smiled, glad he was doing well. But didn’t he hear the sound of the glasses shattering? It was loud enough and could even be heard from outside the house. Since Nana Mae was coming from upstairs on hearing it, that meant he too must have heard it. Why didn’t he come rushing downstairs? Was she sure he was really upstairs in his room or was there something she wasn’t telling me? ~“I know what you’re thinking,” Nana Mae said as if she could read my mind. “You don’t have to worry. He has earphones on. He didn’t hear anything. And I think he’ll probably take a nap when he’s done playing to rest his eyes.”I sighed in quiet relief on hearing that. The eye doctor had mentioned that the antibiotics she prescribed would make him feel drowsy and inactive for a while, so it was important to let him rest and take time off school as needed. I fell silent, staring into sp
CHAPTER 104 LILY’S POV The next day I went to work earlier than usual. I couldn’t sleep properly last night because of what Nana Mae had told me yesterday. It kept ringing in my head over and over again. I spent the entire night restlessly rolling around on the bed and going to the kids’ room to check up on them. Was I feeling this miserable and angry because I was still in love with Robert? He was my high school crush, the only man I had truly opened my heart to, the man who took my virginity, the father of my children. Were all that truly the reasons I was finding it hard to forget him? Because of this unbreakable connection we share. No…no…no… I was restless as I pushed my chair back away from my table where I was working on my laptop. I couldn’t focus on work. Since yesterday, I couldn’t bring myself to focus on anything. I can’t stop thinking of Robert and that stupid look on his face. He said he wanted to tell me something but I didn’t give him the chance. What did he
CHAPTER 105LILY’S POV~ “I’m sorry, Noah,” I said genuinely. “I promise I’ll make it up to you. Anything you want.”He didn’t say anything. He just sighed dejectedly and shook his head. Turning the door, he grabbed the handle and jerked it open only to nearly collide with the company security guard who was standing by the doorway. I didn’t get what he was doing standing there. Was he eavesdropping on our conversation? ~For a split second, I thought he was but he wasn’t. In his hands was an extravagant bouquet of deep red roses, along with a sleek, elegant envelope. The sight of it made the air between us three tense and awkward.“Miss Jones, this just came in for you,” The security guard said, bringing it forward to hand it over to me.“Thank you…” My brows furrowed as I hesitantly accepted it. He bowed slightly before leaving. I closed my door and walked to my table, keeping the bouquet on it. Noah didn’t leave my office again like he wanted to. Instead, he followed closely behi
CHAPTER 106ROBERT’S POVLast night was hell. I couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking about Lily. Where was she? In her house or somewhere else? What was she doing? Who was she with? Will she ever forgive me and take me to see my kids so we can become a family? These questions daggered my mind throughout the night. I had to pass the time by drinking, eating leftover pizza and watching TV.I wondered if she was thinking about me too. Surely, she wasn’t. She hated me too much now to even care whether I existed or not. If I’m ever going to regain her trust and forgiveness and win her back then I had to put in a lot of effort. I’ll have to go the extra mile and do things the old me will never think of doing. I had to take gentle steps, give her the time and space she needed and prove to her I was a changed man who was ready to love her till the end of days.After I paid that security guard and promised to pay him more if he continued to give me all the information I needed, he spilt all the de
CHAPTER 107 ROBERT’S POV ~ As I waited for him to return my chats, I peeped into the surveillance equipment. On seeing Lily had arrived and was already seated at her table, working on her laptop, everything else I was doing became history in the blink of an eye. I swept off the potato chips and beer from the tabletop, making a mess. My phone nearly fell too. But I didn’t care as I adjusted the equipment and began to watch Lily. ~ From the focused distance, I could see she was frustrated. She pushed her seat back away from the table. She ran her fingers through her lush hair, disheveling it and there was this angry look on her face almost as if she regretted doing something. I took my eyes off the equipment, my brows furrowing. She was too beautiful to be in this kind of distress. If she was acting this way, that meant she also had a bad night like me or even worse. Maybe she felt guilty for what she did to me yesterday. Maybe there was a chance she still loved me but was fi
CHAPTER 108ROBERT’S POV~ Noah sat down on the seat in front of her. He no longer had that troubled and angry look he once had. It had softened. I couldn’t understand what was happening between them. It was making me boil. As if that wasn’t enough, Lily reached across the table and took his hand in hers.“That’s it!” I said as I furiously got up and started packing to go. I can’t take this anymore. I’m heading there. I don’t care what happens. ~I was at the entrance of the building, about to enter when the security guard showed up to stop me. “Where are you heading, Mr. Robert?” He asked, his eyes wide as he was surprised to see me.“To her office,” I said through clenched teeth, fury propelling me forward.“No… no… no…” He scrambled to stop me, his hand pressing against my heaving chest. “That isn’t the right thing to do right now…”He was tensed as he glanced around furtively, making sure no one was watching as if afraid something bad would happen if anyone saw us together.“Why
CHAPTER 109ROBERT’S POV ~ “I’ll send you the details of her company. I need you to hack into her laptop and wipe out everything work-related. Can you do that?” ~Frank was silent for some time, almost as if he wasn’t on call anymore. What I said must have disoriented him completely. But I didn’t expect him to be that way.“Hey buddy…Are you still there?...” I brought my phone down from my ear just to make sure the call hadn’t disconnected. And it hasn’t.“Hey boss…” His voice sounded. It was low almost as if he was afraid to speak.“What happened?” I asked, bringing the phone to my ear. “Why did you suddenly black out on me?”“I’m sorry, boss,” he said, taking a deep breath. “But why are we doing this? Is it really the right thing to do? After what Scarlett made me do to her, I promised myself I’d never be part of something that could hurt anyone like that again. What I did cost Lily so much, and the guilt still eats at me. I can’t bring myself to put her through that kind of pain
CHAPTER 144ROBERT’S POV~ “Go!!!” He blew the whistle so hard I saw the veins in his neck bulge.The athletes like bulls released from a gate took to their heels. However, as Liam was about to take off, one of his feet slipped off the track, sending him crashing hard on the ground. ~Loud gasps echoed from every corner of the field and bleacher where the parents and sponsors sat as though the audience could feel Liam’s pain as he crashed on the floor.At that moment, my heart pounded so hard I thought it would burst, and I stood frozen on the spot as if caught in a nightmare. Liam wasn’t moving. He just lay there motionless, his elbow covering his face as he buried it on the floor. A wave of fear unlike anything I’d ever felt gripped me at the thought that he might be paralyzed. With the way he fell, it was obvious he’d suffer a very bad injury.Before I could react, I saw Lily running down the stairs of the bleachers like one whose house was on fire.“Liam…” her voice broke out i
CHAPTER 143ROBERT’S POVThe day was brighter and livelier than ever. White fluffy and cotton-like clouds stretched thinly across the blue sky, the sun peeking out to cast its rays on the school field which was buzzing with excitement. Colourful banners and balloons were used to decorate every part of the school and some mascots were gambolling around the environment, helping make the kids and parents happier. Loudspeakers blared from the corners of the field, playing loud, upbeat music and occasionally stopping whenever an announcement was to be made.The students were dressed in their special sports uniforms that represented the houses they belonged – red, green, yellow, blue and eagerly waiting to compete. The teachers who were acting as the house masters stood by the sideline assembling, clapping and encouraging the young athletes.Students who weren’t competing or done competing were seated in a small canopy, each for every house, chatting, taking refreshments or cheering on th
CHAPTER 142LILY’S POV~ “It’s not that Lily,” he countered with a defeated voice.“Then what is?” I crossed my arms against my chest, pinning him with a hard expectant stare as I tried to keep my flaring temper in check. “Tell me because I really want to know. What makes you think I still have feelings for Robert?” ~Even though he was right, I put on a defensive demeanour so as not to make it obvious. I didn’t know how he was able to figure that out because yesterday I acted all vicious towards Robert, and all these while that I have been asking him for help to destroy Robert was more than enough to prove I hated him with a passion. So, I was so eager to hear what he had to say.“I don’t know, Lily,” he shrugged, his expression grave as if the answer was obvious. “Maybe it’s because you hesitate when it comes to hurting him even though you claim you hate him so much. You let chances of getting back at him slip by, always giving one excuse or the other. And honestly? It’s starting
CHAPTER 141LILY’S POV~ “Noah… Noah…please stop, I’m really not myself today,” I said, trying to stop him but that only made him double his effort.“Don’t push me away Lily,” he said with a breathy lust filled voice. “Please, Lily. Let me make you feel better. I’ll make you feel so good you’ll forget everything about that man.” ~Suddenly, he gripped my chin, angling my face toward his as he leaned in for a kiss, while his other hand moved lower, reaching for my right breast.“I said I’m not in the mood today Noah!” I said with an outburst, standing abruptly and facing him with a shockingly bitter expression on my face. “Can’t you respect that?...”“I’m sorry Lily…” he apologized, pinching his nose as though he wasn’t his usual self earlier and was just regaining his sanity. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what came over me.”My brows pulled in as I stared at him as if I couldn’t recognize him anymore. But he seemed so guilty and ashamed of his action he couldn’t keep a steady eye contac
CHAPTER 140LILY’S POVAfter we dropped the kids off at school, I headed to the office. Robert had wanted to take me in his sedan but I refused bluntly, having no other choice but to board a taxi. The last thing I wanted was to keep being close to him. If I didn’t have to see him again then the lingering feelings I had for him will dissipate completely. Worse, if he dropped me off at the company and Noah saw him, it could spark another fallout between them—something I wasn’t willing to risk after seeing how badly they both injured themselves yesterday.Robert persisted, even instructing his driver to tail me as I walked down the road, attracting a few people’s attention. The only way I was able to ward him off was by threatening to scream and alert nearby policemen that he was harassing me. The fear of those made him give up, although reluctantly.Just because he took the kids to school today and will be bringing them back home doesn’t mean it’ll happen again. I made that clear to h
CHAPTER 139LILY’S POV~ “I have to talk to you about something,” I said, breaking the silence because it was becoming unbearable for me.“What?” He raised his brows.“Can we talk over there?” I tilted my head towards the back of my car. “I don’t want the kids to hear it.” ~“Ok…” His eyes flickered with puzzlement as he followed me.Once we were settled, I brought out the DNA test results Liam was holding last night and showed it to him. I had taken it from him last night without him knowing. That’s the reason I wanted to talk to Robert in a secluded area because I didn’t want Liam to see it. I didn’t know how he’d feel if he knew I took it without him knowing. From the way he held it tightly in his sleep last night, it was obvious it was important to him. But at least, he hasn’t realized it’s missing.“How were you able to get this DNA test done?” I asked, my hard gaze unflinching on his. “Have you been seeing the kids long before now?... Did you take their samples without them
CHAPTER 138LILY’S POV~ “I want you and your fancy toy car off my property and this estate for good. I won’t say it again.” I said sternly, fishing out my phone to call the estate security. Maybe he thought I was joking about calling them.However, the door to the house flew open, stopping me. The kids came rushing to him with big smiles on their faces, shouting “Daddy! Daddy! You’re back.” ~Before I could react, Liam and Lila thudded him with a tight hug as if he were their long-lost father who finally came home after years of being away.My eyes burned seeing how much body contact they were making with him. But there was nothing I could do about it. Ripping them off of him will make me seem like the wicked mother, denying them a chance at happiness. Not to mention they were still angry with me for yesterday, the ultimatum they gave me was a cruel reminder I should tread carefully with them to avoid any further escalation.I didn’t make the call to the estate security again. My b
CHAPTER 137LILY’S POV~ Amid my frustration, a sleek black Sedan car, one of the latest models glided smoothly into my driveway, stopping just a few feet away from me as if in a showcase.I thought maybe Noah had somehow managed to find out the kids and I were stranded and sent someone. But as the passenger door opened, I was surprised to see Robert stepping out in style and approaching like a superhero coming to save the day.Seriously? Can this day get any worse? ~Rage quickly filled me. My lips pressed firmly together and my fist balled on seeing him.“Just what are you? A monitoring spirit?” I hissed, my voice laced with irritation. “Why won’t you leave us alone? I thought I made it very clear to you yesterday to stay away from us. It’s that so hard for you to understand? That’s it. I’ve had just about enough of your unwanted presence. I’m calling the estate security to kick your ass out and ban you from ever coming here. I don’t even know how you got access to this place in
CHAPTER 136LILY’S POVThe next morning, I got up earlier than usual because of two reasons. The first was that I couldn’t sleep even after feeling better after I talked to Jane. I kept thinking about how Robert managed to get the kids’ DNA samples and run that paternity test. Does it mean he’d been seeing them long before now because I know it takes quite some time before one can get their DNA results. Robert was just full of surprises. Just how desperate can he be?!The second was I needed to prepare the kids for school. It was hard doing it alone without Nana Mae’s help while also preparing for work. This made me realize how valuable she was and how much I needed her back. I have to get her back. I hope she agrees to come back even after what I did. I messed up big time and deeply regretted my actions.Coupled with the kids' attitude, the morning was torturous, one of my worst. It was clear they were still angry with me. Whenever I tried to make a conversation, they only remained