CHAPTER 111ROBERT’S POV~ Just then the door opened and a little girl of about eight years came running to her, shouting “Mummy! Mummy!” ~The little girl clung to Lily’s side, staring at me as though I was a strange creature that appeared from nowhere.“Mummy,” she called Lily that for the third time, looking up at her. “Who’s this man? Why is kneeling in front of you and what did he do for you to be screaming at him like that?”Lily was irritated by her sudden presence. She looked away to avoid her gaze, hiding her flushed face and trying to steady her laboured breath.Before Lily could get a grip, the little girl looked back at me again, her brows furrowing deeply. She was staring at me like I was something of interest. Something she was trying to understand.She rested her chin on her tiny fingers, her face adorably scrunched in deep thought. She cocked her head at me, throwing a question. “Hey Mister, who are you and why do you look so much like Liam?”“Huhh…” I grimaced in con
CHAPTER 112ROBERT’S POV~ “Stay away from us and never come back here or else I’ll alert the estate security!” Lily shunned me fiercely. She didn’t even wait for me to utter a word as she quickly pulled the kids inside and slammed the door in my face, leaving me to stand there in crushing silence, staring at the closed door as the weight of my past mistakes pressed heavily on my chest. ~“Lily…! Lily…!! Please you can’t be doing this. You can’t keep them away from me…” I kept calling her name but there was no answer. She was ignoring me on purpose.I wanted to bang at the door, even knock it down if I had to. But I realized doing that would only be to my detriment as it was getting dark and I’ll be drawing the attention of the neighbours, and people passing by the estate road. The estate was very quiet and serene, so any little noise could constitute a nuisance.I rushed to the windows, desperate for another glimpse of them, but the thick, drawn curtains blocked my view entirely.
CHAPTER 113ROBERT’S POV~ The sudden beep of my phone in my pocket startled me a bit, pulling me from my thoughts. I quickly pulled it out and glanced at the screen to see it was a notification from none other than Martin. After leaving me hanging for hours, he finally responded to my chat, his reply shocking me. ~“Robert, I understand perfectly. You don’t have to worry about anything. I’m only this way towards her because she’s my friend and I care for her. You married her, she’s all yours. Just do your best to bring her and the kids back. I promise I won’t overstep my boundaries.”I stared at the phone screen for quite some time, contemplating my response. His reply wasn’t quite what I expected. Can I truly trust him to stay clear of Lily? Their close relationship in the past, while we were still married bothered me so much that I wanted to stop her from seeing him entirely. If he took this long to reply to me, that meant he thought deeply about this. That meant he still had feel
CHAPTER 114LILY’S POVFirst thing the following morning, I was in Noah’s office, waiting impatiently for him to arrive. He usually left his office unlocked so the cleaning lady could come and clean it early in the morning before he arrived for work. But I preferred to lock mine before leaving because I don’t like people tampering with my stuff. The cleaner lady only cleaned it when I was on shifts as I kept it tidy most time.I don’t usually come over to Noah’s office. It was always the other way around. But the matter at hand was driving me insane, choking me to the point of death I just had to leave everything else I was doing and come here.I can’t believe Robert showed up at my place. Digging up where I worked and sending those whack flowers weren’t enough he had to come to my house when it was almost dark, whining like an adult child. How did he manage to find my address? Who gave it to him? Or did somehow install a tracking device in my phone or anywhere around me? I doubt th
CHAPTER 115LILY’S POV~ “How?” She was so curious. “Tell me everything, Lily.”I wanted to when the door pushed open and Noah stepped in. ~“Hey Lily,” Noah smiled brightly on seeing me but was also surprised that I was in his office this early in the morning. “What brings you to my office this early in the morning?” He asked as he took off his coat and hung it on the coat rack beside the door.I gave him an awkward smile as I tried to end the call with Jane.“Can I call you back Jane?” I spoke closely into the phone. “I have to go. My boss is here.”“Okayyy,” she drawled. Somehow, I could tell she was tempted to tease me but was holding back.Normally, whenever I mentioned Noah in our conversations, she would tease the heck out of me, asking if I had finally shot my shot with him. But the urgency and seriousness of the situation at hand didn’t leave room for that. I hadn’t even told her he had proposed and that I had turned him down. She’d go bananas on me and torment me for life
CHAPTER 116LILY’S POV~ “But I do know another way,” Noah said, catching my attention as I quickly lifted my gaze to him. “A way we can use to get rid of him fast and once and for all.”“Please tell me…” I stuttered in a desperate plea.“I know a professional assassin who can finish him off once and for all so he won’t get to bother you and your kids ever again. ~“What…” My mouth dropped open as I stared at him in shock. How in the world can he suggest something like that?“It was just a suggestion,” he raised his hands innocently in surrender as if he didn’t just say that. “We’ll only carry on with it if you want…”“Well I don’t want it so we’re not carrying on with it,” I said firmly, couldn’t help scoffing in disbelief.Turning away from him, I placed my palm against my forehead and breathed out heavily in frustration. I still couldn’t believe he could come up with something like that. I hate Robert. More than anything in this world I do but that doesn’t mean I want him dead.
CHAPTER 117LILY’S POV~ “Wait, Lily. I know another way.”I turned to face him, my brows pulling in. What other suggestion did he want to make again?“Let’s…” he hesitated as though this was hard for him to say. “Let’s move out of the country.” ~“Uhh…” My brows knitted together as I stared at him in confusion. He never ceased to amaze me with his ideas. First, he proposed hiring an assassin to take out Robert. Second, to drag the matter to court and now to fly out of the country. I was starting to think he was taking this too far.“Yes…think about it,” he was almost hysterical as he moved out from the table and approached me. “You, me and the kids, just the four of us. We can move to Africa or to some quiet luxurious island nation where Robert would never think of finding you and slowly rebuild our lives there.”He seemed excited as he said that almost as if this was some breakthrough idea that could make a difference. I don’t think I have seen that kind of look on his face befor
CHAPTER 118ROBERT’S POVWith the help of one of the security men who guarded the estate, Lily’s house was in. The security guard who knew my family. I was able to find out the school my kids were attending. It wasn’t that difficult because he said almost every child in the estate attended the same school.I couldn’t stay in that empty room to watch Lily from the surveillance equipment today because I decided to visit my kids. As much as I wanted to see the look on her face when she saw that every work-related file, document and mail on her system had been wiped out and her boss getting mad at her, I’ll have to pass it on for later. My intel, the security guard there will fill me in on everything.My chauffeur and I stopped by a bakery to buy some cupcakes for the kids and their classmates. I would have opted for ice cream but they’ll melt before we get there. I don’t know their favourite food yet but I hope they’ll like it. Every child likes ice creams and cakes. As we took the rid
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