CHAPTER 40LILY’S POV“We need to get going,” I said as I quickly took their hands and started making our way to our house. I didn’t want any other person to start giving us a suspicious look like that lady. “We don’t want to be out here for too long and I know you two must be very hungry.”“Yeah, we are,” Lila answered, nodding.“Okay, let’s do this. If we can walk very fast and reach the house in less than two minutes then I will make whatever you want for dinner.”“Really?” Her eyes widened as she looked up at me.“Yes. Anything.”“I want Pizza!” She exclaimed excitedly. “It’s been long since we had one.”“Pizza it is then,” I said while smiling.“Yay!!” Leaving my hand, she started running, as far as her little feet could take her. She didn’t stop until she reached the front of our house. There she waited for us, grinning as she waved her hands and urging us to walk faster. But Liam wasn’t so enthusiastic. I could tell he was still thinking about what I said earlier about his fat
CHAPTER 41LILY’S POVLila’s question caught me off guard. Liam’s plate almost slipped from my grasp as I was about to serve him. This was the second time she had asked this. The first time was amid Noah when he came over for dinner. I almost choked on my food and was uncomfortable around Noah throughout the entire dinner up until he left.“Are you okay, mummy?” Liam asked in concern, seeing how disoriented I got.“Yeah,” I took in a deep breath in an attempt to get myself back together and managed a smile before steadying my grip on Liam’s plate and keeping it on the table in front of him. “Sorry about that.”I turned my attention to Lila as I walked back to the kitchen island, a bit infuriated with her. She can’t keep doing this and I nearly broke a plate. “We talked about this and I said no.”“Please, mummy,” she begged softly, looking adorable as she did. “If you say yes, I promise never to bother you about anything again, and I promise to be a very good kid to Uncle Noah as well.
CHAPTER 42LILY’S POVUpon arriving at the company building, I headed straight to Noah’s office. The suspense and anticipation that came with finding out about what he wanted to talk to me about gnawed at me, leaving me panicked and restless throughout the ride to this place.He had called severally again while I was showering and getting ready. Due to the rush, I had picked something quick to wear, not taking my time to dress the way I wanted – a simple blouse and jeans, with my hair hastily tied in a messy bun.I also had to call Nana Mae to come look after the kids for me. Even though she wasn’t supposed to work at this time of the day as she was a part-time nanny, she agreed out of the kindness of her heart. I couldn’t leave Liam and Lila alone in that house. It will be a chaotic mess by the time I get back.I tapped on Noah’s office door and at the sound of a muffled voice that said, “Come in,” I entered and gently closed the door behind me.Noah didn’t bother looking at me to a
CHAPTER 43LILY’S POV“What?...” My eardrums slammed and my mind literally blew up from what he just said.“I’m sorry, Lily,” he said, looking away with a tight jaw and heavy heart. “You left me without a choice. I’m only following protocols. I don’t want anyone else especially in this company to find out about this. Not only will it affect the way the public and our clients see us, but it will also create a rift amongst our members. They’ll have every reason to believe I’m being biased and not following standard protocols.”The silence in the room stretched, thick and tense.The weight of his words hit me like a bullet from nowhere. For a moment, my body system stopped functioning from the impact of the shock. He can’t fire me like this. This can’t be happening to me again. I never expected it much less from someone like him. I thought he liked me. I know he was being professional, protecting the interest of his company but this wasn’t the way to go about this. He can’t fire me afte
CHAPTER 44 LILY’S POV I had to call my best friend, Jane. I needed to tell her what happened and ask if she had any idea how Robert might have found out my location. It had been ages since we last spoke—I couldn’t even remember the last time. Since we moved here, she and her family had only come by for a visit a couple of times even though Jane had promised the kids they’d come live with us after we got settled that time I was released from prison, and we were preparing for the trip.I didn’t have any intimate friends in this place to confide in. No shoulder to cry on. Nowadays, I hardly make any friends because of how busy I am with work and the kids. In tough times like this, Jane was the only one who could console me and make me feel better. But she wasn’t around so there was every need for me to console myself before I got home. I don’t want the kids to see me like this.I turned my attention away from the window. I wanted to take my phone out of my handbag and place a call thr
CHAPTER 45 LILY’S POV “No, you’re not,” I ground the words out from my clenched teeth. With renewed courage, I pulled forward and wrapped my elbow around his neck, caging him and stopping his intended move. I can’t die alone. If I’m going to die then he’ll also die along with me. After all, he instigated this. While he was taking off his seatbelt, he diverted his attention from the windscreen, causing the vehicle’s speed to reduce slightly. I grabbed the steering wheel and grappled with him, causing the car to screech, swerving right and left uncontrollably. “You bitch…!” He hurled a million curses at me, thrashing under my grip. I held on tight as if to strangle him, still fumbling with the steering wheel. I wanted to steer the car toward a nearby bush before we reached the edge of the bridge, which was only a short distance away, but he wasn’t making it easy for me. He was strong and I knew I wouldn’t hold on much longer. His hands shot up wildly, grabbing at the top
CHAPTER 46 LILY’S POV I slowly opened my eyes, feeling groggy and weak as I twisted a little on the large silky surface I found myself on. My breath hitched a bit and I blinked, confused as I took in the unfamiliar surroundings I found myself. It screamed of opulence and luxury; a grand room filled with golden décor, sky-high ceiling, velvet curtains, and chandeliers that sparkled softly in the dim light. I lay on a silky, king-sized bed adorned with plush pillows and bolsters, far more luxurious than anything my body has ever rested on, and the air that enveloped me felt so crisp and light I could float away. Managing to pull my heavy body up to sit at the edge of the bed, a slight wince escaped my lips as I clutched my throbbing temple to feel a small gauze bandage over it. I also noticed plaster bandages covering various injuries on my body; both sides of my leg, the inside of my elbow and my arms. As I assessed myself, I realized I wasn’t wearing the same clothes as bef
CHAPTER 47LILY’S POVNoah’s words hooked me instantly and I looked at him with a sharp curious gaze. Of course, I wanted to know all that and more. No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t seem to understand how I wasn’t dead and, instead, had ended up here in his house.When that taxi driver was pointing the gun at me, I was sure he pulled the trigger. Even though I looked away because I didn’t want to witness my death, I heard the shot, loud and clear before passing out. Before that happened, I had called out for help and looked around to see if there was anyone nearby but there wasn’t. So how did Noah suddenly appear from nowhere and bring me here?“Please sit,” he sat at the edge of the bed and tapped the spot beside him for me to sit, his brown button eyes so charming and gentle it could melt away the troubles that lingered in one’s heart.Slashing out a breath, I eased up a little and reluctantly sat down but at a considerable distance away from him. Just because I de
ROBERT’S POV~ On seeing me approach, my chauffeur quickly strengthened himself up and froze in shock as though he’d seen something his mouth couldn’t describe. My brows furrowed as I couldn’t understand why he was looking at me that way. ~“Boss… your arm…you’re bleeding…” He stuttered in a mix of alarm and bafflement.“Oh…” I feigned surprise like I hadn’t noticed all along. “This?...” I pointed at the bloodied cut on my right arm which I sustained from the broken splinters of that chair after I crashed into it. The bastard had pushed me really well. I won’t deny he was strong and had the perfect form. He probably works out every day. Due to how busy I am lately, I couldn’t even remember the last time I hit the gym. I’ll probably start when this issue with Lily is resolved and I have my family back with me. But it was kind of amusing to know I was bleeding this much yet I couldn’t feel the pain. I guess anger can make one numb to pain and a whole lot of other feelings.Fishing out
CHAPTER 131ROBERT’S POV I couldn’t control the level of anger boiling inside me. I was so angry as I stepped out of the house I could tear the whole damn world apart. I couldn’t believe she kicked me out. Like a fucking stray dog. She didn’t believe what I told her about Scarlett, and she chose that bastard over me.She should have just let me disfigure his face. I didn’t like him or any other man getting close to her and touching her. She was mine. Mine! She had told him everything that happened between us in the past. Who the fuck was he to involve himself in matters that didn’t concern him and talk to me like that? Did he at all know who he was messing with?If he hadn’t intervened, I think there was a greater chance Lily would have heard me out. She would have believed me. Even though she had acted all berserk because I took the kids without her knowledge and said all that hurtful shit to me, I saw that look in her eyes. The heart-rending tenderness of her beautiful amber gaze.
CHAPTER 130LILY’S POV ~ “You know what?... Just leave. I’ve had about enough of you invading into my life like a damn shadow, lurking where you don’t belong. I refuse to believe what you just said because I know it’s a lie, a manipulation tactic to disorient and make me ease up to you. But it won’t work. You can’t deceive me again.”“I’m not lying Lily…” ~“I don’t want to hear it,” I brought my hand forward to stop him. “That’s how you lied to their teacher about you and I being separated and sharing custody of the kids. I never thought you’d stoop so low just to get your way. Don’t you think that’s embarrassing for someone who once thought he could get anything he wanted with the snap of his finger?” I asked with a condescending sneer.“That was different, Lily…”“Why don’t you stop being an asshole and leave like she told you to?” Noah fumed from behind me, clearly annoyed and fed up with Robert’s persistence.“Did the Chihuahua finally find its voice?” Robert sneered at Noah,
CHAPTER 129LILY’S POV ~ “Don’t bother,” Nana Mae said firmly, like one holding onto the last shred of her dignity. “I have been working here for the past two years. I know my way to the door.”She looked at me, her eyes glistening with hurtful disappointment. “I was wrong to think of you as a daughter. You’ve changed so much over these past few weeks I can barely recognize what you’ve become. If you keep up with this attitude, not only will your kids hate you but you also going to end up alone, feeling miserable and regretting your entire life.” She finished before furiously matching towards the exit. ~“My kids won’t hate me because they love me very much and know how much I sacrificed for them to be where they are now, and I can never feel miserable and alone because I have them by my side!” I yelled at her scornfully but I don’t think she heard it because the door had slammed shut, proving she’d left.If she thought her words would affect me then she was wrong because, at this
CHAPTER 128LILY’S POV~ “I said now!” I yelled at them. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”They both jumped in fear. Liam gave Robert a quick hug before they raced to their room like they were being chased by a monster.After I heard them shut their door, I faced Robert because I didn’t want them to witness what was about to happen. ~“You have some nerves showing up at my kids’ school and pulling them from their classes even after I warned you not to get any close to them,” I said, my eyes burning into him with murderous intent. At this point, if Noah proposed we hire an assassin to take him out again, I’ll pass it in a heartbeat because I’ve had just about enough of him.“Still, that isn’t enough reason for you to do this,” he said, gesturing toward the mess I made on the floor. His frustration was evident, and judging by the look on his face, what I did really got to him. Just exactly what I wanted.But I couldn’t help snorting in disbelief, a scornful smirk curving the side of my
CHAPTER 127LILY’S POVWe drove straight home after Nana Mae made it known to us the kids were safe and home. Noah was speeding on the way he almost ran into a construction vehicle. I hadn’t seen him this angry and serious in a while.If Nana Mae hadn’t called, we would have been on our way to New York. Noah had wanted to drive to his hangar and get one of his private jets to take us when she called. I was relieved we didn’t leave the city. The thought of meeting with Robert’s family members filled me with nothing but dread and rage. They were monsters, and seeing them will bring back a lot of memories I struggled to forget.I couldn’t believe Nana Mae was asking if I was sure Robert was the one who hurt me. Like what the fuck! Did she think I was lying or making a big deal out of the matter? Robert had probably put up an act to deceive her and the kids. That’s what he’d been doing ever since he arrived – putting on acts and pretending to be sorry while in reality, he had ulterior mo
CHAPTER 126LILY’S POV~ “I have nothing to say to you,” I sneered at her coldly. “Just know that if anything happens to my kids, I’ll make sure you lose your teaching license and I’ll burn this school to the fucking ground. Now, where did he take them?!”“I don’t know…” She squeaked amid the tears burning at the back of her shielded eyes. ~“What do you mean you don’t know?” My eyes were wide as I stared at her in disbelief.“He didn’t say…” she muttered.I gripped my forehead, feeling the panic flood my system. How do I find them when I had no idea where Robert had taken them? I didn’t have his contact and didn’t know any means I could use to get to him. As far as I was concerned, this was a kidnap. Robert had kidnapped my kids.Quickly, I rushed out of the office, determined to get to Noah and tell him because he’ll know what to do in this kind of situation. Miss Hampton tried calling me back but I ignored her like she didn’t exist. If anything happens to my kids, I’ll make sure
CHAPTER 125LILY’S POVNoah and I pulled up to the school just as the bell rang, signalling the end of the day. The whole area was filled with parents who had come to pick up their kids. Nothing warmed my heart more than seeing little children reunite with their parents after a long day in school and telling them how it went. I couldn’t wait for Liam and Lila to tell me how their day went.We waited for Liam and Lila in the spot where they usually stayed after school to wait for me. But five minutes went by, ten, fifteen, getting to twenty minutes yet they were nowhere to be seen.Having this odd feeling that something could be wrong, I stepped out of the car in search of them, telling Noah I would be right back. Why were they taking so long? What could be keeping them? Usually, they wait for me at that spot before I even arrive.I went straight to their classroom only to see their classmates were gone, leaving the classroom empty. The hallway and other classes were empty too. Tensio
CHAPTER 125LILY’S POV~ Moments later, Tony, the head of security came back on the line. “Mrs. Jones, I have gone through all the footage of your office and can confirm there was no unauthorized entry. I’ll send it to you so you can see for yourself.” I didn’t wait for him to finish as I put the telephone back into the casing. I glanced around helplessly, feeling the tears I was holding back trail down my cheeks. Sooner or later, Noah will come asking why I hadn’t sent the pitch to him. What do I tell him? What do I do now? ~I was fretting, pacing the length of my office like a crazy ass scientist when the door pushed open and Noah walked in. My heart skipped a beat on seeing him and I had to place my hand against my thumping chest to steady it.“I’m sorry…” Noah apologized, his brows furrowing in confusion as he found my reaction a bit disturbing. Vaguely disturbing. I had never reacted like this whenever he came to my office. “I didn’t mean to startle you like that.”“It’s oka