Chapter 5

VALERIE'S POV

“Mommy!”

“Oh no,” I moaned, paused mid-air, and gritting my teeth at my poor attempt to tiptoe to my room.

“I can see you mummy, there’s no need to hide” Mason said in his ‘as a matter of fact’ tone.

I just sighed, giving up right then. "Okay Okay, you got me.” I said with a soft smile and raised my hands in defeat. But he didn’t seem phased at all, he just stared at me with a bored expression.

I had to change tactics then. “Oh, baby, you shouldn’t be up, look at the time. Gosh!” I exclaimed.

“Mommy you deceived us!” Miley's voice rang out from the kitchen. “Me?” I replied with fake disbelief.

Almost immediately sounds of her little flip flops filled the air as she ran to the living room, with an …ice cream coated hair??

“Whoa! What’s with your hair?” I exclaimed, moving to touch it; it was indeed ice cream.

I looked at her small frowning face for explanation, but she just huffed and turned to the side. “Little Miss dramatic huh?” I teased as a slight chuckle left my lips.

Just then, I heard tiny feet’s shuffling around. I turned to the direction and gasped at the sight. “Even you?” I cried out in alarm when I saw Miles with a heavy coated ice cream hair.

Emphasis on “heavy”

“Wah… Did you-

“Food fight.” Mason cut in calmly, confirming my exact thoughts. “Why? I leave you guys for some hours and come back to this?” I asked, totally stupefied.

I turned back to Miles, who was shyly picking his fingers just beside the entrance of the kitchen “Come here sweetheart” I beckoned at him, and he ran into my opened arms instantly, wrapping his small arms around my neck.

“I’m sorry mommy. I know you said we shouldn’t fight” he said softly, snuggling his face into my neck.

“It’s okay.” I rubbed his back as his hug got tighter.

Such a baby, my neck would be loaded with ice cream by now, I’m sure.

“C’mon let’s get you all cleaned up” I stood up from my bent position with Miles still in my arms and Mason took my purse.

After we took few steps, I turned back and saw Miley still pouting where she was “Mill? Get here young lady” I scolded.

She stood still for a moment and said “You deceived me mommy” then ran past us to the stairs, sniffling back tears. “Oh, my goodness” I signed, an ache forming in my head.

Yeah, maybe I did deceive them, but they were convinced I was going to meet their daddy and wanted to go with me! I could not let that happen, especially not today that I knew I would see Hudson.

“Argh!” today was way too stressful.

After about an hour later, with everyone all cleaned up from ‘ice cream’. Everyone except Mason that is.

My man, as he loved to call himself, didn’t even have a touch of ice cream on him. He just watched the other two argue and squabble inside a bowl of Strawberry ice cream.

Dealing with 4-year-old triplets and been CEO of a busy company was one hell of a job.

Not that I was complaining or anything, I loved my babies. They were a ball of bright light in my dark, lonely world.

The only good things that came out of my wasted years with Hudson were my babies, Mason, Miley, and Miles. I thank God every day that I kept them.

They came out in that order as well, with Mason being the eldest boy, Miley the middle child and our princess of course and Miles, the baby of the house and youngest.

Mason had this dirty blonde hair and bright blue eyes that made his boyish features stand out even though he was just 4-year-old. And I sure as hell knew where that came from.

Miley, my princess, had my honey brown hair and green eyes. She was just a mirror reflection of me. As nanny Beth loved to say. I mean, she would know because she was my nanny as well when I was little.

Then Miles, my shy prince, had similar dirty blonde hair as Mason but green eyes like Miley, with deep cute dimples on his face. “We are ready mommy” Miles called out excitedly as he ran to Miley’s bed. Everyone was already in their pajamas and ready for story time.

“Stop pushing Milly, you’re pushing me” Miles grumbled.

“I am not! This is my bed!” She retorted.

I really don’t get why those two loved bickering so much. “That’s enough you two” I interjected quickly before it would turn into another bedtime quarrel.

“I will seat next to Miley this time, it’s her turn” I said and settled on the plush pink mattress, a story book in hand.

“Told you” Miley jabbed at Miles and stuck her tongue out at him.

“that’s enough or no more story” I warned and immediately their exchange ended.

*****

“And they lived happily ever after. The end.” I whispered and all three sighed softly. I smiled as I noticed Milly and Miles huddled together on the pillow closest to me. They loved each other after all.

“Let’s read another one pretty please,” Miles whined. “No baby, it’s already late” I declined, pecking the top of Mason’s head as he leaned on me.

“Mommy? When do we get to meet daddy?” Miley probed for the one billion time ever since she learned how to talk.

I frowned, racking my brain for another excuse “Well, um, daddy… daddy is busy! You will meet him soon sweetheart.”

“But that’s what you said last time” she argued pouting her tiny lip. “Doesn’t he want us?” Mason asked.

“Maybe he doesn’t love us,” Miles joined in, his voice almost inaudible.

“He doesn’t want us mommy?” Miley asked, her eyes already shining with tears.

The look on their faces broke my heart so much that I started tearing up myself. “Where did you hear such a thing from, huh?” I asked amid tears.

“Your daddy loves you. All of you. He loves you so much.”

“Why doesn’t he want to see us then?” Mason asked in a quiet murmur. I sniffled and dried my eyes. I could not be crying like this in front of them. “He’s just busy, don’t worry you will meet him soon. Promise” I replied, wiping each of their tears as I pulled them all to my chest for a group hug.

“Don’t cry anymore mommy, it takes away your beauty” Miley complained and hurried to use her blanket to wipe my eyes.

A bubble of laughter left my lips at her attempt to comfort me. She was definitely a girly girl, always bothered by her looks.

“Okayy, bedtime!”

“Good night my babies” I kissed each of them on her foreheads as they settled in their various beds.

“Good night mommy” they chorused. I decided to wait for a moment and watched them sleep.

My heart was still aching from their cries and complaints this evening. They had always asked questions but… but it was never this bad.

Would it get worse? I don’t want them to grow up thinking their dad hates them. I was the one he detests not them.

Believe me, I had always known I won’t be able to hide the truth forever but what do I do?

I couldn't tell Hudson about them. What if he tries to take them away from me? Following his mother’s nature, I wouldn’t put it past her at all.

“Oh, goodness” I sighed. They were already fast asleep, so I decided to go to bed.

I don’t know how all this will turn out, but one thing is for sure “I will never allow Hudson take my babies away from me” I concluded my thoughts, and determination surged in my veins.

Just then, the loud vibration of my phone snapped me out of it. “Unknown number?” I murmured, watching it cut.

I never took calls from unknown ID’s, if it was business related Rob would have given me a call. Since he didn’t, I had nothing to worry about.

I ignored it and walked towards my room but whoever it was kept calling.

I did my night facial routine that took almost 30 minutes only to return to check my phone and saw 30 missed calls.

All from the same number!

I had grown apprehensive earlier before going to the bathroom but now I was terrified.

I could feel my palms become sweaty as I stared at my screen, goosebumps appearing on my arms as I debated whether or not to call back. Just then my phone vibrated again and fell off my shaky hands. “What the hell!” I cussed harshly, already pissed off now that i allowed a ringing phone to frighten me.

And so, I grabbed my phone and accepted the call “Hello? Who this is!” I spat angrily.

But then, the words that followed had chills going down my spine, freezing me at the spot. “I know what you did Valerie” he growled, breathing heavily.

My grip on the phone tightened as I immediately recognized his voice. I could never forget.

“H…Hudson?”