Chapter 141: Again
Lola liked reading. Before she ever wrote her own story, she read a lot as a means of escape. Especially as a child, reading had always been something she turned to. She had come across many stories where a second life was offered to the heroine.
A second life to start over and turn things around.
To correct their mistakes—or simply to take revenge. When Lola regained the memories of her first life at fourteen, she thought her future was set. That she could cheat her way to success and make the right choices.
Sadly, reality was different.
What could a fourteen-year-old really do? It wasn’t that she was a genius. She might have been smart enough to pass into one of the most prestigious schools abroad, but that was only thanks to sheer effort. In her first life, she could barely focus on her studies with Melissa and Jasmine constantly around.
In simple terms, she barely knew the basics. What she could do, however, was adjust her time management, balancing her studies while tending to her father’s new wife and daughter.
But her struggles didn’t stop there.
When she turned eighteen and finally moved out of the Young family, Lola’s hopes were sky high. She thought that once she was away, she could focus on herself and make it big. But again, in her previous life, she hadn’t really known much—especially during that time. Sure, she might’ve known a few things, but those were all for much later in life.
Eventually, she felt her memories from her first life were nothing but a reminder that she was a loser the first time, and would be one the second time too. After all, it felt like she had earned a useless superpower. So, for the most part, she buried herself in studies while trying to figure things out alone.
It was just that life had its own strange, twisted way of playing with her.
By the time Lola thought she had finally figured it out—saving up and starting her own company—she found herself pregnant. And then, she lost her child, and her life spiraled out of control from there.
Hence, how could she love life?
How could she love herself—Lola Young—when each decision, whether carefully made or not, smacked her back to the starting point? How could she love life when the only things she remembered were horrible memories and failures?
But lately, things had been different.
She had reclaimed her mother’s properties the way Loren had hoped. Cedrick’s comeback was turning out well. And then... the twins. Her relationship with their father and uncle, too. Even though those two were intrusive—as if they had never heard of boundaries—they were like the toppings on a freshly baked cake.
And now, that building. An office in the same place where her grandfather built his wealth.
After all the pain, the tears, the sweat, the sleepless nights, and all the sacrifices... was it wrong that she was starting to hope again? That she was starting to think that maybe—just maybe—she might be able to love life again?
Was it really wrong for her to look at the brighter side?
To be honest, she didn’t know the answer. But what she did know was that she might be falling.
Falling in love not just with life, but with herself—the self she had once wanted to erase from this world.
"Mommy~!"
Lola’s thoughts halted at the call from a distance. She blinked slowly and twisted her neck to see where the sound had come from.
"Mommy, we’re here~!"
There, just near the driveway of the old Albert family garden—where she had decided to spend the rest of her day after visiting the office and Cedrick with Silo—stood the twins. They waved their little arms as high as they could, excitement shining across their faces.
Seeing them, Lola’s eyes softened as her lips curved into a genuine smile. She stabbed the garden fork into the wild, overgrown weeds and leaned her arm against it.
"Mommy~! We’re here for you~!" the twins cheered before bending down to pick something up. When they straightened, they held small shovels and buckets for gardening.
"Chacha and Second are here to help~! We’re going to help mommy~!"
Lola chuckled as she watched them jog toward her with excitement. But her attention shifted when she heard another familiar voice.
"Sis~!!!"
She turned to see Slater driving a pickup truck. The driver’s window was rolled down completely, his arm dangling casually over the side. He was beaming brightly, stopping just behind the van the twins had come from.
"Si—" Slater nearly bit his tongue when Atlas suddenly tapped the door.
"Stop shouting," Atlas warned, earning a twisted look from his younger brother. "There’s a lot of work ahead."
Lola furrowed her brows as she caught Slater secretly glaring at Atlas. Following Atlas with her eyes, she saw him walk toward another vehicle that had pulled in behind—part of what looked like a small convoy. Huge trucks, contractors climbing out to greet him.
"..." She blinked at Atlas. His blazer was gone, sleeves rolled up to the elbow, his expression stern as he spoke to a contractor.
After a moment, Atlas nodded, pulling out his phone. At the same time, Lola felt her own phone vibrate in her pocket.
"Huh?" She frowned, only to see Atlas glance directly at her.
Taking out her phone, she saw his number flash across the display. She answered.
"There are a few designs they want you to check," he said without beating around the bush. "You can choose, or add more details on how you want things."
Lola didn’t respond right away, staring blankly in his direction.
So, I was right? They brought this team here... to help with the place?
But Lola hadn’t wanted help—at least not this much. Why? Because she wasn’t in a hurry. Even so, her mouth stretched into a smile as her eyes softened. Instead of answering, she simply nodded at him.
"... Okay," Atlas said. Without ending the call, he turned to the man beside him. "She might want a lot of changes to these designs. Make sure to fulfill them all."
A shallow breath escaped Lola’s nostrils as she listened to his instructions.
Maybe, I’m not just falling in love with life and myself again, she thought, listening to her heart pounding in her chest. Maybe... I’m falling for someone else too. Again.