Chapter 197: Three Unfamiliar Words
[Present Time]
When Lola first heard from Atlas about this secret society, she didn’t believe it. She didn’t even think about it much after that. Partly because she was too busy trying to function under the relentless heart arrows Atlas was shooting in her direction. And partly because it was just too ridiculous.
Secret societies?
Lola already had plenty to think about without adding conspiracy theories to the list. But now, she was forced to accept that Atlas wasn’t joking. Not just about the secret societies, but also... Novera was Atlas’s territory?
"I shouldn’t have asked anything," she murmured, pinching the bridge of her nose. "My head is starting to spin."
"Mommy."
Lola paused, peeking at the owner of the voice. There, lying on the bed, were the twins. When they arrived home, she had quickly cleaned them up so they could be ready for bed. Because they were tired, they hadn’t wanted to, so she had to help them.
Now, while putting them to sleep, she thought they had already nodded off.
Looking at them, the twins’ eyes looked heavy as they yawned. However, they were fighting off sleep for reasons she didn’t know. Chacha and Second reached out, holding her hands close to them.
"Mommy, thank you for today," Chacha expressed, while Second yawned first before adding, "Today was really fun."
The thoughts in her mind were quickly pushed aside as she smiled. "Mhm. I also had so much fun today. Let’s do this again next time, okay?"
They smiled, still cradling her hands.
"Now, you guys sleep," she hummed, holding their little hands back. "I’ll be here until you fall asleep."
The twins each turned on their side, still holding Lola’s hands — almost hugging them. As they closed their eyes, they muttered:
"Good night, Mommy," Second whispered. "I love you, Mommy."
Chacha also let out a weak whisper, "Love you, Mommy. Please stay with us forever."
Lola’s eyes softened as she gazed at the lovely duo, watching them slowly fall asleep. The lingering tension in her shoulders eased at their innocence.
"I still can’t believe there was a kidnapping incident today," she whispered, a smile forming on her face. "The fastest kidnapping ever."
Bending over, she planted a soft kiss on their foreheads and drew back. She carefully pulled her hands free, brushing their cheeks with the back of her fingers.
[I love you, Mommy.]
Lola gulped, her lips pressed tightly into a thin line.
When was the last time someone told me they love me? she wondered. I can’t remember.
Maybe when her mother was still alive. That was how long it had been since she last heard those words directed at her. It was why she never used them, aside from the fact that she didn’t really know how to. She just didn’t think there was anything — or anyone — left in this world she could say she loved after losing her child.
A subtle smile twitched on her face, eyes on the adorable children. "I love..." she trailed off, biting her tongue.
In the end, Lola just forced a smile and made sure they were comfortable before she went to shower. Not that she didn’t love the twins. However, for some reason, her tongue felt stiff when she wanted to tell them how important they were to her — that she would give them the world if she had to.
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*
After a quick shower, Lola came out, towel-drying her hair. She paused and glanced at the bed, smiling before she went to the vanity mirror. Looking at herself, her smile lingered, and her eyes were clear.
"I can’t believe all of that happened in just a day," she murmured, thinking about how it all went. Another chuckle escaped her, remembering how they had spent the entire day at the amusement park.
A whole day!
Amid her reminiscing, Lola’s smile suddenly froze. The smile lines on her face disappeared as panic clenched her heart. Aside from trying out all those rides and games, something else had happened. No, not the fastest kidnapping ever recorded. But rather...
Lola touched her lips, gulping as she was reminded of Atlas’s gaze that never left her. The way his eyes casually fell on her lips before he leaned in, tilting his head, his breath brushing her upper lip.
He was going to kiss me, she thought, her cheeks growing red as her breathing slowed down. And I... was going to let him.
I was going to let him!
Her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth fully with her palm. Her heart, which had been peacefully steady earlier with the twins’ warmth, now raced in her chest.
"Good lord," she breathed before choking herself with her own words, burying her face in her palms. "Is he crazy or what? Trying to kiss me while the children are around."
Her face twisted, catching herself worrying about something else.
"No, no, no." She shook her head. "It’s alright. It’s just... the moment."
After all, the mood earlier, accompanied by the fireworks, felt like the perfect moment for a kiss... or make-out. Big words for someone like her, who truly hadn’t experienced... the pleasure of real sex. She might have gotten pregnant, but it was something she couldn’t even remember how.
So, emotionally, Lola was... an old virgin.
"Goodness." She huffed, snapping her eyes to the bed and shaking her head once more. "Stop thinking about it, Lola. Their father is pursuing you, so of course, he will... he will want... that... maybe."
She clicked her tongue, finding herself unable to complete a sentence without brief pauses. To distract herself from almost losing her "first" kiss, she dried her hair aggressively and quickly skipped to the bed and joined the twins.
But as she did so, out of habit, she reached out for the glass of water on the bedside table.
"Right..." she muttered, remembering that she had been in such a hurry to clean the children that she hadn’t made time to get one.
Checking the time, it was late, and considering how their day had gone, Lola assumed Atlas was not guarding the living area at the moment. With that thought in mind, she left the room just for a glass of water.
However, the second she reached a few steps down the stairs, she stopped.
"Hmm?" She paused, hand on the railing, eyes on the stair landing.
There, Atlas also stopped, as if he had been heading upstairs.
Why?