Chapter 125: You’re amazing.
"Ahh..." Lola nodded in understanding, now seated in the family van with everyone. "So that’s why Baby was lying there too. He’s scared in the dark?"
She blinked and smiled at Atlas, seated beside her after the twins. "And I have to believe that?"
"Sis, we’re not joking! Baby has his fears too!" Slater, seated in the back row, leaned his arms over the twins’ seat. "This place is kinda scary, you know?"
"Mhm! Uncle Baby is scared of monsters like us!" Second chimed in, and Chacha nodded, adding, "But with Mommy, we don’t get scared because Mommy will scare them instead!"
"..." Lola smiled at Chacha and patted her head. She knew Chacha was talking about her look.
"Why are you lying there, by the way, Mommy?" Second asked curiously. "We were worried that you weren’t home yet and thought you’d been kidnapped by other children."
"I got... well, I overdid the clean-up," she let out an awkward laugh. "I only realized it when I couldn’t feel my arms anymore."
"How can you not notice you’re overdoing it?" Slater mumbled, only to see her shrug.
"Maybe because I’m built differently?" she joked. It was meant as a light quip, but somehow, the twins and Slater looked at her in silence before nodding.
What was that just now?
At this point, she knew something had crossed their minds and mentally agreed with it. But before she could say anything, her stomach did the talking.
Her stomach: "Prrr...."
Everyone: "..."
Even Baby glanced at her through the rearview mirror from the driver’s seat.
"Sis, your stomach growling sounds... unique?" Slater looked at her, conflicted. "Did you eat someone alive?"
"A baby inside?" Chacha blurted out. "It sounds like someone is calling for help in there, Mommy."
Lola mentally winced and instinctively gazed at the twins, then at their father. Her face reddened as Atlas gave her a flat look.
"Baby, let’s stop by a nearby restaurant," Atlas ordered, eyes on Lola. "I’m hungry."
****
Dinner was everyone else’s priority, but for Lola? Removing her disastrous makeup. There was no way in hell she would eat out again looking like their mascot. Fortunately, a day of hard labor had made her sweat a lot, so the already smudged makeup was easily removed.
Once they found a nearby restaurant, all four of them quickly dug in.
"Sis, how was today’s plan?" Slater squeezed himself to Lola’s side, grinning. "Tell me, tell me! Satisfying face slap?"
Lola chewed her food, glanced at the twins, then back at him. "Good," she winked.
"I got the properties back and cashed his check, so..." she hummed, playing with her food, thinking about Lawrence’s next move.
But since she had planned every possible route Lawrence and Jasmine might take, the next move was narrowed. Not to mention Melissa’s.
Lola shot Slater a smile. "Thanks for the help, Slater."
"Told you. Teamwork makes the dream work!"
"Mommy, what are you talking about with Uncle Best?" Chacha asked curiously, but all she got was a wide smile from Lola.
"We’re just talking about the properties I got from my mom," she explained, saving the twins from the malicious world of the adults. "And I’m just very happy today."
"If Mommy is happy, we’re happy too!" Second beamed. "Uncle Best is helping Mommy, and then Second and Chacha are helping Mommy with her marriage too!"
Hearing that, Lola’s laughter sounded stiff, and she peeked at Atlas. To her surprise, Atlas wasn’t even looking at them. He was just eating quietly.
Now that I think about it, he’s quieter today, she thought. He’s not upset that he had to pick me up because the twins were worried about me, right?
A few thoughts swirled in her mind, but at this point, she didn’t want to dwell on them. Knowing Atlas more gave her courage—and a little confidence—to ask him later.
So, with that in mind, Lola busied herself with her food, the twins, and talking to Slater.
As she did, Atlas lifted his eyes to her. He studied the four of them and narrowed his eyes.
My kids are helping her with this marriage, Slater is helping her get back on her bully, and I...
He didn’t have a role. She only asked him for one thing, and that was it. All he did was make a phone call, but it didn’t feel like enough.
Deep in thought, Atlas leaned back and pondered. Ruining the Young family—and even the Lancasters—was as easy as breathing. She didn’t have to bother with all of this, but he also respected that their slow descent was her plan.
Atlas’s thoughts paused when he noticed pairs of eyes on him. Lifting his gaze, he caught his children, brother, and Lola looking at him as if waiting for an answer. Since he wasn’t listening, his answer came automatically:
"No."
"Aww, man..." The twins pouted.
****
On their way back to the penthouse, the twins eventually fell asleep. As usual, Chacha clung to her father while seated on his lap. Second, on the other hand, had his head on Lola’s lap, curled on the seat between Lola and Atlas.
Slater, in the backseat, yawned, struck with a food coma. He closed his eyes to rest, and with that, they traveled home quietly.
Atlas turned his head to Lola, catching her smiling while stroking Second’s hair.
"You look happy." His voice was low enough to reach her without disturbing the sleeping ones.
Lola looked up at him, catching the sidelight flash on his face. "Because I am happy. That place... it’s my mother’s garden. She really liked that place. It holds so many memories of her and me."
"But you already owned it before buying it back from that family."
"Call it weird, but it’s different," she shrugged. "I owned it because I fought for it and poured my life into reclaiming all of it. That’s not what my mother wanted. She used every ounce of energy to make sure I would get everything under her name without a problem. Buying them and using my hard-earned savings to fund the people who hurt her is exactly the opposite of what she wanted."
She smacked her lips and leaned back, resting her head on the headrest. "Weird, right?"
"It is," he nodded, speaking honestly. He often dealt with things straightforwardly. The only person he didn’t deal with that way was... her.
Atlas reached out and patted her soft hair, free of the wig she had worn earlier. "Good job. You worked hard today."
Lola stared at him, pursing her lips while letting his warm fingertips brush her head. Her cheeks heated in the darkness. She forced a smile, even as her heart raced, thumping fast and loud against her chest.
"You’re impressed, are you?" she quipped, just to distract herself. But she didn’t expect his response.
He rocked his head mildly, keeping his fingers on her head. "I am. You’re amazing."