Mason

    I didn’t expect the twins to know about me being here, not after receiving a call from Lydia, who was supposed to be our signal that the coast was clear.

    When the twins came running down, I spread my hands apart, picked them both and spun. “How are my twins doing?b” /bI asked, holding them as I walked down the stairs. “Fine,” they echoed.

    Lydia’s eyes were a bit widened, this wasn’t what was nned or anticipated. Since I had been discovered, there was no need to pretend. I sat beside Lydia on the right and Mnie on the left.

    Liam sat opposite me. Lydia gave me a te. Seeing the woman I hadn’t seen before, I guessed that she would be Lydia’s mom.

    “I’m sorry to intrude, well, I… Uhmm…” I looked over to Lydia, but she was quiet. What was I even saying? I twisted my lips to the side.

    “No need for any exnation, Mason, you are my daughter’s friend, and since she trusted you enough to allow you to stay over, it means you are practically family.” She paused and then added hastily, “Oh, I’m Gloria, call me Gloria, that’s just fine.” She was polite, a little too polite to a stranger like me.

    I bowed slightly in respect, not having any words to express how happy I was to have been epted by her. Plus, she knew my name, which only means Lydia has been talking about me.

    “When did youest night?”

    “Will you sleep over tonight? I have a new storybook, let’s read it together.”

    Liam and Mnie said at the same time.

    “Kids, Mason isn’t running, why not focus on finishing those pancakes on your te, hmm?” Lydia said, and both kids dug in.

    I sent Lydia an appreciative nod.

    After breakfast, Lydia walked me to the door while I held Mnie and Liam.

    “I thought you’d be staying today,” Liam said, his grave tone falling with each step he took. His palm curled around my finger and he swayed it forth and back. “Isn’t that why you slept over? To spend the day with us.”

    I paused on my way and looked down at both hopeful eyes. “I’d have loved to, but I have to work,” I said. “How aboutter today? I’lle pick you up and we’ll spend the night together.”

    “Yay!!!” They squealed.

    Lydia walked me to my car alone. “Will you reallye back?” She asked, and we had our hands entwined. “You don’t have to if you can’t, I’ll exin to them.”

    55 vouchers

    Not what to? That was what I only wanted to do. I had just one meeting that was important today, I can cancel every other thing on the schedule.

    “I can make it,” I assured her. We stopped in front of my car. I trailed her hand with my thumb, asking the questions I wanted, ‘How did they know about me?”

    Lydia dragged in a breath and shrugged her shoulders, “My mom knew, she may have mentioned it to them.” My mouth formed an o as the realisation slowly stepped in. She knew I had sex with her daughter and that I slept in her room. I blinked rapidly, cheeks heating up.

    “Are you shy?” She asked, and I looked away, “Your face is getting red.” I moved my face to the side. “I am not.”

    “Oh yes, you are.” Lydia continued to tease me. We went back and forth before I decided to get into the car. She wasn’t going to work and had agreed to spend the day with us.

    ***

    I walked into my office to see my mom waiting, she sat on the couch by the side, casually scrolling through her phone. I looked over to Daniel, who entered the office with me.

    It’s one thing to allow her in, it’s another to not inform me. We’d talk about this after I deal with this. I braced myself, mentally preparing myself for a conversation I wasn’t ready for.

    Mom’s head jerked towards me, and she slowly lowered her phone. “You are here.” She said and sat straight. I inhaled sharply, taking off my jacket and pulling out my leather chair.

    “I don’t remember inviting you over.” I stared. The door opened and closed. Daniel left. Now it was just me and Mom. I pinched the bridge of my nose.

    Mom pointed her phone towards me, her eyes darkened, “You see what Lydia caused?”

    “Isn’t that emotion too much? It’s too early to start a fight.” I said, maintaining a calm but authoritative voice.

    “Mason!” She yelled.

    “Speak calmly or leave,” I said sternly, locking eyes with her. Her chest heaved and fell. She mmed her hand on my table, leaning in.

    “I am your mom, Mason. I gave birth to you, and I will not watch you speak to me in such a tone. It’s enough. to stand by while Lydia insults and embarrasses me, but I won’t take that from my own son.” She dered.

    I scoffed, she’s one to talk. “Lydia didn’t soil your reputation, you did,” I told her. “If you hadn’t tried to sell off her ne, that would not have happened,” I exined, since she was slow inprehension.

    She opened her mouth to speak, but I beat her to it, “and because you gave birth to me isn’t sufficient reason for this drama or the drama you pulledst night,” she almost ruined the night.

    “That ne has been sitting in the house for years, it wasn’t spea-”

    “You know how important that ne is and what it signifies,” I said, raising my voice to match hers. She moved backwards, a distant look on her face as though she couldn’t recognise the man in front of her.

    I don’t care, she caused this herself.

    I pushed my hand through my hair, “Mom, why can’t you see you are in the wrong and make things right?” bI /basked, my voice croaking at the end.

    “I have done nothing wrong. The only thing I did wrong was birthing ungrateful children.” She said through gritted teeth.

    “If that’s what you want to believe, then it’s fine, but I won’t stand by if you cross the line between me and Lydia anymore.”

    “You’ll choose her over me?” Mom asked, raising her brows in disbelief.

    “Do not force me to pick between you two,” I said in a low voice.

    “Why? Because you’ll pick her?”

    “Yes, I’ll pick her.” We can’t choose our parents or siblings. But we can choose our life partner. They are the only family we can choose.

    I’ll pick Lydia over and over again.

    Mom matched off, mming the door loudly behind her.

    Daniel walked into the office after Mom left. “I forgot she was here.” He said before I asked any questions. “I know it’s ipetent for me to do that, and I’m very sorry. I would do-”

    “It’s fine,” I said, cutting him short. All the anger I felt towards him earlier had erased, reced with an emotion I couldn’t name.

    My throat tightened. I swallowed hard, and a hollow feeling filled my chest. I dismissed Daniel with one wave of my hand. I wanted to be alone. No matter what I was feeling, I believe I could get past it. I clutched my chest, hoping this pain would disappear.

    I turned my chair around so I was facing the floor–to–ceiling window, staring into the city. With every encounter with mom, I felt like I didn’t have a mother anymore.

    ***

    Victoria’s Pov

    I balled my palm, pacing around my room. Another notification sound went off. I walked to my bed and picked up my phone.

    Another post had been made and I was tagged to it, again!

    This was normal for people to get dragged, but tagging them to a post made to drag them waspletely absurd.

    The videos madest night had spread all over the inte like wildfire, and I was this close to losing my shit. Maybe it was because of the meanmentizens left under the post, or it was from the thought that my

    son wanted nothing to do with me.

    I went to his office with high hopes. If he saw how all these made me, he’d do something about it.

    I honestly didn’t expect him to break up with Lydia, but he could have at least scolded her for what she did. But what, he’d choose Lydia over me?

    This worsens my anger, sending me further down the path of rage. I gritted my teeth, remembering the smudge look on Lydia’s face.

    I flung my phone on the bed, biting down on my fingers. I can’t just let her go. I have to do something about olliit. /li/ol

    “I have to make Lydia pay.”

    Once Lydia is out of the picture, I’ll have my son back and Julia as my daughter–inw. She was more fitting for Mason.

    A knock on my door caught my attention. A few seconds passed before I invited the person in.

    The door pushed open and Julia walked in. She had dark circles around her eyes. Her shoulders slumped, and without a word, she walked straight to my bed and dropped onto it.

    My stomach twisted seeing her like this. I rushed to her side, “Julia… Julia…” I shook her shoulders. She turned to me slowly, her eyes looking distant and dead. Seeing her like this, awoke something in me.

    “Please, help me get rid of Lydia. I need her gone, and I’m ready to do anything.” She said in a weak voice.

    “Anything?” I asked to be sure, and she nodded. “Yes, anything,” her voice was firm this time.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!