CHAPTER 91: I’LL GO WITH YOU TODAY

[Present Time]

Lola’s eyes fluttered open, raising her brows as she glanced at the window. It was already morning, and she felt like she hadn’t gotten a proper night’s sleep.

"For goodness’ sake," she grumbled under her breath, slowly pulling herself into a sitting position. "I feel like I’m going to lose my mind today."

She pressed her temples and massaged them. Her head throbbed painfully, a reminder of the short dream she had with her mother.

"After doing everything just so I wouldn’t forget her..." she trailed off, dropping her hand from her temple. "She keeps visiting me in my dreams more often lately."

It was all because she hadn’t been in the right headspace. No matter how much she tried to get herself back on track, she often found herself thrown into a spiral.

"God, help me," she muttered, running her hands down her face. "I know I’ve been doing a lot of things wrong lately, but what’s the right thing to do now?"

It wasn’t that she didn’t know what to do. She could just kick Atlas and Slater out. They couldn’t do anything if she decided to. Yet, she had ignored it all and let it happen, using all other types of excuses to justify it.

But now, Lola had to face something she had been avoiding.

"You... you wanted them to be here, Lola," she told herself. "Stop pretending you don’t. Otherwise, you would’ve kicked him out on the first day."

She slid out of bed and went to the smaller bathroom in the room. Standing in front of the mirror, she stared at a face she felt like she hadn’t seen in a long time. The irony, considering she had been doing her makeup all day.

"You... wanted it," she confronted herself calmly. "That’s why you’re avoiding it—because it might show who the real shameless one is."

And now that she was confronting herself, the stiffness in her muscles relaxed. It was true. She wasn’t being a coward, a lie she had been feeding herself. A coward she might have been, but not anymore. Even if she wanted to be.

Silence fell on her as she kept her eyes glued to her reflection. After admitting something she had kept to herself, she finally regained the clarity that had been avoiding her.

****

Lola saved herself from the trouble of answering questions from the twins as they overslept. So, when she finished her morning routine, she snuck back into the bedroom just in time for them to wake up.

"Chacha and Second will have to enroll in preschool. I’m planning to enroll them here." Atlas’ calm voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "You will be staying in Novera, correct?"

She slowly looked up at him at the end of the dining table. "...Okay."

He nodded with satisfaction and continued with breakfast. Meanwhile, the twins grinned happily as they ate. As for Lola, she just stared at him and then at the twins.

"Sis, are you okay?" Suddenly, Slater’s question drew her attention. "You’re very quiet today."

"Just had a lot of things on my mind." Lola peeled her gaze from him and ate very slowly. "I just thought I might start a new work on the side as I’m overflowing with ideas."

"Oh, oh! Can I see it?"

She glanced at him. "No."

Because if she started illustrating today, he might be surprised at what it would be — erotica.

"Aww..." he pouted, followed by nothing but silence.

Lola kept her focus on her food, not noticing that the four people spending breakfast with her were starting to notice her silence. However, neither of them spoke about it as they glanced at each other, quietly deciding to give her space.

Minutes later, once they finished and cleaned up their plates, Atlas and the twins prepared to leave. Slater would be with them because he had some work to do in Novera as well.

As for Lola, she didn’t send them off. When she saw them preparing to leave, she simply gave them a short, "Take care on your way," before running to the walk-in closet to prepare for the day.

"It’s not like I’m upset," she told herself as she chose what to wear. Shaking her head, she whispered, "Just stop thinking, Lola. Don’t make it too obvious you’re upset because what happened is just a part of your imagination and not reality."

She rolled her eyes, massaging her neck before reaching for the hem of her shirt. But just as she pulled her shirt up, revealing her flat stomach, she paused. Her eyes slowly drifted to the corner, catching a figure leaning against the jamb.

Atlas.

"..." She blinked, frozen in place with her shirt half-up. "Hadn’t you left?"

Atlas didn’t answer immediately, his gaze falling on her slightly exposed stomach. Seeing where his eyes fell, she quickly let go of her shirt to cover it.

"What is it now?" she asked, her hand on the drawer as she faced him squarely.

This time, he met her eyes. "Slater and the children are waiting for me in the car."

"And?"

"I noticed you were quiet this morning," he continued in a knowing tone. "I’m bothered."

"Oh, that." She ran her tongue across her inner cheek. If she told him the reason she was quiet, she was sure he would understand. However, she was not about to hurt her already-embarrassed soul.

Lola smiled. "Don’t worry about it," she said. "Like I said earlier, I was struck with an idea for my next work. My mind’s just busy thinking about how to frame the intro—that’s all."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course." She smacked her lips, playing it cool. "Haha. You don’t have to bother. I’m fine, Atlas. But thank you."

He studied her face and then nodded. "Okay."

She watched him peel himself from the jamb before he walked away. The smile on her face faded. Lola marched toward the door and closed it, resting her back against it.

"He’s gone," she heaved a sigh of relief, shaking her head. After a moment of recomposing herself, she nodded and went about her initial plan.

Today, she didn’t feel like putting on her usual disguise. Or rather, she didn’t need to because her appointment today didn’t require the "Lola Young" she introduced to everyone. After barely putting on makeup, Lola stepped out of the walk-in closet and left as well.

But just as she reached the living area, her steps slowed down. Deep lines appeared between her brows as she caught sight of Atlas seated on the couch.

"What are you still doing here?" She asked, earning a glance from him. "You should have... left?"

"The twins will replace me for the day, and they will drop off Slater." Atlas placed his hands on the armrest and pushed himself up, buttoning his suit as he did. "I’ll go with you today."