Chapter 75
Lorranse couldnt help but remember the last time she was in that mansion. Every detail flooded back, vi soffocating, the tension that tiled every corner, the way her mother’s icy gaze seemed to follow her no matter where she stood. The umpoken accusations lingered in the air, thick and heavy like the aftermath of a terrible storm She had felt trapped back the like prey being circled by a prestator, and the constant feeling of being watchedl never left her. Every moun, every comidor of the mansion. I to echo with the resentment and bitterness that had poisoned her Lamab for vean
As Lorraine walked out of the office building, her footsteps echoed in the quiet hallways, a reminder of how alone she truly felt. With each step she was closer to a confrontation she had been dreading for so long. She felt the weight of it pressing down on her, polling her in despite every filer of ber being wamping to run the other way. What would she find when she returned? Wellher father be lying there, frail and helpless, his once communsling presence diminished to a mere diandow? Winded he lie urrounded by the greed and chans of a family that had lost its way, a farmily that had stopped caring about anything other than wealdi and starost
And Amber. Lorraine could picture het already. Amber would be there, eyes narrowel, ready to Lashonn at her for daring to show her face after so many years. The hostility between them had festered for too long, and Lorraine doubted they could ever return to what they once had been- sisters who, for a briet moment in childhood, had loved one another.
Lorraine’s mind spiraled with worry, each thought darker than the last. Heneath the anxiety and fear, she felt a deep sense of obligation. She had no choice. She had to go back, no matter how much it hairt. The alternative–doing nothing, letting her father fade away without ever seeing him again
—was simply unbearable.
She left work early that day, not leaving a word, not even bothering to inform Cassian that she was leaving. She feared what might happen if he found out where she was going what his reaction would be. There was something in his eyes lately–something possessive and controlling that unsettled her. He would probably try to follow her, to insert himself into her family matters as if they were his to handle. The very thought made her stomach churn
Her driver sped through the streets,
s, the city whizzing past
st in a blur of noise and color. Lorraine fidgeted in the backseat, unable to calm the anxiety that clawed at her insides. Her thoughts ran wild, the knots in her chest tightening with every passing second. The weight of everything hit her all at once—the family she had left behind, the unfinished business that still haunted her, and now her father’s failing health. It felt like her world was crumbling around her, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t hold the pieces together.
When they finally reached her home, she breathed a sigh of relief, the sight of her twin boys playing in the front yard bringing a brief sense of peace. For a moment, the storm inside her quieted. Mona, ber trusted nanny, sat nearby, crocheting, keeping a close eye on the boys, Lorraine’s heart softened at the sight, but even this small comfort wasn’t enough to dispel the emotional turmoil she felt,
Despite the serene scene before her, Lorraine knew she couldn’t fully relax. There was a storm brewing back in that mansion, and she had to face it She couldn’t afford to let her boys be affected by the chaos she had fought so hard to protect them from.
“Mommy““” Lucian’s face lit up as he spotted her, his excitement palpable, like a puppy thrilled to see its owner after a long day.
“Mommy!!” Lucio followed, abandoning his game to join his brother in rushing toward her
The sight of her twin bounding toward her dissolved the lingering shadows of her earlier fears, if only for a moment. The tightness in her chest loosened, and a different kind of ache filled her heart–the ache of love so profound it nearly brought her to tears. She had thought she was too exhausted to feel anything other than dread today, but the boys, with their innocent joy, had a way of pulling her back from the edge.
The twins flung themselves around her legs, their laughter infectious. Lorraine knelt down, wrapping her arms around their small, warm bodies. “Did you miss me that much?” she teased, her voice thick with emotion. “I was only gone for a few hours”
Lucio, always the louder one, shouted in her car. “Yeah! What took you so long?”
“And where’s our pasalubong?” Lucian, ever the practical one, added with a pour.
Lorraine couldn’t help but laugh softly, though the laughter was tinged with sadness. “Sorry, no pasalubong today. Something came up at work.” Seeing their disappointed faces, she quickly added. “But how about we go out for dinner later! How does that sound!”
Their frowns vanished at the mention of going out to eat. But Lucian, more sensitive than his brother, was quick to notice that something was wrong. He studied his mother’s face carefully, taking in the redness around her eyes, the slight tremble in her smile. His own excitement dimmed as he nudged Lucio, who was still bubbling with energy.
“Mommy, are you okay?” Luciu asked, concern in his wide eyes. “You look.. sad.”
Lorraine’s heart clenched at their perceptiveness. She hadn’t expected them to notice. Forcing a smile, she brushed a strand of hair from Lucio’s foreheard. “It’s nothing, sweetheart. Just some things at work that made Mommy a little upset. But don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
She straightened up, placing her hands on the tops of their heads as if trying to reassure them, and herself, that everything would be okay. “Let’s go inside. It looks like rain is coming, and I don’t want you two catching a cold”
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Chapter 73
The boys, though not fully convinced, did’t press further. They followed her into the house, still bubbling with excitement at the pro
Finders th going out for dinner. Lorraine was grateful for their innocence. They had no idea about the storm that was ragging inside her.
Mona, who h
had been observing from a distance, noticed Lorraine’s strained smile and the way her shoulders slumped as soon as she stepped inside. She had known Lorraine long enough to recognize when something was wrong. After settling the boys with a snack, she quietly followed Lorraine upstairs, sensing that her presence might be needed.
Lorraine had barely closed the door to her bedroom when she felt her resolve crumble. The weight of everything–the past, the future, the incertainty–came crashing down all at once. She sank onto the edge of her bed, tears welling in her eyes. She tried to hold them back, but the dam broke as soon as Mona gently knocked and stepped inside.
Without a word, Mona sat beside her, her eyes filled with concern. Lorraine didn’t need to explain, the look on her face said it all.
“It’s just…” Lorraine finally whispered, her voice shaky. “Cassian came to see me today.”
Mona stiffened at the mention of his name. She had never liked Cassian, and for good reason. But before she could say anything, Lorraine continued, her words coming out in a rush.
“He told me my father had a heart attack. And that my mother.. she’s not even taking care of him. She’s too busy with the inheritance, with Amber… It’s like they don’t even care. And now Liam–he’s being pushed out too. I feel so helpless”
Mona wrapped her arms around Lorraine, pulling her into a tight embrace
“Why would Cassian come to you with that news? Mona finally asked, her voice low and cautious. “Is he trying to manipulate you again?”
Lorraine pulled back, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. “I don’t know. But it doesn’t matter right now. I need to go back. I need to see my father, to figure out what’s happening for myself”
Mona’s brows knitted together. “You’re considering going back there! After everything that happened?”
Lorraine nodded, her heart racing at the thought. “Yes, I have to He’s my father, and even if he’s made mistakes, he still needs me. I can’t let my mother’s obsession with the inheritance blind her to what really matters. I can’t let her neglect him while she chases after money and status. He deserves better than that”
“But what about you?” Mona pressed gently. “You’ve already been through so much. Do you really want to step back into that chaos?”
Lorraine sighed, her fingers tracing the fabric of her bedspread “I feel like I don’t have a choice. If I don’t go, who will? My mother has always been. more concerned with appearances than with reality. It’s up to me to step in and be the daughter he needs right now. I can’t just sit here and do nothing.”
Mona studied her for a moment, then squeezed her shoulder. “Okay, but promise me you’ll be careful. You know how volatile things can get with your family. Don’t let Cassian or your mother manipulate you. Stay strong.
After divorce he wants[/caption]
