CHAPTER 64.
Tia got to stay with Henri’s mom until the next day before she leaves. She gets back home and finds Lyra playing with her children in the living room.
“Ain’t they going to school today?” Tia asked with concern as she still met them at home.
“No, they ain’t. I’m taking them shopping. I promised them I would take them shopping. Go and get prepared, you would be going out with us,” Lyra said to Tia.
“Yes Aunty Tia, you would be going out with us,” the children said which made Tia smile. She embraced each of them in a hug and patted their hair.
“I will join you guys right away,” she said and rushed into her room.
She came out later all dressed up. They walked towards the car and their driver left for the shopping mall.
“Mom, I would want a new teddy,” Miley said which made Lyra chuckle.
“But I just got you two Teddy’s last week,” Lyra said.
“They ain’t new anymore… I want a new mummy,” Miley cried out.
“Alright, I will get you a new one,” Lyra promised which made Miley smile.
“I also need a gift from you Aunt Tia,” she said which made Tia smile.
“Of course I will make sure I get you a gift. A very special one that suits a princess like you,” Tia said which made Miley blush.
The conversation continued and they got to the shopping mall in no time.
They marched out of the car happily and started walking into the shopping mall with the people around admiring how cute Miley and Myles were. They first of all went to a Toy shop where Miley ran around checking out the Teddies she finds very cute.
“Mom, I need the pink colored Teddy,” Miley cried out, pointing at a big teddy bear which made them laugh.
“Okay, I will pay for it, you can have it, ” she said to Miley who smiled happily and grabbed the teddy.
They continued shopping other Teddies in the toy shop for Miley and Myles suddenly screamed.
“Ryan,” which made them turn. They saw Ryan and his father Bruce standing at the door of the doll store. Lyra and Bruce’s eyes met but she quickly looked away.
“Hey!” Ryan happily called out to the twins which made them smile. They exchanged pleasantries and wandered off to the deep part of the doll shop. Bruce walked up to Lyra and cleared his throat.
Tia sensed he wanted to have a private conversation with her and excused them.
“How have you been?” Bruce voiced out after some minutes of silence between them.
“I should ask you that Ella is no longer with you,” Lyra replied. Bruce forced a smile and scratched his head before saying.
“I’m okay…”
“No, you ain’t… you look so withdrawn and lean. Are you sure you are okay?” Lyra asked, observing Bruce.
He was looking improperly dressed unlike him, tattered with an unkept hair and beards. He has eye bags under his eyes and looks very lean like he hasn’t had a taste of food since Ella left.
“You should take care of yourself, she would not consider coming back because you have turned out like this,” Lyra chipped in after some minutes of awkward silence between them. She found herself feeling a little bit sympathy towards Bruce who looked unlike his real handsome self. This made her really know that he truly loved Ella but sadly Ella was someone you could hardly trust.
“I, I , I,” Bruce stammered before keeping quiet. He looked at Lyra and looked away before sighing out loud.
“It is okay Bruce, you don’t have to explain anything to me nor listen to my words… I guess I wasn’t better,” Lyra said, which made Bruce quickly glance at her.
“No, you didn’,” he hurriedly replied. I was the one that_” he didn’t finish before Lyra cut him off.
“I don’t want to talk about it, please let’s continue living the way we have been these past years,” Lyra announced which made Bruce swallow hard.
“Babe,” Lyra heard a familiar voice call her. She turned and saw Bryan walking towards her with a smile on his face. She returned the smile as he walked towards her. He kissed her lightly on the forehead, cheeks and then lips before lightly slapping her butts which made Lyra turn red in embarrassment.
“The kids are here,” Lyra whispered to him.
“They should close their eyes, we are adults,” Bryan replied before looking at Bruce who stood there feeling awkward.
“I will be leaving now,” Bruce said with a smile. He signaled Ryan to come to him and Ryan obediently did.
“Let’s leave,” He told Ryan and instantly Ryan changed his face. He became grumpy and rushed towards Lyra. He gripped her dress before saying.
“I don’t want to leave yet dad, I want to have fun with the twins,” Bruce sighed and replied.
“We came for a father and son shopping right, you promised to take me out. Won’t you do it anymore?” Bruce asked him with eager eyes.
“No, I have changed my mind, we can always do that. I want to shop with the twins, why don’t you join us. We can still do a father and son shopping,” Ryan suggested which made Bruce chuckle.
“No Ryan, it won’t be possible,” Byran said.
“Let’s start going,” he said and made to drag Ryan along but Ryan cried out loud indicating he doesn’t want to leave. This attracted the twins’ attention and they came rushing towards Ryan.
“Why are you looking sad and grumpy?” Miley asked him, looking into his eyes with care.
“My dad wants to take me away, I don’t want to leave yet,” Ryan replied. The twins turned towards Bruce with a frown and he looked away.
“You are not taking Ryan away… He would shop with us today,” they announced and Bruce sighed.
“Allow Ryan to shop with the twins, we would surely drive him back if you have to leave early,” Lyra said and the twins nodded in agreement.
“Fine, be careful,” Bruce said. Ryan hugged him and he kissed his forehead.
He quickly left the toy store without looking backwards.
After shopping at the toy store, they headed to the amusement park to have some fun. Lyra and Bryan decided to get the children some ice cream.
They all marched to the ice cream stand and he bought two ice creams each for the children while they headed to the beach area of the wide amusement park.
Myles and Ryan got into an argument and Myles pushed Ryan down which made his ice cream fall down. Ryan started crying out loud, attracting the attention of the people around the beach.
Lyra rushed towards him and helped him up. She dusted his clothes and asked him why he was on the ground crying.
Miley explained everything that happened and Lyra started scolding Myles who burst into tears. She carries him and starts begging him to calm down.
She felt a dirty slap land on her cheek which forced him to throw Myles down. She held her cheek and turned back to see the person who just slapped her. She saw Ella wearing a bikini and a hat with Clinton closely standing beside her.
“How dare you?” Bryan thundered but Clinton came out to challenge him.
“No, let me handle this,” Lyra pleaded, which forced Bryan to step back.
“How dare you ask your son to beat Ryan up?” Ella thundered with rage.
“How did you know my son beat Ryan up?” Lyra asked her.
“Do you want to deny when everyone saw how your son pushed Ryan on the ground,” Ella yelled, pointing at Lyra.
“It was just a child quarrel. I have apologized and settled everything,” Lyra said, running her swollen cheeks.
She didn’t want a fight in front of her kids, that’s why she endured the slap.
“You worthless piece of trash. Why are you getting close to my son? Are your twins not enough for you?” Ella barked.
She was now making a scene, and a few people had started gathering.
“Have some respect for Lyra, Ella, she is your elder sister,” Bryan chipped in, getting angry.
“You dare not talk to me, you leech feeding off another woman’s wealth. You are a very greedy fellow,” Ella cursed. Bryan got angry and made to slap Ella but Lyra held him back.
“Don’t try it,” She said and then looked at Ella.
“I would never give you that quarrel that you have always wanted. I think you should go find it on the road,” Lyra said which made Ella start laughing hysterically and then stopped.
“Let’s go home, Ryan,” Ella said and grabbed Ryan’s hand but he ran to Lyra and held her legs.
“I don’t want to go with you, I will wait till when Aunt Lyra will take me back to my dad,” Ryan replied which made Ella angry.
“I’m your mother Ryan, how dare you disobey me?” Ella asked and rushed towards Lyra to drag Ryan but Bryan stopped her which made Clinton hold his shirt,. asking him to leave Ella before he did leave him.
Lyra felt tears coming out of her eyes, she has never dreamt of having this kind of legs with her own blood sister.
“Why does she hate me so much?” She asked herself.
“What’s going on here,” Someone asked as he walked towards them.
It was Bruce and everyone was left surprised.