CHAPTER 139
LILY’S POV
~ “I have to talk to you about something,” I said, breaking the silence because it was becoming unbearable for me.
“What?” He raised his brows.
“Can we talk over there?” I tilted my head towards the back of my car. “I don’t want the kids to hear it.” ~
“Ok…” His eyes flickered with puzzlement as he followed me.
Once we were settled, I brought out the DNA test results Liam was holding last night and showed it to him. I had taken it from him last night without him knowing. That’s the reason I wanted to talk to Robert in a secluded area because I didn’t want Liam to see it.
I didn’t know how he’d feel if he knew I took it without him knowing. From the way he held it tightly in his sleep last night, it was obvious it was important to him. But at least, he hasn’t realized it’s missing.
“How were you able to get this DNA test done?” I asked, my hard gaze unflinching on his. “Have you been seeing the kids long before now?… Did you take their samples without them knowing?… Why would you go behind my back to do this?…”
I kept bombarding him with questions, my expression becoming furious as I wasn’t giving him the chance to talk.
“Jesus Christ Lily!” He exclaimed, blowing out a loud breath as he was overwhelmed with shock. “Can you just calm down and let me explain?…”
Realizing I had gone too far, I crossed my arms against my chest and looked away with a defiant scowl on my face. “Sorry, I couldn’t help it.”
Shit… What the fuck was wrong with me? Why I am apologizing when he was the one at fault here?
Twisting his lips and taking a deep breath, he explained. “The kids, Liam in particular suggested I get the test done. I just got the test done yesterday after I took them from school so I haven’t been seeing them long before now.”
“Do you think you can play with me Robert,” I said bluntly, looking back at him. “I know that paternity tests take not less than a month before the results can come out. You’re lying…”
“No, I’m not,” he grimaced bitterly, making it seem like I was stressing him out. “The only reason it arrived that early was because I paid extra for it.”
I was taken aback by his revelation, my brows furrowing in a mix of bafflement and doubt. I knew DNA tests were expensive and he could afford thrice the amount. But I couldn’t tell if he was lying as a means to cover up or telling the truth, so I couldn’t believe him entirely.
“I know you think I’m lying,” he said, seeing how sceptical I was. “But I can assure you I’m not. You can ask the kids if you want.”
Looking away, I made a wry face, still not believing him one hundred per cent even though there was a high chance he was telling the truth with his grave expression and how he’d asked me to confirm from the kids.
“Daddy! Mummy!! We’re ready!” Liam and Lila shouted as they ran out the door. I wondered why it took them so long to come out. “Please come quick, we’re running late.”
They wanted to open the car door themselves, with their hands that were full of bags and lunchboxes. However, it was difficult for them. Robert’s chauffeur, a strange-looking man who could be mistaken for a humanoid with his expressionless face quickly stepped out from the driver’s seat and opened it for them.
They screamed a loud “Thank you!” to the man before entering the car. He gave a firm nod before closing the door. He stood by the door, probably waiting for a command from Robert.
“We have to go,” Robert said as he turned and wanted to head towards the car when I held his arm back to stop him.
He glanced at my fingers curled around his bulging biceps, a soft, satisfying smile widening his lips. The smile contained a spark of eroticism, sending my pulse racing. Our gazes locked together as if in a magnetic trance, the world around us fading into oblivion.
Quickly realizing what I was doing and what was happening, I snapped out of it and withdrew my hand almost as if it were a reflex action. A wave of nervousness, almost like none other flooded me and I looked away.
A lock of my hair fell over the side of my face. I tucked it behind my ear, feeling embarrassed but tried not to show it so he wouldn’t notice and think I was falling for him again.
But deep inside, was another emotion. Anger. Fear. But mostly anger. I was angry I wasn’t keeping my feelings in check and they were getting the better of me. Angry I wasn’t keeping to the promise I made to myself years back.
I can’t give it to this feeling again. I did once and was hurt most unimaginably. I must stay strong and not let my guard down. Robert doesn’t deserve my love, that of the kids or anything we had to offer. Like I keep saying, we’re better off without him. I want to be able to live my life not caring about his existence.
But to accomplish all these, Robert must keep his distance from us. That’s where the problem lay because he won’t. No matter all threats, how cold and harsh I treated him, how far I pushed him, he kept coming back like a fucking boomerang. Noah was right. The only way to be free of him is if he died or we left the country to a place he’ll never find us.
“The kids gave me or would I say us an ultimatum,” I said with a stone face, quickly catching his attention. “They said that if we don’t resolve our issues within a week they are going to run away and we’ll end up losing them forever.”
Robert was left dumbfounded, his lips parting in shock. His brows furrowed, forming a deep line between them. It was clear this message had disoriented him to his core.
“If you truly love them like you claim you do. If you ever truly loved me, Robert then you’ll talk them out of this madness because here, with me is the safest and best place they could ever be.”
With that, I walked past him toward the car, leaving him standing there, speechless and bewildered.