Chapter 1: It all started with "Hello, Mommy!"

In the arrival waiting area of the airport, Derek paced back and forth irritably, checking his wristwatch and growing impatient with every passing second.

"She should’ve landed minutes ago," he grumbled. "That girl should have been here by now! What’s taking her so long?"

"Sir Derek, Miss Lola should be here soon," Brian, a young butler of the Albert Family, attempted to calm Derek down. "Please be more patient."

"Patient?" Derek scoffed. "I’ve been waiting for over thirty minutes for her! Why did I have to come here and fetch her myself?"

Brian sighed. "Young Master, that’s what your grandfather wanted. If he finds out you didn’t pick up Miss Lola, he’ll be livid."

"Tch."

Derek clicked his tongue, his irritation growing as he thought about why he was here. Lola’s grandfather — from her mother’s side — and Derek’s grandfather had been great friends. They had been lifelong companions, from playmates to classmates and best buddies even into adulthood. It was their arrangement that had led to Lola and Derek’s engagement.

"That woman is such a pain in the neck," he muttered irritably, because he needed Lola to tell his grandfather that she didn’t want this engagement.

Lola likes me so much, but I have to convince her to break off our arrangements. She can’t be that shameless to cling to me, right?

For him, it could be a challenge, as Lola might want to break off his engagement with Melissa. Lola, after all, was a selfish woman. It wasn’t like Derek couldn’t do what he wanted, but it also meant his name getting crossed off his grandfather’s will. Therefore, he needed Lola to end it herself.

"That annoying girl..." he hissed, as he thought about having to persuade the ugly duckling of the Young Family. "I swear I will—"

Just as he turned, Derek collided with someone’s shoulder, causing the woman to stumble back. His anger quickly rose until he looked up and saw who he had bumped into.

"Can’t you watch where you’re going—" he almost bit his tongue, stunned for a moment. He held his breath, eyes wide, heart beating louder than usual.

Standing just a few feet away was a woman. Her bright red lips contrasted with her pale complexion, her curly hair as dark as her oversized sunglasses. In a fitted black dress, she looked more like she was heading to a party than just arriving from a flight.

Derek?Lola raised an eyebrow, studying him through the dark lenses of her sunglasses.

Of all people to run into...

As Lola clenched her jaw and frowned, Derek suddenly sported a gentle smile.

"I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention," he apologized, reaching out to her. "Are you alright, Miss?"

She stepped back before he could touch her, speaking coldly, "I’m fine."

"I see, I see," he chuckled awkwardly. Even with the large glasses, he could tell she was beautiful. "Are you sure?"

Lola arched a brow, realizing this jerk didn’t recognize her. She smirked and nodded.

"I’m fine. Don’t bother," she said simply, walking past him without another word.

Derek reached out a bit, catching a whiff of her perfume, which he might remember for the rest of his life. "Wait—"

"Sir Derek, the arrival door is opening again." Brian suddenly perked up. "Miss Lola might be there!"

"Tch." Derek clicked his tongue bitterly. He glanced at the people emerging from the arrival area, then back to where the woman had gone.

"What a beautiful woman," he grumbled. "If only Lola had even half of that beauty, she might not have to try so hard."

With that, Derek let go of the woman he had bumped into and waited for Lola. Little did he know, the woman he had just been criticizing was the same one who made his heart race.

****

Meanwhile, Lola chuckled as she left the airport.

"Five years and he still hasn’t changed," she whispered, shaking her head at Derek.

She admitted that she and Derek had a good relationship as children. Young Derek had been kind and gentle, albeit a bit silly. But everything changed when Melissa and her mother entered their lives.

Not that she had the energy to dwell on that now, as none of Derek’s reasons mattered to her.

Once Lola officially ended her previous engagement, she planned to expand her business here. Until then, she didn’t want Derek to know anything about it.

Ring... ring...

Lola’s phone rang as she stepped outside the airport. She answered without checking.

"I’m outside the airport," she said. "Can’t see you."

She pushed her sunglasses up, revealing her dark russet eyes. Scanning the area, she spotted someone waving at her.

"Boss, I’m here!"

There, behind several cars in the driveway, was a familiar face. She smiled.

"I see you," she replied. "I’m coming over."

With the traffic, she decided to head towards her pickup. But as she walked, her luggage suddenly felt heavier. Lola slowed down and cast her luggage a look.

To her side, she saw two children holding her luggage — a boy and a girl, both twins. The little boy held the luggage, while the girl held his hand. They stopped, smiling sweetly at her.

"Uh..." Lola blinked in confusion, looking around.

The outside of the airport was bustling, but no one seemed to be missing children. She smiled back at the twins, about to tell them they had the wrong person, when they suddenly chimed in.

"Hello, Mommy!"

Lola’s face twitched at their sweet greeting. She bent over, resting her hand on her knees.

"Uh, I think there’s been a mistake," she said. "I’m not your mom. Are you guys lost?"

The twins shook their heads, almost impressing her with how their actions matched, just like their faces.

"Chacha and Second are not lost!" the boy, Second, announced, taking a step forward and then holding onto Lola’s arm. "We’re with Mommy!"

"Ha... ha..." Lola laughed awkwardly, looking around at her surroundings and then back at the children. She noticed the little boy’s grip tightening as if he didn’t plan on letting her go.

"Boss!" Suddenly, the familiar voice of a man reached her.

Silo, Lola’s friend, jumped out of the car and stopped in front of her. His brows furrowed as he noticed the twins standing in front of her.

"Who...?"

"Silo, just take my luggage," said Lola, forcing a smile, before turning to the twins. "I’ll take you to the lost and found — if that’s even the right place for missing children."

"Kids, how about we look for your mommy and daddy, okay?" she hummed persuasively. "They’re probably worried sick about you."

Hearing this, the sweet smiles on their faces faded and were gradually replaced with teary eyes and quivering lips.

"Wah! Mommy, don’t leave us!" The boy jumped and hugged her leg. "Mommy, I’ll be a good boy — I promise."

The girl, on the other hand, hugged her arm. "Mama, don’t go! Don’t leave Second and Chacha here!"

"We’ll be good kids!" they yelled. "Please don’t abandon us!"

"Huh?" Lola froze as the twins cried, and everyone now gave her odd glances and left judgmental comments while at it. "HUH?!"

Silo opened and closed his mouth before he blurted out, "Boss, since when did you have kids?!"