<b>Chapter </b><b>27 </b>


    LYCHA


    By the time my car pulled up in front of my condo, was exhausted. The night had been a whole lot. From the moment I steppe kecond1spped away from the event, my past haunted me. Hason’s reaction had been exactly what expected shock confiten


    malter


    This <b>was </b>only the beginning


    Isighed and leaned my head against the seat for a moment before finally stepping out of the cac I walked into my nondo and headed straight for bed knowing the <b>twins </b>would be asleep by now I couldn’t even each for the handle, Theard their unions.


    “I tumed just in time to see two small!


    Lligues running toward me, their fa


    feet pattering against the floor


    My babies


    Despite my exhaustion, a smile broke out on my face, Mom followed behind them, shaking her head as the watched them on towards me. “The beer trying to get them to sleep, but they won’t listen.


    “They never do,” I chuckled, crouching down just in time to catch them both in my arms. I closed my eyes, inhaling the familiar scent of baby lotion andvender.


    “I missed you,” Liam mumbled against my shoulder. My heart melted upon hearing that and I held them closer. “I missed you too, baby”


    Mnie clung to me tighter. She was once the loud, cheery one, and now she seems to be the quieter one, always gentle. She looked up at me, her big brown eyes–<b>Mason’s </b>eyes searching my face. “Mama, tired?”


    I brushed my fingers through her soft curls. “Atle.” She frowned. “No y?” hesitated as I stared at those <b>big </b><b>eyes</b>. My body longed for thefort of my bed, but how could I say no?


    “Of course we’ll <b>y</b>,” I said, lifting them both in my arms despite their protests that they were “<b>big </b>kids” now. Mom Gloria sighed. “Lydia, you <b>should </b>


    “I will,” I assured her. “Just let me have a little time with them.”


    Shep


    me a knowingl look but nodded,


    carried them to the living room and set them down on the soft rug. They immediately ran to their toy chest, pulling out their favourite stuffed animals.


    Liam grabbed his stuffed tiger. “Roar! I’m a scary tiger” I gasped dramatically. “Oh no! A tiger he pounced, tackling me with his little arms.


    I pretended to struggle. “Too strong! The tiger is too strong!”


    Mnie giggled, hugging her own stuffed bunny close to her chest. She didn’t jump in like her brother, but she watched, smiling softly.


    For the next thirty minutes, we yed Liam ran in circles, pretending to be different animals, while Mnie sat beside me, quietly braiding my hair with her tiny fingers.


    Eventually, Mom pped her hands. “Alright, time for bed” the twins groaned in unison.


    “Just one more story,” Liam pleaded. I smiled. “Okay, one story.”


    They cheered <b>and </b><b>ran </b>ahead to their room. I followed them inside, sitting on the edge of Mnie’s bed. I had left the room decorations to Mia and I must say she did a great job.


    Liam hopped onto his bed while Mnie curled up under her nket, her bunny tucked under her chin


    Chapter <b>27 </b>


    I picked up a book from their rightstand. “Alright, tonight’s Hory H., 21 lippe Lalbugh the se


    My daughter’s eyes lit up. love that one”


    <b>Istarted </b>reading, with an internationally low tone. By the time I reached the middle of the book, my girl’s breathing <b>hilerp </b>


    I brushed Mnie’s hair back gently, my fingers grazing her warm forehand. My heart ached staring at her paleness. She looked a But I knew what she was lighting.


    Her kidney problems had been a constant battle and it was also affecting her heart. The doctor visits, the medications, the sleepless nights of warping. it never ended.


    I leaned down, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Sleep well, my love.” I turned to Liam, who was still wide awake, watchingma “Ma


    “Yes, baby?”


    “Are y


    sad”


    you okay?” I smiled, though it didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Of course Why do you ask?” He shrugged, pulling his nket up to his chin “fou look


    I swallowed the lump in my throat. Tm just tired.”


    He studied me for a moment, then nodded. “Okay. But if you’re sad<b>, </b>you can tell me.” My chest tightened


    I kissed his check. “I love you, Liam.”


    “I love you too, Mama<b>,</b>”


    I tucked him in and turned off the <bmp </b>before slipping out of the room. Mom Gloria was waiting for me outside<b>, </b>her arms crossed


    “They’re asleep?” she asked. I nodded.


    <b>She </b>sighed. “And now you need to rest,”


    “I will,” <b>I </b>said. She raised <b>an </b>eyebrow. I let out <b>a </b><b>tired </bugh. “I just need a drink first.”


    She <b>gave </b>me onest look before smiling and gesturing towards the balcony, with creased brows, I followed her direction and found two wine sses already prepared and <b>kept </b>in ce for us.


    I leaned against the balcony railing, my fingers wrapped around the stem of a <b>wine </b>ss, I smiled and handed her ss to her.


    I thought back to Mason and I couldn’t help the smile that curled on my lips as I took a sip of my wine. Mom hummed, taking a sip. “By your expressio <b>can </b>already guess that tonight went well.” She said.


    “Exactly as nned. It was sessful Mom.”


    “You saw him <b>again</b>?” she asked. I didn’t respond. She already know.


    She sighed. “How do you n to do this<b>, </b><b>Lydu</b>?” I tied my head slightly, looking at her from the corner off my eye. “Do what?” Lask


    “This revenge of yours.” I turned back to the city, muy grip tightening around the ss. “I want to break them.”


    Mom didn’t look surprised. She swirled her wing, watching the deep red liquid move inside the ss. “That much I know How?”


    I smiled before turning to face her. “Mason will chase me. He will want me back. And when he <b>thinks </b>he has me… I paused, taking another sip.“Tille


    him.”


    Gloria let out a low chuckle. “Cruel”


    1shrugged. “Fab


    She studied me for a moment. “And Victoriat


    *he will break on her own,” I oniked. “She built her wild on money, power, and datus Tilbake away what she values muestra un her


    Man’s lips curled into & small smile. “I always know you were strong, but this… this is somethi


    “I became this way <b>I </b>


    because of them I took another sip, the wine burning slightly as it went down.


    Mom nodded, her expression unreadable. “Then let’s see how far they fall.”


    The next morning, my phone buzzed repeatedly reached for i Larily, my eyes still needing a lot more off screen. I picked up. “What is it?”


    Mia’s name shed across the


    “Check the news,” she said, her voice Billed with excitement, I sat up, rubbing my eyes before grabbing my tablet. A single headline dominated the financial world:


    “The One Trillion Ladies Club Wees a New Member!” A slow smile spread across my lips as tapped the article.


    The One Trillion Ladies Club was one of the most exclusive financial clubs in the world. It was divided into three sections–Millionaire, Billionaire, and Trillionaire. Entry wasn’t just about wealth; it was about power<b>, </b>influence, and legacy,


    Victoria had been wing her way up for years, desperate to reach <b>the </b>highest rank. But no matter how hard she tried, she remained stuck in the billionaire tier. And now, I had just stepped into the one ce she could never reach,


    Momughed softly and that’s when I noticed her standing by the door frame, her phone in hand. She must’ve alsoe in to inform me about it but Mia had beat her to it. I can only imagine the look on her face.<b>” </b>


    Ismirked<b>, </b>“She must be livid.”


    “Ch, she is,” Mom confirmed. “The next club meeting is scheduled for this evening, All tiers are invited, but their seating arrangements will! different.” Meaning that Victoria would be forced to sit below me, I leaned back against my pillows, stretching my limbs. “Perfect”


    Mom chuckled. “See you at the meeting, darling,” she informed. “You’ll being?” asked.


    “You don’t want me to?” She asked. I thought about it for a little while and considered herpany but “No, you being there gives them more loopholes into finding out what Alissa Brook’s background really is, I exined<b>. </b>


    Fill me in with the detailster.”


    “Alright then. Fill me in


    *Twill”


    The club’s meeting hall was as extravagant as ever–gold chandeliers, velvet drapes, polished marble floors. Women dressed in designer outfits moved gracefully around, their voices hushed like they were mostly gossiping


    I walked in, my heels clicking against the floor. My presence alone was enough to turn heads as no one recognised me. Only <b>the </b>ones that attended theunch party recognised me immediately


    As I made my way to the front, I felt a lot of eyes on me. Just as I <b>was </b>about to sit down, my eyes caught the <b>familiar </b>orbs of one of the most selfish women I’ve evere in contact with


    Victoria Woods.


    She was seated in the billionaire section, her expression was frozen in disbelief as she locked eyes with me. For <b>a </b>whither of us moved or even spoke


    Chapter <b>27 </b>


    Then, slowly and deliberately, I smiled B


    Her fingers tightened around the


    she <b>was </b>holding, and for the first time in her life, Veteris hoodstocked scans.


    <b>AD </b>