<b>Chapter </b><b>112 </b>


    Mason


    I watched Liam and Mnie walk through the gate. Before they stepped in fully, they turned and waved at me. I smiled, standing outside my car, and waved back.”


    I had a good time with them. We spent a long time in the park, ying and having fun. When Lydia told me she would not be able to make it, it hurt me like crazy. Going with their nanny wasn’t something I wanted to do at first.


    They had barely left, and I was already missing them. Iforted myself with the thought that I’ll be seeing them in two days.


    Lydia promised to be with us. The gate closed, and I stepped into my car. I had something to do at the office. That was one of the reasons I had to return eatly..


    My phone beeped immediately after I stepped into the car, a text from Daniel. I tapped on the message, and it was a reminder about the party that will be held in two days.


    That was the same day I’d be spending time with the twins again. Thinking about it now, I don’t think I’d be able to make it. “Let’s talk about it fully when I get to the office.” I text back.


    I was about to ignite the car when my phone beeped again. I ignored it, knowing fully well that this text was from Daniel. Strapping my seatbelt over myself, I drove off. Whatever he wanted to talk about, we’d do that in the office.


    I pressed on the elerator and drove off. My windscreen was wound down, allowing cold air to rush into my car. Dark clouds covered the sun. If the weather forecast is correct, it will rain in a few hours.


    had barely driven for five minutes when my phone rang. Fortunately, my car hade to a stop in front of a red light, so I brought out my phone and answered the call. My heart quickened when I saw the ID called.


    Lydia.


    I told her I have dropped the twins, “we have something to talk about. Come to the office right now.”


    From her tone, I could tell something was wrong. But I didn’t ask. I was about to return my phone to its original position when my eyes caught sight of a text. It wasn’t from Daniel, as I had expected.


    I decided to open it, and my hand tightened around the phone when I did. It was pictures of me and the kids. One was from the first day I had picked them up from school, and another was a picture taken of us in the park.


    Who could have taken the picture? The writing that followed it was more upsetting.


    “One big happy family, I wonder why this isn’t public yet.”


    furrowed my brows, anger rising in my stomach. I never expected that a paparazzi had taken photos of us. What upset me more was that he


    had the nerve to send it to me.


    The honk of a car behind me reminded me that it was time to drive. As I drove, I ced a call to Daniel.


    “I am being followed. A paparazzi got a few pictures of me and the twins. I want him to trace him,”


    “Alright, boss,” Daniel’s voice came from the other end.


    “I’ll send you a photo soon,” I said and ended the call.


    <b>I </b>will tell Lydia about this, only after it’s settled. Thest thing I want is to be denied ess to my twins because of a stupid person.


    I pulled over in the car parking lot. As I stepped into the building, I sent the picture that was sent to me by the reporter to Daniel,


    What I didn’t expect when I walked to Lydia’s office was to see a fuming Julia who was about to be sent out.


    Lydia refused to listen to me, and it was all because of Julia. Why does she always seem to be at the right ces when she is not needed?


    I stepped out of the office, knowing that Lydia wouldn’t hesitate to throw Julia and me out of her office if we refused to leave on our own.


    I fist my hands as I walk down the hallway. People bristled around the hallway.


    I walked to my car, with Julia trailing closely behind me. I was about to open the door when Julia held my hand. “Why are you here?” She


    asked.


    I looked around. There were other cars parked all over and a few people. After the photos I just received, I knew I had to be careful. Thest thing I needed was a picture or video of me and Julia arguing circting the inte or used to ckmail me.


    “Get into the car,” I said to her, opening the passenger door for her. I may not have brought her here in my car, but I don’t mind being the one to take her away, she cane get her car however she wants.


    “Where are we going?” She questioned as I drove. I didn’t give her a reply but simply told her to hold tight.


    She asked repeatedly and gave up when she realised that I had no intention of giving her a reply.


    I drove straight to my penthouse. After parking my car, I stepped out and began walking without opening Julia’s door. She soon caught up with me, her heels mming sharply against the tilted door.


    When we got to my penthouse, I threw my car keys on the couch and turned to face her.


    “Why were you at Lydia’s office?” I asked. She crossed her hands over her chest. “I should be the one asking you that question.” She said.


    I tried to steady my breath, willing myself to stay calm. I closed my eyes and opened them, “Julia, answer my fucking question when I ask.” My voice came out louder than I had nned.


    Her eyes widened as though she couldn’t believe the fact that I just raised my voice at her. Well, she’d better start getting used to it.


    “Don’t shout at me, Mason.” She walked around the couch and sat on it.


    “You were causing trouble for her. Why would you even do that?”


    Why can’t she remain on her own? Why did she have to drag Lydia into all of her mess?


    “That’s what you think, right?” She sounded disappointed. I turned my face, looking out through the floor–to–ceiling window.


    “Me going there is not enough to rile you up. It is you who is her ex, and you went there. Don’t you think you should be answering all these questions without sounding disappointed that I spoiled whatever n or reason your visit was for?”


    “Can you even hear yourself, Julia?” I asked. “I had my reasons for going there,” I said. My throat felt dry. I can’t tell if it’s from the anger or the fact that I’ve been holding myself back from yelling the way I wanted to.


    “Me too.” She said, and in a heartbeat, she ced an open envelope which had a white piece of paper sticking out on the table.


    “This was my reason for going to her office. Why not take a look at it yourself?” She tilted her head to the side and crossed her hands over her


    chest.


    I picked up the envelope and brought out the piece of the paper, which turned out to be a picture. My eyes widened as I stared at it.


    “Where did you get this from?” I asked, trying to steady my shaking voice. “You didn’t show this to Lydia, right?” I had spent so much money to ensure that any pictures or videos stayed hidden. How on earth did Julia get her hands on this?


    “I did. Why shouldn’t I?” She questioned. She stood, walked to the fridge, and grabbed a water bottle.


    She returned to her seat with a bottle of water in one hand and a ss in the other.


    She extended the bottle towards me, “Help me with it, the cap isn’ting off.” I red at her without a word, and she retracted her hand.


    “I think I need an apology.” She said, struggling to open the bottle. “No, an exnation before an apology, I’ll decide if I’ll forgive you or not.”


    She was finally able to open the bottle. Water gurgled as she poured it into the ss.


    “I have no exnation for you,” I said.


    I ced the picture on the table, watching her bring the ss of water to her lips.


    My chest rose and fell. This wasn’t how I nned to end things, but I had to do this.


    The ss made a low clink as Julia settled it on the table. “Why won’t you have an exnation? I’m your fiancé. I demand an exnation.”


    “If you weren’t my fiancé, would you still demand an exnation?” She crossed one leg over the other.


    “Of course not,” she stated. That solved this.


    “Then let’s end things. I have no exnation for you, and honestly, I can’t do this anymore.”


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