The Billionaire Twins Need A New Mommy! - Chapter 428

Chapter 428: Dad
“Where is she?” was Atlas’s first question the moment he arrived home with his siblings, only to find his kids and their temporary nannies—Silo and Haji—but no Lola in sight.

“Huh?” Haji blinked, darting his eyes between the three good-looking individuals (Atlas, Slater, and Penny) standing before him. He had met all of them before, yet even now, he was a little starstruck.

“Now that you mention it…” Silo hummed, and the sparkle in his eyes faded as he looked at Atlas. His brows knitted together. “I think I saw her earlier.”

“I think Mommy stepped out for a bit,” Second remarked, and Chacha added, “Or maybe she’s preparing for Halloween.”

“Halloween is over, darling,” Penny replied gently before glancing around. “Where’s Baby Boy?”

“Baby’s in his room, resting his injury,” Slater answered, turning his gaze toward the bodyguard. “Where’s Izu?”

The bodyguard thought for a moment, then shrugged. “I… don’t know, sir.”

Also, why were they even asking him? He was supposed to be stationed with Atlas and had only escorted the trio home.

Before they could question anyone else, the butler of the house approached them.

“Sir Atlas.” The young butler bowed slightly, back straight and expression composed. “Miss Lola said she was stepping out for a bit.”

Atlas frowned. “Did she say where she was going?”

“No, sir. But she mentioned she would be taking Captain Izu with her.”

If she was with Izu, both Penny and Slater relaxed immediately. Even Haji didn’t look worried anymore. There was no need to be—this was Lola, after all. There was no way anyone could abduct her on these premises.

As for Atlas, he pulled out his phone to check if she had left him a message. Sure enough, she had.

[From: Lola Young

Baby, I’m just going out for a bit, but I’ll be quick. I’ll be back before you know it.]

He stared at the message for a while, tempted to check her location. It wasn’t unusual for Lola to go off on her own; she was a lone wolf—as Amala once described her. That woman was used to moving alone.

At least Lola was adapting now and had the sense to take one of the guards with her.

“Maybe she forgot something from the office?” Silo mused, drawing everyone’s attention. Then Haji tilted his head and added, “Considering how she’s been juggling the company, filming, and everything else in between, that’s not impossible.”

“Lola tends to forget things in the office since she basically lived in one for the longest time,” Silo continued knowingly. “The penthouse is her first real home.”

“Oh, just like me!” Penny exclaimed. “I used to live in the lab before too.”

“Let’s not worry about her,” Slater waved dismissively. “Instead, while she’s not here, let’s talk about the proposal! If things hadn’t been delayed, we’d probably be at a wedding right now.”

A deep exhale escaped him. Their entire schedule would’ve been different if not for Lawrence’s attempted suicide, and if Atlas hadn’t been so hyperaware of everything, the truth might never have unraveled.

“Right!” Penny pumped her fist with determination. “We’re going to plan the biggest proposal ever! This time, we’re aiming for a success rate of more than two hundred percent!”

With that, they gathered for dinner, their talk revolving around the proposal Atlas had been preparing. Since he didn’t have the heart to ask for Lola’s hand while her world was falling apart, they had postponed it.

While they busied themselves planning a proposal every woman would envy, Lola sat alone in a hospital ward.

*****

Meanwhile…

The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor echoed in the room, blending with the faint whooshing of unseen machines. The sounds were familiar. Being in a hospital was nothing new to her.

If anything, the hospital felt like a second home.

She had spent most of her childhood within these sterile walls. First because of her mother, and now because of the man lying before her. Her father. Lawrence Young.

Seated beside the bed, Lola stared at the motionless figure. Before coming here, she had spoken with the doctor and learned about his condition. Thankfully, Melissa’s blood type was a perfect match, and her transfusion had stabilized Lawrence’s vitals.

“I’m relieved,” she whispered, eyes never leaving him. “You’re going to be fine.”

Unlike a filial daughter who might well up or hold her father’s hand, Lola simply watched him, unmoving. She never reached out, though she truly did feel some relief knowing his condition was improving.

“Don’t try to kill yourself again,” she murmured. “Please… Dad.”

Calling him that—something she hadn’t said in years—made her chest tighten. When was the last time she had even called him Dad? She couldn’t remember. She hadn’t had a reason to, not when this man had long ceased to act like a father to her.

Even so, the questions never stopped haunting her.

“Why…” Her voice broke softly, but she let the words spill anyway. “…why do you hate me so much?”

What had she done to deserve the way he treated her?

She had no idea. All she knew was that Jasmine and Melissa had schemed relentlessly, and Lawrence’s hatred for her had only deepened over time. When she looked back, she realized there had never been a moment in her life when she felt a father’s warmth—never.

Even before Lawrence brought his mistress and their child home, Lola had already been a victim of his neglect.

Why?

That question had clung to her for years and across two lives. Especially after the accident that left her paralyzed in her first life, when all she could do was think, it became an ocean she drowned in daily.

Lola sniffed, forcing herself to steady her breathing. When she finally composed herself, she glanced at Lawrence again, a faint, brittle smile curving her lips.

“Please take care of yourself,” she said quietly, rising to her feet. “If you truly have a conscience, live. Don’t take another life when you already took mine—and Mom’s—a long time ago.”

Having said that, Lola didn’t linger. She turned and walked out of the ward. But the moment she stepped outside, she froze.

Standing just beyond the doorway was Melissa.