Chapter 24
Just, as usual, Lilian was under the roof alone, but the only difference is that she didn’t bother to take the kid’s lunch to eat.
When she felt the hunger in her, she searched Xavier’s bed drawer and took some cash from the envelope she saw, and then left to a nearby eatery to get something for herself, not bothering Xavier’s reaction once he was back.
She sat on the sofa in the sitting room after gobbling on the meal she got, her eyes affixed to the television.
Within minutes, she fell asleep and she didn’t notice when the kids were back from school.
Tracy twitched into the kitchen first, just to make sure their lunch is still untouched.
Thanks to heaven. She didn’t touch the food and talked more about emptying it. She pulled out from the refrigerator before leaving upstairs to pull off her clothes.
When he was done taking a quick shower, she stepped back into the kitchen and microwaved the food, after which she served it in the dining room.
Chloe was the happiest to see their lunch save and set, she wouldn’t want to disturb ma’am Vanessa because of the launch when there’s much to prepare in her home.
They all sat down and began biting on the meal gradually. It’s merriment to them indeed.
“Dad cautioned her right? If not so, we would have starved today again.” Ben stated while glancing at the lady who lay on the sofa asleep.
Tracy nodded. “He said so when I asked him this morning before he left, I guess that’s why she looked away from the kitchen since she can’t prepare a meal.”
“She doesn’t suit to be a mother, who will prepare dad’s meal when we aren’t around? Or does it mean that she’s planning to starve my father?” Ben asked, referring to no one.
He dropped his spoon on the plate. “Tracy, I believe she knows how to cook, but she’s too lazy to do that when there are lots of foodstuffs already packed.”
“That’s why I wished she would leave our lunch alone, so I won’t disturb ma’am Vanessa when there is lots of foodstuff in my home,” Chloe added.
Tracy glanced at the little girl and smiled. Chloe will never stop amusing them.
Her siblings and father had noticed this, she can’t make a sentence without mentioning Vanessa in his words.
“How important that lady is to you, Chloe. Tell me more about her? How does she treat you?” Tracy questioned the little girl.
She lifted her eyelids, staring at her elder sister whom she knew had never loved to set her eyes on Vanessa.
“If I tell you more about her, will you welcome and start loving her? Or I should just waste my strength.” Chloe uttered angrily.
Ben snapped her face and smiled. “Whether we love her or not, you love her so much already and dad is pleasing you.”
“Not only that, dad is pleasing to me and also loves her. That’s because if he doesn’t, she won’t be employed no matter what. Aren’t you getting me?” Little Chloe remarked.
Tracy couldn’t hold her laughter, her little sister was pissing her off with funny words.
But to Chloe, it doesn’t sound funny at all. She meant every word that escaped from her lips.
“So will you tell how she treats you now?”
“Uhmmm! She’s so kind, cheerful, loving, and caring to me. She doesn’t feel like singing for me and cuddling me to bed, only if I want to stay awake. Staring at her beautiful face makes me happy, I just wish dad will get married to her just like this lady.” She announced.
Tracy tapped her cheek annoyingly. “Shut your mouth, what do you know about marriage?”
“She’s just pretending to be good, once dad shows interest in her, everything will change within a second,” Ben added.
Chloe chiseled her face, she had known that they would speak ill of her babysitter, and that’s why she didn’t want to say anything about her.
“I just regret telling you two all this.” She continued with her food while frowning.
Tracy tapped her arm. “You don’t need to regret it, we understand how much she loves and cares for you, but the fact is that we don’t love neither her nor the other.”
She hissed loudly to their hearing, but they couldn’t say a word.
“Maintain table manners, don’t talk while eating,” Ben stated.
Tracy glared at him. “After you’re done vomiting everything outta your throat.”
“I think it’s time you start giving me the respect I deserve, we don’t mate and you know that,” Ben uttered with a serious look, but within him, he isn’t sad.
A wide smile appeared on Tracy’s face. “I’m sorry sir.”
“Good of you,” Ben responded and they all giggled.
Ben packed up the plates while Tracy cleaned up the table after they were done with their meal.
They all stepped out of the veranda and got seated on the cushions entertaining themselves with folks and tales they were taught at school.
“Examination will soon commence, so we’re gonna be reading at night again.” Chloe reminded them.
They all burst into laughter.
“And you will be awake with us right?” Tracy asked her.
The unknown won’t stop sleeping at that time, though at last, she comes back in the best position.
According to Chloe, she prefers reading in the daytime and that she doesn’t fail to do it once she’s back from school during examinations.
“Is this the beginning or middle of the term, Ben?” Tracy inquired.
“The beginning.” He replied.
“You all should come into the sitting room.” A feminine familiar voice paused their discussion.
They all glanced back to see that it was Lilian seeking their attention.
“Why’s she calling us?” Chloe asked.
They glanced at her and helped her down from the chair but couldn’t answer the question.
It took them seconds to step into the sitting room as ordered by Lilian.
“Get on your knees instantly, all of you. Don’t stare at me that way, just do what I said.” Lilian ordered them.
They glanced at each other feeling haunted.
“It’s not just possible to get on our knees so easily without knowing our offense. You need to tell us what crime we committed.” Ben stated.
Her eyes widened while staring at them, she got on her feet and moved towards Ben giving him a loud hit on the cheek.
“How dare you question my order, little boy?” She roared.
Tracy bit her lips multiple times. “How dare you lay your hands on my brother? You think I’m scared of you huh?”
She glanced at Tracy and smiled. “I don’t want to repeat it, get on your knees for the last time.”
“Let’s obey her first and then listen to what she’s about to say,” Chloe advised.
They all knelt while glaring at her.
“That’s so good. Now I’d like to get an answer to this question. Why would you tell your father that I starved you when I didn’t?” He asked them.
They glanced at each other.
“But we told the truth and you know that, of course, you starved us and stayed hungry until dinner was prepared at night.” Tracy narrated.
She slapped her lips.
“When there are lots of foodstuffs here, why can’t you prepare another for yourselves?”
Tracy burst out in tears. “And then, what’s so difficult for you to prepare yours and leave ours? But because of your laziness, you couldn’t do that.”
“Let us go please, we don’t have any business with you. My dad scolded you because what you did was wrong and that’s why you weren’t able to do it again.” Chloe uttered amidst tears already.
Sighting her two elder ones shedding tears, she couldn’t hold it again. Releasing the tears was now the best option for her.
“Shut your mouth you little brat. Soonest you’ll lose Vanessa as your babysitter.” Lilian scolded her.
Tracy contorted her face. “She isn’t a little brat and will never lose her babysitter. Dad can never sack her, rather will kick you out either.”
She bit her tongue. After referring to Lilian she couldn’t believe she just backed up the lady she had never loved. Anyways, it means nothing.
“Now, listen to me very carefully. Don’t you ever, don’t even think of reporting me to your father again. That won’t stop our marriage.” She declared.
Ben hissed. “That’s what you think huh? It’s just the opposite of it though.”
” What’s going on here? Chloe, where are you? Lillian, what’s going on?” A voice drew their attention once the door was pushed open.
Chloe sighted Vanessa and got on her feet running toward her.
“She’s punishing us because we told dad that she starved yesterday.” The little girl narrated.
Her eyes widened. She wouldn’t believe Lilian will reach this extent.
“After everything I told you in the morning, you went ahead punishing innocent kids..” Vanessa uttered out of annoyance.
Lilian smiled inwardly. “Get your lips off this, Vanessa.”
“What are you two still doing there? Stand on your feet immediately.” She turned to Lilian with a frowned face. “Lilian, do your worst.”
The doorbell rang and was pushed open. Xavier stepped in like one in a worry.
“Why are you all standing with a chiseled face?” He asked in general. His eyes met Chloe who gripped Vanessa so tight. “Chloe, why are you shedding tears?”
Lilian tried approaching him but he hindered her from getting closer to him.
“She punished us today,” Tracy announced at his hearing.
His eyes widened. “Lilian, you did what…?”Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.