The next morning was weekend and as usual Stephanie didn't go to work. Early in the morning she went to the kitchen and prepared breakfast. After that, she went to the children room and helped them take their bath and dressed up. After which they had their breakfast and went to the Arthur's mansion. When they came back, it was already five in the evening. Stephanie went ahead to the kitchen to prepare supper. About thirty minutes of being in kitchen, the boor bell rang. "Don't worry, Mommy. I will go and get it." Arya ran to the door and open it and the moment she saw the man before her, her eyes widened. She immediately called her twin brother, Obed to come and take a look. When the young boy came, he stood beside his sister also stared at the man who stared back at them. Both the children had the same eyes as him, although Obed looked more of him. Arya walked forward said, "pick me up." Andrew happily complied. "Wow, look Obed we have the same eyes as him. You even look more like him and he's the same man in the photo. He is our daddy." Arya declared. "Are you really our father?" Obed questioned. Andrew didn't know what to say. "Of course, he is dummy. Can't you see?" Arya shot while still being carried by Andrew. The young boy lifted an eyebrow and asked, "if I am a dummy then why do you ask me to help me with your homework?" "No, not academically dumb, but physiological dumb." "You... I will tell mummy that you're calling me dummy again." "Arya, who is it...?" Stephanie stopped in her tracks seeing Andrew at the door." "Mommy, daddy has come here." Arya bimmed. "Baby it's not good to be so friendly with people, especially strangers." Stephanie said. "But mummy, he's not a stranger. He is our daddy." Arya grumbled. "Ok, you guys should go in and continue whatever you are doing. I will take care of the rest." Stephanie said but the little girl was adamate to let go of her daddy she met for the first time. "Yeah, I want to speak to Mommy alone." Andrews added, when he girl felt the girl's reluctance. Arya slowly let go of him. Andrew placed her down and the little girl bid goodbye to her father and walked away with twin brother while pulling him by his shirt. "Let go of my shirt." Obed grumbled. When the kids were out of sight, Andrew was about to enter the room when Stephanie stopped him, saying "You don't have the right to come in? You are not allowed to walk in here, Mr Gray. I have already told you, the only reason we are going to be in the same building is business." Are you being serious right now? You hid my children from me and now that I've come to know of it, the only thing you can tell me is to leave?" Andrews said offended by her words. Stephanie chuckled in amusement. "Your children? What makes them your children ahh? Where have you been all this time?" At the question tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to fall. Andrew felt guilty. It was all his fault. Stephanie must have been through a lot whlie keeping things to herself and acting or happy on the outside but hurting so much on the inside. He didn't say a word. He just stood at the door. Stephanie took in a deep breath to calm herself. "Let's meet up some other time and somewhere else. I don't want the children to hear this." "O...okay." Andrew agreed and turned around to leave when Stephanie said, "You can say bye bye to them." "Thank you." He said and walked in after Stephanie opened the door wider for him to enter. "Arya, Obed." Stephanie called the twins. When they came, as expected, Andrew bid goodbye to them. "Daddy please have dinner with us." Arya pleaded. "I wish I could princess, but I can't. I promised to have dinner with you next time I come here, okay." The little girl smiled sadly and nodded.
Three days later, Stephanie met with Andrew at a five star restaurant to have their conversation. "Ermm... do you want anything? Andrew asked. "No I'm fine." Stephanie answered. "Lily..." "Stephanie. My name is Stephanie. We are not in a relationship for you to continue calling me that." Stephanie interrupted. Andrew sighed. "I'm sorry. I am really sorry, that's all I want to say. I know it is my fault." Andrew apologised. "There is no need, it's not useful. What is important now is the kids. I don't want them to think that I am driving them away from their father." Andrew was not so much pleased. "Lily, I mean Stephanie, I am grateful for that, but it's not only the kidsr that I want. I also want to have you. I have been looking for you all these years. I can't live without you. Please give me another chance to make up for all the time we have lost a chance to fix my mistake and a chance to make as happy as before." Andrew stretched his hand to take Stephanie's own in his but the woman pulled away her hand. "I am sorry, but you can only be the father of my children and nothing more." Andrew became so displeased. He stood up and walked towards but she also stood up and took a few steps back. Andrews took a few step forward and the process continued until Stephanie's bumped into the wall. "Mister Gray..." Stephanie complained but Andrew didn't say anything. "Please don't come any closer." Stephanie said but her words only fell into dead ears. "Andrew placed one of his hands on the wall and the other around her neck. He started to draw his head closer to her. "Andy..." Stephanie heart beating so fast in her chest. "Hearing her call him by Andy, he stopped and pulled away. "I will not lose you Lily. I will not let you go anywhere and neither am I going anywhere without you." After saying that Andrew walked out of the room. How didnthe table turn like this? She was the one who was supposed to walk out on him. This was insane. But either way that wasn't what she was thinking about, she was thinking about what Andrew said. Andrew had never been thos serious ever since she knew him. He hasn't been this intense before. Was he going to force her? What if he takes the children away from her if she refuses? Stephanie knew he could do it? "No, she shook her head repeatedly. She wasn't going to get scared like the time she became pregnant and had no one on her side. She wasn't going to let Andrew take away her children. He wasn't even there to console her when she was giving birth. His penny was not in their food, clothing and shelter. But he wants to take them away and force her too?
Days past.
One evening, Stephanie went to pick the twins up from where Edna stayed, the Cruz mansion. When the maid opened the door for her after she rang the bell, she walked into the living room to find Michael sitting on the couch with some files and a laptop which was on his lap. "Hey Mich." Stephanie greeted. "Hey, Steph." Michael responded "How are you doing Aphrodite." Stephanie giggled before saying, "You are not planning to stop calling me Aphrodite?" she voiced. "You are the personification of beauty." Stephanie shook the head while smiling. Anyways i came for the twins." "Of course." Michael placed the laptop on the couch and walk upstairs with Stephanie following from behind. The twins were sleeping soundly with Edna in her room. Michael went forward and carried Obed. Stephanie also carried Arya. Michael took them to his car and was about to open the back door when Stephanie said, Mich it is late. You don't have to drive us." "Yes, it is late that is why I can't entrust you to just anyone. Come on, get in." Michael, open the door and laid Obed on the backseat. Arya was also laid back. Stephanie sat on the passenger seat. As Michael drove off to her apartment.
When they got to their destination, they carried their kids back to their room. Stephanie escorted Michael back to his car. "Hey, are you free this weekend?" Michael asked. "If Phubert doesn't assign me to any work, then I am free." Stephanie replied. "Can we have lunch together then?" "Why not." Michael smiled at her answer. "Thanks Stephanie. See you this weekend. Good night." Michael said and gave Stephanie a quick kiss on her forehead before entering his car to drive away.
U known to them, a limo BMWwas stationed not far from where she stood. Inside was Andrew and his assistance. While Andrew was sitting at the back seat, his assistant was on the driver's seat?" "Who is he?" Andrew asked his assistance. "He is an executive in one of the exceeding companies in the city. He has no bad record. He was the one that's helped DK company to get the Dreamgold project. He gets two salary a month and he has two younger sisters. His parents is late. His name is Michael Cruz." "Who is he to Stephanie?" Andrew continued to ask. "Miss Stephanie is a friend of his youngest sister. So they became friends along the line." "Proceed with the papers. I want them in three days from now."