Araceli POV
I carried two plates and headed out of the kitchen.
"Dinner's ready. Come and eat."
Essel immediately turned her head and ran over.
"Ms. Chancey! I missed you so much!"
I hurriedly put down the two plates and bent down to pick Essel up. "Essel, didn't we just see each other yesterday?"
"I want to spend every second with you, Ms. Chancey!"
Essel wrapped her arms around my neck and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
I looked down and gave Essel a kiss on her cheek as well.
Essel's eyes lit up with joy. She wrapped her arms around my neck and gave me another kiss on the face.
I burst out laughing.
"Essel, I made this baked chicken wing especially for you."
I chucked a piece of chicken wing and put it on Essel's plate.
"Thanks, Ms. Chancey!"
Essel took a bite of the chicken wing and squinted her eyes in satisfaction, then suddenly put it down with a jerk, turned around and ran upstairs.
Raphael frowned and said, "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to call my brother!"
Essel leapt into the room at speed.
Maddox said apologetically, "Mr. Lancaster, I'm sorry. I forgot to call Mr. Micah ahead of time and tell him to come back early."
Essel darted down after the call and continued to eat the chicken wings. She said Micah was busy with something, but he would be back as soon as he could.
I nodded my head and didn't say anything.
We waited for a long time after we finished eating and Micah didn't come back. After that, I took Krish and Valeria and drove away.
...
The next day.
I had a meeting at Royal Group in the morning and returned to Creaty Company in the afternoon to continue with my work.
I was so busy because there was so much to deal with.
Soon, it was 4:00 p.m.
I packed my things and prepared to pick up the kids from daycare.
At that moment, my phone vibrated. I glanced at it. It was an unfamiliar number.
I was a little confused and pressed the answer button.
"Araceli, do you remember my voice?"
My heart skipped a beat at the sound of the familiar voice.
It was the voice of my grandmother, Hailie Girdler.
She had gone to live abroad when I was very young and never came back.
I hadn't had any contact with her in a long time.
"Grandma..."
"Araceli, I've returned to the country. Would you come back later with the children for a dinner, please? I've had the chef make some food that the kids love."
I froze.
"Grandma, how do you know about my children?"
"I wouldn't have known you had two more children if Melany hadn't told me. araceli, we are your family. How could you keep something so big from your family?" Hailie sighed, "I heard Melany say that you have a son and a daughter. Can you bring them back for me to see?"
My eyes were cold.
I thought about it, pursed my lips, and said, "OK, I'll come home later."
I hung up the phone, unable to hide the chill in my eyes.
Melany!
It was Melany again!
What was she trying to do by telling Hailie about my kids?
Since Melany had to force me to come home, I would go and see what she wanted!
I drove to daycare, and when the two kids got in, I smiled gently and said, "Krish, I have some business to take care of today. I'll take you and Valeria to Mr. Lancaster's house for a while. I'll come pick you up later, okay?"
At that, Krish lifted her eyes.
"Mommy, what are you working on?"
"I just have to go see a client."
I explained as I drove.
The car drove smoothly and soon arrived at the entrance of Royal Pack's villa.
Just as the car pulled up in front of the villa, Essel came flying out.
"Ms. Chancey, you're finally here! I've been waiting for you for a long time! Valeria, the dress you're wearing today is so beautiful! You look like a princess!"
Essel went to take Valeria's hand, but Valeria avoided it.
Essel froze for two seconds and then smiled, "Valeria, I asked Maddox to buy a lot of puzzles today. Let's go play together..."
Valeria stood and gave no reaction.
I walked over, knelt down, and said, "Essel, I have some business to take care of tonight, so I can't make you dinner. I'm so sorry..."
"Ms. Chancey, it's okay! I'll take care of Valeria."
Essel said, patting her chest.
Krish raised his eyes and said, "Don't worry, mommy. I'll take care of Valeria."
I nodded and turned to drive away.
...
Not long after, my car pulled up in front of Eclipse's villa.
The maid hurriedly led me into the dining room.
"Araceli, I thought you weren't coming back." Carina smiled tenderly, "I made the food you love today..."
I smiled, "After five years, my tastes have long changed."
I wanted to tell her that I was not that innocent and stupid girl back then...
Carina's expression changed. Soon, she smiled again and said, "Araceli, why did you come back alone? Where are your two children?"
At that moment, Hailie came out with her cane. She looked behind me and asked with some disappointment, "Araceli, didn't you bring your children back with you?"
Hailie was carrying two bags in her hands. She even had meet-and-greet gifts ready.
I helped Hailie sit down and calmly said, "Grandma, I'm sorry. I'm too busy today. I'll bring them back next time. Grandma, how have you been doing all these years?"
I looked around and didn't see Melany.
I lowered my eyes and said, "Grandma, is Melany not here?"
"Melany went to Italy to see a painting exhibition. A painting professor insisted on taking her as a student, saying she was a painting genius."
I sneered in my heart.
When Melany and I were young, Rhett had advised Zackary countless times that Melany didn't have any artistic talent, but Melany was jealous of me and still insisted on learning to draw.
How could she be a drawing genius?
Suddenly, an angry voice came.
"Don't you have anything to explain to us?"
My father, Zackary, angrily pulled back his chair and sat down, with anger in his eyes.
I said casually, "Mr. Chancey, we haven't seen each other for a long time. What do you want to hear from me? Why don't you just say it?"
Zackary sneered, "Didn't the twins you gave birth to five years ago die? What the hell is going on with those two kids of yours?"
"Mr. Chancey, I think you should go to ask Melany."
I leaned back in my chair. "No one knows better than her about this."