Leap OF Fate novel Chapter 95

After their lunch, the group transferred to the nearby hotel. She and Justin watched their children play in the pool in silence. Her eyes soften at the sound of their laughter. It still fascinated her to see how much they’ve grown.

“So, you guys back together?” Mary asked as she walked towards Serene and handed her a glass of juice.

“No,” Serene answered, then sipped the beverage Mary gave.

“Hm… I like to remind you, Shen, how difficult things were for you in the past,” she said, throwing a glance at Justin. He remained quiet throughout the exchange.

Serene chose to not respond to Mary. She knows how hostile Mary could get, especially after what Justin did to her.

Mary held her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “But know that whatever your decision is, I’ll be here for you,” she said, then left her and Justin.

“I’m sorry, Serene.” It is all that he could say. After all, he’s guilty of hurting her and he won’t deny it. It’s his life’s biggest regret.

“Can we agree to move on from that?” she asked him. “If we want to be successful in co-parenting the twins, we need to put those behind us and focus on what we have now.

We can’t change what happened, no matter how much we beat our chest. So why don’t we move on from it? We’re all after what’s best for the twins, right?”

Justin studied her face. She did not say that she has forgiven him, but he cannot force her to. Taking a step forward and leaving their past behind them sounds viable. It’s one step in the right direction.

“You’re right,” he nodded. “How do you think we should co-parent?”

“I guess we can start with the schedules. If you don’t mind, I can have them on weekdays. You can pick them up on Fridays to spend the weekends with you. Are you fine with that?”

“Hmm… We can try it then adjust as needed, you ok with that?”

“Sure.”

She smiled at him. Although they talked like they were discussing business, it’s already an achievement for them. They were no longer at each other’s throats.

“What happened to your dad? I noticed he lost weight,” Justin asked after a moment of silence.

“He had a stroke two years ago. That’s the reason we came back.” she answered.

“I see. How is he now?”

“He’s better. He needed to lose some extra weight as advised by his doctor.” Justin nodded as she explained.

They then sat in silence and kept their eyes trained on the pool watching their children play.

“Justin.” Chester’s voice broke their silence. Justin looked at his brother, then stood up from his chair and gave him a hug.

It had been a long time since he and Chester saw each other. It’s the longest time they did not speak to each other. “I’m sorry,” Serene heard Justin say.

Feeling out of place, Serene made an excuse to bring water to her children. She felt the brothers had a lot to talk to each other. After making sure the children stayed hydrated, she walked towards her parents.

She hugged Conrad’s waist and buried her head on his back.

“What is it, Shen?” Conrad asked, chuckling.

“Nothing, Dad.”

“Are you and Justin back together?” Carol could not help but ask.

“No, Mom. But we agreed to co-parent the twins.”

Carol and Conrad nodded after hearing her answer. “Do you want to get together with him?”

“I don’t know, Mom. It’s not my focus, but I’m not closing my doors.”

Carol nodded after hearing her daughter’s answer. “Remember, Shen, should you decide to get together with him, make sure you do it because you love him. Don’t do it only for the children.

You’ll only be raising them for a few years. When they’re grown, they’ll leave you to pursue their own lives. You’ll only have each other by then. So, you must make sure it’s him you’d want to spend your life with. Otherwise you’re in for an arduous retirement.”

Serene listened to her mother’s words and nodded her head in understanding. Five years ago, she was sure that it was Justin whom she’d like to spend the rest of her life with. Now, she’s not as certain as she was before.

It was almost sundown when the children agreed to get out of the pool. The Lewis’s including Dylan has already left. Serene’s parents have already retired to the room they reserved in the hotel. Chester and Bryan have also bid goodbye.

Justin carried the exhausted twins. Felicity and Pax rested their heads on their father’s shoulders, their eyes drooping. Serene trotted beside them, carrying their stuff.

Serene and Justin settled the twins in their car seats before driving to her villa. Both did not utter a word during the drive. The only sound heard inside the car was the mellow music playing over the stereo. After driving out of the busy city for half an hour, they reached Serene’s villa.

Justin followed her in as she walked to the bedroom carrying a sleeping Pax. She settled Pax in the middle of the bed and he placed Felicity beside his brother. His eyes scanned the room. Judging from the decorations, the room did not look like a child’s bedroom.

“We co-sleep,” she answered the question in his mind.

“I see.” he said and continued to survey the bedroom.

“Do you want to eat? I’m famished,” Serene asked before turning around to go out of the room, not bothering for his response.

Justin gave each of the twins a kiss on their foreheads before following their mother to the kitchen.

She prepared a simple salad and some grilled chicken steaks. “Sit anywhere. I’ll bring the food out in a few,” she said, pointing her hand to the dining table.

Justin followed as he’s told. He watched her in silence as she moved around the kitchen. Her movement mesmerized him.

“Here you go,” she said, putting the dish in front of him. “I don’t know what you’d like to drink, but I’m having wine.”

“I’ll have one too, thanks.”

They ate in silence, savoring their food and wine.

“Congratulations on your venture,” Justin said after the long silence.

“Thanks,” Serene smiled at him before bringing her wineglass to her lips.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure. Anything.”

“How did you escape from me?” This has puzzled him for the longest time. She escaped him every single time. It’s embarrassing already. Serene’s laugh was music to his ears. It did not sound like mockery at all.

“I’m so good, huh?” she winked at him. “Well, as you might have already guessed, we sometimes borrow the Lewis’s helicopter. But if you’re asking how we returned undetected, well, that’s a secret.” She gave him a naughty smile before finishing her wine.

“You enjoyed that, didn’t you? The cat-and-mouse game?”

“Hell, no. Traveling by sea is not the most comfort--” realizing her slip, Serene covered her mouth and groaned.

“By sea? Of course, how could I miss that, your family is in the fishing business.”

Serene rolled her eyes at him and cleaned up. “Well, that’s one more exit burned,” she said, smiling.

Justin used all his self-control to resist kissing her smiling mouth. He knew that he’d ruin the moment if he gave in to impulse. Serene’s warming up to him. But it did not mean she trusted him. Any mistake could bring them back to square one.

He never felt happy for the longest time until today, and that’s all because of Serene and the twins. This is the life he wanted, a quiet life with the woman he loves and their children. It’s a dream for now, but he’s determined to work hard to make it a reality.