Divorced Ex-Luna Returns With Triplets
Chapter THIRTY- FIVE: Keep Fighting

Maurene'S POV

I woke up the next morning with a bad headache. I winced slightly as the pain sunk deeper into my head. I reached for the drawer close to my bed and pulled it open. Taking a tablet of paracetamol, I took two then gulped it down with water. I rested for a while before scrambling down the bed. I dragged my feet out of the room and went downstairs to meet Diana serving the kids breakfast. Their birthday was tomorrow. My phone reminder had reminded me yesterday. An happy smile took over my lips as they looked up to me with bubbly expressions on their faces. They made me remember Evangeline. I had not even called or chatted her up yet since she went missing with her husband. I stopped before the kids, grinning. "A good morning to you, guys!"

They all beamed a smile. "Good morning, mommy!" Kylie and Kyle chorused as they chewed on the bread while Kai focused on his meal. He was always in a mood a day before his birthday so today's attitude didn't really bother me. I just offered him a small smile when his eyes looked up to me.

I took my seat as Diana proceeded to serve me. I held her hands and shook my head. "I can do that by myself."

She tried to resist me but I held her down, shaking my head in disagreement. She gave up and went to take her seat.

"How does the food taste, Kylie?" I asked as I poured some some beans into my plate. She grinned up at me.

"It tastes nice, mommy." Then she began to tell what part of it was perfect and where Diana should work on. Diana took the advice with a nod of her head and a grin on her lips. Kylie had always known about tasting of food. Maybe that was a gene she got from Nathaniel because my taste bud were just normal but for Kylie, it was totally different. I knew one day she would be a chef or venture into any culinary work. I will support her fully.

I smiled at her and dug into the food. One by one, we finished and it remained Kai who was sluggish with food. Diana and I shared a look and I pursed my lips.

Diana asked if she could feed him but he shook his head and continued to eat. I knew that if I asked, he would stop eating and leave the food so I let him do as he wished. God knows where he got this attitude from because it definitely wasn't from me.

I helped Diana to clear the plate and we both headed to the kitchen to clean them up. She was busy arranging them in the rack when Kai entered and saw that I was the one doing the dishes. He walked up to me and extended the plate to me. I took it and asked him to wait. He did surprisingly.

I rinsed my hand and crouched down to his level. "Tomorrow is your birthday." I reminded him like he didn't know. "What do you want?" I asked softly.

I remembered what he had asked before for his gift but I could not give him that.

He remained silent before mumbling under his breath. "A lego."

Relief washed through at what he said and I beamed a smile which he did not return.

"I will get it for you!"

He left the kitchen and went to meet his siblings while Diana and I remained in the kitchen.

"Are their father alive?" Diana asked suddenly from me. My hands paused mid air with the place I washing in my hand. Just as I opened my mouth to respond, the door creaked open and Liam burst through the door, announcing his presence by popping a balloon. The kids all cheered loudly.

This was what he always do every day before their birthday. Bring balloons and they play it by using pins. They could do that for half a day before Liam suggest that they go out. As usual, the balloons flow into the living room and the kids began to jump on them. They made a popping sound. I rushed with the dishes and cleaned my hand against the apron before leaving Diana to finish up while I went to the living room.

Liam paused when he saw me, a flash of an emotion rushed across his face before he blinked it away. The kids greeted him and he did the big uncle's duty as usual. Kylie went ahead to tell him what he had planned for their birthday but Liam shook his head, gesturing to his mouth that it is sealed. Her liped formed a sad and disappointed pout as she looked up to him. He did not bulge even at that.

"I won't tell you because it is surprise, Kylie." he told her, lifting Kai into his arms as he placed Kyle on his neck.

"Carry me too." Kylie jumped to him but he walked past her.

"Only men, Kylie. Go and meet your mother."

Kyle made a scene of sticking his tongues out to her and she rolled her eyes in jealousy. She didn't even turn to me. She marched to the couch and sat down, folding her arms as she muttered some things to herself. Liam stopped right in front me and greeted, "Good morning."

After giving him a long look, I responded. "Good morning to you too."

The wave of anger I felt last night was back again in full force and I clenched my fist. He went ahead to play with the guys and looked for ways to pacify Kylie who later softened up to him after he promised to get her ice cream. She loved ice creams and chips a lot.

All I did was watch them and during that moment, I went upstairs to have my bath and returned to them. This time, the kids were already on their own playing with their toys.

I poured myself a glass of wine and waited to stand on the veranda. I maintained a spot as I sipped from the wine. I heard his footsteps before he fell into line beside me, dipping his hand into his pockets.

"We should resolve whatever argument we have between us for the sake of the kids." He said, glancing at me.

I snorted. Resolve? For the sake of the kids? Was he their father?

"You abandoned me at the party last night." I accused him.

His brows etched in confusion. Oh, why was he confused? He should not be at all.

"What?"

My brows went up. "Really? You brought me to a supposed party to meet our business partners only for you to leave me behind." I tried to keep my voice low so that it would not attract the kids. Or even Diana. "I didn't. I called your phone so many times and I thought you didn't want to see me or you might even have gone after what happened to your dress. I even felt disappointed, Maurene. How could you?" I keened my eyes on him, setting the wine glass down on the small table placed there.

"How could I what?"

"How could you let Nathaniel touch you like that?" His jaw hardened as he gritted the words out. A crease formed between my brows and I uttered a scoff.

"Did I throw myself into his arms? He ran up to me in concern and you... You just stood there like a statue and watched him. So much guts for you to think that!" I did not even see the need to clarify that.

Did he think I threw myself into Nathaniel 's arms because we were having a fight?

What exactly does this man think of me?

"How did you want me to come to you when he was holding you and touching you to see if you were harmed?" He tried to justified himself but I was not having it. "And besides, what were you people discussing when I came to meet you that time?"

I knew he was going to ask about it. It was just a matter of time. I looked away from him. "Nothing." I replied with a clipped tone. "Really, Maurene?" He asked.

"Liam, I think we should set more boundaries. Tell me, why are you jealous? If Nathaniel still wants me, you are doing a good job of letting him know that I would never go back to him but you... You really need to stop telling people I am your wife when it is not related to Nathaniel. What happens when we end the contract? What would people think when they find out I have kids?"

"Would they think they belong to you when they see their striking resemblance with Nathaniel? Liam, my entire reputation is at stake here. Just stop... stop whatever it is you are doing with this contract we have signed. It is wrong." I said all in one breath. I was already tired of bottling up these words.

"You are hiding something." He breathed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

I shook my head. "The one who is hiding something here is you, Liam. Because why did you leave the party early? Tell me, if I may ask, where were you rushing to? I asked a waiter and he told me you left the hall with a phone in your ear. Tell me, Liam, where did you go to that you forgot you came with someone?"