CHAPTER 53: NOT IN THIS LIFETIME.

In the end, everyone found themselves in an old restaurant just outside the city—a place that, unlike the more glamorous side, seemed frozen in time.

The old walls and tables of the small, humble restaurant somehow made Lola fit right in. However, with the young princess and prince, and their kingly father, even the few people in the small restaurant couldn’t help but glance at their table.

They’re not saying anything, but I know.

Lola pinched the bridge of her nose, unable to ignore the strange looks she was getting. Part of her was tempted to clear her nonexistent reputation and let everyone know she hadn’t used any love potion on him. She was innocent!

"What are you getting?"

She snapped her eyes up, glancing around the table. Again, she felt like déjà vu was about to strike.

Chacha and Second were looking at the menu, deep in thought. Meanwhile, their father was waiting for them to decide.

"This!" Second pointed at something, then Chacha pressed her little finger on another dish. "Mine this!"

Their father casually glanced at the things they were pointing at before shifting his eyes to the laminated menu in his hand.

"And you?" he asked, not taking his eyes off the menu, but Lola quickly understood the cue.

"I—" She cleared her throat and smiled. "I’ll get what the twins are having—"

Lola bit her tongue as she leaned back a bit, watching Atlas slide his eyes toward her. She pressed her lips, trying to ignore the sharpness of his side-eye.

"I’ll pay for it."

"You’re in debt; pay that first," Atlas returned flatly, raising a finger to get the waitress’s attention.

The middle-aged woman grinned, wiping her hands on the apron around her as she approached. "What can I get you?"

There were no specials or complimentary items, which Lola assumed Atlas and his children were more used to. But watching him converse with the waitress made her wonder if Atlas would eat in such a place.

He came from a really good family, she thought, looking around at the restaurant. Would he really eat here?

"That’s all?" the waitress asked, then nodded. "I see. Just anything for the kids except what they chose, and something light and nutritious for your wife?"

"Wife?" Lola froze in horror and then quickly leaned forward. "Auntie, I’m not—"

"Yes, that’s all," Atlas cut in before Lola could finish. "Thank you."

"Alright then!"

With that, the waitress enthusiastically went back to prepare their orders. Meanwhile, the twins continued to pester their father to change their orders once more.

Watching them quietly, Lola cleared her throat as she nervously moved forward.

"Uhm..." She trailed off, watching the trio pause and turn to her. Having the three of them stare at her without saying a word made her rethink what she was trying to say.

"Heh. Nothing," she awkwardly smiled. Just like that, the twins resumed their nagging, while their father sat there like a block of ice that wouldn’t melt anytime soon.

"Goodness." Lola hung her head low, dark clouds forming over her. She propped her elbow on the table, her thumb pressed against her temple. "I want to say this isn’t happening, but I know it is."

She peeked at them once more, catching Atlas lifting Chacha by the armpits and sitting her down. But then, Chacha jumped from her seat again and crawled up to him to sit on his lap.

"..." Lola cupped her face, just watching all of this unfold.

The only reason she came here was because of Cedrick. That once-rising star, who quickly rose to fame a few years ago, only to fall just as quickly. Now, he was working multiple part-time jobs just to make ends meet and support his ailing mother and his little brother’s education.

Because of him, Lola knew this place, as this was the only job that paid him fairly and treated him like a human, not a robot.

"Here’s your order—it’s hot!"

Suddenly, Lola heard a familiar voice and slid her eyes to the corner. There, approaching their table with a huge tray for everything they ordered was Cedrick.

"..." She watched as the petite man served them with a wide smile on his face.

His white shirt was loose, sweat dampening his back and chest. The tips of his slightly long hair were tied back, but stray strands of his hair fell onto his face. Despite how different he looked from his time in showbiz, the man serving them carried a wide smile.

"Wow~!" The twins were in awe, clapping at Cedrick even though the man was just placing dishes on the table. "Big Brother is very skilled!"

"Haha!" The man laughed as he looked at the twins.

"Big Brother, are there any cameras here?" Second asked innocently.

"Huh?"

"Weren’t you popular?" Chacha followed up, looking around just in case this was a set.

The smile on Cedrick’s face faltered at the twins. "Haha. No, there aren’t any cameras here. You probably mistook me for someone."

"We did?" The twins blinked, frowning. "Big Brother, lying is bad, you know?"

"Hehe..." Cedrick didn’t dwell on the children’s remarks as he placed the last bowl. "Enjoy your food!"

Without idling, he retrieved the big tray and shouted his greeting upon seeing another customer. He quickly went to the newcomers, assisting them to another corner and taking their orders.

Meanwhile, Lola, the twins, and Atlas kept their eyes on him.

"But he’s really popular," Chacha murmured. "Why would he not say he isn’t?"

Second nodded. "Maybe he doesn’t want others to know he’s a celebrity."

"Is he living a double life?"

"Maybe!"

"Oh no, Second! I almost uncovered his disguise!"

"Heh." Lola chuckled as she listened to the twins’ innocent conversation, then glanced in Cedrick’s direction.

People who knew Cedrick as a celebrity would say he was unrecognizable. But Lola was friends with him at some point in their lives. But even with that, she was a bit surprised. After all, in the original timeline, at this point in time, she was at the last thread of her life, and it would’ve been years since she last saw him.

And this proved that his situation wouldn’t improve.

Not in this lifetime, she thought, nodding to herself. They’re not winning in this lifetime, Ced.

Little did she know, while she was busy reminiscing, the twins slowly leaned against their father’s side and whispered to him like little devils they were,

"Father Sir, if you don’t marry her, we’ll have a new daddy."

****

Later...

"Thank you for coming!" Cedrick shouted eagerly as he watched the strange family of four leave the restaurant. His smile slightly faltered as he remembered the kids who had recognized him, even when he couldn’t recognize himself anymore.

He shook his head. "Don’t think about it."

As quickly as the twins’ words crossed his mind, he dismissed them just as swiftly. With that, Cedrick began to clean up their table. As he did, he paused when he saw a tissue with some handwriting on it.

"Huh?" He tilted his head, picking up the note with a calling card resting on top of it.

[The Angel’s Revenge. Heard of it? If you’re interested, give me a call.]

Lines appeared on his brow as he shifted his attention to the calling card. All it said was:

Taz.

Talent Manager.