CHAPTER 59: CALL HER

"I didn’t know you still had children, considering... the first one died."

Lola froze, staring at her father with wide, unblinking eyes. Her fist trembled on her lap, stunned by his audacity to even mention her child.

Had he forgotten?

She wasn’t surprised that Melissa and Jasmine had no idea what happened to her five years ago. Lawrence, after all, would do anything to erase this "disgrace" and "embarrassment" from his beloved Young Family.

This man would do whatever it took to protect his name—even if it meant making her barren. He had ordered the doctor to remove part of her reproductive system so that she couldn’t conceive again after she lost her child. So that she wouldn’t bring another disgrace to his name.

Yet, he was talking about her deceased child like he knew nothing of it?

Lola hung her head low, still not blinking until the corners of her eyes stung. She could feel her entire body shaking from the anger she had painstakingly suppressed all these years.

"All I’m saying is, why don’t you bring them over..." Lawrence trailed off as Lola suddenly rose to her feet. "Lola?"

"I’ll tell the chairman about the processing," she said, her voice dead. She didn’t look at him. "I’m taking my leave."

Without waiting another second, she strode off.

"Lola!" he yelled, watching her approach the door. He jumped from his seat and shouted, "Come to your sister’s engagement, okay? Bring my grandchildren and my son-in-law."

Her grip on the knob tightened as her jaw clenched. A glint flickered across her eyes, and she pulled the door open without bothering to answer. Just as she did, the head maid was carrying a tray outside.

"Oh, Miss Lola..." The head maid’s smile stiffened as Lola walked past her. Her brows knitted, and she frowned before resuming her steps into the study. "Master, Miss Lola just walked past me even when I asked her to stay for lunch."

"Let her be." Lawrence waved dismissively. "She’s just being sensitive again. It’s not worth thinking about."

The head maid sighed as she served the master of the house tea. "Master, why are you being lenient with her? She almost put you in trouble, and even now, she is giving you trouble because of her mother’s properties."

"Heh." He smirked, making the head maid raise her brows.

He didn’t say anything further, but the malicious smirk on his face and the glint in his eyes told her he had a plan. A plan that would only serve his benefit, and not his daughter’s.

***

Lola jumped in the car, her hands tight on the steering wheel. Her expression was blank as she breathed heavily, almost hyperventilating.

Lifting her gaze to the beautiful mansion, her eyes burned with rage. She swallowed hard, her neck taut, because right now, breathing felt like a luxury she could barely afford. For a long time now, Lola had stopped asking herself what was wrong with her or why her father seemingly hated her.

It wasn’t that Lawrence didn’t know how to be a father; he simply chose not to be one to Lola.

But not only did he look the other way while his second wife and a mere maid bullied her, but he had also taken away her right to have children. Just standing before him or hearing his voice took a lot of self-control.

But he had dared to mention her child with that filthy mouth.

A scoff escaped her, and she ran her tongue along her inner cheek. "Lawrence Young, I would’ve killed you," she whispered, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "But killing you... is mercy."

Lola closed her eyes as she drew a deep breath. Once her heart calmed down a bit, she reopened her eyes and nodded to herself.

With that, she finally started her car and drove away from this sickening place.

In her mind, heart, and soul... one day, she would burn down this house. She would do so after taking everything away from this family, just as they had taken everything away from her.

No mercy.

"Amala," Lola said into her phone, her voice low and solemn. "Find out what Lawrence Young is up to. It seems he wants to play dirty... let’s be dirtier."

As Lola drove away and passed the gates, a person in a car parked a few blocks from the Young Residence watched the old Beetle. He typed into his phone, saying,

"She just left the Young Residence."

****

[Summit Partners: Chairman’s Office]

[She just left the Young Residence.]

Atlas glanced at his phone, checking a report from a bodyguard he’d put in Lola’s shadow just in case. After all, that woman seemed a little reckless. Besides, he didn’t want her to be in trouble just because they were in her life.

He didn’t respond but locked his phone. At the same time, he heard his son say,

"Father Sir, can Chacha and I claim the billion for your head?" Second beamed, his feet swinging to and fro from the couch.

Seated next to him was Chacha, happily munching a grape. "We’ll give it to our Mommy! Not your head, though. She’ll be scared."

"No, you cannot," Atlas remarked, leaning back in the swivel chair. His eyes remained on the twins, who were more amused that another bounty was put on their father’s head. "I’ve already handled the one who put up the request."

"Aww, man!" Chacha frowned. "So fast!"

Second was also frowning. "Father Sir, if someone places another bounty on your head, give us the chance!"

"Sure," Atlas agreed without a second thought. After all, this wasn’t the first time his kids had requested such, and it wouldn’t be the first time they would fail.

He moved his phone across his desk, his eyes on his kids. "Call her," he said. "She might... need some consoling."

The twins blinked, darting their eyes between their father and the phone underneath his finger. The corners of their mouths stretched until their teeth were fully displayed, nodding and humming loudly.

"Second and Chacha to the rescue~!"