CHAPTER 83: THEY’RE REALLY HER CHILDREN

"Take off your clothes. I want to see your body."

As soon as Cedrick heard that, his entire body stiffened. The reddish complexion from the intense sparring quickly turned pale, and his eyes widened at Lola.

She wanted... him to strip?

A part of him felt like his hope was being ripped apart. He felt like laughing, thinking how he had managed to fall for the same trick. However, looking at Lola’s face, he lowered his head and swallowed the tension building in his throat.

At least... she’s... she’s a woman. Maybe, I can...

"Relax, I need to see your improvement—that’s all," she remarked indifferently, cocking her head to one side. "You’ve been taking acting lessons and studying Ryker’s role, so you should know by now that he’s a walking thirst trap."

Cedrick’s mouth parted, now seeing the indifference in her white contact lenses. She wasn’t looking at him the same way he’d been looked at behind closed doors in the entertainment industry.

She jerked her chin. "Let me see how Haji’s work has affected you so far."

"Uh, of course!" he nodded, diligently removing the new shirt he had changed into before coming in. As soon as he stood topless before her, he lowered his head.

Lola, on the other hand, got up from her seat and approached him. She looked at his body, her arms crossed beneath her chest. She hadn’t said a word, so he peeked up at her.

To his surprise, she was looking at his body without any malice or other emotions. She was just studying him as if there were nothing to admire. Her brows crinkled, her gaze trying to spot anything amiss.

"Haji also introduced me to a nutritionist," he said just to break the silence and his growing nervousness. "I’ve been following her advice diligently, though... I don’t know if it’s working."

His diet was unlike what he thought it would be. He wasn’t told to starve; instead, his diet had been keeping him full, even though he had cut down on a few things.

"Not bad." She nodded after a moment, snapping her eyes up at him. "The audition for Ryker’s role will be in a month. However, we’ll need to send a video recording of you. Get changed. We’re leaving once you’re ready."

"Uh..."

"Now."

"Yes, ma’am!"

With that, Cedrick didn’t waste another second and ran out of the office. As he stepped out, he caught Haji teaching the twins some self-defense. He didn’t bother with them as he continued on to his room to change as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, Lola stayed in the office and gazed at the door. A moment later, she opened it and peeked at what Haji and the twins were doing. She caught him teaching them, so she didn’t come out immediately.

Going to the desk, she sat down and checked some papers. The gym was not hers, but the entire apartment complex was. A property she had bought just a year ago, before she arrived in Novera. After all, the property value of this area would soon skyrocket, considering its proximity to King’s City.

"Let’s see..." she hummed, checking the documents that she wouldn’t be able to see anywhere else.

****

In the boxing ring, Chacha and Second diligently punched the air before them with a sharp, "Hah!"

"Good, good!" Haji clapped, slumped on the surface as he watched the two. "Now, do the other one, then shout, ’Hah!’"

"Hah!"

As instructed, Chacha and Second shouted from their stomachs as they punched the air with their other fist.

"Uncle, do we have to do this before you play with us?" Second asked right after, looking at Haji curiously.

"I want to play with Uncle Smelly too!" Chacha chimed.

Smelly?

Haji’s face contorted, looking at the two of them, who didn’t seem to have meant it like that. Even so, it sort of stung.

"Kids, as you can see, this uncle here is a little old," said Haji. "I’m really not good at playing with kids."

"But you were playing with our prospective next father!"

"Huh?" he scrunched up his nose, taking a bit of time to realize they were referring to Cedrick. "No, no. I’m not playing with him. It’s a spar."

The twins blinked at him as if they understood nothing.

Haji huffed. "We’re fighting—a friendly fight! It’s not safe for kids."

"But that’s playing," Second blinked innocently. "We can spar too!"

"Uncle, Chacha is a master too!" Chacha raised her hand. "Don’t worry, it’s fine! Chacha and Second are masters!"

"It’s been a while since Chacha and I played, too!" Second stretched his little arm while Chacha did the same. "I feel like all my muscles are becoming stiff now."

"I feel like I’m a hundred years old!" Chacha mused, focusing on stretching her muscles as if she had lived a hundred years for that kind of stretching.

Watching them, Haji’s face twitched. Why are they talking as if they were some sort of old souls? He shook his head, clicking his tongue. "Twins, I know you might’ve had some training, but—"

Before he could even finish his remarks, the two little children, several steps before him, disappeared! Yes, they disappeared.

"Uncle, on your side~"

Even before Haji could hear that, he immediately ducked and crossed the ring to where the twins had originally stood. Stunned, he looked back, catching Chacha holding her folded little leg up as if she had stopped launching a kick, while Second had his fist stretched exactly where Haji’s temple would have been if he hadn’t moved.

"Holy... shit," Haji gasped, his mouth dropping open, eyes wide.

The twins giggled as they slowly turned in his direction. They seemed to be so excited that their eyes were squinting. Meanwhile, Haji could only open and close his mouth in disbelief.

When he recovered, all he could whisper was, "Kids... how about we talk about this, eh?"

****

"Second, Chacha..." Lola trailed off as she stepped out of the office. Her brows knitted, catching the twins and Haji wrestling. However, it wasn’t a sight to be alarmed at.

Haji lay on his stomach with Second holding his leg behind him, while Chacha hugged his arm. Haji slapped the surface with his other hand, but the twins just paused upon seeing their mother.

"Haha," she chuckled. "Chacha, Second, let’s go now."

The two children paused from tormenting Haji and beamed. "Okay~!"

With that, they finally let go of Haji and happily ran to the corner where Lola was waiting. As she helped them down, Haji gasped for air and gazed at them in horror.

"Lola, what the hell?!" he gasped, earning an arched brow from her. "Those kids—how did you—"

"Haji, I didn’t know you liked children," she cut him off with a subtle smile. "Surely, I’m seeing a new side of you the more I see you."

She paused and saw Cedrick already approaching. She snapped her eyes at Haji once more.

"Thanks for looking after my kids," she expressed nonchalantly. "Really appreciate it. We’re off."

"Bye bye, Uncle~!" the twins waved at him, beaming. "Next time again!"

Cedrick, who was quick to follow them, slowed down and lowered his head. "I’ll be off with them."

With that, the four of them left, leaving Haji staring at the door in disbelief.

"What did she mean I like children?!" he gasped in horror. "Her kids just almost killed me—ack!"

His face twisted as he gazed at his arm, reminded of getting beaten up by two little children.

"Damn!" he hissed. "They’re really her children—ouch. Crazy kids."