“You’re unbelievable,” she sneered, stepping closer as if to intimidate me. “Do you think Arlo will choose you after all this? You’re nothing but a ghost from his past, someone he doesn’t even remember. Accept it—he’s moved on. And I’m here now. I’m the one he’s marrying.”
I looked at her engagement ring and then back at her. “You may be wearing that ring now, but it doesn’t erase the fact that my children exist. I’m not here to compete with you. I’m here for Arlo to know the truth and for him to decide what he wants to do about it. That’s all.”
“Get out!” she yelled, her face contorted in anger. “You’re not welcome here. Go back to wherever you came from and leave us alone!”
Before I could respond, Ma’am Ella intervened. “That’s enough, Valerie. Let’s go. This conversation is over.”
Valerie hesitated but finally turned and stormed off, leaving Ma’am Ella and me standing in tense silence. Ma’am Ella’s gaze softened slightly, but her voice remained firm. “Lily, I’ve told you before, let Arlo go. He doesn’t need this chaos in his life.”
“And I’ve told you, Ma’am Ella,” I replied calmly, “this isn’t about you or me. This is about Arlo and our children. If he decides to reject us, then so be it. But he deserves to hear it from me, not through someone else.”
She sighed deeply, her face betraying a hint of exhaustion. “Do whatever you want, but don’t expect me to support you in this. Arlo has been through enough.”
With that, she walked away, leaving me standing alone. I felt a tear slide down my cheek, but I quickly wiped it away. I wouldn’t let their words discourage me. Arlo needed to know the truth, and I wouldn’t stop until he did.
“How dare you speak to me like that? I wouldn’t steal your fiancé if that’s what you’re thinking. I just want to talk to him,” I said to her angrily. Honestly, when I saw her engagement ring, I felt a pang of jealousy.
“Stay away from us,” she yelled at me. In her frustration, she was about to hurt me, but Arlo’s mother intervened to stop her.
“Leave now and forget about my son. Can’t you see that he himself is driving you away? He doesn’t want to know you anymore after everything you’ve done to him. What makes you think he can just easily forgive and talk to you? I’ll repeat this, Lily —stop it! Enough is enough!”
I was speechless at what Ma’am Ella said. Because everything she told me was true. I was only here to explain things for the sake of our twins. If he couldn’t forgive me, that’s fine. What’s important to me now is for him to know the kids.
Ma’am Ella then took Valerie with her to see Arlo. My eyes just followed the two of them as they walked away.
I was about to get into my car when I glanced up at the building. I saw Arlo standing on the veranda, looking at me. When he noticed me looking at him, he backed away until I could no longer see him.
“I know you’re angry with me, Arlo. That’s why I’ll wait until you’re ready to face me and listen to my explanation,” I whispered to myself.
I’ll do everything for my children. I won’t give up, but if he really has no intention of talking to me, I know there are limits. If he doesn’t want to acknowledge the twins, I won’t force them into his life. The time will come when the twins will understand me.
A few hours later, I was with my twins, and Mom was helping me dress them.
“Is there something wrong, child?” Mom asked softly. I shook my head, but I knew she didn’t believe me.
After a while, Mom and I left the twins’ room together.
I was about to enter my room when Mom followed me. I knew she wouldn’t feel at ease until she spoke to me.
I suddenly hugged Mom and burst into tears.
“Mom, he’s getting married. That’s why he returned to the country, I said hoarsely.
“How can you be so sure he’s getting married?” Mom asked me.
“I saw them together, Mom. I saw the woman he was going to marry. What should I do, Mom? I’m confused. What should I tell the twins now that their father is marrying someone else?” I asked Mom again.
“Try to talk to him again, child,” Mom said to me.
“He’s angry with me, Mom. He has completely forgotten about me, and he has no intention of talking to me,” I told Mom.
