Lily sat in her swivel chair while Leo and Gilbert silently watched her.
“How can I help you?” she asked them.
Just as Leo was about to speak, the office door opened abruptly, and two cheerful children came running in.
“Mommy, Mommy!” her twins called out excitedly.
Leo and Gilbert froze, their mouths slightly agape as they stared at the little boy. It was as though they were looking at a younger version of Arlo.
“Oh, children, I’m sorry. My grandchildren insisted on seeing you, and they’ve been pestering me about when we’re going to Davis mansion. By the way, your Dad David is already at the mansion preparing for tonight’s dinner event,” Lily’s mother explained.
Lily’s mother was startled when Leo cleared his throat. She turned her attention to the two men.
“Good afternoon, ma’am,” Gilbert said politely. Lily’s mother gave a small nod in acknowledgment.
“Do you have visitors, dear?” she asked Lily.
“Yes, ma’am,” Leo replied. “We’re friends of Arlo, and we’re here to talk to Lily about him.”
Lily’s mother let out a deep breath and then called to her grandchildren.
“Children, we’ll be in your Dad’s office. If they say anything you don’t like, don’t let it affect you,” she advised Lily firmly before walking out.
“Do you two know our Daddy?” Grayson asked Leo and Gilbert curiously.
Gilbert was about to answer, but Lily quickly interrupted.
“ Gabriella, Grayson, go with your Grandma for now. Mommy has to talk to her visitors in private, okay? Be good,” Lily said.
“Yes, Mommy,” the twins replied obediently before leaving.
Once the twins were gone, Lily turned her serious gaze to Leo and Gilbert.
“Is Arlo the father of the twins?” Leo asked.
Even if Lily tried to deny it, it would be futile. The twins bore a striking resemblance to Arlo.
“Yes, he is the father of my twins,” Lily admitted.
“Does he know he has twins?” Leo asked again.
“I tried to talk to him and told him the children need him, but he never gave me a chance to explain. No matter how hard I tried, he refused to face me. I feel like I’m just a statue standing in front of him.
“I think he’s completely forgotten me and harbors hatred for what I did to him. I know it’s my fault that he’s cold to me and avoids me. But I won’t force myself on him, especially now that he’s getting married.
“All I wanted was for the children to at least know their father. Even if he can’t forgive me, I hoped he’d consider the twins. But no, it’s better this way. I’ll take my twins away from all of this. I don’t want them holding on to false hope that their father will come back. It would only hurt them more if their own father refused to acknowledge them,” Lily said, her voice heavy with emotion.
“Are you just going to give up and keep the children away from him, Lily ?” Gilbert asked.
“Because this is the right thing to do,” Lily replied.
“Don’t do that, Lily . Arlo needs you,” Gilbert insisted.
“Are you joking, Gilbert? If he needs me, what do you call the way he treats me?” Lily asked sharply.
“It’s because Arlo has retrograde amnesia, Lily. He had an accident in London. In his past, you’re the only one he doesn’t remember. Due to the severe impact on his head, of all the things he could have forgotten, it had to be you. Lily , you’re the only one who can help him regain his memories of you,” Gilbert explained.
Lily took a deep breath, frozen in disbelief at what Arlo’s friends were telling her. She sat motionless, like a statue, trying to process their words.
“Is what you’re saying true? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Lily asked, her voice trembling.
“We only recently learned the truth ourselves. If you love our friend and want the twins to have their father, don’t give up so easily. Help him, Lily. We can see that it’s you, Arlo needs, not Valerie,” Leo added earnestly.
“What should I do? How can I even approach him when Ma’am Ella won’t let me see Arlo? She doesn’t even believe me when I tell her that the twins are his,” Lily said seriously.
“Maybe she’s scared that something bad might happen to Arlo again, or maybe she has other reasons. What’s important now is for you to earn Arlo’s trust. Something seems off about Valerie Garcia. It’s better that you know this too, Lily —Valerie Garcia is the granddaughter of Arlo’s grandfather, Damian Garcia,” Leo revealed.
