The Billionaire Twins Need A New Mommy! novel Chapter 276

Chapter 276: Live Better -- How?

[Short Flashback]

Seated on the small new couch in her new apartment, Lola rested comfortably.

"And they lived happily... ever after."

She smiled faintly as she gazed down at her bulging belly, placing a hand on it. Setting the children’s book aside, she caressed her stomach lovingly.

"It was a good story, wasn’t it?" she whispered. "I liked it very much. Did you?"

There was no answer, but her smile only deepened. Months had passed since she discovered she was pregnant—though she never quite knew how. At first, it had been confusing, even terrifying. Carrying a child, bringing it into this world... had never been part of her plans.

But now, it didn’t feel so frightening anymore.

Pregnancy had been hard with everything else going on, yet she’d learned many things along the way. Most importantly, she had grown to love the life stirring within her. It was a blessing in disguise, one that made her see a new purpose in life.

"In just a few weeks, you’ll be here," she said, glancing around the new space. Boxes still sat unopened in the corner, proof she hadn’t finished unpacking. She was in no rush. It was just her here, after all, no one to help her. But that was fine too. It felt like starting over again, but this time, it felt right.

"What’s important is... we’ve got a really nice place," she said with a grin, her gaze softening on her belly again. "No more worrying about leaks when it rains. Hehe."

A giggle slipped out, her mood light. Life felt brighter now. Money was still tight, but she was comfortable enough. Even if it meant slowing her company’s progress.

Then, suddenly, a small jolt beneath her hand made her almost jump.

"Oh!" she gasped, eyes widening at her stomach. "Did you just—"

Another kick came. This time stronger.

For months, her baby had been so still, so well-behaved, never kicking even as her belly grew. It made her worry a lot, and she constantly asked the doctor about it. But even with the doctor’s reassurance, it worried her. This was the first time she finally felt a kick.

And though it stung a little, it made her laugh. It made her look forward to what was coming.

Lola was alone in this small but safe apartment, but in her heart, she wasn’t. With her child about to arrive, the home already felt full, warm with her voice and love.

Had she known silence would soon swallow this place... she would have missed that check-up. Had she known her world was about to shatter, she would have clung to that warmth with all her life.

*****

Weeks later...

Lola dragged her feet into the apartment. The warmth was gone. The space was dull, dim, heavy with nightfall.

[Present Time]

She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, still slumped on the ground, eyes locked on the grave. Atlas hadn’t spoken since his revelation, and she was grateful for the silence.

"The person I met..." Her voice was hoarse. She cleared her throat. "His name is Vito. Do you know how I met him, Atlas?"

Atlas said nothing, but she felt his eyes on her.

A laugh broke from her lips—mocking, bitter. "I met him just two months after this grave was built. I didn’t want to go home. I didn’t know what to do with my life. It felt like the whole world was collapsing, and I was standing right in the middle of it."

"So I ended up somewhere I shouldn’t have. Wrong place, wrong time." Her voice dropped. "I saved him, or at least, that’s what it looked like. Truth is, I wasn’t trying to save him. I was trying to die. But I didn’t. And he didn’t. And because I heard something I shouldn’t have, he returned the favor by giving me protection."

"He taught me things, and I got really good at them." She let out a harsh laugh, her eyes burning with tears. "Back then, I thought he was helping me forget the pain. It took me years — and a long fight with Amala — to see she was right all along."

"Vito and his world didn’t make me forget. They distracted me. And it took me time to understand why I stayed." She smiled faintly, tears streaking her face. "I stayed because... life was shorter in there than out here."

Her smile trembled.

"Amala said the least we can do for the dead... is live better." Slowly, Lola raised her gaze to Atlas, her lips quivering. Her vision blurred as her tears fell harder.

"Atlas... what am I supposed to do now?" Her voice broke into a whimper. "How do I... live better?"