Atlas had barely opened his mouth when everyone in the crowd started apologizing to him dramatically. But all he gave them was a cold side-eye before continuing, speaking as if he were delivering a global address about fixing climate change and saving the entire world through this marriage.
As for Lola, she happily ate snacks with her children as if this weren’t a wedding at all.
In the first half of Atlas’s vow, the twins paused and looked at the guests. Every single one of them was staring at the altar in dread; others were yawning.
"Daddy completely robbed them of the right to feel happy for him," Chacha remarked adorably, turning to her mommy. "Mommy, do you want to listen to my vows to you?"
Lola pondered for a second. "But your daddy isn’t done yet."
"Don’t worry about that, Mommy," Second smiled. "I’m the one who wrote Daddy’s vow, so we already know what’s in it."
"We also prepared a summary paper for you." Chacha pulled a folded paper from her tiny pocket and handed it to Lola.
Curious, Lola unfolded it—several times, because it had been folded ridiculously small to fit in Chacha’s pocket. But inside, only a short message was written:
[Don’t be nosy next time.]
Her face twitched. She glanced at Atlas again, who continued speaking without care for anything or anyone. Lola shook her head mildly.
"Now, I wonder just who exactly was trying to have a say in his vows..."
"Everyone," Chacha and Second answered at once. "Even our little cousins had a say in it."
...That was a little too exaggerated, wasn’t it?
But Lola kept her thoughts to herself. She smacked her lips and smiled at the twins.
"Okay," she whispered gently. "Let’s hear your vows, then."
"I’ll go first!" Chacha raised her hand, shifting on Lola’s lap to face her properly. Lola’s hand rested on her daughter’s hip to steady her as Chacha began.
"To my beautiful mommy," Chacha cleared her throat, reading from her slightly messy handwriting. "Please always stay with Chacha and Second forever and don’t leave us again. We will always behave and won’t stress you out, so you will be just happy."
"I love Mommy so much!" she beamed, her face sparkling. "And I wish Mommy would love us too forever. Or that I will not grow up, so Mommy will always be young and not old and wrinkly."
For some reason, those innocent remarks left a lingering pinch in Lola’s heart—pain mixed with sweetness. Her eyes softened as she smiled and leaned her forehead gently against Chacha’s.
"Of course," she whispered. "Mommy will love both of you forever and ever. And even if the world ends, that will never change. Mommy will love Chacha and Second even when they’re grumpy, even when they’re crying, and even when they’re being mischievous. Mommy will love every version of Chacha and Second... even when I’m old and wrinkly."
When she pulled back, Chacha was grinning so brightly her eyes nearly disappeared. She wrapped her little arms around Lola with all her strength.
"My turn!" Second chimed, waiting for Lola to look at him. He hopped off her lap and stood proudly in front of her.
Second straightened his back, wearing an expression just as solemn as his father, who was still droning on tonelessly in the background, perhaps to keep the guests awake.
"To my mommy," he began, already taking Lola’s heart hostage, "first of all, I want to tell you that I love being your son. And that I’ll always make you proud and protect you from anything. I promise that I will be good, and when I grow up, I’ll protect you and Chacha like Daddy."
His smile stretched from ear to ear, his round eyes locked on hers. Then he raised his little pinky.
"Pinky promise!" he beamed.
Lola let out a soft laugh, reaching out to ruffle his hair. "Okay," she whispered, hooking her pinky with his. When their thumbs pressed together, she pulled him into her arms too.
"Oh, my babies," she cooed, hugging them tightly. "I love being your mother."
"Hehe!" they giggled, embracing her as they chimed:
I can’t wait to watch them grow up and love them even more.
VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Billionaire Twins Need A New Mommy!