*FOUR YEARS LATER**
Four years after the incident that happened and Mabel's betrayal, Amanda transferred to another state after finding out that the one-night incident had resulted in her getting pregnant, not just with one or two babies, but four children.
She felt her world crashing, with no good job, and not enough money, and her life became miserable, but whenever she stared at her children, she got another hope of survival and providing them with a great future.
Ryan is her first child and a boy. He has brown hair, cute pink lips, and gray eyes. He is the smartest and most caring kid. Then Adora, the second child, was a girl and she looked exactly like Amanda. Then Mason, a boy. He is the third child but is taller than Ryan. Tyler is the last child. He looked different, and Amanda couldn't guess who he looked like. Her life isn't perfect, but for once, she has never regretted keeping her kids, especially how they always cared for her, understood her, and made her proud.
Amanda, her mom, and the kids were back from school when her mom said something that made Amanda mad. She kept on comparing her with Mabel who was now swimming in riches, and didn't fail to remind her to be as smart as Mabel too.
"Can you please stop rubbing it on my face? I'm not the only one that has four kids." Amanda said, feeling hurt but never regretting having her kids.
"Well, you are acting like you own a mansion or some dollars, you don't even have your own house. You could have given them up for adoption. I know it wasn't your fault that you got raped but it was your stupidity that caused you these sufferings. Your friend saw an opportunity and she grabbed it without wasting her time, and now she is living a life of luxury while you are here taking care of four kids all by yourself." Her mom exclaimed, not believing Amanda, she doesn't know how much it usually costs to cater for a kid and in this case, it wasn't one but four kids.
"I don't care, okay? What has happened has happened and I'm proud of my kids, I'm proud that I kept them, and I know that one day, they will make me proud." Amanda said with finality.
"Yes mommy, if I grow up I will buy you a mansion with a big pool inside, I promise," Ryan promised. He smiled at Amanda, revealing his milky tiny teeth which melted Amanda's heart.
"Yes mummy, and I will open a hotel for you. It will be the biggest hotel ever, we will be so rich," Adora added too, she was so adorable.
"I know you will, that's why I love you so much," Amanda said and hugged them one after the other, feeling so excited. Her mom only shook her head.
"We love you mommy, and you, grandma, stop making our mommy cry, or else you will be a bad grandma like the one in Cinderella." Tyler, the youngest, said, which made Amanda look at her mom as she tried to hold her laughter. Her mom glared at her in return.
"Uhhhh Tyler, Cinderella has a stepmom, not grandma." Adora corrected, rolling her eyes. Tyler wasn't good at remembering the characters in a cartoon, he was only good at video games.
"Mummy, can I get ice cream please?" Mason, the second son, requested not to interfere in their conversation nor correct anyone. He was always calm and collected.
"Uhmm..." Amanda tried to say before she paused.
"You know Mommy doesn't have any money, can you stop making requests?" Amanda's mom asked and looked at the kids with anger which made them all rush to hide behind Amanda, their grandma was good at making them scared of her.
"Mom, they are my kids. I will give them everything. I think I still have some change. Why not I get you all some ice cream", Amanda said, and they jumped happily and hugged Amanda's legs. She had never failed to come to their rescue.
"You see, you are spoiling the kids Amanda, stop acting like they are just one, they are four, four Amanda. Better start planning for their future. Don't depend on their sweet talks about growing up and building you a mansion. Before that happens, maybe you will be dead before that time." Her mom replied with displeasure. She has passed through the stage of training a child and knows how it is.
"Please mom, stop saying this in front of them, else they will think you are a wicked grandma. Besides, I never complained about having them, I'm proud of them, they deserve ice cream, and they all came out as the best in their class. I know I didn't plan for this to happen but I sure will love my kids no matter what." Amanda said and looked at her mom, who understood the finality in the tone of her voice.
"Alright, just know that we don't have any groceries, which means no food tonight. I will see you later." Her mom replied and started heading into her room.
"I will stop by and get us some," Amanda said as she remembered she still had some money left with her.
"You better do it." Her mom replied and disappeared into the hallway.
"Mommy, you don't have to buy us the ice cream if you don't have the money, I understand, and if daddy comes back one day, I will tell him right to his face that I'm so angry at him for making you suffer." Mason said, which got Amanda shocked. They were just four years old. How do they know all this?" she wondered.
"I know sweetheart," Amanda replied when she decided to overlook it and rubbed his hair. Her kids had been acting much more mature than their current age after they turned four.
"Mommy, do you think Grandma loves us?" Adora asked with sad eyes.
"Yes baby, Grandma is just having mood swings today. Remember she bakes you the most delicious cookies? Grandma loves you all so much, now let's go grab some ice cream, I'm so excited Yayyyy." Amanda replied with a smile. She sighed, hoping her mom didn't end up making the children hate her.
"Yaaayyy!" They all jumped, and she smiled, seeing them happy.
Amanda turned to leave, but her mom returned and came close. She stopped when she got to where Amanda was standing.
"I'm so sorry for what I said earlier, I love you so much and I'm proud of you." She said and placed her hand on Amanda's shoulder. She took a deep breath and held her mother's hand.
"We love you too, grandma. Will you join us for the ice cream?" Ryan asked, interrupting the mother and daughter moment that was about to take place.
"No, I will stay and cook you delicious meals, Amanda, you don't worry about the groceries, I will get them." Her mom replied with a smile. She begged them to come closer and gave each of them a kiss on the forehead.
"Thanks, mom, thanks a lot," Amanda said and hugged her while the kids joined in.
Later that night, while watching TV, the noble sons of the four major billionaire families in the country appeared on the television through a news station and Amanda’s children said that they looked like them, and Amanda laughed and didn't hesitate to make them dismiss such thoughts.
"You have school tomorrow kids, time to sleep, good night," Amanda announced and kissed them one after the other and they rushed to their room. She smiled and continued watching the news.
*
Mabel sat on one of the luxurious couches in the Xi mansion eating fruit and enjoying her leisure.
Mabel thought about Amanda and since she had already heard the news of her giving birth to quadruplets, she laughed, remembering how people made fun of her calling her baby factory. She had to transfer from their previous apartment to another.
"If an opportunity knocks, don't think twice, she is the one getting mocked while I'm here enjoying my life, such a pathetic loser," Mabel exclaimed and chuckled, she continued eating her fruits with her legs crossed on the other with the latest model of iPhone in her hands.
After the kids slept off, Amanda went to her room and applied all kinds of makeup that hides her beauty and makes her look extremely ugly.As she sneaked out of her room, she bumped into her mom and her mom almost screamed."What in the world is happening?" Grandma Nana (Amanda's mom) exclaimed, not believing her eyes. "Why would Amanda put on this? she asked herself."Mom, I have gotten a chance to sing at a bar tonight and you know there's no way I'm gonna sing with my beauty," Amanda said."But with the way you are looking now, I'm sure you will scare off the guests. Amanda, you are beautiful and who knows your beauty can get you more tips. Besides, you don't have to do all of this, I'm getting my payment tomorrow and we can work things out," Nana replied."Nana, you don't get it, the kids' teachers said they should bring almost 100 dollars tomorrow and there is no miracle that can provide us with the money before tomorrow morning. I know you cared for me, but please let me do what
Rowan held onto her waist as he stared into her eyes, shocked as he recognized her.Since Amanda couldn't recognize him, she managed to pull herself from him and glared at him."So...rry." Amanda stammered.Rowan recalled having a nightstand with her four years ago and immediately thought she was sent by the villa to pick him up as he had placed her there the day he traveled."You came to pick me up?" He questioned, raising his brows, which surprised Amanda, as she didn't know what he was talking about."Came to pick you up? Who are you? I don't even know you." Amanda replied and stared at him weirdly."Stop being crazy, it was already too much since after what happened between us. It has been four years and you never called to check up on me. I guess you prefer enjoying the luxurious Villa more, right?" Rowan asked and what he was saying did not make sense to her as she still couldn't understand what he was saying."Is he crazy? What is he talking about? What happened four years ago?
Amanda sat still in front of the mirror, trying to undress and wipe off what was left of the ugly makeup she had on earlier.Then she remembered the popular Rowan Xi and how he tried to hold her down, insisting that she was supposed to be at his house."What madness?" She asked herself and kept wiping off the makeup."Who are you speaking to?" her mother asked with concern.She jerked at the sight of her mother."You scared me Mum. It is nothing. I was just soliloquizing. Something a bit strange happened today."Her mother looked at her, her gaze filled with concern."What might that be?""I met someone very important; Rowan Xi. You know him, right?"Her mother's mouth was agape with shock."Wow… that is some interesting stuff!" She exclaimed. "Please tell me you got along fine?""That is the point, mother. You know I had this ugly makeup on, so he thought I was ugly…"Her mother's face squeezed in a frown."You see? Did I not warn you about that ugly makeup you had on?" She cut in an
>>>Rowan was sitting in his office, addressing his father's employees.One of the employees, the company's head of financial unit, raised her hands."Go ahead Annette, make your contributions snappy." He instructed her and leaned back in his chair."Thank you sir. I'd like to point out that we made some good profit in the last four years; however, the company's net expenditures are toppling over the profit per season. I would suggest that some unnecessary frivolities be cut down on."Rowan bit his lower lip. He knew where her conversation was headed and he was definitely going to address it."What are the components of this net expenditure? Can you give me a run down?""I can mail you the comprehensive list of all that the company has funded for the past four years.""Send me that mail before midday, Annette. I would like to address the situation immediately."Annette nodded and thanked him."You can all get back to work, there is a lot to do," Rowan inst
Mrs Roberts was at the hair salon with her friends, they were trying to get a makeover."You look damn good , girl." Katherine exclaimed excitedly."Been a while, you know. You do not seem to get a lot of time these days because of the babies," Angela added.Mrs Roberts was a bit uncomfortable about having those conversations but she had no choice."Yes. It has been a while. Thank God you know that I am very busy. The kids do not allow me to get some breathing space," Mrs Roberts replied, trying to stay composed and unashamed. "Yeah…right?" They both echoed."Yeah," she replied sternly, trying to move away from the conversation. She did not want to last too long on conversations about her daughter's children."What does Amanda do now?" Angela asked with curiosity etched on her face.Mrs Roberts shifted to her seat. She was becoming uncomfortable."She works with a big company now," she replied with a whisper, hoping they would not ask her the name of the company because the truth was
"Hey mama," Amanda called out to her mother.Mrs Roberts turned around to see her daughter looking sad."Is everything okay?" She asked with panic. "Did anyone hurt you?"Amanda shook her head. She did not want to tell her mother about her travails at the restaurant."I am fine, mother," she replied in a whisper."I am glad those nosy friends of mine had left earlier because it would have been bad if they met you in this state. You did not even try to put a brush on your hair. Look at how disheveled your hair looks."Amanda took a quick glance at her reflection in the mirror and let out a sigh of exhaustion."I am sorry mum. I had a pretty rough day.""It is alright honey. We need to fix you up because I have found just the perfect job for you. They are calling for submissions and interviews and the deadline is in two days. All thanks to your children, I came across the advert just in time."The excitement in her mother's voice was making her enticed and she wanted to know more about
>>>>"It was fun catching those unplanned photos of you. I am going to have your handler put them up on your Instagram. How does one go from week to week without pictures? Do you not know that you are a celebrity?"Rowan was angry but he was trying to remain calm."My life, my choices!" He retorted to Jack.Jack laughed hysterically at his cousin."Well, if you feel offended, I am sorry. However, I am not sorry that I got pictures of you taken; I am only sorry that it was done like an ambush."Rowan threw him a cold stare and shook his head."You're a terrible human, you know. I will have my pound of flesh. Just watch."Jack laughed again."I am a jolly good fellow, if you throw lemons at me, I will make a huge basin of lemonade from them. You need not worry."At this point, Rowan found his anger dissipating and his heart lightened a bit. He smiled slightly at Jack and his smile got Jack almost reeling on the floor with laughter."You know you want to laugh s
"You even look better than you sounded over the phone," Jack complimented her and she blushed evidently."Thank you Sir," she whispered with an intriguing smile.Jack found himself craving time with her. There was something enchanting about her presence and her carriage. She was too poised for a waitress.She placed his order carefully on the table and stood beside him."I will take my leave now, sir. If there's anything else, please use my number.""I will use this number from now henceforth and I will make sure all my friends use it as well. You deserve all the points in the world; with your striking features and your sonorous voice.""Thank you Sir," Rosemary chuckled. "I do appreciate these nice comments. I will keep your promise in mind."Jack smiled at her."Would you like to have lunch with me? Different location, at your convenience?"Rosemary thought for a while and then nodded."This is against our employee policy here. But, we can.""I promise I won't get you into any kind