4

FIVE YEARS LATER

"Give me my pencil, Archie!"

"I don't have your pencil, Ayla. Stop accusing me wrongly."

"I saw you going through my bag."

"Liar!"

"Mum!"

Giselle heaved a sigh as she walked out of the kitchen with the little towel she was using to wipe her hands.

"What is going on?" she asked as she picked up Archie's school bag and zipped it up.

"Archie took my pencil," Ayla cried.

"She is lying," Archie defended.

"I saw you going through my bag!" she yelled.

"Liar!"

"Enough, please. Ayla, I will buy you a new pencil," Giselle said, taking a seat on the only sofa in their room and helping Archie wear his bag.

"Me too, Mum," Archie said.

"You have your own!" Ayla snapped.

"Ayla, stop yelling at your brother," Giselle cautioned.

She dropped her gaze. "Sorry, Mum."

Giselle sighed as she brought Ayla closer and helped her with her bag. They were both in their uniforms, ready for school, and they were already late.

Giselle was late as well for her job.

"No yelling. I am older than you," she heard Archie whisper to Ayla.

"Archie," Giselle warned.

"Sorry, Mum."

She stood up and walked towards the nightstand where her purse was. She picked it up and returned to them.

She took out some money and handed it to them.

"Buy pencils and cookies, but you must eat your lunch. If you bring back your lunch, I will stop giving you money for cookies. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, Mum," they replied in unison.

"Good. I love you both so much," she said, kneeling close to them and placing kisses on their temples.

"We love you too," they echoed.

Giselle smiled as she arranged their uniforms.

"Pay attention in class and?" she asked.

"Ask questions when you don't understand," they completed.

"Good. That's my angels. No fighting. You both are one. I don't want fights."

"Yes, Mum."

"Let's go, let's go. You both are late already," she urged, standing up as they picked up their lunch boxes. She grabbed her bag, and they walked out of the room, locking the door behind them.

They headed downstairs.

It had been five years already, which felt super fast. Her babies were growing and were now students. Thanks to Blaire, her best friend, Giselle was able to work as a cleaner in the hospital where she had given birth to her kids without worrying too much about them.

The past years had been peaceful, a little less stressful, and joyful, thanks to her children. They gave her strength every single day.

Her children were non-identical twins. Archie had her brown eyes, while Ayla had hazel eyes, which Giselle assumed came from the stranger. Initially, she felt hurt whenever she looked at Ayla, but she had learned to love it. Ayla was her daughter, and Giselle knew she couldn't feel that way whenever she looked at her.

She loved Ayla regardless.

None of her kids looked like Xavier, which was another confirmation that they were not his children. This thought gave her a very horrible feeling, as they reminded her of her mistakes.

But she had managed to swallow it and move on.

The deed had already been done.

There was no changing it.

They couldn't turn back the hands of time. It was impossible to go backward.

They just had to pick up the remaining pieces of their lives and move on.

However, Giselle still hoped for a miracle.

She hoped to see Xavier again.

She missed him so much. Despite the past years, she was still in love with him.

Sometimes she wondered what he must be doing. Did he get married again? Did he have kids now?

Giselle tried to stop herself from thinking about that. It only hurt her. But she knew he deserved to be happy.

She didn't deserve him.

She had been a bad wife.

They reached the hospital gates, and Giselle stopped a tricycle for them to enter. The ride took only two minutes, and they arrived at the school. She sat in the tricycle and watched as they walked into their school.

"Bye, sweeties!" she called, waving at them.

They waved back.

After the children entered, Giselle returned to the hospital and paid the driver before walking into the hospital compound.

She paused at the sight of almost all the nurses and some doctors outside, reading something on the wall.

Curiosity piqued, she walked closer to them.

What was going on?

Her phone rang, and she took it out of her purse. It was Nikki.

She answered the call and placed the phone to her ear as she stood next to the crowd.

"Blaire,"

"Giselle, you’ve heard, right?" Blaire asked.

"Heard... what?" Giselle trailed off, glancing at the sign on the wall.

It read, "HOSPITAL BUILDING SOLD. ALL WORKERS ARE TO VACATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."

Oh no.

-----------

"I am so devastated right now, Blaire," Giselle said, heaving a sigh as she relaxed on the sofa.

"I know. You should be. I mean, it's your source of income we are talking about here. You are just one step away from the streets," Blaire said, making the situation feel even more dire.

"What am I going to do? I’ve been thinking about it and trying to come up with a plan, but I end up with nothing," Giselle almost cried.

"I told you I already have a plan," Blaire said.

Giselle sighed. "What's the plan?"

"You will get a good-paying legal job through illegal means. Which means you need a forged certificate to get the job," Blaire explained.

Giselle's jaw dropped. "What?"

"I know a friend who can help you," Blaire said.

"No, I am not doing that. I don't want to get into trouble," Giselle replied.

"You are not going to get into trouble. I promise," Blaire assured her.

Giselle stared at her, and Blaire gave her a nod.

*******

DAYS LATER....

AT LENS MASTERPIECE COMPANY.....

"Good day, sir," Giselle greeted.

"Call me Rob," he said, smiling at her and showcasing his perfect makeup. He offered her a seat on the sofa opposite him.

"Your documents, please," he demanded.

Giselle handed him her file nervously, feeling her legs ache to run out of there before something went wrong.

"Calm down, Kim," Blaire's voice echoed in her head.

"Impressive," Rob complimented, still reviewing her documents.

Giselle forced a smile.

"What position can you work perfectly in?" he asked, looking at her.

She opened her mouth to speak, but the door opened, revealing the last person she expected to see there.

It was Xavier.

Giselle froze.