All Chapters of SUBSTITUTE BRIDE I WANT YOU BACK LILA : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Chapter 21NewLucienI watched her try her best to hide her smile but eventually she let it free, the smile captivating me and stealing my breath afresh.“I didn't know you could be so sarcastic" she said.I shrugged, “You don't know much right now about me. Maybe we could learn more about each other now" I said, using the chance I had seen.She stared at me for a moment before looking down and our waited decided that was the best moment to come give us our food.Still, if she had called me for lunch just so she could apologize then that meant all hope wasn't lost. Maybe she still had a hidden soft spot and I would use every chance I got to touch at it.Once our food was served, we were left alone again and I could talk to her freely. She had a look on her face. “I'm not sure I want to meet the new you Lucien. I just called you here to apologize, nothing else"My jaw clenched involuntarily, a sharp pain driving through my chest like I had been stabbed. I opened my mouth but found no

Chapter 23CrashLilaI drove straight home to get ready to a dinner I had agreed to out of annoyance, I was now regretting it. I didn’t exactly have the energy to sit and tolerate Dante’s flirting all night. Luckily I would be able to talk to the twins before, so maybe a little mood lightening.I called them a few minutes before their bed time. They were happy to speak to me, their voices bringing a joy to my heart that it always did. “Mommy” they cried out simultaneously. They didn’t always do that but when they did, it was the cutest.“My babies, how are both of you?” I asked.They laughed, “I’m missing you mommy. I don’t want treats anymore, I just want you” Anna said, her voice was shrill but I could hear the need in them. I felt my eyes water as well, I felt the same.“I know baby. I’ll be back as soon as I can, I promise baby, mommy misses you too” I answered.“When will you be back?” James asked.I made a thinking sound, something we had created among three of us and as usual

Chapter 25KidnappedLilaI rushed back home, ready to pack up and be at the airport. Hannah had booked my flight successfully and I had a few minutes to be at the airport – fifteen to be precise. Once I had everything I knew I would need, I left for the airport.My phone rang in the car console, I looked to see that it was Lucien. He had called about five times since I had left his office and I hadn’t picked it. I didn’t think I was ready to talk to him, maybe I would reveal the truth if he asked calmly enough.I silenced his call and continued.My mind went back to the conversation I had just ended not long ago. Olivia’s call.“Lila, what happened?” she asked without any hesitation as if she had known that something was wrong. Her voice was soft but rushed, calming me down like it had all those years ago while I had the twins.“Something happened and I don’t know what to do” I let out, tears falling down my hands. The phone was unsteady in my hands as I walked to my car, fear filled

Chapter 27HopeLilaLucien and I spoke for a while but as the conversation went on, I was eager for it to end. I wanted to go back to Olivia so we could talk about what would happen next, if we needed to pay money or anything.“Are you listening?” he asked, his voice breaking through my thoughts and bringing me back to the present.Startled, I answered him, “Yes, yes. I am fine. I was just trying to multi task” it wasn’t the truth but at least it wasn’t a lie either. I was indeed trying to multi task.“It’s so strange to me that even after five years I know you so well. I know you were lying Lils, something else is wrong and its not just work. I could help if you tell me” his voice was soft, he was trying to learn the truth.I knew that at that moment I should have told him, they were his kids as well after all but I couldn’t. His rejection so many years ago had scarred me, I couldn’t trust him with this. “I don’t think you know me so well or all those years ago you would have known

Chapter 29WishLilaAfter that, the rest of the day continued easily. James and I spent a lot of time so that I knew when I was busy later that night, he wouldn’t feel too lonely. I needed to work harder to get his twin back.At home, there wasn’t much Olivia and I could do anymore. She decided to work on her business and so did I. sitting around and doing nothing wasn’t helping. So why not work? For the first thing on the list, Hannah sent me the code for the zoom meeting with Lucien.Our companies had reached the final stage of arrangements and we had a week before our show came out to the world, our creativeness would either be worshipped or rejected. I felt anxious as I stared back at Lucien who had a thoughtful look every time our eyes met.There was the fear that he would see through me and realize the truth. I wondered if he would be angry. I was sure he would. I couldn’t imagine having kids somewhere and not having an idea about them but that was if I didn’t reject their pare