Rotten Twins: Making a CEO a Daddy novel Chapter 97

The meeting that was supposed to end at six was only adjourned past seven at night.

Hansel’s call came in just as the meeting ended. Mark was feeling weary in the beginning but his lips perked up at the sight of the call from Hansel.

He quickly picked up the call.

“Hello!”

“Mr. Pattinson, are you still busy?”

“I was just done with work!”

“Are you at home or somewhere else!”

“The office!”

“Oh, oh, oh!”

Mark sensed something was going on. “What’s wrong?” He asked.

“I guess you haven’t seen the news!”

“News?” With a frown, Mark turned to the computer before him and clicked on the browser.

“Mr. Pattinson, congratulations, you’re trending on the number one spot on Twitter!” Hansel answered. No emotions were discernible from his statement.

Twitter?

Mark turned to the page. Indeed, he went viral but it was not just him, there was Kathleen too.

He clicked on the post and it was a photo of Kathleen entering the Pattinsons’ residence. They were not pictured together.

It appeared that Hansel had seen it.

“Actually this...”

“Mommy said that you’re searching for a stepmother for us!” Mark was about to explain when Hansel interrupted. He was dumbstruck to hear this. “She said that?”

“Yes!”

“And? What else did she say?” Mark ensued with another question.

“Nothing else!”

Mark. “...” That woman.

He was furious yet could do nothing about it.

“Don’t listen to your mommy’s nonsense. I’m heading over now!”

“Are you coming now?”

“Yes!”

“Alright!”

Mark immediately hung up after the brief exchange.

Seeing that there was nothing more to do, he picked up the documents on his desk and got up to leave.

He was not going to bother with the trending news on Twitter because he had other plans in mind.

Lyla came out of the ward just as Hansel terminated the call. “Who did you call?” Lyla casually enquired. With the injury on her shoulder still hurting, she dared not make any sudden movements.

“Huh, no one!”

Lyla would believe him if he made up any excuse at all. Yet, he said it was no one when she clearly heard the call.

She darted Hansel a doubtful stare. “No one?”

Hansel resolutely and firmly shook his head. “No one!”

Just then, Lyla turned her gaze towards Gretel. The latter was playing on her iPad. “Gretel, you tell me!”

“Huh?” Gretel lifted her eyes and looked back at them in a daze.

“Don’t lie, who did he call?”

“I...” Gretel took a glance at Hansel and paused for a while before answering, “I was playing on my tablet so I didn’t catch anything!”

She did not catch anything?

Did they take Lyla to be a three-year-old!

Gretel was capable of multitasking since she was a tiny tot. The girl went as far to say that she was oblivious because she was on the tablet.

Nevertheless, Lyla was aware that the siblings shared a great relationship. Surely, they covered for each other.

Who would it be apart from Mark if Hansel had no guts to mention who was on the other line?

Raising a brow, Lyla sat in bed. “Okay!”

Hansel was smart. Although Mommy had admitted that they were Daddy’s children, she had not fully accepted him. She was still afraid that Mark would steal them away from her.

Hence, he did not have the courage to bring it up.

Hansel had only one way to go about this.

It was the plan before which was to get Mommy and Daddy happily together. It would be easier for them should it happen.

“If I ever find out Mark Pattinson and you...”

“And me what?”

The door was suddenly pushed open before Lyla could finish. Mark took steady strides into the room.

Oh, the natural commanding presence of his. Lyla was dumbstruck by his appearance.

F*ck.

Speaking of the devil!

Bringing along a document and a bag of food, Mark happened to overhear Lyla talking about him when he reached the door.

He knew that this woman would not have anything nice to say about him.

“Daddy!” Gretel gleefully cried.

The word “Daddy” left Mark’s heart exploding with happiness.

As Gretel bolted over, Mark stared at her. “Are you hungry?”

“A little bit!”

“I bought some snacks. Have some now and I’ll take you to dinner later!”

“Okay!” Gretel replied with a smile before going to one side with the snacks.

Trying to act invisible, Hansel followed Gretel to the side for a munch.

Mark then turned over and fixated his eyes on Lyla.

Lyla quickly averted her gaze, pretending that she did not see him.

With his lips curling into a cold smirk, Mark approached her.

“Ms. Lowe, did you say something about me earlier?”

“What what?” Lyla played dumb.

Constant denial was the main trait of this woman.

Mark abruptly cut the distance between them. “Don’t drive a wedge between me and the kids!”

“I never!”

“You know well whether it’s true or not!” Mark retorted.

“Don’t want it?” Mark raised his brows. “Lyla Lowe, were you dropped on your head as a child?”

“You’re the one who was dropped on the head. Nothing comes without a cost. You must be up to something to give me a house out of nowhere!” Lyla said.

Mark. “...” He clenched his fists.

“Do you really see me as that sort of person?” Mark could not recall how many times he had asked Lyla the same question.

“Yes!”

Mark. “...” He was itching to strangle this woman.

“Did you think the house is for you?”

“What else could it be? Why are you asking for my signature if it’s not!” Lyla returned a question.

“Sure, it would be under your name but it’s to assure Hansel and Gretel’s living conditions!” Mark rebuked.

“You should let them sign on it then!”

“You—” Mark stared at Lyla, inaudible due to anger.

“Lyla Lowe, are you stupid? Why are you saying no when it’s free!”

“I only know there’s no such thing as a free lunch in the world!”

“Yes, there’s no free lunch but this is a thank-you gift for taking care of Hansel and Gretel!”

Thank-you gift?

Lyla furrowed her brows. “Mark Pattinson, are you claiming custody over them?”

Mark replied, “... I’m not claiming custody. I just want to make it up to them and provide them with the best life possible. Lyla Lowe, can you not take kindness as malice?”

Ah, that explained it.

Lyla was able to relax a little.

“Mr. Pattinson, Hansel and Gretel may be our children but that means that they’re not just your children, they are mine too. It's only natural that I take great care of them so there’s no need for a thank-you gift. We’re doing okay living where we are now!” Lyla answered.

Hearing this, Gretel immediately shook her head.

No.

She wanted to live in a better house!

Only, Mommy would kill her with her looks if Gretel let her feelings known.

Hence, she could only longingly look at them.

Many women approached Mark for money, property, status, and power.

It was his first time ever giving anything a gift yet he was refused by this woman.

Nevertheless, her rejection came as no surprise to Mark. Her unique character was what attracted him in the first place, no?

Nonetheless, Mark was dead set on giving the house to them.

He wanted to provide Lyla and the kids with a steady and assured life.

After giving much thought, he suddenly drew close and wickedly smiled. “Lyla Lowe, I don’t suppose you think that giving you this is an act of courtship?”

Lyla turned over and realizing his face was in close view, she scooted back out of fright. Mark sure did not know how to keep his distance in front of the kids.

“Mr. Pattinson, what a wild imagination you have there!” Lyla retorted.

“Then why don’t you have the guts to accept it?”

“I...” Lyla was at a loss for words to refute.

“What? Isn’t it so?” Mark threw a question right back in an overbearing manner.

This woman was too overly analytical and rational for her own good. She would quickly pull herself together if he gave her time to think. Out of options, Mark could only resort to this measure.