The CEO’s Unexpected Child

CHAPTER 7

CATHERINE SMITH

I dashed to close the door while my mother hurried toward my father, trying to help him up from the ground. But he refused her aid.

"Lucas, let me help you," my mother urged.

He shook his head firmly. "I don't need your help!" he snapped, his voice filled with anger.

I stared at my father in disbelief. "No? If it weren't for us, you'd be dead, Dad!" I exclaimed, shocked by his reaction.

He scoffed, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Do you want me to applaud you for that? You have no idea who those men are."

I shook my head. "No, Dad, I don’t know who they were, but what we do know is that you got yourself into trouble, and we, as your family, didn’t want to see you killed."

He smirked, shrugging dismissively. "Fine, I’m alive. Congratulations to you!"

I glanced at my mother, shaking my head in frustration. "I’m going to take care of my children," I said, knowing it was pointless to say anything else. My father cared little about what we did.

Without waiting for my mother’s response, I quickly left the room and headed toward my own.

“Mom!” my children called out as soon as I opened the door. They scrambled out of bed and rushed toward me.

“Hi, my loves,” I said, pulling them into a hug, and inspecting every inch of their little bodies to make sure they weren’t hurt. "Are you okay?" I asked, relieved to see they were physically unharmed.

"Mom, there was a tall, strong man outside. He went into our house and said something to Grandma, then she brought us here and wouldn’t let us leave," Laurence said, crossing his arms, clearly annoyed.

"That's right, Mom. He said good people live longer if they’re obedient, but I could tell he was bad just by the way he scared Grandma," Bryan added, his eyes wide with concern.

“Were you crying?” Gab asked, his gaze searching mine with worry. His brothers joined in, scrutinizing me just as closely. Gab was always the most observant.

I forced a smile to calm them. “Mommy is fine, my loves. I’ve already talked to those men, and they’re gone,” I reassured them.

“Good! We’re safe!” Laurence exclaimed, looking at his brothers.

“Mommy scared the bad man away!” Bryan shouted, jumping with joy, his brothers nodding in agreement.

“Mommy is a superhero!” Gab declared proudly.

“Oh, is Mommy Wonder Woman?” Laurence asked, his little mouth slightly open in awe.

I couldn’t help but smile at their innocence. “Mommy will always be whatever you want her to be,” I told them.

“Aeee!” they cheered in unison.

“Now, you three are going to take a bath, my loves,” I said, trying to regain some order.

“Oh, that’s so boring,” they complained simultaneously.

“Always a bath,” Gab grumbled, rolling his eyes.

“I don’t want to take one,” Laurence pouted.

“Neither do I,” Bryan chimed in, joining his brothers.

I smiled at their antics. “But you’re going to, because it’s already late, and I’m sure Grandma is preparing a wonderful dinner for you.”

“But...” They began to protest all at once.

“No more buts, boys. Mommy said you’re taking a bath, and that’s the end of it,” I declared, putting an end to their complaints.

They sighed dramatically.

“Can we negotiate?” Gab asked, flashing a wide smile.

“Yes,” Laurence agreed, nodding eagerly while smiling at his brother’s idea.

“Good one, Gab!” Bryan grinned.

“No, no! You always find a way to delay me, but this time it’s not going to work, boys. Now go take a shower,” I said, pointing to the bathroom door at the end of the hall.

“Ugh, how annoying,” Laurence muttered under his breath.

“What did you say, Laurence?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“He said that...” Gab started to tattle, but Bryan quickly elbowed him.

“We’re protecting ourselves, remember?” Bryan whispered as if I wasn’t there.

Gab slapped his forehead as if he’d made a huge mistake.

“Mom, I’m going to get my toy for the bath,” Gab blurted out, rushing to his drawer to avoid further questioning.

“Me too!” Laurence and Bryan echoed, seizing the opportunity to escape the situation.

I shook my head, laughing at my boys. Being the mother of triplets was undoubtedly a wild adventure. They were so alike, yet so different.

After I finished bathing them, I took them to the living room. My mother was busy in front of the stove, but my father wasn’t on the couch watching basketball as usual. He was either locked in his room or had left after all that had happened, making it clear he didn’t care much about us.

“Look, my grandchildren arrived just in time,” my mother said, smiling warmly at the boys.

“Mmm... it’s pasta!” Gab exclaimed, inhaling the delicious aroma that filled the room.

“With cheese!” Bryan licked his lips in anticipation.

“Yay, macaroni and cheese!” Laurence banged on the table, making a big fuss, his siblings quickly joining in.

“Yes, and as you said, the best macaroni and cheese in the world. Now, make room for Grandma to serve it,” my mom said, and they quickly took their seats. “But before we start eating, what do we need to do?” she asked, looking at them.

“Let’s thank God!” Gab was the first to respond.

“That’s right. Gab, you say the prayer,” my mom instructed.

“Ahhh... but I did it yesterday!” he protested, scrunching up his lips.

“Oh, then today it’s Bryan’s turn. I’m sorry, love, but your two little heads look so alike that they confuse Grandma,” my mom said apologetically.

I laughed, remembering how she always mixed them up when they were babies. I could always tell them apart by their size difference.

“It’s okay, Grandma, I love you anyway,” Gab said affectionately, running his hand through my mom’s hair.

“Hurry up with the prayer, Bryan, I’m hungry,” Laurence urged impatiently. He was always the most restless of the three, often the most challenging.

“Okay, I’ll do it,” Bryan said. “Everyone close your eyes. Heavenly Father, thank you for the food on our table today. May we never lack food, and may our family always stay united. Please bless those who have nothing to eat today, because everyone deserves to eat every day. And I have a special request: please make our annoying neighbor move away because she’s always fighting with us, and we can’t take it anymore. Amen.”

My mom and I opened our eyes in disbelief that Bryan had used the mealtime prayer to voice that request.

“Bryan...” I began.

“Oh, Mom, Bryan’s right. Mrs. Ignacia came to argue with us again,” Laurence defended his brother.

“She’s a witch!” Bryan added, his anger evident.

“What did you do to make her argue with you?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

The three of them exchanged guilty looks, and I could already imagine the trouble they’d gotten into.

“Well...” Gab started to answer, but Laurence interrupted.

“Mom, she’s annoying, and we don’t like her,” he huffed, crossing his arms in frustration, refusing to elaborate.

I shook my head, but before I could press further, my mom intervened, wanting to keep the peace.

“We can discuss this later, Cath. Let’s feed the kids first,” she suggested, holding my hand and giving me a gentle smile, trying to steer the conversation away from the boys.

“That’s right, Mom. Oh, and remember, when it’s time to eat, we need to be quiet,” Gab parroted what I always told them, though they rarely listened.

“Exactly,” Laurence and Bryan chorused, eager to shift the focus.

I sighed, knowing it wouldn’t help to continue the topic.

I served the food, and we ate amid laughter and playful banter. My kids had a way of making my complicated life feel lighter, almost making me forget that just a few hours ago, I had a gun pointed at me.

After dinner, I took them to the bathroom to clean up. That’s when I noticed the flyer for the Park nightclub still lying on the living room floor. I picked it up and stuffed it into my pocket. After getting the boys ready for bed, I told them a comic book story.

“I really like superheroes,” Gab said, clutching his toy as I finished the tale.

“I like them too,” Laurence agreed, struggling to keep his eyes open, though it was clear he was drifting off.

“They always save everyone in the end,” Bryan added, his little eyes closing.

I smiled at them. “Yes, they’re just as good as you are,” I said, kissing each of their little heads. Laurence and Bryan fell asleep quickly, but Gab kept looking at me, even as his eyes fought to stay open.

“Aren’t you going to sleep, my love?” I asked gently.

Gab smiled, his eyes full of admiration. “Did you know you’re the best mom in the world?”

My heart melted, and my eyes filled with tears. Of the three, Gab was always the most affectionate, always finding the sweetest words to say, even when he was being a handful.

“You’re the sweetest son, my love,” I said, brushing my hand over his head as his eyes finally began to close.

“Even when I make a mess?” he asked, his voice drowsy.

I laughed softly. “Even then.”

“I love you, Mom,” he whispered before drifting off to sleep.

“I love you too, my love,” I whispered back, planting a kiss on his forehead.

I stayed by their side until they all fell asleep. Finally, I left the room and headed toward my own. The events of the day had left me both exhausted and overwhelmed.

As I changed into my pajamas, I pulled out the flyer from my pocket. I unfolded it, staring at the address for Park nightclub. Despite everything that had happened, I felt a strange urge to visit the place.