SOPHIA'S POV

When Lucas had left, I released a long breath I didn't know I was holding. What was all that for? What was he trying to do?

Whatever it is, whatever he has the intention of doing would not work on me.

I went into the bathroom to take a relaxing bath and then go see the children.

After taking my bath, I stepped out of the bathroom and dried myself then I opened my box and picked out a jogger pant and a loose shirt.

I had given my assistant's and generally all my workers a strict rule which is that they shouldn't contact me in the next five days and all work was scheduled for next week since I would be busy.

I went out of the room to the kids room and when I opened it I saw the room was empty. I went downstairs and I saw the lady who had at first refused for me to get in.

'Where are the kids?" I asked. I assumed she would be the kids' nanny or the housekeeper.

It was strange I hadn't even perceived anything to indicate their presence since I got here.

Could Lucas be hiding the kids away from me? No, he possibly can't do that and if he was— it's not going to be for long. We all will be living in the same house now.

'Dominic took them out on a stroll, they aren't back yet" she replied. I threw her a questioning and confused look.

'Oh, Dominic is the driver and he always takes Aiden and Claire out on a stroll, they would be back soon" she clarified.

Oh I see, Lucas had gotten a new staff, aside from his receptionist, the others were all new, I wondered why it was that way though.

'Oh, okay, thank you" I replied.

I went into the kitchen, I was going to prepare something for dinner.

Huh… let's see, what should I prepare? Just salad, or maybe sausage or pasta.

I settled for pasta instead and soon set out to work.

I took out the pot from the cabinet and added water into it, first, to rinse it before placing it in the heater.

'Wow, I smell something delicious cooking up" Lucas voice sounded from behind me which startled me and almost made me knocked down the pot from the heater

'Christ Jesus, you fucking scared the hell out of me! What the hell did you do that for?" I flared up and fired at him angrily.

'Did what?" he acted nonchalantly walking towards me, which caused me to move back a bit.

'Don't be scared, I am not going to bite,'' he said sarcastically.

'I won't be surprised if you do" I glared so hard at him.

'You know, having you back here in my house, my kitchen and my life after some years brings back a lot of memories. Admittedly, a lot about you has changed,— I mean, physically but you still haven't changed one bit, still the same old you". He came suddenly standing by me with his eyes sizing me up in a lewd and obscene manner.

'Your fragrance still smells as alluring as I could remember. And your lips as blossom as a cherry" He kept whispering those deadly words down my ears.

'And you add some more weight just at the right places. You are so hot now that I wish I could…"

'Get your fucking hands off me" I slapped away his hands from my waist as he tried resting it on.

'And I hope you know, the only reason why I am back in this house, this kitchen and in your life, is because of my kids and trust me, when I finally win them over. We are done" I seethe, walking away a little from him.

Thank goodness, the kitchen is spacious enough.

'Both you and I know that's never going to happen, so stop dreaming about it. You will never have them. Never!" He blurted at me, his face instantly twisting into a frown.

'I need to make dinner for the kids, can you please excuse me?" I pointed towards the exit and instead of saying something. He smiled and walked towards me.

The look on my face maybe, gave me away.

He stood right before me, 'I just needed a glass of water; at least, I can do that in my house, right?" Every word of his seems to piss me off and place me in a bad mood.

'Can I, please?" He added, only then did I realize I was standing in-between him and the refrigerator.

I felt shy and moved away from the refrigerator, packing away the strands of hair from my face.

'I bet you could still make nice meals after so many years away" he said out loud when he was almost out of the kitchen. I knew he was trying to piss me off and he's almost close to achieving that.

'what a bloody son of a gun" I cussed as soon as his back frame disappeared behind the door.

What I couldn't understand now is how my body,— especially my heart reacts when I'm around him.

I almost got swayed by his charms.

He still can't be having such effects on me anymore, can he?

«««»»»»»»»«»

I watched over the dining table as my kids kept playing with their father over meals. I felt a sting of tears hanging somewhere close to the edge of my eyes and I did everything possible to fight it back.

I wasn't going to cry! At least not on this table in front of everyone.

Much more than anything, I won't want to give Lucas the satisfaction of seeing me cry. I did all I could to avoid making eye contact with him to avoid seeing the ‘I told you so' look in his eyes. So I focused my attention on the meal before me. I barely ate anything.

'Sir, a Miss. Ava is here to see you," one of the maids informed, walking into the dinner table section.

'Invite her in," Lucas said.

'There won't be a need for that, wow! Look at me. I came in at the right time, didn't I?" her voice was as enchanting as her look.

Everything about her speaks glamour, just like she was some years ago, I must say she is really beautiful.

It felt like a sledgehammer was smashed right at my heart and I feared it was going to bleed or fall out from my rib cage.

What in the world is this bitch doing here? I had the urge to slap her hard at her face right at where she stands.

'Aiden, Claire, how are you doing?" she waved at both Aiden and Claire, who waved back with enthusiasm on their faces.

She does have the nerves to still step her two-time tiny legs into my house.

'Lovely meal you have here," she said, pitching her seat exactly at Lucas's side.

She definitely had no shame, and I'm going to let her enjoy this moment for the sake of the kids.