Zoey's jaw dropped open as soon as she set eyes on the little girl who was a carbon copy of her best friend when she was a kid.
The words she wanted to say refused to form even though her agape mouth was moving Up and down.
"What is it, Monalisa? And why are you without your shoes. I particularly kept them at the side of the bed where you could see…" Jillian choked on her words the instant Monalisa suddenly sat on the sofa and embraced her tightly.
"What happened? Did you have a nightmare?" Jillian asked worriedly. She was moved to pat the little girl's hair even though she hated doing that in the past.
"I was scared when Marl and I woke up and couldn't find you. We thought you had left us again," Monalisa murmured, her grip around Jillian's body tightened.
"And where else could I have gone to huh?" Jillian said. She hugged the terrified Monalisa back and gently rubbed her back.
"Who is…" Zoey eyes almost fell out of their sockets when she saw another girl who looked exactly like the first one raced into the living room.
"They are identical twins! What in heaven's name is going on here?" Zoey muttered. Her widened eyeballs darted from Jillian's face to the twins faces.
"I thought it has just been three days we haven't seen each other or was I wrong? Did a few years gone by without realising it?" Zoey murmured.
To make sure that she got the year correctly she had to check her cellphone and reconfirm it that she was right.
It took Jillian nothing less than five minutes to stabilise the girls' emotions and assure them that she was there to stay.
"Go and wait for me in the room. I will come get you girls freshened up as soon as I am done talking to your Auntie Zoey. Also, don't forget to say hello to her before you leave," Jillian said gesturing at the astounded lady by her side.
"Hello Auntie Zoey," Monalisa and Marley chorused in their sweetest voice.
"Hey, you are supposed to answer them instead of just staring," Jillian nudged Zoey by the rib when she didn't respond to the girl's greetings.
"Hello cuties. You look so beautiful just like your mother," Zoey said sarcastically even though that was the truth.
"Really?" Marley asked, grinning. If only Marley knew that Zoey never meant what she said.
"Go on now hmm," Jillian urged them, afraid that Zoey would say what she shouldn't in front of the innocent girls.
Zoey averted her gaze to Jillian the instant she stood up and confirmed that the girls had really entered Jillian's bedroom.
"Didn't you always say you disliked kids that is why you would never give birth. Was that all lies?" Zoey confronted. She adjusted on the sofa so that her two legs were on the couch with all her attention concentrated on Jillian's face.
"When did you secretly give birth without telling us?" Zoey added, causing Jillian to frown due to her statement.
"You were always beside me year in and out. Tell me, how on earth would I have possibly gotten pregnant without you knowing about it, not to mention giving birth?" Jillian asked, sounding upset.
"But they called you mother and from your childhood picture you showed me, I can confidently say they look like you," Zoey stated what she noticed without beating around the bush.
"Also, kids are smart. No matter how much they love someone they would never abruptly call a stranger mother…"
"They call me mother because I look exactly like their biological mother. Are you satisfied now?" Jillian retorted. She tried to stand up to get water but Zoey who thought she was trying to run away grabbed and pulled her back on the sofa.
"What do you mean by you look like their biological mother? How is that even possible when you are your mother's only child?" Zoey asked, equally confused as Jillian was when she saw Monalisa's pendant yesterday.
Jillian didn't feel reluctant to disclose everything Brayden told her to Zoey since she trusted her best friend to keep her secrets.
She relayed everything that happened beginning from the incident at the mall to the fire outbreak occurrence and how she got into a deal with Brayden.
"Are you saying you agreed to be their mother for money and other things he promised you? Are you crazy?" Zoey scolded, jerking up from where she sat.
"I never said I agreed to be their mother. I will just babysit them for a few days until their house is fully repaired…"
"And what is the difference between that. Agreeing to this deal means you officially took on the responsibility of their mother. You are smart so I am sure you must have already known this before you made a deal with him right?" Zoey challenged her.
"Jillian, you were never materialistic. I have witnessed you turn down multi-millionaires who showed interest in you, so what the hell is really going on? Is there something I should know that you haven't told me about? Remember, I am your best friend and your number one confidante," Zoey reminded her calmly. She swerved and returned to her previous spot on the sofa.
Jillian stared at Zoey's face for three minute without attempting a word.
"Mom did it again," Jillian blurted after sorting out her thoughts.
Zoey bit her lower lips nervously and adjusted the way she sat on the sofa as soon as Jillian brought up her mother in their discussion.
"What did she do this time around?" Zoey asked, her voice a bit shaky.
"S-h-he…" Jillian trailed not knowing how to break the news to Zoey.
"She stole my card again and this time around she withdrew every dime I have ever saved including the money Oliver and I saved for our upcoming wedding," Jillian broke the news, her right hand clutching her aching chest.
"That was a lie right?" Zoey asked, not able to believe what she just heard.
...
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY LOVELY READERS 💗💗💗
Here is a mini mass release to make your day. Have fun and don't forget to show love to others while at it.