Worst Fear 159

Chapter 159 

Lydia 

“Did you see what she did? This woman is too cunning.” Mia said as we walked into my office. She was angry at the post Victoria and Julia made after their conference. 

“Now everyone 

thinks 

you blackmailed her into clearing your name.” I sat behind my table, turning my chair from side to side. I twisted my lips, my head hung back in deep thoughts. 

“You can’t leave her like this. Let’s release a statement, or better still, a conference would do. It’s time you said something.” Mia encouraged. 

“You will do something about this, right?” She asked. I inhaled sharply and sat straight. “Say something.” 

“Mia,” I called softly. 

“This is the problem, you don’t look worried. How can you remain so calm while I, on the other hand, am barely maintaining my sanity?” She passed her hand through her hair releasing a frustrated groan. 

She paused and turned, “I’m sorry,” she said, a lot calmer this time, “I shouldn’t let my anger get the best of me.” She said, “But what do you want to do?” I picked a pen and drummed it on the table. 

Honestly, I don’t know what to do. Holding a press conference and saying the truth would be telling the world Zoe killed her stepfather. I don’t want to get out of this mess at Zoe’s expense. 

Before I could speak, a knock resounded on the door. After a few seconds, the door pushed open, and Mason stepped into the office wearing black trousers and a crisp white button–down shirt, which was tucked neatly into the trousers. 

His brows are furrowed, and he seems to be on the brink of his sanity, just like Mia. 

“I think I’ll leave you two to speak. Call me if you need anything.” Mia said and scurried away. 

“Lydia, let’s hold a conference,” Mason said. 

“I don’t want-” 

“If this is about Zoe, then she will be fine. We can’t let everyone think you blackmailed Mom into making a second conference.” He said. 

“But I did blackmail her,” I said, massaging my temples. “Can we think of something else to do? I don’t really want to hold a conference.” 

“Lydia, can’t you see that’s the only way out of this mess?” Mason said, but I shook my head. 

“No, there should be others,” I say. He walked to my side and sat on the table, turning my chair over to him, “If we hold a conference, we’d be admitting to so many things.” 

“I know, but-” 

“No, you don’t. The twins, everyone knows about them already. You know how many years I kept them away from the spotlight. Keeping them out of the public eye has not been easy, but I had to do it because I want them to live a normal life.” A lump rose to my throat. “I…” my words caught up in my throat. 

Mason tucked some strands of hair behind my car. “They will. I promise to protect them, and we don’t have to put them out there.” He said, the haughtiness in his eyes was replaced by a type of softness I had never seen 

before. 

“We can tell them first. They’ve been in the dark for long enough.” 

That night, Mason and I decided to tell the kids that he was their real father, then we’d hold a press conference tomorrow. 

“Ready?” Mason asked, extending his palm. 

I had to calm myself. This was going to be harder than I initially thought. 

In. 

Out. 

In. 

Out. 

“Yes,” I said, placing my hands on his. His large hands covered mine. He squeezed it gently and flashed a small smile. “If you feel like we shouldn’t do this, I wouldn’t force you.” He thought his eyes said something different. 

I knew he wanted to be addressed as Dad by the twins. I have withheld this from him for long enough. I shook my head. I would see this to the end. 

“It’s fine, I’m ready to come clean to the twins,” I said, and we started walking towards the door. 

Each step 

felt heavier than the last one. There was no need to be nervous. The twins are young, so they won’t be too mad at me. Even if they are, I’m sure it will pass quickly. 

“Mom, Mason.” They both yelled immediately, we stepped into the sitting room and ran towards us with extended hands. 

I picked Melanie, and Mason picked Liam. Mom walked out from behind them. “Hey, love.” She greeted with a tired look etched across her face. 

“Hey, Mom. You look tired.” I commented, and she sighed. Looking after the twins wasn’t an easy feat. “You should rest up. We’re home now,” I say. 

After settling down with the twins, it was finally time to tell them what we were here to say. 

“Mom, is something wrong?” Liam asked, staring at my face intently with those cute eyes. Of course, nothing gets past him, not even my emotions. 

He curled into my lap, and I wrapped my hand around him. 

“Liam,” I called gently. 

“Hmm…” 

“Melanie.” 

“Yes, Mom.” She answered. 

“I have something important to tell you,” I say. “Yes.” Liam squealed, surprising me. I lifted a brow, “You never talk to us about important stuff. I’m just happy we get to hear it now.” He said, with excitement, not leaving his 

tone. 

I exchanged looks with Mason, who had a wide smile on his face. How could he be so relaxed, and I was a nervous wreck over here? 

“What is it about?” Melanie asked, shuffling closer to me. They went quiet, for a moment it felt as though the whole earth had stopped waiting for me to speak, but my lips were pressed firmly together. 

Liam gave me a quiet pat on my shoulder as a way of support. My twins have never asked for their Dad, so it was kinda difficult just throwing it to them. 

What do I even say? 

‘Mason is your dad, we were married years ago, before you were born.‘ 

Would they even understand? 

“Your friends, they have a mom and a dad, right?” I asked. What a lame way to begin. Where was I even getting to? 

“Yes.” The twins nodded, their eyes sparkling with anticipation. 

“Well, so do you. I know you’ve not known for a long time, but you have a dad too, not just a mom, you have a dad who loved you and would do anything for you.” My throat tightened, my eyes began to blur. 

Both kids just stared at me, and I began to wonder if they understood, but this wasn’t the time to dwell on their confusion. 

“You have a dad, and he’s Mason.” There, it’s out, “Mason is dad.” I repeated, clearer this time. 

I don’t know what I expected, but it definitely wasn’t silence followed by a big smile from Melanie and a shrug from Liam. I thought Liam would be over the top, after all, he was closer to Mason than Melanie was. 

“I know.” He said flatly. 

I furrowed my brows, he knew? 

“What? How did you know?” I asked. 

56 Voucher 

“A woman told me. I saw her at the mall, Grandma took us there some days ago, he said, looking between me and Mason. 

I pulled him closer to myself, my frown deepening as I wondered who could have told him. “She had very fair skin and short black hair which stopped on her shoulders.” That was all the description I needed. I fist palm, anger soaring within me. 

“Oh, I see.” That was what I managed to say. 

“Well, since you already know, what do you say?” I asked, hoping he’d embrace Mason as his father. 

my 

Liam and Melanie exchanged puzzled glances, and I held my heart in my palm. I realised my fear wasn’t how to tell them, my fear was whether they would accept Mason as their father. 

I held my breath as I awaited their response. “You like Mason, right?” I asked carefully. 

“Of course.” They chorused and stood abruptly before rushing to Mason’s side. Both wrapped their hands around him, “I knew I always had a dad.” Liam said. 

“I have a dad too. Yay.” Melanie screamed. 

Hot tears slid down my cheeks, and slowly I brushed them off. 

I promise this was tears of joy. 

“Mom, are you married to Dad?” Melanie suddenly asked. “He can’t be our dad without marriage.” She added. 

My face heats up. Why was I thinking this the wrong way? “Well, we…” 

“Mom and Dad love each other. That’s what matters, love.” Mason came to my rescue. 

“Did you just admit you love me in front of the kids, Mr. Woods?” I asked after we put the twins to sleep. Mason and I are standing on my balcony. 

He snaked his hand under my waist and pulled me to his chest, “You know I never stopped loving you, Lydia.” He said in a hoarse voice close to my ear. I felt tingles run down my spine. 

I turned and placed my hand on his chest. I, too, wanted to get lovey–dovey with him, but I had something more important to deal with. 

“Julia met with the twins. I can’t let this slide.” My twins are my bottom line, and even speaking to them was crossing the line.