Chapter 112
RYAN
Before Lily stirred from her slumber, I had already slipped out of bed, seen to the children’s morning routine, and instructed the staff to allow me to prepare breakfast alongside them.
As Lily descended the stairs, radiant in her simple yet stunning summer dress, a warm smile graced her lips upon meeting my gaze. “Good morning,” she greeted cheerfully.
Not one to shy away from public displays of affection, I pulled her into a kiss, causing her cheeks to flush with color. “Good morning to you too, my love,” I replied with a playful grin. “You look absolutely lovely and you smell nice.”
Her blush deepened as she chuckled softly. “That’s because I just showered,” she explained, making her way to the dining table to inspect the spread of food. “Did you prepare all of this?” she inquired, turning to look at me.
I nodded proudly, pulling out a chair for her. “The kids and I pitched in,” I confirmed.
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Chuckling, Lily made her way over to the boys, who were more interested in devouring the food than greeting her properly. Nonetheless, she leaned in to kiss each of their cheeks affectionately. “Thank you for helping Daddy fix breakfast,” she praised them warmly.
Liam’s nose wrinkled in manner that indicated he was about to share something amusing. “He burnt the food two times,” he declared matter-of-factly, earning a chuckle from Lily. “He was supposed to keep stirring it, but he didn’t.”
Lily’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she turned to me, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “Really?” she quipped, her tone light. “Well, thank goodness he didn’t burn down the whole house.”
Scoffing good-naturedly, I took my place beside her at the table. “I was just a tad distracted,” I admitted, offering her a sheepish grin. “I was mostly on the phone with Angelo.”
Lily’s fork paused mid-air as she processed my revelation, her gaze meeting mine with a mixture of curiosity and cacern. “What did you and Angelo discuss?” she inquired softly, her tone tinged w a hint of apprehension. “You still don’t want to
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talk about it?”
Taking a deep breath, I decided it was time to open up to her. “I’m in the process of divorcing Stephanie,” I confessed, watching her closely for any reaction. She remained impassive as I continued. “I discovered that she was never actually pregnant.”
A furrow formed between her brows as confusion clouded her features. “What do you mean she was never pregnant?” she pressed, her grip tightening around the fork.
Sensing her growing unease, I reached across the table to take her hand in mine, offering what comfort I could. “Stephanie lied about being pregnant, Lily,” I explained gently. “She’s infertile.”
As I recounted everything I had learned about Waper’s deceitful actions and my plans to expose him.
Waper needed to be held accountable for his deception. After all, he no longer held any power over me, so why should I refrain from seeking justice?
“What do you think about taking a vacation?” I proposed to Lily, eager to shift our focus to something more positive.Angelo is handling my divorce with Stephanie, you’re not currently tied up with work, and the kids are on holiday. It seems like the perfect time to get away.”
Lily’s smile was genuine as she agreed. “Sure,” she replied. “As upset as I am with Stephanie for deceiving me and making me carry the guilt of her false pregnancy, I’m grateful that it was a just a lie. I can finally live with a clear conscience.”
Determined to make the most of our newfound freedom, I wasted no time in making arrangements. Within two days, we were on our way to Cuba. The boys were very excited to travel that they chatted away all their energy while in the jet.
After a smooth journey, we finally arrived at our destination and checked into the short-term apartment I had booked for our stay. Bringing the nanny along was essential; this vacation was meant to be a break for Lily as well. She deserved some time to relax and unwind, away from the constant demands of parenting. Plus, I welcomed the chance to have her all to myself, even if just for a moment.
The first day was spent settling into our temporary abode and enjoying the comforts of home. But on the second day, we ventured out to explore the vibrant city. Liam, in particular, was brimming with excitement, eager to experience all
the new sights and sounds.
Under the warm Cuban sun, I found myself reclining on a beach chair, a refreshing drink in hand, while Lily played with Ethan, Liam, and Noah in the sand. It was a precious moment of tranquility, something we hadn’t experienced in far too long, largely due to my past mistakes. As the boys frolicked and giggled, their joyous laughter echoed against the backdrop of the ocean, filling me with a sense of contentment.
“Ryan, pass me the sunscreen, please,” Lily called out, waving the bottle in my direction.
Chuckling, I reached for the sunscreen and tossed it over to her. “You know, I think the boys are having more fun burying each other than building sandcastles,” I remarked, watching as Liam and Noah engaged in their sandy antics.
Lily grinned, squeezing sunscreen onto her palm. “Well, at least they’re occupied. We might actually get a few minutes to ourselves.”
As Lily applied sunscreen to the boys, Ethan’s voice broke through the chatter, his excitement radiant. “Dad, can we go snorkeling later? I want to see the fishes!”
I tousled his sandy hair affectionately, a smile spreading across my face. “Of course, buddy. We’ll go check out the coral reef after lunch.”
Liam and Noah joined in, their enthusiasm contagious. “Yay, snorkeling!”
I glanced at Lily, who nodded in agreement. “Sounds like a plan. But first, let’s grab some lunch. I’m starving”
We gathered our beach gear and made our way to a nearby beachside restaurant, the boys bounding ahead with boundless energy.
“Hey, Lily, do you think we should try some traditional Cuban dishes?” I suggested, perusing the menu.
Lily’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Definitely! Let’s go for the Ropa Vieja and some Cuban sandwiches.”
As we settled into our seats and waited for our food, Ethan’s curiosity got the better of him. Tugging at my sleeve, he asked, “Dad, why do they call it Ropa Vieja?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at his question, tousling his hair affectionately. “Well, buddy, legend has it that it translates to ‘old clothes’ because the shredded meat
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resembles tattered garments. But don’t worry, it tastes much better than it sounds.”
Liam and Noah exchanged amused glances before bursting into laughter. “Old clothes? That’s hilarious!”
Our meals arrived, and we eagerly dug in, relishing the authentic flavors of Cuba. Amidst mouthfuls of delicious food, we shared stories and jokes, basking in the joy of being together as a family.
With a playful glint in her eye, Lily turned to me as we finished our meal. “So, Ryan, any room left for dessert?”
I grinned, fully aware of her intentions. “Always. Let’s treat ourselves to some Tres Leches cake before we head back to the beach.”
With contented smiles on our faces, we indulged in every delectable bite of the rich dessert, relishing both the sweetness of the cake and the warmth of our shared moment together in Cuba.
As the sun began to dip below the h***zon and the boys’ energy waned, Noah and Ethan succumbed to exhaustion and drifted off to sleep. Lily and I took turns carrying them back to our accommodation, with the nanny keeping a close eye on Liam.
Despite their sleepiness, we made sure to bathe them before tucking them into bed, their peaceful slumber a testament to the day’s adventures and the excitement of our Cuban getaway.
After ensuring the boys were settled, Lily and I retreated to our bathroom to freshen up and change.
Lily who had intentinally left her phone at home picked it up and read through it. Her brows furrowed in concern as she scrolled through her phone, her expression growing troubled as she read something.
Noticing her unease, I moved closer and gently retrieved the phone from her grasp, my heart sinking as I read the ominous message from an unsaved number, signed off with Jake’s name.
“I SEE YOU ARE ON A VACATION WITH RYAN. I AM GIVING YOU THE LAST CHANCE TO COME BACK TO ME, LILY, OR I WON’T BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR MY NEXT ACTION”
A surge of protective anger coursed through me as I absorbed the threatening words. “I think it’s time we dealt with him,” I declared to Lily, already reaching for my own phone. “I’ll have someone at the station issue an arrest warrant, and we’ll open a case against him before we return.”
I glanced at Lily, concern etched into my features. “Are you okay with that?”
She nodded resolutely. “Yes, I can’t wait to put all of this behind us.”
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