Contract marriage:Mother for rent, wife for free
Chapter 34: Distrustful

Chapter 34: Distrustful

Groggy and barely aware of her fingers, she yawned loudly. Something scratched her, not precisely sharp but blunt.

She yelped, flinging off the pink bedcover. Alas, a green lump was on her bed! Her bed! And the green lump possessed a black beaded eyes that stared at Lin wei with condescension.

"What in the absolute fuck?" She whisper-yelled.

That thing looked at her as if it was ready to do bodily harm.

It croaked loudly, a sound that made Lin wei wince.

How..what was even happening? She caught a glance of herself in the mirror, she shuddered at her reflection. Her hair was matted, practically a bird nest, her makeup was smudged and mascara tear ran down her face.

She looked like a tiny version of Alice Cooper.

Zombie resemblance apart, she thought of a way to get rid of the frog or toad or whatever the hell that was.

As if on cue with her thought, it released another baleful croak.

"Shit shit shit." She jammed her legs into the sweatpant that was lying on the floor.

The door was yanked open and Harry peeked in, he was clinging to the a teddy bear.

"Have you seen froggy?" He asked. His voice was still sleepy.

Lin wei sighed. Just like her luck.

She pointed to the green lump on the ocean of pink feather bed, "That’s him."

Harry scooped up the frog with one hand and yawned.

"You’re still here," he observed with a nod.

"Yes?" She answered, unsure.

Did Harry perhaps thought she’d take up their father’s offer and leave? She gladlyw would have, if not for what was at stake for her.

"I thought I was dreaming." Was the soft words from his mouth.

Lin wei’s heart melted.

"I’m not leaving," she assured him with a pat on his head. At least not yet, she added inside her head.

"Well, see you later Miss_" he stopped, "what should I call you? Miss Nanny?"

Lin wei laughed despite herself. The boy was ridiculous and she wanted to keep him in her pocket.

With those blue eyes that were full of warmth and were staring at her expectantly.

So much like their Father, yet so different. By God, she hopes the twins will be different from that moving ice statue.

"You can just call me Veronica,"

"See you later Veronica." He waved cheerfully and the frog_froggy_croaked. It managed to sound like "good riddance!"

Lin wei shook her head at the absurdity. She never had any siblings, so she doesn’t know how it feels living with children.

Hopefully it wasn’t much above the scope of insanities she was used to.

Because she was used to them. She was catastrophe personified after all.

The door opened once again and it was Harry again.

"Veronica! We’ll be late," he said reproachfully.

Huh? Late for what? The only thing that was running late was the last bit of caffeine leaving her blood. She needs coffee.

How was she to deal with two boys this god-damned early morning without one drop of liquid courage?

Used to absurdities as she was,this was another thing entirely. She wasn’t a miracle worker_thank you very much.

"Running late for what?" She cleared her throat.

"Ahhh that!" She said, pretending she knew what this was all about.

Harry nodded. When Lin wei stood rooted to a spot, Harry eyed her critically.

"Why are you not moving?"

"You see," Lin wei prepared to launch into some sort of vague explanation to explain her hesitancy.

Harry nodded his encouragement for her to continue.

Lin wei swallowed. She couldn’t be caught so early into the game!

Garry appeared at the door, stared at his brother and at Lin wei’s open mouth_she was preparing another bout of workable lies_and shook his head.

An exact imitation of his father that almost made her feel ashamed. She was supposed to be the adult here for God’s sake.

How did the situation slip from her hands?

"We’ll be late for school Veronica." Garry’s voice was solemn.

Oh school! Why didn’t she think of that? She had been concocting the most far fetched scenario yet had missed the point that was waving right under her nose.

"Yeah..school." she said lamely.

Having delivered this piece of sacred information, Garry deemed his presence in Lin wei’s room unnecessary. He strode out of the room.

Harry followed a bit later, though his stare was a bit too doubtful.

Ugh! Here she goes, not even a week into the job and she was already planting the seed of doubt into their minds.

Perhaps Harry will catch onto her ruse. She face palmed herself.

Classic Lin wei.

She hurried into the bathroom, let out a long pee and breathed a sigh of relief. She washed herself and applied layers of makeup. Not forgetting the tiny mole above her brow.

Bai yue had suggested this bit. It’ll make recognizing her a bit difficult.

She hurried downstairs where the twins were seated already warfing down their plate of cereal.

Ezekiel was seated and was immaculately dressed in a blue suit and a perfectly knotted tie.

He held a mug of steaming coffee as he peered into his tablet, a frown nestling between his brow.

Did this storming man ever relax? Even in his own home?

The answer came to her when she cleared her throat to announce her presence.

He carefully placed the cup on his lips and sipped, staring at her over the rim and the rising steam.

The frank stare made embarrassment cling to her like a second skin.

She always felt like a clumsy child whenever she was in his presence.

"Good morning," she smiled at him.

Perhaps such words were a waste of breath to Ezekiel, because he merely glanced at her and continued to peruse his tablet.

"Good morning." Garry answered.

Bless his heart, he must have noticed her burning face.

"What?" He stared at his twin. "It’s bad manners to not reply to a greeting." The words were directed at his father.

Ezekiel grunted but won’t even look up.

Lin wei determined not to let his prickly behavior spoil her already cloudy morning, she smiled widely at the twins.

"How are you guys getting to school?" She asked cheerfully.

"We’ll fly." Harry deadpanned.

Lin wei burst into laughter. These kids, they were so hilarious. Surely...but three eyes were staring at her.

"What? You’re serious?!" She gasped.

"Well, not everytime. Sometimes when Daddy or uncle Lu is unavailable, we get flown to school." Garry’s voice was matter of factly.

Lin wei tried_with huge difficulty _to close her mouth.

"And daddy has been unavailable a lot these days. Uncle Lu is rarely home," Harry shrugged.

"I can take you." Lin wei sound herself offering.

Ezekiel’s attention was finally snatched away from his cursed tablet as she glared sharply at her.

"That won’t be necessary as I plan to take them today."

His phone rang loudly, making his pause his impassioned speech.

"Yes. Yes. Now? I’ll be there in ten minutes."

He glared at Lin wei as if she orchestrated the call.

"Seems like I can’t take you guys to school today. I’ll see if Lu Chen is around," he flicked a glance at Lin wei.

She shrugged. Let him suit himself. She was only trying to help and it wasn’t like she was trying to steal the children away or anything.

"Uncle Lu is passed out cold." Garry supplied helpfully.

Lin wei grinned into her cereal. Well then, it should be interesting.

Ezekiel sighed, gusting sound.

"Fine." He conceded.

Lin wei pretended to be immersed in her cereal. She couldn’t hide the small smirk forming on her lips.

"James? Yes. I need you to drive my children to school."

Lin wei stared incredulously at his wide shoulders. At the slabs of lean muscles that rippled as he walked.

She wanted to fling her spoon at his head in frustration. Why was he so distrustful!

"James?" Harry groaned.

"Veronica offered to take up to school you know. You don’t have to call James." Garry said in that serious voice of his.

"But_"

"And it’s half past eight already. It’ll take at least twenty minutes for James to get here. He’ll spend ten minutes dawdling and complaining. That is quite unnecessary when there’s a better option."

Lin wei wanted to stand up and clap. She wanted to applaud the boy’s logical reasoning. It was one thing to argue with Ezekiel, but it’s another thing to win the argument so flippantly.

"Here," he grunted, "is the key to the garage. You can take any of the car."

Lin wei’s grin was shit-eating.

"I trust you can drive?" His cold voice cut into her warm buttery feeling of latent victory

.

"Yes, Ezekiel I can drive."

"I hope as much. You’re already driving me crazy." He muttered under his breath.

"Get dressed Veronica. We’ll be late in a few minutes." Garry’s reminder cut through the tension in the air.

Lin wei 1 Ezekiel 0

Her morning had take a nice turn!