NOVEL NEXT Chapter 526: Familiar
Lara had everything ready for the test: a pen, her ID, and all the study she had put into it. Passing the entrance exam wasn't so difficult, but she wanted to be in a good position to make her family proud.
She also wanted to be in Norwich no matter what. If her dream course was filled, she would have chosen another one in that city. For sure, she wouldn't travel far.
«My mommy is so pretty!» Scarlet exclaimed.
Lara chuckled, checking at the mirror. She was wearing a white shirt and dark blue trousers, trying to look serious and confident. She had tied her hair and applied a very thin layer of make up.
She wasn't as pretty as when she dolled up for a date.
«Are you sure, Scarlet?» Lara inquired. «Am I so pretty?»
«Yes!» the little girl said. «My mommy is so pretty that everyone will turn to look at you!»
«Don't tell it to your dad or he'll get jealous.»
«He won't. He knows you're too pretty for him,» Scarlet pointed out.
Lara's face turned serious, and she sat next to her daughter. They were alone in the room; the boys were waiting downstairs.
«I don't want to hear something like this ever again,» Lara said. «And I don't want you to think, let alone say it. Your father is a wonderful man, and you shouldn't use any harsh word towards him.»
«He scolded me,» Scarlet pouted. «Why can he be harsh and I can't?»
«Because he's your father. You should listen to him, and love him as much as you love me.»
«But, mommy!» Enjoy new adventures from empire
«No buts.»
«Oof,» she murmured. «I didn't say anything bad.»
«Your dad should be the best father, okay? Sometimes he might make mistakes, but he's trying so hard. And he loves you so much even if he found out about your existence by chance.»
Scarlet continued to pout, and Lara decided to postpone the discussion. After all, Scarlet loved Nate as well. Just, she would sometimes be harsh with words.
However, it was a habit they needed to erase. Which daughter would talk bad about her father? What if people started thinking Nate wasn't careful or loving with his children?
«Let's go, now,» Lara sighed.
They went downstairs and met Jaden and Nate. The two were reading together, both wearing their clothes for the day. They had hurried getting ready so they could spend a few minutes reading the newspaper.
«Are we ready?» Lara asked.
They both got up, leaving the readings for later.
«Yes, sure,» Nate said. He helped Jaden get off the chair and guided his family to the elevator.
They left the penthouse, the kids politely waving at the receptionist. They had gotten used to the place, including the old man who would smile at them every time they met. The twins had started liking him after a few times seeing him at the same place.
He would deliver the mail to Nate, and the twins called him mail-man. He would also receive packages for them. He was very much helpful.
They sat in the car, following their daily habits. The twins would patiently wait for their parents to fasten their belt, and Lara would sit on the passenger seat next to Nate. Everything was familiar, after weeks of living together.
«We'll first leave your mommy in the centre,» Nate said. He was observing Jaden in the rear mirror - it was the boy's turn to sit behind him - and would observe his reaction.
«I will take the subway later to come to work. It's the same line from the university to the company.»
«I can send someone to fetch you.»
«There's no need. But I will call if there's a problem.»
Nate stopped the car in front of the university and turned to Lara so he could witness how she climbed between the seats to peck her kids. She left his kiss for last. She bent over and pressed her lips on his for a moment.
«Good luck,» he said.
«Thank you! See you later.»
That said, she got off and walked away. Surrounded by teens, she did attract some attention. However, she wasn't much older than the other students in the end. She could blend in pretty well.
She reached the hall for the tests and took a deep breath before stepping in. She had to focus and give her best.
Meanwhile, her family went to work. Nate dropped the kids in the kindergarten and reached his office. He was more anxious than Lara about the tests.
He believed she would do well, but he couldn't wait for it to be over. It was so frustrating, especially because he could do nothing to help - other than play with the pups and wash the dishes.
That day would have been long.
He started the computer and read the mail when Secretary Jack stormed in without knocking. His face was covered with sweat, and his hands were trembling. He was at the beginning of a panic attack, Nate realised.
He was becoming good at recognising those.
«Whatever it is, calm down and tell me,» he said.
Surprisingly, his words worked. He wasn't frightening his pack members more with his presence. Not since Lara had become part of the family.
«I fear there's an emergency, CEO Woods. I intercepted this e-mail earlier today, but I couldn't download the content in time. I read it now, and it's a disaster!»
«In order, Jack. Who's the sender? And what is in there?»
«We received this anonymous e-mail... Well, not really anonymous. There's just a name as a signature: Alan.»
«Okay, then. What does this Alan want?»
«It's not clear what he wants. He doesn't ask for anything in exchange for the information... He seems to want just that: warn us about it. But it's a disaster! If he knows, then everyone will!»
«Knows what?» Nate murmured, taking the papers Secretary Jack was shoving in the air.
He read a few lines, and the blood froze in his veins.