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"Of course! we'll go anywhere you go, Mommy!" Little Drea beamed, and her big eyes, which were shaped like crescent moons and looked like glistening onyxes, beamed back at her.

Nicole Chapman couldn't help but think about how lovely her children were as she was thinking about them. She felt a wave of comfort and gratitude every time she looked at their little faces, as though she was constantly in awe of how she had managed to give birth to such adorable little ones.

"All right, it looks like it's time to start packing our things. The next day, in the afternoon, we will be heading to the airport.

“Okay!” The ponytail Elis gave one firm nod, and then she dashed into her room to pack her things for the trip that she would be taking with Pete and Drea.

Nicole let out a long sigh. She had been away from the country for the past five years, ever since her father kicked her out of the house. It wasn't so much that she didn't want to go home as it was that she felt like she didn't belong in there.

She didn't even tell her father that she had given birth to triplets while she was living abroad; however, now that she was returning to her country of origin for work and career reasons, she had made up her mind to visit with her father. In spite of everything, he was still her father.

☆☆☆☆

Three days later, in the evening at the La Beauté airport, Nicole pushed the luggage cart forward as she waited for the next passenger.

Her triplets were taking in their surroundings while perched atop the large suitcase that was attached to the shopping cart.

Everything about Nicole's homeland seemed to pique their interest, and there was a questioning glint in their sparkly eyes as they listened to her talk about it.

At this time, Nicole had just left the baggage claim area when two men in suits approached her and said, "Miss Chapman, we have been sent here by Old Madam Butler, who has prepared a ride for you just outside the entrance." I beg your pardon—"

She gave them a polite smile and blinked at them before saying, "I am grateful for the Butler's thoughtful gesture, but I do not require transportation at this time. Thank you."

Respectfully, an older gentleman addressed the younger woman as "Miss Butler," stating that "the old madam truly wishes to see you."

Nicole was aware that Old Madam Butler harbored no ill will toward her, but she did not intend to accept the favor that the elderly woman offered to her.

"Could you please let Old Madam Butler know that it was my mother's responsibility to help other people and that there is no need to repay the favor, at least not to me?" After saying that, she made her way around the two men while pushing the cart toward the exit of the building.

One of the guys pulled out his phone and respectfully informed the other guy, "Young Master Drake, Miss Chapman has declined our offer to pick her up."

At this time, there were three gleaming black Rolls-Royces parked in front of the entrance to the airport. The windows of these vehicles were heavily tinted, which prevented anyone from peering inside. There was a man who was riding in the backseat of the Rolls-Royce that was in the middle of the fleet. He kept his gaze on the airport doors the entire time, and just as he was about to put his phone down, he noticed a young woman pushing her cart through the doors.

The lady was seen wearing a plain white blouse and blue jeans. Her hair was pulled back into a bun at the nape of her neck, highlighting her delicate and pretty face. Her complexion was as smooth as marble, and she drove the shopping cart with a laid-back air about her. Without a shadow of a doubt, her presence among the crowd shone brighter than any other there.

At that precise moment, Drake's attention was drawn to something, or more specifically, someone: the three young children who jumped off the woman's shopping cart. They appeared to be between the ages of four and five years old, and they were dressed in a gray sweater and joggers, with their thick and floppy hair falling over their forehead. They may have been young, but their features were exquisitely chiseled, which made them even cuter than they already were.

At that precise moment, Nicole got down on her knees and assisted the younger children in straightening their clothing. There was no mistaking the kind and indulgent look that she wore in her eyes.

Who are the young ones? Is Nicole already taken? If that's the case, then I won't have to tie the knot with her just to make Grandma happy. Keeping all of this in mind, Drake watched as the taxi in which Nicole and her alleged children had just gotten away from the scene. Not too much longer after that, his entire fleet also set sail.

They had just begun to cover any distance when he received a call on his phone. After taking a quick glance at the caller ID, he said, "Hey, Amelia."

"Drake, when are you going to make it to my house to see me? I've missed you." On the other line, Amelia's whiny voice could be heard complaining.

He responded with a low bass tone, "I've been a little busy recently, but I'll see you as soon as I'm free," indicating that the lower register of his voice was more prominent.

“Promise?” Amelia inquired in a coquettish manner.

"Yes," he responded, putting on an act of patience.

————-

While this was going on, over at Butler's Residence, an elderly woman with silver hair was sitting on the couch sipping her tea when she was informed of the most recent findings by her subordinates. She stared up at the sky in disbelief as she yelled, "What? What, Nicole Chapman is going to have triplets? Is she already settled down?

"Since the children's father was nowhere to be found, the findings of our investigation lead us to believe that she did not get married before giving birth to the child."

"Aw, look at the poor dear. To become a mother to a child by one's own at such a young age... Jodie Butler, who is also commonly referred to as Old Madam Butler, exhaled deeply.

When she thought about the brave female police officer who had passed away after receiving eighteen fatal stabs from the thug who had threatened to hurt Drake all those years ago, a wave of guilt washed over her. She remembered how the officer had died after the thug who had threatened to hurt Drake had stabbed her.

She had just begun to bemoan the state of affairs when a figure that was tall, sophisticated, and elegant entered the living room. It was Drake, and he had just gotten back from the airport when the doorbell rang. Jodie called out to her grandson, Drake, and beckoned him over to her. "Come here, Drake," she said.

As quickly as possible, Drake moved into the seat next to hers and started to say, "Grandma, Nicole continued to decline our offer, so perhaps I-."

"I recently learned that Miss Chapman is a single mother who had triplets outside of wedlock. I was shocked to hear this news. Drake, you have a responsibility to look out for the welfare of the afflicted mother and child. It is your responsibility."

Drake stared at the elderly lady in a state of stunned silence as she made her suggestion. He had anticipated that she would throw in the towel on the effort, but as things transpired, she became even more resolved to see the undertaking through to its conclusion.

"No, Grandma, it's not necessary for me to marry her. He calmly countered, "We could always use some other way to repay her mother's kind deeds and make it up to her," hoping that his grandmother would see the logic in his argument and agree with him.

But as soon as Jodie Butler was made aware of this, she glared at him with a chilly expression and said, "That won't cut it, sorry. You have no choice but to wed Nicole Chapman, after which you are obligated to watch over and provide for her for the rest of her life ".

Drake wore a frown. He didn't see how a marriage without love could possibly lead to anything positive, but he couldn't even reject his grandmother's suggestion because she was so intent on making up for the sacrifice that Nicole's mother had made all those years ago.

"You can't even begin to imagine the number of stab wounds Officer Freya Dort has endured for the sole purpose of protecting you. The volume of blood that... Because of the horrific nature of the crime... When Jodie said this, her eyes were filled with sadness. Then, she looked up at her grandson and gave him a stern look, pointing out that taking care of her daughter is the bare minimum that could be expected of you. Even if you were to take care of Nicole for all of eternity, you could never be able to make up for the selfless act that the officer performed.

Drake gave a slight nod in silence. "All right, then I'll take her as my wife," he said.

However, there was another woman who he was unable to let go of, and he felt it was his responsibility to make amends to her as well. In spite of this, he had not yet decided whether or not he would reveal this information to Jodie, and he was aware that even if he did so, it would not stop Jodie from pressuring him to marry Nicole Chapman. He had no plans to do so at this time.

He stated that Nicole Chapman is a proud mother of triplets.

That worked against him, however, because Jodie Butler appeared to take pleasure in the news. "You got that right! There is one young boy and two young girls, all of whom are probably between the ages of three and four. I find it hard to believe that some scoundrel just abandoned them in that state. Drake, pay attention to what I have to say: "Don't you dare snub that children; is that clear?"

Drake had a hard time believing what he was hearing. He looked at his grandmother in bewilderment as the thought crossed his mind, "Is this some sort of buy-one-get-one-free deal?"

———————-

Nicole's superior had recently purchased the Bourgeois Jewelry Atelier, a long-standing business in the area that enjoyed a stellar reputation. Nicole Chapman, who was the chief designer for the Queen's Rose QR Diamond Global, had been transferred back to her native country so that she could work on expanding the Bourgeois product line in order to facilitate the expansion of the brand.

Bourgeois was the one who made the necessary arrangements to ensure that Nicole had a place to stay. She began the process of decorating and organizing her new home while her triplets were napping, and within two hours, the apartment had been completely transformed into the ideal warm and inviting abode for the mother and her children to share.

Despite the fact that she was worn out, she did not have the desire to go to bed because she was watching the adorable profile of her kid while he slept.

Whatever terrible thing had occurred in this city five years prior continued to torment her and make her feel sick to her stomach. The betrayal of her step sister by her step mother, the wickedness of her step mother, and her father's ultimatum, which resulted in her being exiled, were like wounds that ran too deep to ever be healed over.

The fact that she had made it through the previous five years at all was nothing short of a miracle. She had to balance raising her triplets as a single mother with taking design courses, and during the latter part of the five years, she slowly worked her way up the ladder and became the chief designer. She had to raise her triplets as a single mother while also taking design courses. She had worked longer and more diligently than anyone else, so it is only reasonable to assume that the gods smiled upon her and bestowed upon her the good fortune she required to arrive where she was today.

She had her savings, her triplets, and a job that gave her the freedom she desired at this point in time.

She pulled out her phone and stared at the number that belonged to her father. There were several occasions when she considered calling him, but something always caused her to refrain from doing so. It's been half a decade now. I'm curious as to whether or not he's still upset with me.

After that, she let out a long sigh. Forget it.

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