Chapter 127: Leave Lake City
"Mummy, Zess heated some milk. You should drink this and have a good night’s rest tonight."
Jake held a mug of warm milk with both his hands and walked carefully to Wendy’s bedside to pass it to her. Wendy chuckled as she took the mug from his hands.
After seeing Wendy drink the cup of milk, Jake was about to go back to his own room when the phone rang. It was a video call from Rheinsville City.
Wendy picked up the call and Leah’s pretty little face filled the screen. A sweet voice came through, "Mummy, I miss you."
"Leah..." Wendy broke into a warm smile when she saw the cute familiar face. She waved her hand at the phone, "Have you been a good girl and listening to your grandpa?"
"Yes, I have been a good girl. Not only do I listen to grandpa, I also listen to Uncle Todd." Leah smiled proudly at Wendy, her big round eyes turning into crescents.
It was daytime in Rheinsville City. Wendy could tell that Leah was in an amusement park. Todd was standing behind Leah.
"Did you ask Uncle Todd to take you to the amusement park again?" Wendy pretended to look displeased. "Uncle Todd is very busy at work. You cannot keep pestering him to play with you."
Todd was Timothy’s other disciple. Five years ago, he had established a name for himself in the design industry and he started his own design company, which was well-known globally. He had helped her a lot during the five years that Wendy was in Rheinsville City. Both her twins liked hanging out with Todd, and Todd had treated the twins very well, too.
Despite his busy schedule, every time Leah would come to beg him to play, he would be sure to make time to take her out and spend time with her. This time with them calling from the amusement park, Wendy knew for sure that it was Leah who had asked Todd to bring her there.
"She didn’t pester me." Todd came forward and brought his face close to the screen. He reached out and patted Leah’s head. "I haven’t seen Leah for quite some time and I missed her. So here I am. Please don’t blame Leah for this. She has been obedient."
"Yes, that’s right!" Leah laughed cheekily. "Mummy, how are you and Jake? You haven’t been calling me. Did you forget about me already?"
"How can Mummy forget about you?" Wendy moved her phone towards Jake.
Jake exclaimed happily, "Hello Leah and Uncle Todd!"
"Hello, Jake!" Todd replied. "Did you miss Uncle Todd?"
"Yes of course. I miss you both a lot."
Seeing that how happy they were talking and laughing, she smiled to herself. Wendy suddenly realized she had been in Lake City for a while now and she missed Leah as well.
At that moment, Leah asked, "Mummy, when are you coming back to Rheinsville City?"
"...." Wendy thought about Michael and her plan for revenge. She had only executed the first step of her plan. She pursed her lips slightly and forced a smile, "Mummy will be back after a little while longer, okay?"
"Mummy, can I go over and look for you then?" After Leah heard that it would be a while more before they could reunite, she pouted. "I miss you and Jake."
Leah’s voice started to waver as she spoke. When Wendy left Rhensville City, she did not tell Leah as she did not want Leah to be upset. The day before she left, Wendy sent Leah to Timothy’s house and got him to help look after Leah for the time being. Since Leah was born, she had not been separated with Wendy for such a long time. Naturally for a child this young, she could not hold back her tears anymore, especially after seeing and talking to her mother over the video call.
"I must not cry," Leah wiped her tears and sobbed a few times. "Uncle Todd has told me, l must not cry when I hear Mommy’s voice, or else Mommy will be sad too. I must not cry, I must not cry..." she said obediently.
Leah was wiping her tears as she spoke, but the more she wiped her tears, the more her tears kept flowing.
The sight of her crying daughter pierced Wendy’s heart.
The Lucases already know of Jake’s existence. But they still did not know that she had a pair of twins a boy and a girl.
If she were to send for her now, she would be mixed up with the Lucases matter. That would not be a good thing.
After all, Leah was more delicate and weaker compared to her brother Jake.
She did not want to involve her children in her past grudges. She had not intended to bring Jake along with her. But he had found out about her plan to return to Lake City and insisted on going along.
So Wendy had no choice but to let him come with her. But she was not going to let Leah be dragged into this.
Wendy’s heart ached when she saw how hard her little girl was crying from her screen.
Leah was a mature and understanding little girl. She had handed the phone back to Todd and turned her back so that her mother could not see her cry. But Wendy could still see her sobbing back through the screen.
With one hand patting Leah on her back to comfort her and the other hand to hold up his phone, Todd sighed. "Corrine, I have read the local news and I can guess why you had to return to Lake City. That Michael Lucas, who should be Leah and Jake’s..."
Todd looked at Wendy and trailed off before the word ’father. Since Wendy had not told the two children about it, Todd was not going to tell them either.
He sighed again. "I just feel that it isn’t worth it," he said. "It’s really not worth allowing yourself to be filled with so much hatred over such a man. You could be living a better life. Why waste your time on the man who hurt you?"
A better life?
Five years ago, Wendy had pushed herself to stay alive and worked very hard to toughen and strengthen herself.
She did that so that she could be back in Lake City someday to exact revenge.
Her life had ended when she fell into the ocean five years ago. Her revenge had only just begun. This was not the end that she wanted.
"Todd, I am really grateful to you for taking care of Leah and, also, helping me all these years. But this is my business, so stop trying to talk me out of it" Wendy said with determination.
"All right, I’ll stop talking about it." Todd knew Wendy too well. Since she had already taken the first step, she was not going to stop just because of what he said.
Todd pointed at Leah. "But, if you have time, you should come back and visit Leah. She misses you and Jake. She has never been away from the both of you for such a long period of time. During this period, she has been crying secretly. Sometimes when she really could not hold it in anymore, she would tell me that she misses you and Jake. No matter what, Leah is your daughter. You can’t leave her alone like that, right?"
Wendy felt guilty and did not dare to look at Leah.
She was not fit to be a mother.
Leah’s eyes were swollen from crying. Wendy finally nodded. "All right, I will go back and visit in a few days’ time."
Since she could not bring Leah over to Lake City, she would have to make a trip back to Rheinsville City.
Leah was still so young and needed her mommy.
When Leah heard that Wendy was returning after a few days, she perked up. A smile spread across Leah’s crying face. Wendy felt a sense of relief.
This was her own problem, Wendy thought, and she should not let it cause Leah to be sad because she cannot see her own mother.
After making up her mind, Wendy applied for leave the next day from the human resource department.
The day after tomorrow was the weekend and Wendy decided to take the following Monday and Tuesday off.
The flight from Lake City to Rheinsville City was more than ten hours. A round trip would take at least two days.
If Wendy took two days off, including the weekend, that would give her four days to spend quality time with Leah.
Or else, it would be too rushed.
But human resources informed her that they could not approve her leave application. She had to get permission directly from the CEO.
Wendy was working together with MC Enterprise, which made the human resources manager of a lower rank than her.
Michael was the only person whose position was higher than hers in the entire MC Enterprise.
Strictly speaking, only Michael was authorized to approve her leave application. Of course, Wendy could also take leave without officially applying for it.
Michael was not exactly her boss and there was no one in MC Enterprise she had to report to.
But she thought that she should still follow protocol and officially apply for leave.
Since she was working with MC now, she should follow their rules and regulations.
Michael was surprised to receive a call from Wendy. He had not expected her to call him.
During this period, he had exercised great self-control to not contact her first.
He had wanted her to be happy. And he knew that his presence would only make her feel uncomfortable.
Whenever they passed each other in the office, Michael had to keep his distance and only nod his head toward her in greeting. Nobody knew how sad he felt in his heart.
So, when he saw Wendy calling him on his cell phone, his heart was moved.
Answering the call, Michael swallowed and then spoke in an even voice, "Hello." He did not dare to be overly passionate and excited like he was the last time. Because he was afraid that Wendy would detest him even more.
Wendy heard the distant tone in his voice and remembered an analysis she had read online. That person had analyzed that Michael had a new love interest and, therefore, intended to push her aside. She tittered a little at that
"Mr. Lucas, I would like to take two days’ leave," Wendy cut to the chase.
"You want to take leave?" This was the first time Wendy had applied for leave since coming to MC Enterprise. Michael was puzzled. "What’s the reason?"
"Personal reasons," Wendy replied. Of course, she could not tell him the truth. "Do you approve or not?" she asked.
Michael had a bad premonition.
Wendy wanted to take leave out of the blue but was unwilling to tell him why.
"Is Jake also taking leave with you?" Michael asked without thinking.
"Mr. Lucas, I think you are asking too many questions," Wendy replied. "My son is in kindergarten, not an employee of MC Enterprise. You do not need to know whether he is taking leave or not."
"Wendy, are you taking Jake and leaving Lake City?" This thought dropped into Michael’s head.
He suddenly started to panic. He really panicked.
He could pretend to be cold towards Wendy and not get too close to her. He was willing to not create any trouble for her. But that was because she was still in MC Enterprise.
As long as she was here, even if they did not meet, were not close, Michael could still feel calm. Because he would be able to know where she was and how she was doing.
An occasional meeting with her in the office could make him happy all day.
If Wendy were to leave with Jake, would she still return?
Five years ago, he had thought Wendy had died. His heart had died along with her. Five years later, he found out that she was still alive. How could he let her vanish from his world again with their son?
