Chapter 22

After breakfast, Becky wiped their mouths one by one. She didn’t forget adjusted their shirts and slipped their shoes on with ease. Freen already grabbed her car key while the triplets rushed ahead.

The triplets already arguing about seats like it was the most important decision of the day.

“Mommy, I want to sit with you,” Fahnareeh hold Becky right hand.

“I want to sit with mommy,”

“No! Mommy must sit with me,” said Fahnareeh with her pouted face.

Fosbein already sit in a car with Freen’s help.

“Are you feeling comfortable yet?” Freen asked Fosbein. She made sure her son was comfortable before taking care another mini her who was still fighting to sit with Becky.

Becky is still busy looking at their check up schedule.

Fahnareeh tightened her small fingers around Becky’s hand. She pulling it with surprising strength for someone her size as if she was trying to anchor her mother in place and make sure she would not even consider sitting anywhere else.

“Mommy, you sit with me, okay?” she asked again, her voice softer this time, almost pleading, her eyes wide and hopeful in a way that always made Becky’s heart melt.

Becky immediately slipped her phone into the pocket of her jeans without hesitation she giving her full attention to her daughter. She slowly crouched down so that she was at the same eye level as Fahnareeh and Fastian. Her expression warm and patient despite the tension lingering in the air from earlier.

“What about we sit together at the back?” she suggested gently, trying to make it sound like a fun idea instead of a compromise.

Before the children could respond, Freen’s voice interrupted from beside the car.

“No. Do you think I’m your driver?” Freen asked dryly. She crossing her arms while leaning slightly against the vehicle, her tone sharp but controlled.

Becky straightened up and frowned at her. “Isn’t that your responsibility? You said they were your children, right?”

Freen let out a short, humorless laugh. “Oh… just because you don’t want to sit in front of me, now you sincerely confess they are my children.”

“That’s because you want to be recognized by me that they are your triplets,” Becky shot back instantly.

Her lips pressed into a thin line. “I myself am not sure if they are your children or someone else’s,” she murmured, but the words still carried clearly enough.

Freen’s expression changed immediately.

“What did you say?” she asked, stepping closer.

She reached out and held Becky’s hand firmly, pulling her to stand fully upright. Her grip wasn’t harsh but it wasn’t gentle either. It was demanding.

“Nothing,” Becky replied, avoiding eye contact.

“I heard it.”

“If you heard, then why ask again?” Becky answered, her patience thinning.

The triplets watched the exchange quietly, sensing the shift in mood even if they didn’t fully understand it.

Freen tightened her hold slightly. “We need to talk.”

She then turned to the triplets, softening her tone instantly. “Wait in the car for a moment, okay? Don’t open the door.”

The three nodded obediently, though Fastian narrowed his eyes curiously.

Without wasting another second, Freen pulled Becky to the side of the house where the children couldn’t hear them.

“Tell me honestly,” Freen demanded, lowering her voice but not her intensity. “Do you really not know they are my triplets?”

“I already told you,” Becky replied stubbornly. “I don’t know.”

Freen exhaled sharply. “Then if someone else comes and claims they are their children, will you believe that too?”

“I will believe fifty percent,” Becky said, lifting her chin slightly. “Because there is no proof.”

“Are you dumb?” Freen snapped.

“Their faces look like me one hundred percent. That means they are my children. We don’t need proof about that.”

Becky felt anger flare inside her chest at being called stupid.

“You’re the stupid one,” she fired back immediately. “I always saw your picture while I was pregnant. That means because of things like that.”

“It’s a myth, Becky.”

“Can you just give in?” Becky asked, her voice frustrated now. “You must let me win in this kind of discussion.”

Freen stared at her for a long moment before clicking her tongue.

“Whatever. Tonight, I will come back here. I will give you important information about the past and about them.”

She huffed in annoyance, clearly irritated.

Becky observed her carefully. The tension. The mood swings. The subtle discomfort in the way Freen shifted her weight.

“Are you on your period right now?” Becky asked suddenly.

Freen paused… then nodded.

Becky shook her head slowly. “That’s why your behavior is like a demon.”

Freen’s glare could have burned through walls.

“I didn’t say anything,” Becky corrected quickly. “Is this your first day? Do you need painkillers or want to stay at home only for the whole day?”

“I’m not as weak as you,” Freen replied stubbornly.

Becky rolled her eyes. “We have to go now.”

She walked toward the car first, not waiting for another argument.

Once at the car, Becky carefully buckled each of the triplets into their seats, adjusting every strap with precision. She tugged on the seatbelts to ensure they were secure, smoothing down their clothes afterward as if that small gesture could also smooth down the tension of the day.

The door closed with a soft, final thud.

Becky moved to the front seat and sat quietly, folding her hands together while waiting for Freen to enter.

Freen slid into the driver’s seat a moment later. She glanced sideways at Becky with a faint, teasing smirk.

“Good girl,” Freen murmured, reaching out as if to gently caress Becky’s hair.

Becky quickly turned her head away, avoiding Freen’s hand before it could touch her.

From the back seat, Fastian leaned forward slightly.

“Mommy, Daddy… is our journey long?” he asked curiously.

“Not long,” Becky answered calmly.

“Can we buy snacks?” Fahnareeh asked hopefully, her voice filled with excitement.

“Depends,” Becky replied, keeping her tone neutral and unreadable.

Freen glanced at the triplets through the rearview mirror, amusement flickering in her eyes despite everything. “Just sit nicely.”

The engine started, and the car slowly pulled away from the house.

In the back seat, the triplets began chatting excitedly among themselves, whispering guesses and making wild predictions about their destination.

“Maybe playground!” said Fahnareeh.

“No, maybe toy store!”

“Or zoo!”

“Or somewhere fun!,” said Fastian.

Their voices overlapped in childish excitement as they imagined colorful slides, candy shops, stuffed animals, and ice cream cones.

Meanwhile, Becky stayed quiet.