Chapter 2 Ashes Of Yesterday
FOUR YEARS LATER
Four years after the incident that happened and Mabel's betrayal, Amanda transferred to another state after finding out that the one-night incident had resulted in her getting pregnant, not just with one or two babies, but four children.
She felt her world crashing, with no good job, and not enough money, and her life became miserable, but whenever she stared at her children, she got another hope of survival and providing them with a great future.
Ryan is her first child and a boy. He has brown hair, cute pink lips, and gray eyes. He is the smartest and most caring kid. Then Adora, the second child, was a girl and she looked exactly like Amanda. Then Mason, a boy. He is the third child but is taller than Ryan. Tyler is the last child. He looked different, and Amanda couldn't guess who he looked like. Her life isn't perfect, but for once, she has never regretted keeping her kids, especially how they always cared for her, understood her, and made her proud.
Amanda, her mom, and the kids were back from school when her mom said something that made Amanda mad. She kept on comparing her with Mabel who was now swimming in riches, and didn't fail to remind her to be as smart as Mabel too.
"Can you please stop rubbing it on my face? I'm not the only one that has four kids." Amanda said, feeling hurt but never regretting having her kids.
"Well, you are acting like you own a mansion or some dollars, you don't even have your own house. You could have given them up for adoption. I know it wasn't your fault that you got raped but it was your stupidity that caused you these sufferings. Your friend saw an opportunity and she grabbed it without wasting her time, and now she is living a life of luxury while you are here taking care of four kids all by yourself." Her mom exclaimed, not believing Amanda, she doesn't know how much it usually costs to cater for a kid and in this case, it wasn't one but four kids.
"I don't care, okay? What has happened has happened and I'm proud of my kids, I'm proud that I kept them, and I know that one day, they will make me proud." Amanda said with finality.
"Yes mommy, if I grow up I will buy you a mansion with a big pool inside, I promise," Ryan promised. He smiled at Amanda, revealing his milky tiny teeth which melted Amanda's heart.
"Yes mummy, and I will open a hotel for you. It will be the biggest hotel ever, we will be so rich," Adora added too, she was so adorable.
"I know you will, that's why I love you so much," Amanda said and hugged them one after the other, feeling so excited. Her mom only shook her head.
"We love you mommy, and you, grandma, stop making our mommy cry, or else you will be a bad grandma like the one in Cinderella." Tyler, the youngest, said, which made Amanda look at her mom as she tried to hold her laughter. Her mom glared at her in return.
"Uhhhh Tyler, Cinderella has a stepmom, not grandma." Adora corrected, rolling her eyes. Tyler wasn't good at remembering the characters in a cartoon, he was only good at video games.
"Mummy, can I get ice cream please?" Mason, the second son, requested not to interfere in their conversation nor correct anyone. He was always calm and collected.
"Uhmm..." Amanda tried to say before she paused.
"You know Mommy doesn't have any money, can you stop making requests?" Amanda's mom asked and looked at the kids with anger which made them all rush to hide behind Amanda, their grandma was good at making them scared of her.
"Mom, they are my kids. I will give them everything. I think I still have some change. Why not I get you all some ice cream", Amanda said, and they jumped happily and hugged Amanda's legs. She had never failed to come to their rescue.
"You see, you are spoiling the kids Amanda, stop acting like they are just one, they are four, four Amanda. Better start planning for their future. Don't depend on their sweet talks about growing up and building you a mansion. Before that happens, maybe you will be dead before that time." Her mom replied with displeasure. She has passed through the stage of training a child and knows how it is.
"Please mom, stop saying this in front of them, else they will think you are a wicked grandma. Besides, I never complained about having them, I'm proud of them, they deserve ice cream, and they all came out as the best in their class. I know I didn't plan for this to happen but I sure will love my kids no matter what." Amanda said and looked at her mom, who understood the finality in the tone of her voice.
"Alright, just know that we don't have any groceries, which means no food tonight. I will see you later." Her mom replied and started heading into her room.
"I will stop by and get us some," Amanda said as she remembered she still had some money left with her.
"You better do it." Her mom replied and disappeared into the hallway.
"Mommy, you don't have to buy us the ice cream if you don't have the money, I understand, and if daddy comes back one day, I will tell him right to his face that I'm so angry at him for making you suffer." Mason said, which got Amanda shocked. They were just four years old. How do they know all this?" she wondered.
"I know sweetheart," Amanda replied when she decided to overlook it and rubbed his hair. Her kids had been acting much more mature than their current age after they turned four.
"Mommy, do you think Grandma loves us?" Adora asked with sad eyes.
"Yes baby, Grandma is just having mood swings today. Remember she bakes you the most delicious cookies? Grandma loves you all so much, now let's go grab some ice cream, I'm so excited Yayyyy." Amanda replied with a smile. She sighed, hoping her mom didn't end up making the children hate her.
"Yaaayyy!" They all jumped, and she smiled, seeing them happy.
Amanda turned to leave, but her mom returned and came close. She stopped when she got to where Amanda was standing.
"I'm so sorry for what I said earlier, I love you so much and I'm proud of you." She said and placed her hand on Amanda's shoulder. She took a deep breath and held her mother's hand.
"We love you too, grandma. Will you join us for the ice cream?" Ryan asked, interrupting the mother and daughter moment that was about to take place.
"No, I will stay and cook you delicious meals, Amanda, you don't worry about the groceries, I will get them." Her mom replied with a smile. She begged them to come closer and gave each of them a kiss on the forehead.
"Thanks, mom, thanks a lot," Amanda said and hugged her while the kids joined in.
Later that night, while watching TV, the noble sons of the four major billionaire families in the country appeared on the television through a news station and Amanda’s children said that they looked like them, and Amanda laughed and didn't hesitate to make them dismiss such thoughts.
"You have school tomorrow kids, time to sleep, good night," Amanda announced and kissed them one after the other and they rushed to their room. She smiled and continued watching the news.
Mabel sat on one of the luxurious couches in the Xi mansion eating fruit and enjoying her leisure.
Mabel thought about Amanda and since she had already heard the news of her giving birth to quadruplets, she laughed, remembering how people made fun of her calling her baby factory. She had to transfer from their previous apartment to another.
"If an opportunity knocks, don't think twice, she is the one getting mocked while I'm here enjoying my life, such a pathetic loser," Mabel exclaimed and chuckled, she continued eating her fruits with her legs crossed on the other with the latest model of iPhone in her hands.