Chapter 3 Five Years Later

Melissa and Helena chatted on the phone for a while. It made her sad that she could not visit the babies, but she knew that Helena would take good care of them. She was right. Over the next five years, Helena cared for Julianna like her own daughter and treated the other two kids like her grandchildren. The twins grew up healthy and strong, and they moved from a small, rented house to an apartment. Julianna bought the apartment herself. As Eisen Jewelry’s top designer, her pay was high, and she received substantial bonuses. After saving for two years, she finally bought an apartment for them. "Oh, Herman, why is the house so messy? Your mother will be back soon. Go get Nancy and clean up the living room quickly." Herman and Nancy were angels to Helena and Julianna, but they could sometimes be little nightmares. Nancy was a lively child, while Herman was sometimes too calm, unlike a typical five-year-old. Julianna wondered if Herman inherited his father's personality. Even though the apartment had three bedrooms and a living room, it felt cramped when the twins started playing. The two kids could turn the whole apartment upside down with their antics. Helena had gone out to buy groceries, and in less than half an hour, the siblings had made a mess of the living room. Books and toys were all over the living room, and they even damaged the plants Julianna had carefully planted. Helena had a headache when she saw the mess in the living room. The twins enjoyed playtime but were afraid their mother would see the mess. They quickly tidied up the living room, hoping to restore it before their mother returned. However, halfway through their cleanup, Julianna came home. Julianna was used to the mess but was stern. "You both promised to clean up your toys and not mess up the house. So how did my flowers end up in the water kettle we drink from?" Her expression was intimidating, and the twins bowed their heads to apologize. "Sorry, Mom. I insisted on playing with Herman. He tried to stop me." "No, Mom. I’m the one who got Nancy to play with me. It's all my fault." Their twin bond was strong. Nancy always protected her brother, and although he was a quiet child, Herman also deeply loved his sister and mother. For this family, the twins were a ray of sunshine. Knowing the two wanted to take responsibility softened Julianna’s demeanor. "Then clean the living room back to how it was before and put my flowers back in the soil. As punishment, you’ll stand in the living room for 30 minutes after cleaning. Do you have any objections?” The twins shook their heads since they knew they had broken the rules. They had agreed that playing was allowed, but they should not make a mess of the house. Helena finally had time to cook. Julianna helped Helena in the kitchen after the two cleaned the house and stood in their punishment area. “You’ve told me before that the Oli Group is going to buy your company. Is that true?" Helena asked as she glanced at the living room, where the twins were standing. Julianna nodded. As the company's chief designer, even if Eisen Jewelry were acquired, her work would not be significantly affected. "I've investigated. The Oli Group used to do venture capital and internet e-commerce. This is their first time entering the jewelry industry. My work won't change much." Julianna played it down. She had become known as a promising young designer worldwide, and many firms had vied for her services. She had politely declined each of their lucrative offers. It was not that she was dismissive of the terms they were offering, but she had already signed a five-year contract with Eisen Jewellery, and her rejections were all to honor that commitment. Julianne had always felt at ease working at Eisen Jewelry. She had not even considered changing jobs. However, she could not stop the company from being acquired. Helena sighed. "I hope so. I'm worried that things will become difficult later, especially since the twins will attend school soon." Julianna had also considered resigning if the company was acquired and her job changed dramatically. She could easily start a jewelry design studio with her current skills. With her reputation and connections over the years, she could still earn a lot of money while ensuring the safety and health of the twins. "Don't worry, Helena. I’ll find a way, and things will only improve for us." Helena smiled. She knew Julianna was a capable woman. If she said she could make things better, she most certainly could. However, Helena recalled something that had bothered her and Julianna for a long time. "This morning, while driving them, they asked me where their father was. Julianna, your children are worried about you. You can’t keep this secret from them for long, especially Herman. He's a smart boy and may have already noticed something." Julianna smiled bitterly. "But even I don't know who their father is. How would I answer them? Helena, I’ll tell them the truth when they’re older. They’re still the happiest kids in the world, even if they don't have a father. I’ll give them all my love." "But Julianna, you know that the love from both parents is indispensable."