A SECOND CHANCE IN LOVE

CHAPTER 12

She couldn't help but blushed.

Gosh, this guy! One had to be amazed at the lengths he would go to preserve his own energy!

"Let's just talk about something else okay, Walter and Shane are still kids after all."

This i***t Xander! How could he just say the word 's*x' all of a sudden?

Xander just shrugged. "Your fault."

Vanessa knew he meant that she was the one who brought up his ex, so he is considering it as her fault. Since she couldn't completely deny it, she immediately change the topic of their discussion.

"Uh...what about your family's company? Is it doing well?"

Although Xander had no intentions of inheriting his father's company, Vanessa knew that he would be left without a choice in the end. He was the Anderson's only legitimate heir, since it would be a while before the twins would be of the right age to inherit.

But with Xander's tendency to avoid bothersome things, Vanessa knew he would probably argue with his father till the bitter end.

"Mmm." Finally finished with eating, he leaned back on his chair and watched as she fed the twins. "I agreed to become the CEO."

Vanessa suddenly spat out her tea. Eyes wide, she stared at him like he was an alien.

"You actually agreed?!"

For a man who had to break up with his girlfriend because he thought having s*x with her was too tiring, this same man would actually be...willing to take over his family's company?

Since Vanessa still had her past memories intact, she knew how difficult it was to oversee a company when she helped Kiran with his work during their marriage. Even though the Lauder's Corporation was definitely bigger than the Anderson's, Vanessa is aware that the same principles still applied in terms of work.

But this guy, knowing all that, he still...agreed? Isn't he too lazy to make an effort? So why the hell did he agree?

She couldn't believe it.

Xander shrugged; the gesture was slow and lazy, similar with his every movement.

"Not too bad."

Vanessa's eyes twitch. She was speechless.

Not too bad?

The dozens of documents that needed to be signed, the major deals where you had to deal with the client's countless objections, the sleepless nights. The never ending paperwork that needed to be dealt with every single day. And this bastard actually says with a straight face that it was 'not too bad'?

She gave up. Maybe it was his way of showing that he was still a man, despite his lack of interest in s*x.

Vanessa could see the dark circles underneath his eyes for herself, proving that he was just trying to hide how exhausted he must really be.

"Well, congratulations."

Vanessa offered him a warm smile, feeling guilty that it took her this long to catch up with her closest friend.

Just how obsessed had she been with Kiran to not contact Xander at all in her past life?

"Thanks." Xander returned her smile with his own. With his messy hair and sleepy eyes, it made Vanessa want to pinch his cheeks. He's really cute when he smiles like that...

The warm moment was broken by Walter's small burp, making Vanessa giggle. But the instant she looked away, Walter had a murderous expression on his face like a demon king from hell, making Xander shudder.

If looks could kill... He'll probably six feet under already..

Then Vanessa turned back to Walter, offering him a sip of her tea.

In a fraction of a second, the murderous aura dissipated, and the boy had a sorrowful look in his cute handsome face, like he was being bullied...

Xander and Shane stared in shock at their brother, both dumbfounded at the speed of which he changed his expression.

Xander wanted to cry.

He was actually the one who was being bullied...

After the delicious meal, there was a commotion outside the restaurant as the two little boys refused to leave with their brother and hugged Vanessa's thighs tightly.

"Walter, Shane! Let go of her this instant!"

Standing there for nearly five minutes, Xander had finally ran out of patience. But the two little boy still didn't move, as if they did not hear him at all.

Vanessa glanced down at the two pairs of wide eyes staring pitifully at her, their identical faces wearing the same abandoned expression.

Before she could even bid farewell, both of them immediately latched themselves on her, clinging to both of her thighs with no intention of letting go.

With the combination of their weight, Vanessa couldn't even take a step forward.

"Walter, Shane..."

Vanessa looked at Xander for help, but he just gave her a shrug that meant he had ran out of ideas.

The twins weren't this affectionate to the members of their family, even to their own mother, so Xander was clueless on what to do when they were being clingy like this. Back at home, the twins would usually shut themselves on their own room, ignoring everyone else.

They were cold and quiet; all the maidservants had to tiptoe when passing their room to avoid disturbing them. His father had even once complained that his wife must had an affair with a robot and gave birth to them...

"I have an idea," Vanessa finally said.

She smiled at the two little boy, who glanced up at her curiously.

"Auntie still have to go to an interview this afternoon, so I can't be with you. But if you let go of me right now, I'll invite you to a sleepover at my place. How about that?"

Shane's eyes immediately shone.

Sleeping...with Wifey?

Yahoo!

Walter was more skeptical, his small face looking worried.

"When?"

"Hmm..." Vanessa thought about it.

It couldn't be tonight, because she had an audition for Jun's PV tomorrow.

"How about tomorrow night? I'll be free then!"

Baby Shane quickly nodded his head. He was already anticipating on hugging his Wifey like a teddy bear all night.

Suddenly his eyes went wide, his little face flushing bright red.

Goodnight kiss!

With Wifey!

Almost fainting from happiness, Shane suddenly felt a malevolent aura pressing against him like a boulder...

When he turned sideways, he saw Walter glaring daggers at him, his eyes like two pools of ice with no trace of humanity left...

All of sudden a small figure suddenly ran like the wind and cowered behind Xander, shaking like a leaf.

Walter is too scary!

Big brother, save me!

"What happened?"

Vanessa was bewildered, wondering why Shane looked so scared. So she looked down at Walter, but he looked just as confused as she did.

"That's enough." Xander, who knew exactly what happened, stared at Walter.

"You heard her. You're going to have a sleepover tomorrow, so let go of her now."

Walter pursed his lips, and reluctantly released his hold on Vanessa's thigh with a very dejected look on his face, then he walked in tiny steps towards Xander.

Vanessa, who felt full with the two little buns' love, leaned over and hugged them.

"Shane, Walter, I'll see you two soon, okay?"

They both nodded, but their small bodies drooped as if they couldn't bear to let her go for even just a second. Vanessa, who didn't know what to do, finally stood up with a heavy sigh.

If Kiran's child inside her womb had survived, would their child be this adorable too? Vanessa felt her heart ached from that thought.

"I'll drive them over to your place tomorrow," Xander said, not missing the flash of sadness on the girl's face. "If you want, you can also visit us at home."

Vanessa forced a smile.

"Thanks, I'll do that if it isn't too much trouble..."

"Alright..." Vanessa finally waved them goodbye. "I'll come when I have the time. See you tomorrow!"

As Xander watched the girl walk away, one could see a hint of tenderness in the depths of his eyes...

And Walter who noticed this, kicked him in the shin making him curse out loud.

"Walter!"

..........