SORRY

Chapter 28. Triplets

Noah POV

As I waited for my car, I was filled with remorse, the what ifs and the could have been.

When the car stopped in front of me, Chris, my assistant, got out to open the door for me.

“Are we going to the apartment, sir?” He asked when I got in.

“No. Just drive around.” I told him.

The car engine started, and we drove off the hotel.

We just circled around. I wound the window down and let the night breeze slap my cheeks.

“I needed a cigarette,” I told Chris.

The driver stopped the car outside the parking area near the convenience store that operated twenty–four–seven.

I got out and ordered Chris and the driver to stay behind.

“I’ll just be a moment,” I told them.

I got inside and went straight to the counter to request my brand. I stand in line and wait for my turn.

While waiting, I sensed a presence on my legs. When I looked down, I saw a boy about four or five years old. He was about to untie the laces of my Oxfords.

He looked surprised when our eyes met. I noticed he was the same mischievous child who did the same thing to me while I was

sting at the airport.

“You again“” I asked, chucking

bent to tousle his hair, but the little boy slipped through my legs and scampered off. I felt a sense of loss as I watched him wound his way to the fourth allley.

Disregarding the line, I went after him and was surprised that she was huddled with two other boys, and they were all looking at me guiltily

But what stumped me was their identical faces. They were triplets.

It’s not usual for me to see triplets, and the sight of them made me

curious

I stepped toward them without much thought. I don’t know, but the sight of them pulled me. I just wanted to talk to them, but before I could approach them, the three little boys dispersed in three different directions, leaving me disoriented at their speed.

“Riley, Mason, Brixx!” I heard a man call out.

I tried to follow the sound and was surprised to see Marcus Ford. Immediately, I tried to find a cover while I watched the man as he scanned the aisle.

He was looking for someone, and Briana instantly came into my

mind.

I waited in bated breath, hoping to get a glimpse of my ex–wife.

I felt like a voyeur, but I didn’t want to give myself away and made Marcus think that I was spying on him.

Then, I heard little footsteps as three little boys ran to him.

“Daddy M.” They called out simultaneously.

The ache in my chest redoubled when the three children climbed Marcus Ford’s back and clung to his neck while he was laughing at

their antics.

“Where have you been?”

I heard Marcus say. He sounded worried, but the kids were unperturbed.

“We were looking at the flowers. I wanted to give Mommy a sunflower because she likes them.” One of the boys said.

“Me, too!” The other two seconded.

Marcus Ford chuckled. One by one, he puts his children down. Then, he grabbed one of the boys‘ hands and held it in his big ones.

“I thought you were hungry, Riley?”

The little boy lifted his gaze to him. From this angle, I could tell that he was the same boy I had seen at the airport earlier. The one who was tying the ends of my shoelaces together.

I don’t know how I could easily pinpoint him from the other two. I just knew.

“I lied.” The boy said, but I could not see any remorse on his face.

Marcus looked quite taken aback by the child’s straightforwardness.

I wanted to laugh at the expression on his face.

“Why?” Marcus asked, wearing a frown.

“Mommy looks sad. I want to make her happy. Sunflowers make her happy.” The little boy said.

The other two nodded.

“We want to make mommy happy.” They chorused.

The three of them looked cute, but it was their words that had me

worried.

Briana is sad.

I could not help feeling a tightening in my chest at the knowledge.

I strained my ears to hear more, but they were already walking away from me, and I could not make out their conversation from my location.

Regrettably, I watched them and decided to leave.

When I got inside my car, Chris looked confused.

“Sir, there’s no cigarette at the convenience store?” He asked.

Shoot! I forgot what I came here for.

“Are we leaving, sir?” The driver asked.

“No.” I replied with my eyes trained on the door of the store.

A few minutes later, it opened, and out came Marcus Ford and his

triplets.

The three children held in their little hands a sunflower each, and they were skipping happily beside Marcus.

When they got in the car, I told my driver, “Follow the black SUV.”