Married On Paper To The Billionaire
Chapter 23: Homesick

"I know we've had this conversation before but I think it's time for us to go back home," said Emilia.

"This is home," Kane replied with a mischievous grin.

"You know what I mean."

He chuckled. "Feeling homesick, are you?" "Yes."

It was two months before the twins' first birthday and Emilia would rather they had the party in the Beaumont mansion in the U.S. instead of their secluded island home. She was an introvert who enjoyed solitude but she'd had enough of this off-the-grid living.

"Well, if I'm being honest, I miss home too," Kane admitted. "I miss my office and those face-to-face meetings with my employees. Video calling simply can't replace the real thing."

"So you were homesick too and just waiting for me to say something first."

"Well..."

Emilia laughed. "I'm glad we're on the same page. Everyone back home would be thrilled once we tell them we're coming back."

"Yes, but we need to be careful. Let's not forget why we came here in the first place."

"We'll simply keep Travis and Tiara away from the public and warn all the domestic staff to keep their lips sealed about the children's identity. That shouldn't be hard."

"Maybe."

"What?"

"Your family needs to also understand that they can't share photos of the twins on social media."

"If it's Chloe you're worried about, don't be. She knows how we feel about the children's privacy. She's been here a few times in the past ten months and none of the twins' pictures that she's taken has ever made it to social media." "Good. Let's keep it that way."

"Aye, aye, Captain!" She said playfully and added a salute. "Should we start packing?"

"Not so fast," he laughed. "I want our return home to be hush-hush so that we don't walk into waiting cameras of the paparazzi. Only a handful of people should know that we're coming."

"I can live with that."

Three weeks later, their private jet landed on U.S. soil and they were whisked into their waiting Chevrolet truck with tinted windows. Emilia felt like a celebrity as they drove through town, sandwiched in a convoy of vehicles carrying armed security guards.

Only Elsie had been informed of their return, so when their vehicle rolled into the Beaumont compound, she was waiting at the front door to welcome them.

"Welcome home!" She greeted them delightedly. "Where are my grandbabies?"

"Right here," said Emilia, stepping out of the car with Tiara, while Kane carried Travis.

"Oh, they've grown so big!" Elsie gushed excitedly. She held out her arms to Tiara but the toddler shrank away from her.

"Come on, Ti-ti. Say hello to grandma," said Emilia.

"It's grandmother," Elsie corrected her.

"Mother, please..." Kane complained.

"Did I just hear Kane's voice?" Lillian asked, coming outside. When she saw them, her mouth hung open in shock. "What!" Samuel came outside too. He was just as shocked as his wife. They both looked as if they were on their way out on a date. "Where did you guys come from?" He asked in awe.

"Europe," said Kane with a grin. "Malta specifically."

"Let's go inside," said Elsie. "I don't want my grandchildren to catch a chill outside. It's a cold evening."

"Now I don't want to go out anymore," said Lillian with a pout. "I want to play with the babies." "Seriously," Samuel groaned.

"Don't cancel your outing because of us," said Kane. "We'll be here when you get back."

"Yay!" Said Lillian and she grabbed Samuel's hand. "Come on, let's go quickly and return on time. Hurry!"

Inside, they found Jack in the family room smoking a cigarette and watching an adult movie on the huge TV. "Good Lord, Jack! What sort of nonsense is this?" Elsie raged at him.

He turned to look at his mother and was surprised to see Kane and his family there too.

"Oh, hi, folks. You guys are back in town? I didn't get the memo," he said jovially.

"Turn that thing off," Kane ordered him.

"And put out the cigarette too," Elsie added. "Haven't I told you to stop smoking indoors?"

"Jeez, a man can't even catch a break in this house," Jack whined and did as he was told. "How's your internship doing at the tech hub?" Kane asked.

"I quit."

"Why?"

"Shit was boring the pants off me."

"Mind your language!" Elsie snapped at him. "Can't you see that your nephew and niece are here?"

"It's not like they understand anything I've just said."

"Let's go upstairs," Emilia said and ushered Kane in that direction before he could respond to his annoying brother.

All the domestic staff were surprised to see them and glad to have them back. Only one person stood out to Emilia because she neither welcomed them nor looked happy to see them.

"Is everything alright, Serena?" She asked Lillian's PA who had been staring at her with an odd expression.

"Everything will be," she said in that quiet voice of hers.

"I didn't know that Lillian makes you work this late into the evening. Are you done for the day?"

"Yes. And Mrs Adams didn't ask me to work late today. I offered to do some personal stuff for her ahead of tomorrow's work event."

"I see. Well done then and goodnight," said Emilia and she hurried upstairs with her daughter in her arms.

At the top of the stairs, she turned around to check if Serena had left but the young woman was still standing at the same spot, watching Emilia with that same weird unreadable expression.

****

"I have good news for you."

"What?"

"They're back."

Gasp. Silence.

"Hello?"

"Yeah, I'm still here."

"What do you want to do?"

"I don't know. I haven't figured anything out yet."

As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.com is your destination for the complete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! "Are you joking? You've had nearly a year to plan."

"I didn't know they were coming back any time soon. I was putting money together to fly back to Malta next month. I guess Christmas came early then."

"Well, I've done my part. It's up to you to decide if you still want your revenge or not."

"Of course, I still do but this time around, I'm going to need your help."

"My help? How?"

"Look, as I said, I don't have it all figured out yet but I think there might be something we can do with this new turn of events."

"Get to the point."

"Ok, fine. Listen very carefully. Here's what I want you to do..."

****

"They look so adorable!" Elsie gushed as she watched Crystabel playing with her cousins.

It was the twins' first birthday party and only family members were in attendance. The public has since gotten wind of Kane and Emilia's return to the Beaumont palace and they've been eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of their children. They were having the party in the family garden which had been decorated lavishly to look like a storybook setting with all kinds of cartoon characters and animal pictures. There were colorful balloons everywhere too.

"This is the most classy first birthday I've ever seen," said Chloe. "Maybe I should have postponed my birthday party to today instead. I'm jealous."

"Wasn't that two days ago?" Kane asked her.

"Yes. Your babies and I share the same birth month and zodiac sign. We're triplets!"

"Except you were born 18 years before them," Emilia laughed.

"Bummer," said Chloe jokingly.

Lillian's phone rang and she got to her feet immediately. "I have to take this call. Excuse me."

As soon as she left, Samuel stood up too. "I need to use the bathroom. Excuse me."

"Do people still do this?" Jack laughed.

"Do what?" Samuel asked him with a hard look.

"I mean, if you and your wife want to have a booty call, why not just go for it instead of making up funny excuses to leave."

"Don't make me lose my temper," Samuel threatened him.

"Not here and not now," Elsie told him. "I don't know what's wrong with the two of you, always going at each other like cat and mouse."

"Because your son is obsessed with me," Samuel said and went into the house.

"You wish," Jack grumbled belatedly.

"I need a strong drink," said Chloe, getting up.

"Not so fast, young lady. This is a children's party," said her father.

"Yeah, I was just going to get some ginger ale," she said and winked at him before going into the house.

Emilia chuckled and laid her head on Kane's shoulder. He turned his face and kissed her forehead lovingly as they both watched their children playing with their birthday cake. "Look at what we made," she whispered to him.

"Amazing," he replied.

The rest of the party continued without any more drama. Or so they thought...

As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.com is your destination for the complete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! When morning came, the Beaumont family woke up to the breaking news that someone had leaked photos from the birthday party featuring the twins to the press. Emilia and Kane were devastated. Fortunately, the photos were blurry and became pix elated when zoomed in. Still, Kane was livid and determined to fish out who was responsible.

"From the angle of the photos, the images were taken from an elevated position," he said.

"Who could have done that?" Lillian asked.

"All the staff should be called out and questioned immediately," said Elsie. "The culprit will be fired on the spot!"

"I think that's a bit harsh," said Emilia. "Maybe a warning will do."

"They have all been warned before so there's no point repeating it," said Kane. "Whoever is responsible will be fired immediately without a severance package or reference."

"I know who did it."

Everyone turned around to see who had spoken. It was Serena and she was standing at the entrance of the dining room where this impromptu family meeting was being held. "I beg your pardon?" Said Elsie.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your meeting but I couldn't help but overhear what was being discussed. Please, forgive my intrusion."

"You said you know who took these pictures, right?" Kane asked her.

"Yes, sir," she replied calmly.

"Are you going to tell us or do we have to beg you first?" Lillian asked.

"It was Chloe Taylor," said Serena calmly. "Mrs Beaumont's sister took the pictures."

Emilia sprang to her feet instantly. "Liar! How dare you accuse my sister of something as disgraceful as this?"

"The pictures were taken from the middle room on the second floor," Serena insisted. "If you look at the angles of the pictures closely, you'll see that I'm right."

"But did you see Chloe taking the pictures with your own eyes?" Elsie demanded.

"Well, not exactly, but she was the only one with access to that particular guest room in the middle," said Serena.

"You seem to know a lot about what happens in this house," said Kane.

"I'm not buying any of this," said Emilia. "Chloe was with us outside throughout the party yesterday.

"No, she wasn't. She came inside for a drink after Samuel and Lillian left," said Jack.

"I didn't come into the house. I was taking a phone call by the pool," said Lillian.

"So that leaves Chloe and Samuel inside the house," said Jack.

"Don't be ridiculous. What would I be doing in Chloe's room?" Samuel snapped.

"I could have sworn I saw you coming out of her room, but maybe it was another room," said Serena.

Samuel glowered at her. "Who the fuck are you? A spy?"

Lillian was surprised. "Wait, were you really in Chloe's room?"

"Please, don't tell me you believe this stupid girl. She's just looking for attention."

"Thank you for the information, Serena. You can leave now," said Kane calmly.

"You're welcome, sir. I'm glad I could be of help," she said with a smile and left.