The Billionaire Playboy’s Secret Family
Chapter 65

The address their mother sent was indeed in Astoria. Still confused Regina had no choice but to get the kids ready. She could hardly argue with her mother's ultimatum especially as she wasn't answering the phone. Renata helped round the kids up and herded them to the stairs.

"Oh, hello Regina."

She paused and turned to see her neighbor stepping out of the next apartment with a load of laundry.

"Oh, hello Eve," Regina greeted her neighbor as the boys rolled their eyes muttering busybody.

"Hello Missus Anderson," Savannah politely greeted giving her brothers a dirty look. While she agreed their neighbor loved to stick her nose in everything that was no reason to be rude.

"Going out?"

"Ah, yeah. Mom wants to see the kids so we're off to say hi," Regina said with a strained smile. "See you later."

"But mommy, daddy promised to come today," Gabriella protested as her mother lifted her up and carried her downstairs.

"Not now, Gaby," Regina sighed ignoring Renata's curious glance.

Making it to the street they buckled the kids into Regina's Geo before Renata retreated to her own vehicle. She followed Regina as they pulled away from the curb and drove to the address their mother gave them. They parked outside a beautiful, expansive home. It wasn't a mansion but compared to what they were used to it might as well have been.

Their confusion only grew as they walked to the front door. Before they could second guess their destination Tony bounded up to the door and hit the doorbell like a woodpecker.

"Tony!" Regina admonished seizing his hand. "Once is enough."

The door was suddenly flung open by a ten-year-old blonde with laughing hazel eyes. She looked them over briefly before exclaiming, "Savannah!"

"Hi Zoe," Savannah seemed surprised that her occasional playmate remembered her. It had been years in fact since they last played together. "Oh, these are my brothers Carlos and Tony, and this is my sister Gaby."

"You are so lucky to have a little sister," Zoe gushed. "I only have a brother. Come on. Mom says we can play in the backyard all day!"

There was no reason for the kids to hesitate at that kind of invitation. They rushed in after their host excited to see the backyard.

"Wait..." Regina tried to call them back but there was no stopping them as they rushed past a blonde bringing a steaming mug of tea to the kitchen table where her laptop was situated.

"You must be Regina and Renata," the blonde smiled. "I'm Sarah."

"Oh yes, your mother speaks very highly of you," Renata said.

"She's a sweet woman," Sarah smiled. "She's waiting outside on the deck."

"Um..." Regina and Renata shared an uneasy look. "Are you sure this is all right?"

"Of course. I wouldn't have suggested it if it wasn't."

Still unsure the sisters followed after the kids to the backdoor. They stepped out onto the wide deck partially covered by the roof. The yard was spacious, especially for New York and had its own private playground and sandbox.

The kids hopped down the steps and darted across the lawn to the sand that surrounded the play equipment where a little boy was making a mini racecar track with a corgi watching over him. Seeing the others approach the dog was on its feet in an instant, yapping happily and wiggling its rear end.

The little boy had platinum blonde hair and smiled as the others joined him but didn't leave his area as Carlos and Tony immediately began climbing. Zoe introduced Savannah and Gabriella to her brother and the three girls settled in to help him expand his car track.

Regina anxiously watched them wondering if it was really all right letting them play. "Over here, girls."

They turned to see their mother waiting at a patio table where she had a good view of the yard and playground. Ulima nodded to them patting the chair beside her in a clear invitation to join her. Sharing another look the sisters hesitantly sat down warily studying their mother.

"Mom, are you sure this is okay?" Renata asked.

"Yes of course, señora suggested it herself," Ulima answered.

Regina glanced toward the house wondering about the woman in the kitchen. She had only seen the Stantons a few times at various functions Renata catered and hadn't paid them much mind. They seemed pleasant enough from what she did recall and their only demand was usually an increase in spicy food.

"So...what is it you wanted to talk about?" Regina asked as if she didn't already know.

"Why do you want to move to Texas now and give up your dream after all your hard work?" Ulima inquired giving her a pointed look.

"You too?"

"Regina, why are you so stubborn?" Renata asked. "Let us help."

"You can't help me."

"Why not?" Ulima demanded. "Señora has offered to talk to people about auditions for you. She wants to help."

"She doesn't even know me and if I get a part that way I'd..."

"Be like everyone else?" Renata asked. "You think all of my success comes from good food? My first jobs were catering weddings for the Stantons and their friends. Everyone tasted good food and wanted it too."

"And señora had help when she wanted to be a writer," Ulima agreed. "But her books are good and people want to read more. She says sometimes you need help getting your foot in the door, but you still have to dazzle them with your amazing talent. It is still your success."

"It doesn't matter now," Regina muttered.

"Why?" Renata demanded. "What's changed?"

"It's because of him, isn't it?" Ulima asked.

Both sisters looked at her curiously.

"The man you were yelling at outside the courthouse," Ulima watched Regina's reaction closely.

Renata bit her lip. She also noticed the strange encounter. It seemed her sister didn't want to draw the kids' attention so she tried not to pry.

"He is the triplets' father, isn't he?"

Regina looked away refusing to answer. It was one thing to keep the truth to herself and quite another to actually lie.

"He is very handsome," Ulima said. "What is his name?"

Regina shook her head. With her sister being silent Renata tried to recall what he looked like. She had only caught a glimpse of him but he seemed oddly familiar for some reason. Where would she have met him before? At a catering job?

She recalled there had been food. It was recent. But...

Oh...

"Marcus Avery," Renata said and Regina suddenly jerked to attention.

"Who?" Ulima asked. "You know him?"

"He's from a rich family. He has a reputation as a playboy, or did. He's been gone for the past five years because his family was tired of his antics. It sounds like he's much more mature now. In fact...oh..." "What?"

"Well, at his welcome home party his family announced he is engaged."

Regina's face warmed. She had refused to attend that job so she missed the announcement. If he was engaged all this time why was he following her around acting like he wanted to be with her and the kids? "Engaged, but what about the children?" Ulima scoffed.

"He doesn't know, does he?" Renata looked at her sister. "Regina, how could you keep this all a secret? From us? From him? And the kids...Gabriella's medical treatment. His family practically owns every hospital. Did they threaten you?" "No, of course, not," Regina finally broke her silence. "I've never told anyone."

"Why?"

"It was safer."

"Safer? What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about that bitch fiancée of his. Who do you think called CPS? Can you imagine what she would have done if she knew the kids were his? Not telling was the only way to keep them and all of you safe!" "Well, that's not entirely true."

Regina stiffened at the voice behind her. Ulima and Renata both looked up with mirrored shocked expressions.

It couldn't be.

How did he even know where to find her?

Standing on trembling legs Regina faced the man she said she never wanted to see again. But why was her heart fluttering so?