The Billionaire Twins Need A New Mommy!-Chapter 663: still not enough, and it will never be

The first few minutes of the ride passed in silence, with Lola lost in her thoughts. She had her elbow propped against the window, sighing for what felt like the umpteenth time.

"Just give them something random to do."

Scarlet’s voice suddenly broke the quiet inside the vehicle. Lola turned toward her, only to find Scarlet still focused on the road, hands steady on the wheel.

"Give them something stupid to do again," she added. "That will stop them from bothering you."

Lola arched a brow. "Would you do something stupid?"

"Except me."

"So, you’re really serious about the punishment, huh?"

"I didn’t do anything wrong to you. What I did wrong, I was already punished for," Scarlet replied coolly. "However, I still deserve consequences for other reasons in this mission. One of them is failing to take proper care of my team."

"You are not the captain of the team."

"But I was the head of security operations of the Order," Scarlet countered evenly. "Because of that, I should have known Chuck was a liability and that I needed to keep an eye on him. I miscalculated. And even though everything worked out in the end... that miscalculation nearly cost my entire team their lives."

Lola studied Scarlet’s side profile, tilting her head slightly.

From the beginning until now, she couldn’t recall having a real conversation with the woman. Their exchanges had mostly consisted of Scarlet irritating her, or trying to make her feel inferior.

But hearing her speak like this made Lola knit her brows.

Cold as she sounded, Scarlet was... sincere. And somehow, her words carried a familiar weight in Lola’s chest.

"For you, punishment may feel unnecessary since the outcome favored us," Scarlet continued without glancing away from the road. "But if you are the madam—if you intend to stand beside him—you should understand why it isn’t."

"Results aren’t the only thing that matters in a mission," she added calmly. "Execution matters. Every decision—big or small—affects the whole operation. There are no small decisions when lives are at stake."

"What I’m saying is that every mission is a learning curve. If you don’t emphasize that, the lesson gets forgotten. And in the next mission... what if luck isn’t on their side anymore?" Scarlet’s voice remained steady. "Punishment ensures they remember."

"Everyone already learned," Lola replied just as calmly, looking away. "I understand what you’re saying, Scarlet. You’re saying that even when people give everything they have, it’s still not enough, and it will never be."

"As it should be," Scarlet replied.

Lola arched a brow, only for Scarlet to add, "Otherwise, how would anyone aspire to grow if they believed what they could offer was already enough?"

"..." Lola blinked several times as she studied Scarlet.

Then, suddenly, she nodded as if something was clicking into place.

Talking to someone, truly listening to them, said far more about who they were than any rumor ever could.

And with everything Scarlet had just said, Lola finally understood why Atlas trusted her.

Why he said Scarlet was someone easily misunderstood.

"You’re lonely, aren’t you?" Lola said suddenly.

Scarlet stiffened and shot her a side glance. "If that’s your attempt to derail the conversation, it’s ineffective."

"I’m not changing the subject," Lola shrugged, sinking back into her seat and gazing out the window. "I’m just saying... you’re probably very lonely."

"My husband told me he trusts you with his life," Lola continued. "At first, it didn’t make sense to me."

"You’re arrogant. You look at people like they’re beneath you. And you never stop picking on me," she hummed, recalling every irritating interaction she had with her. "But after listening to you explain what I’m supposed to do as the wife of your boss... something finally clicked."

Lola turned to her with a smile. "That night, you ambushed me in the lobby and said all sorts of things. I think I finally understand why you did that."

—referencing Ch. 504–505—

"How would you know my reasons if I never told you?" Scarlet retorted.

"Heh. I just know."

"I waited for you that night because I had things to say," Scarlet clarified flatly. "And I wouldn’t have been able to sleep unless I told you exactly how useless you were."

"Sure," Lola nodded, smiling mischievously.

Scarlet frowned deeply.

"Don’t get it twisted," Scarlet clicked her tongue. "Whatever you’re feeding yourself, stop it. I meant every word I said."

She went on to explain her intentions that night, justifying each harsh remark, but Lola merely rocked her head, barely listening.

"What I’m saying is—" Scarlet stopped herself, realizing she sounded defensive. She cleared her throat and shook her head. "Anyway. Think however you want. Just don’t forget your responsibility to the Order."

Lola didn’t answer, only letting out a quiet chuckle.

For a while, neither of them spoke. Scarlet focused on navigating through the wreckage, while Lola kept her gaze fixed outside the window.

"Scarlet," Lola finally said, breaking the silence.

She didn’t look at her; her eyes remained on the children playing among the distant ruins.

"At one point, my entire world revolved around one thing," Lola said quietly. "Back then, I believed I just had to be better. Perfect every mission. And even if people hated me, I shouldn’t let their opinions sway me."

"That mindset made me stronger," she continued. "But it also trapped me in a loop. And by the time I realized I wanted out... I had to crawl my way out and bleed as I did so."

"From the outside, it looked like someone dragged me into a terrible world," she added. "But the truth is... I trapped myself in it."

Lola paused, then turned to Scarlet. "And I only realized that when I was already too deep."

"I understand that you wanted me to act like the madam you envisioned—maybe like Sybil," Lola said, smiling softly. "But if I’m going to stand beside Atlas, I want to stand there as me. Someone who chose that position, not someone forced into it. Otherwise, I might hate the Order or myself."

"I’m not trying to change the Order," she trailed off, eyes returning to the window. "...I just want this—when the Order looks at my husband, I want them to feel relief. And when they look at his side, I want them to know that relief will last because, for as long as I’m standing, he will not fall."

She turned to Scarlet and smiled.

"And to do that," Lola said gently, "I need to show results, rather than defend myself just for the sake of it."