ROMAN’S POVAs I left the office, the usual hum of downtown traffic and the low roar of engines echoed around me, but my thoughts were somewhere else entirely. My conversation with Ruby was replaying in my mind, a reel I couldn’t shut off. Her words, the tension in her voice—they gnawed at me. No amount of reasoning could make that feeling go away.I walked briskly to my car, contemplating if I was harsh with my decision to go to court. What if it was up to the kids to decide? They barely know me; I barely know them.A part of me told me I was doing the right thing, while the other part insisted I just shot myself.I couldn’t wait any longer—I needed to see the kids myself. Without Ruby there to complicate things, to add more barriers between us, I could finally see them as they were. My kids. I had to know them for myself, beyond stories, beyond pictures and reports.Before I knew it, I was pulling up at their school, the brick building coming into view. I parked by the curb, watch
CHAPTER 29“Is it true… are you our daddy?”The question hit like a stone dropped in a quiet pond, leaving ripples I couldn’t ignore. My hands tightened on the steering wheel, my grip unconsciously whitening my knuckles. Outside the car window, the world blurred—a haze of trees, cars, and pedestrians all becoming a distant hum. For a moment, I couldn’t find my voice, my mind spinning to sort out what to say.I took a deep breath, glancing up to the rearview mirror where I could see their faces staring back at me, both sets of wide, expectant eyes fixed on me, searching. They wanted answers, and I could feel the weight of their silent questions, pressing against me like the air in the close confines of the car.“Who told you I might be?” I asked carefully, doing my best to keep my voice steady, though my heart raced at a pace I hadn’t felt in years.Ruby shrugged, casting a quick glance at her brother. Rhett looked away, his cheeks tinged pink with embarrassment. “We just… figured it
I finally settled for a simple scoop of vanilla, Rhett and Ruby took their time, inspecting every flavor as if each one held some hidden secret. I couldn’t help but smile as they deliberated, faces alight with excitement.“Do you want another?” I asked.“Not at all. We were just… you know.” Ruby trailed off with a smile. We found a spot by the large front window, the late afternoon sunlight casting a warm, golden glow across the small parlor. Rhett and Ruby were utterly absorbed, savoring each lick as if their ice cream might just disappear if they didn't enjoy every bite.After a few minutes, I decided it was time to break the ice. “So, I’m Roman, by the way… Roman D'Angelo,” I said, keeping my tone light.“Roman D'Angelo,” Rhett repeated in a quiet voice, nodding thoughtfully as if committing it to memory.“You have a nice name,” Ruby chimed in with a small smile, surprising me with the compliment.I blinked, caught off guard by her sudden warmth. “Ooo… thank you,” I managed, givin
RUBY'S POVI was knee-deep in paperwork, sorting through files on my desk, when my phone rang, Helen’s name flashing on the screen. I was about to say you don't have to tell me you're on you way home with the kids when I heard her frantic breathing from the other side of the line. The urgency in her voice hit me before I could even say hello.“I can’t find the kids, Ruby,” she said in a shaky voice. The words hit me like ice water.“What do you mean, you can’t find them?” I barely managed to keep my voice calm as a prickle of panic started to claw its way up my spine.“I don’t know!” Helen stammered. “I was supposed to pick them up, but they weren’t at the usual spot. I’ve looked around, asked a few teachers… no one seems to know where they went.”I knew I was going to be quite busy past their closing period so I had told Helen before hand to help pick Rhett and Ruby and I would pick them from her place on my way back from work.But this?I didn’t even bother responding—I grabbed my
My heart raced as I confronted Roman, my voice trembling with anger. "Don't play games with me, Roman. I know you took them. You have no right—no right—to pick them up without my permission."The line went silent for a moment, and I could almost hear the smirk spreading across his face."Ruby," Roman drawled, his tone dripping with amusement, "I don't have the kids. In fact, I don't even know where their school is."My grip on the phone tightened, frustration coursing through my veins. How dare he pretend to be innocent?“You and I both know that’s not true. You can find out anything you want. And I saw your car, Roman—I saw you put them in it.”“That could have been anyone,” he countered smoothly. “You know there are plenty of black BMWs around.”“It was you, Roman,” I snapped. “And don’t tell me it was a coincidence you were wearing the exact same clothes you had on earlier.”There was a small, amused silence on the other end, and when he finally spoke, his tone was carried a hint o
There was a long pause. Roman’s eyes narrowed, his face hardening, but he didn’t respond. The silence stretched between us, filled with all the words we weren’t saying.And then, a small voice broke through, shattering the tension.“Mummy!”I turned, catching sight of my daughter at the top of the stairs, her face brightening as she saw me. Roman and I both instinctively straightened, adjusting ourselves, trying to mask the intensity of the confrontation. Rhett’s voice followed close behind, excited but still groggy from watching cartoons.“Rhett! Mom’s here!” Ruby called out, her face lighting up with a big smile as she rushed down the stairs, her steps quick and light.The second she reached me, her little arms wrapped tightly around my waist. “Mummy!” she said again, her voice muffled as she pressed her cheek against me.I knelt down, hugging her back, breathing in the familiar, comforting scent of her. “Hey, sweetheart,” I said softly, my heart easing for the first time that day.
“I think we’ll be on our way now,” I said in a tight voice as Little Ruby approached, balancing both lunch boxes in her small hands.Roman followed us out onto the driveway, his steady presence making my skin prickle. I was ready to put this visit behind us, but Rhett had other plans.“Wait, Roman!” Rhett called, turning back. “Our stuff is in your car.”I frowned, glancing at Roman as he nodded. Without a word, he followed the kids to his sleek black car parked nearby. Helen and I trailed behind, keeping a small distance. Roman popped the trunk, and that’s when the chaos began.From the depths of the car, Rhett pulled out a massive, shiny red toy car. He grinned, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he held it up for me to see.“Mum, look! I got a new car!” he said, beaming.I scoffed, shaking my head. “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.”Before I could process the sheer size of Rhett’s new toy, Ruby emerged, dragging an equally enormous dollhouse. The pastel Blue structure had tiny
“Goodnight, loves.” I said this before closing the door behind me.I thought about heading back to the car to offload the mountain of things Roman had bought for them, but damn, I felt tired—physically and mentally. I decided it could wait until morning. My bed was calling, and I was too tired to resist.When I stepped inside, I instantly felt uneasy, like something was wrong. The air felt heavy and it was kind of hard to breathe. I shook off the feeling and reached for the light switch to turn on the lights.The room flooded with warm illumination, revealing nothing out of place. The same dresser stood against the far wall, and the faded floral wallpaper, though peeling in places, held no secrets. A nervous laugh bubbled up inside me, the kind of laugh you give when exhaustion toys with your senses.Just the weariness playing tricks. I said to myself.However, as I turned towards the bed, I abruptly stopped.He was there.My breath caught in my throat. “Shit! What the fuck, Roman?
~Ruby's POV~The drive back to Roman’s house was quiet, the hum of the engine filling the space between my thoughts. I kept glancing at the kids in the rearview mirror—Little Ruby staring out the window, lost in thought, and Rhett fiddling with his seatbelt absentmindedly. When we pulled into the driveway, the kids immediately perked up. “We’re home!” Little Ruby announced as she unbuckled her seatbelt.We stepped inside, the warmth of the house wrapping around us. Roman was already waiting in the living room, his arms crossed but a soft smile on his face.“Hey… how are you doing?” he asked, his gaze lingering on me, searching for any sign that something was wrong.“I’m good,” I answered.He turned his attention to the kids, crouching down slightly as they ran to him. “And what about you two?”“We’re fine, Roman!” they chorused, practically bouncing with excitement.“We had so much fun today!” Little Ruby beamed.“Oh, I see,” Roman said, ruffling her hair. “That’s good to know.”The
~Ruby's POV~“What could be on this?” I whispered to myself. The answer felt just out of reach, tantalizing but terrifying.The sound of footsteps snapped me out of my thoughts. I shoved the flash drive inside my pocket, then put the box back in the vent, and hurriedly pushed the wardrobe back into place.“Ruby?” Uncle Evan’s voice startled me, and I spun around to see him standing in the doorway, his brows furrowed in confusion.“Uncle Evan!” I said, forcing a smile as I tried to steady my breathing. “Good afternoon.”His eyes scanned the room before settling on me. “What are you doing in here?”“I… I was on my way to the bathroom,” I stammered, pointing vaguely down the hall. “But I wanted to come in and… uhm… you know, take a look. I hope you don’t mind.”“Of course not, Ruby.” His gaze softened slightly, though there was still a hint of suspicion in his eyes. “It’s strange, isn’t it? Being in here without her.”I nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah. I miss her so much.”He sighed, his
~Ruby's POV~The sun streamed through the windscreen as I steered the car along the winding streets. It was one of those mornings when the world felt alive—everything aglow under the golden rays. Little Ruby and Rhett’s laughter bubbled up from the backseat, their chatter a light, melodic rhythm that warmed my heart.“Are we really going to see Aunt Keely and Esperanza?” Little Ruby asked, her face practically glowing with excitement.“Yes, we are,” I said with a soft smile, glancing at her in the rearview mirror.“Do you think they’ll let us build a fort in the living room?” she asked, leaning forward in her seat.Rhett scoffed, nudging her with his elbow. “The backyard’s better. Bigger space for a proper fort—and better hiding spots.”I chuckled, shaking my head at their endless imaginations. “Whatever you decide to do, just make sure you listen to Aunt Keely and Esperanza, alright?”“Of course, Mommy!” they chorused in unison, their voices filled with playful mischief.The drive p
~Ruby's POV~After breakfast, I grabbed my phone and dialed Keely’s number. The familiar dial tone filled the room before her voice answered, bright and warm.“Hey Ruby… good morning,” she greeted.“Hi Keely. How are you doing?”“Doing great, Ruby. What about little Ruby and Rhett?”“They’re doing well, thanks for asking,” I said with a small smile. “Are you free today, by any chance?”“Umm… yeah, I totally am. Why do you ask?”“I was thinking about bringing the kids over. You know, spend some time together, catch up a little.”“You are?” Keely’s tone lifted in surprise.“Yeah, you know… it’s been a while.”“Why not? Please come over, Ruby. I’d love that,” she said excitedly.“Thanks, Keely. I really appreciate it,” I replied.“Don’t mention it. You’re always welcome. Oh, and Esperanza?”“She's still asleep, I think,” Keely said.“That explains why she didn’t pick up when I called earlier,” I said, chuckling softly.“Yeah, she puts her phone on silent when she’s sleeping. I’ll let her
~Roman's POV~I watched from the couch as Little Ruby, Rhett, and Kai stood back to admire their handiwork. The dining area sparkled under the soft glow of the overhead lights, the scent of dish soap still lingering faintly in the air.“Whoa… I think we did a great job here,” Kai said, crossing his arms and puffing out his chest like he’d just finished building a skyscraper.“Hmmm… I’m impressed,” Ruby said, leaning against the wall with a proud smile.“Welcome to the team, Kai,” Rhett said with mock seriousness, offering his small hand for a handshake.Kai crouched slightly to meet Rhett’s height and clasped his hand. “Thank you for having me. It’s an honour.”The formal tone of their exchange sent everyone into a fit of laughter. Even Ruby, who was clearly still a bit tired, couldn’t hold back her chuckles. Moments like these reminded me how much warmth and chaos this house had brought into my life.Once the laughter died down, we all made our way to the living room. The kids darte
"Are we going to keep staring at each other, or are you actually going to kiss me?" I whispered.Roman didn't need any more encouragement. He cupped my face, and our lips crashed together, sending a shiver down my spine. His hands were on my body, exploring every inch of me.My own hands were tangled in his hair, pulling him closer. I could feel his heart racing against my chest, his ragged breath on my neck.The tension between us was undeniable. It was like a fire, consuming us, making us forget about the world around us."Are you sure about this, Ruby?" Roman whispered, his voice thick with desire."I'm not. So go on before I change my mind."His eyes lit up, a sly grin tugging the corners of his mouth. "As you wish."And then his lips were on mine again, claiming them in a way that sent a wave of heat through my body. I lost myself in the moment, in the feeling of his touch, his scent, his taste.My mind was swimming with desire, and the only thing that mattered was being with him
~Ruby's POV~I blinked, feeling confused, as I looked down at my twins. They were holding onto me tightly, their small arms wrapped around me as if I was the only thing keeping them safe. My body felt weak, and my thoughts were jumbled, but I managed to lift my hands and gently place them on their heads.“I’m okay,” I whispered, though my voice was barely audible, hoarse from whatever had just happened.“Don’t scare us like that again, Mum,” little Ruby said, her voice trembling as if she was holding back tears. Hearing the crack in her voice broke something in me.“I promise,” I murmured, my lips trembling as I pulled both of them closer. Their warmth was grounding, pulling me back from the abyss I felt teetering on.I glanced up and saw him—Roman—sitting back on his heels, watching us. There was something raw in his expression, something I hadn’t seen before. Relief, maybe, but it was more than that. He looked shaken, like what just happened had hit him almost as hard as it hit me
~Little Ruby's POV~“Rhett?” I stopped laughing as I went under the water. I came up a little while later, feeling scared and weak. “Mum! Help! I think Rhett is drowning!” I screamed, my voice shaky with fear.Mum jumped out of her chair so fast it looked like she flew. She ran to the pool and, without thinking twice, dove right in—even though I knew she didn’t know how to swim. My heart pounded so hard I thought it would jump out of my chest.I swam toward Rhett as fast as I could. Mum splashed wildly beside me, and together, we grabbed him and pulled him to the shallow end of the pool. I could barely breathe by the time we got him out.Rhett coughed and blinked, sitting up. “Whoa… that was close,” Mum said, gasping for air.“It sure was!” I said, relieved but still shaking. “You scared us, Rhett!”“Sorry…” Rhett muttered, rubbing his head. Then he looked at Mum. “Wait, Mum… you’re swimming!”I turned to her, and suddenly, her face changed. Her eyes widened, and she looked at the w
~Ruby's POV~I was lying on my bed, soaking in the quiet, when the door creaked open; Rhett and Little Ruby popped their heads inside. Their mischievous smiles were enough to set off alarms in my head.“Hey, Mum. What are you doing?” Rhett asked casually. “Umm… nothing, exactly. Just trying to relax,” I said cautiously, narrowing my eyes at them.“Oh, that’s nice. What a coincidence,” Little Ruby said, her voice too sweet to be trusted.“Coincidence?” I asked, sitting up. “What are you two planning?”"Well... we were thinking the same thing too. So... you can relax outside—with us,” she added, her grin broadening.“No. Not a chance.” I shook my head firmly, but they didn’t even flinch.“Come on, Mum! You can even swim with us,” Rhett chimed in.“Oh… so that’s why you’re both dressed like that?” I asked, eyeing their swimsuits.“Exactly! Trust us, it’ll be fun,” Little Ruby said, bouncing on her toes.“Remember, I can’t swim, guys,” I said, raising an eyebrow.“Oh… that's true. But th