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?
And now, with just one kiss, it had roared back to life.My legs felt like jelly, and I wasn't sure how much longer I could stay upright. Thankfully, Roman seemed to sense this, and without breaking the kiss, he slid his arms around my waist and pulled me closer.I was pressed against him now, the feeling of his body against mine sending a shiver down my spine. My mind was spinning, but there was one clear thought cutting through the haze.I didn't want this to end.I knew it was wrong, but right now, it didn't matter.Right now, all that mattered was this.This feeling.This moment.The feel of his lips against mine, the taste of him, the way his hands felt as they explored my body, sending sparks of pleasure through every inch of me.The sound of his heartbeat, thudding in time with mine.It was like coming home after a long journey.Suddenly, Roman broke the kiss, pulling back. His eyes were wild, and his chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath.I couldn’t breathe. I could bar
~Ruby's POV~Saturday began with a sense of heaviness due to the upcoming event. It was the day of Aunt Jean’s burial, and there was a clear tension in the house. I had just come out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around me, with steam lingering on my skin. As I tied my robe, I made my way to the kids’ room, expecting to find them already dressed and ready.I pushed the door open slightly and peeked in. “Hope you two are almost ready?”The scene inside stopped me dead. There they were, sprawled on the bed with their tablets, eyes glued to their screens, completely oblivious to the passing of time.“Is it time already?” Little Ruby asked, not even looking up.“What do you mean, is it time?” I pushed the door open wider, hands on my hips. “We’re late already!”Both kids shot up, their wide eyes mirroring their surprise. “We are?” they chorused.“To the bathroom. Now!” I said, pointing emphatically to the door.Their tablets clattered onto the bed as they scrambled to obey. Towels slu
I stared at her, my thoughts racing. “Ruby…” I started but trailed off, unsure how to continue. “Why didn’t you tell me?”Her face crumpled slightly, her voice cracking as she replied. “I didn’t know how,” she said. “I didn’t want to burden anyone. And honestly, I was scared of what everyone would think.”Her words hit me hard. I reached across the space between us, taking her hand in mine. “You know you can trust me,” I said softly. “We’re family, Ruby. You didn’t have to go through this alone.”Tears glistened in her eyes, but she blinked them away quickly. “I know,” she whispered.The sound of Rhett and little Ruby laughing in the other room broke through the heavy moment. Their giggles felt almost surreal against the tension in the room.“Dad already has a hint about them,” I said cautiously, watching her reaction.Her eyes widened, and I could see panic flash across her face.“But I won’t say anything,” I assured her.Ruby exhaled deeply in relief. “Thank you,” she said.“But yo
~Esperanza's POV~I stood still on Ruby’s doorstep, watching the two kids who had just called her "mom." Their bright eyes sparkled with excitement, and their laughter filled the quiet street.“Mom?” I said again, the word feeling strange as it rolled off my tongue. I glanced between Ruby and the kids, a sense of disbelief churning in my chest.“Yes, Esperanza. Here are my little ones,” Ruby replied, her calm demeanor feeling so odd in this moment.Her little girl—her daughter—stepped forward with a grin that could melt glaciers. “Hi! Who are you?”I blinked, still trying to reconcile this scene. “I’m Esperanza. I’m Ruby's… I mean, I'm your mum’s cousin,” I said, my voice faltering slightly.“Oh!” The little girl, a miniature version of Ruby, grinned even wider. “I’m Ruby, too! And that’s my brother… Rhett.”The boy was less bashful. “Hi! I’m Rhett,” he said confidently, sticking out his hand toward me.I knelt slightly to his level, forcing a smile as I shook his hand. “Hello, Rhett,
~Ruby's POV~The phone buzzed on the countertop as I finished folding a fresh stack of laundry. I glanced at the screen: Esperanza.“Hey, what’s up?” I replied, feeling the warmth of my clothes fresh from the dryer.“Hi, Ruby. I’m heading out to get some things in preparation for Aunt Jean’s burial. Do you want to come with me? I could use some company,” she said in a cheerful tone, but I could sense the sadness behind her words.I paused for a moment, feeling the heaviness of the day weighing on me like a thick fog. The weekend was coming, and it brought up feelings of loss and sadness. But I also remembered that I could really use something to take my mind off things. Going out into the world might help lift my spirits, even just a little bit for a little while.“Sure,” I said, forcing a note of enthusiasm into my voice.“Great. Where should I pick you up?” she asked, her voice brightening.“I’m not home right now,” I lied, the guilt curling in my stomach. “Let’s meet at Freddy’s
~Damien's POV~The smell of gunpowder filled the air as I focused on the target board a few yards away. I lost my concentration when I heard the sharp sound of Evan’s shot, as his bullet hit the bullseye perfectly.“You're better at this, I must say,” I said, lowering my gun and eyeing the target board with a grudging nod.“You think so?” Evan smirked, clearly enjoying the compliment.“That’s the bitter truth,” I admitted, adjusting my stance and taking another shot. My bullet struck the chest of the painted body diagram—just slightly off-center.“Is that a confession or you admitting I’m better than you in this field?” Evan teased.“Don’t let it get to your head,” I shot back, trying to focus on the board in front of me.“But if we’re being honest, Dane is the best,” Evan said, glancing at the man standing quietly to the side.Dane, who was always humble, shook his head. "No, I don’t think so."“I mean it. Even with that hand situation, you’ve got better,” Evan added, reloading his w
~Ruby's POV~The smell of sizzling onions filled the kitchen as I stood at the counter, preparing breakfast. The kids busied themselves around me, handing over ingredients.“Rhett, pass me the eggs,” I said, retrieving the groundnut oil from the cupboard.“Here you go, Mom,” Rhett said, carefully passing the bowl of eggs.“Thanks. Little Ruby, the pepper, please.”“Um, Mom,” Little Ruby began as she handed me the pepper, “when are we going to see Aunt Jean?”The question struck me like a bolt of lightning. I froze, nearly letting the onion slip from my grasp. “Aunt Jean?” I repeated, buying time to collect my thoughts.“Yeah, we still haven’t visited,” Rhett added with a curious tone.I set the onion down, turning to face them. “About that…” My voice faltered, and I ran a hand over my forehead.“What is it, Mom?” Little Ruby asked, concern lacing her small voice.I crouched to their level with a heavy heart. “The thing is…I’ve been trying to find the right words to tell you both. It’s
~Ruby's POV~“So what have you been doing all day?” I asked, closing the door behind me. “Mom!” Little Ruby squealed, running to hug me “Roman’s been helping us draw. Look!” She held up a page filled with a colorful creature.“Is this supposed to be Raphael from TMNT?” I said with a raised brow. “Yes, Mum.” I smiled faintly, ruffling her hair. “Looks like you’ve been busy.”Rhett stood up, holding out another drawing. “This one’s mine. Roman said it’s the best.”I raised an eyebrow at Roman, who shrugged with a chuckle.“Well, it’s not bad,” I said, feigning a critical look. “But maybe next time, draw them with fewer teeth.”“Not a chance!” Rhett said, laughing.Roman met my gaze over their heads, his expression warm but unreadable. For a brief moment, the stress of the day faded, and I let myself imagine—just for a second—what it might feel like for this to be normal.But reality was never that simple.I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Thanks. I really appreciate you doing this.”“It’
~ROMAN’S POV~The kids sat at the kitchen table, their brows furrowed in concentration as they worked through a series of math problems I had written out. Leaning over Rhett’s shoulder, I pointed to the equation he was struggling with. “Alright, look here. Start by simplifying the numbers inside the parentheses,” I explained, tapping the paper lightly with my pen. “Ohhh, I get it now!” Rhett said, his face lighting up as he scribbled the answer. You can tell he was obviously excited. Across the table, Little Ruby raised her hand triumphantly. “Done! Check mine, Roman!” Her voice was filled with pride, and I couldn’t help but admire her enthusiasm.I took her sheet and scanned it. “Perfect. You got it all right.” Her grin stretched from ear to ear, and I could see the confidence swelling within her. She tilted her head, her pigtails bouncing with the motion. “Have you ever considered teaching?”“Teaching?” I repeated with a laugh, raising an eyebrow. “Me? A teacher?” The idea felt f
~Ruby's POV~I held the phone to my ear, Esperanza’s voice steady on the other end.“What’s up?” I asked, hoping this wasn’t about more bad news.“I just thought you’d want to know… Keely’s in the city,” she said, her tone cautious but firm.“Oh my God.” My heart sank. “When did she arrive?”“This morning,” she said.“How is she? How’s she processing the news?” I asked, pacing the living room.“She’s… better than we expected,” Esperanza replied after a brief pause.I let out a heavy sigh, running my hand over my forehead. “Oh, Keely…”Esperanza’s voice softened. “What’s done is done, Ruby. We just have to heal. What we have now is each other.”She was right, of course, but it didn’t make the situation any less daunting. “Yeah, you’re right, Esperanza. You’re absolutely right.”“Dad wants us to meet up to discuss the burial plans now that Keely’s here,” she continued. “Think you can make it?”I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “Yeah, I’ll be there in an hour or two.”The moment