Iris:
Iris:
After putting so much stress on me, my mother went ahead to rest in her room on the second floor.
I didn't exchange a single word with Luca either. He went to the guest room to rest, and I knew exactly what he was doing.
He was probably talking to women, fooling them with his sweet words like he always did before getting what he wanted. Then, he'd dump them in the harshest way possible.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves, and decided to go check on my children.
They had taken a football to play in the garden. As soon as I walked out, I heard a knock on the door, and then someone pressed the doorbell. They seemed to be in a hurry.
I walked over to the door, and thank goodness I decided to peek through the side first.
"What the fuck," I muttered in shock under my breath, glancing at my children instantly.
Why the fuck is Kash here?
He must have come to argue with me. Of course, he couldn't keep himself calm.
But what was he going to argue about? That I left because he cheated on me? Or was he finally here to apologize for what he did?
A lot was running through my mind, but the first thing I did was to rush over to my children, grab them by their arms, and push them back inside the mansion.
"Go play in your room. Don't come out, okay?" I warned them in a whisper as the doorbell continued to ring.
"But we want to play out here," Amy complained, pouting as I tried to usher them back inside. They loved being outdoors, outdoorsy kids through and through, always drawn to games that needed room to move and plenty of space to explore.
"We'll play together later, okay? But right now, guests are coming, and I don't want them to see you. Please, don't come outside. Promise me," I urged, getting anxious.
They finally nodded, though reluctantly. Thank the Moon Goddess. As soon as they left, I straightened my posture and reached for the door.
Kash brushed past me, heading straight towards the garden. He scanned the area before turning back.
"What the heck!" I blurted out.
"I heard there were children here," he almost yelled.
The way he said it made me freeze. Hearing him talk about my kids made every part of me tighten, but I forced myself to remain calm. I wasn't about to let him see through me.
"I was just watching some videos. What is your problem?" I replied, trying to sound casual. I folded my arms.
"Since when do you talk to me like that?" He raised an eyebrow, showing bewilderment and also disapproval.
I didn't answer. He studied me for a moment, as if trying to figure out what changed. We were staring at eachother.
He looked almost the same, just older and stronger. His gray eyes still had that sharp look. His black hair was a bit longer now. He'd filled out more, broader shoulders, the same defined jaw, the same thick eyebrows. I hated that a part of me still noticed. Still remembered.
"So this is where you came to live after you fucking left me," he muttered.
Any feeling I had for him vanished the moment he spoke. He didn't look the least bit remorseful.
"In case you don't remember," I reminded him coldly, "I sent you a message. I told you—if you accept her, 'll leave. And you made your decision, so I acted on mine."
I tried to sound like I didn't care. Like that decision didn't break me all those years ago.
"You know, it's so funny when people like you—cheaters—make others look bad," he taunted, making my eyebrows narrow at him.
"I'm the cheater?" I asked, pointing at my chest, completely caught off guard. "You fucking betrayed me. You were sleeping with your ex. You told me you were going to accept her, so what the fuck are you on about?"
I laughed a little. Not because the situation was funny, but because he was acting ridiculous, trying to shift the blame onto me when he was the sole reason our relationship died.
"You know, I came here to reject you," he continued, "but looking at your smug face, I realized I won't. I'd rather keep you hanging by a thread so you never get to marry someone else."
There was something in his tone that scared me. He was way too calm, and that meant danger. There was more to what he was saying. Something he wasn't revealing.
But the moment he brought up rejection, my heart sank. Still, it was the truth. If he rejected and divorced me, I'd finally be free—free from the fear of him ever asking for my children.
"So reject me. Aren't you already married to Lara?" I asked, holding back tears, my jaw clenched, standing my ground without fear for once.
"Oh, I'm going to marry her," he replied, his voice cold, "but I'm not going to reject you."
"Then I will speak with the council—" I muttered, realizing he was trying to threaten me.
And then, suddenly, my children ran out of the mansion. It felt like someone had shot me with a silver bullet when I heard Amy and Colin's voices behind me.
"Mommy, look! He is stealing my stuff!" Amy shouted, rushing forward to hug my leg, while Colin trailed behind, pouting and throwing a fit.
I couldn't even focus on them. My eyes went straight to Kash. He was staring at them, eyes wide open. Goosebumps covered my skin. All the confidence I had built in front of him began to crumble.
He looked at me, then back at the children. He had caught me in my lie in the worst way possible. But there was something else I feared more.
Kash looked at the two of them again, then turned to Walkin. His expression said it all. The scent of his children was strong, and he could feel it.
And then, in the most horrified, dark, and trembling tone, Kash uttered.
"Are they mine?"