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Chapter 22

Author: A. Leilani
last update Last Updated: 2025-10-29 15:29:08

Chapter 22

DEREK

The sound of the apartment door slamming open should have been my first warning. The thunder of small feet pounding down the hallway should have been my second. But I was too focused on watching Winter set the table—watching her move around my kitchen like she'd always belonged there—to register the impending disaster until it was too late.

"WE'RE HOME!" two voices screamed in perfect, ear-splitting harmony.

I spun around just in time to see Jamal and Andre burst through the doorway like twin tornadoes, backpacks flying off their shoulders and landing with heavy thuds on the floor. They were talking over each other, voices competing for dominance as they recounted their day in overlapping fragments that made absolutely no sense.

"—and then Marcus said that his dad could beat up anyone's dad but I said my dad could totally—"

"—gave me a GOLD STAR for my drawing and she put it on the wall and EVERYONE could see it—"

"—lunch was gross again but I traded my apple for Jam
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  • Accidentally Yours, Forever    Chapter 25

    Chapter 25DEREKI managed to get Thomas's shirt on and lifted him easily—he was lighter than I'd expected, all sharp angles and delicate bones—to carry him to his bed. The twins watched with interest as I settled him under the covers, making sure he was comfortable before backing away."Is he gonna be okay?" Jamal asked quietly."Yeah, buddy. He's just exhausted. Today was a big day for him.""He's nice," Andre decided. "I like having a brother.""Me too," Jamal agreed. "Even if he is kinda scared of everything.""He's not scared of everything. He's just not used to how things work here. Give him time, okay? Be patient with him."Both twins nodded seriously, their normal chaos temporarily subdued by the gravity of the moment."Now you two, into bed. It's late, and tomorrow's a school day."There was the usual negotiating about who got which blanket and whether the nightlight should be on or off, but eventually, both twins were settled in their beds. I stayed until their breathing eve

  • Accidentally Yours, Forever    Chapter 24

    Chapter 24DEREKBoth twins stared at me like I'd lost my mind."You're bad at math," Jamal said with the brutal honesty only children can manage."So bad," Andre agreed. "Like, really really bad.""I'm not bad at math! I'm just... not good at explaining it. There's a difference."Thomas had been sitting quietly at the table, having already finished his own homework with terrifying efficiency. Now he leaned over to look at Jamal's worksheet, his brow furrowed in concentration."Oh, this one's easy," he said. "See, you start with twelve apples. Then Tommy gives away five, so you subtract five from twelve, which is seven. Then he eats four more, so you subtract four from seven, which is three. That's why he has three apples left."Jamal stared at him. "Wait, that makes sense.""Can you do mine too?" Andre asked eagerly, shoving his worksheet toward Thomas.And just like that, Thomas became the homework helper. He worked through both twins' assignments with patient explanations that actu

  • Accidentally Yours, Forever    Chapter 23

    Chapter 23DEREK"Yeah, sorry," Andre added. "We didn't mean to scare you. We just didn't know you were here."Thomas nodded but didn't say anything, still pressed against Winter's side like she was a shield."Okay," I said, sitting down on the coffee table so I was at eye level with the twins. "This is Thomas. He's Winter's son, and he's going to be staying with us for a while.""How long is a while?" Jamal asked."I don't know yet. But while he's here, he's going to share your room, and you're going to treat him like family. That means no throwing things at him, no yelling at him, and definitely no ganging up on him. Understood?""But we share everything with family," Andre protested. "That's what grandma always said. So we were sharing our toys—""By throwing them at his head?""We throw things at each other all the time!"He had a point, actually. The twins' version of affection often involved projectiles. But Thomas wasn't used to that kind of rough-and-tumble interaction. He'd b

  • Accidentally Yours, Forever    Chapter 22

    Chapter 22DEREK The sound of the apartment door slamming open should have been my first warning. The thunder of small feet pounding down the hallway should have been my second. But I was too focused on watching Winter set the table—watching her move around my kitchen like she'd always belonged there—to register the impending disaster until it was too late."WE'RE HOME!" two voices screamed in perfect, ear-splitting harmony.I spun around just in time to see Jamal and Andre burst through the doorway like twin tornadoes, backpacks flying off their shoulders and landing with heavy thuds on the floor. They were talking over each other, voices competing for dominance as they recounted their day in overlapping fragments that made absolutely no sense."—and then Marcus said that his dad could beat up anyone's dad but I said my dad could totally—""—gave me a GOLD STAR for my drawing and she put it on the wall and EVERYONE could see it—""—lunch was gross again but I traded my apple for Jam

  • Accidentally Yours, Forever    Chapter 21

    Chapter 21DEREKJesus Christ. This kid had different types of water scheduled throughout his day. Who did that? What kind of insane level of control did Stiles exercise over every aspect of his son's life?I filled the glass from the tap and handed it to him. "Here. It's not fancy, but it's cold and wet and it'll make you not thirsty anymore."Thomas took a cautious sip, like he was testing it. Then another. Then he drained half the glass in one go."Good?" I asked."Really good, actually. It tastes different than the spring water. Less... filtered?""That's the city minerals you're tasting. Some people hate it, but I think it's got character.""I like it." He finished the rest of the glass and handed it back to me with a shy smile. "Thank you, Derek.""Anytime, buddy."Winter appeared in the doorway, having changed into one of my t-shirts and a pair of sweatpants that she'd rolled at the waist. "Everything okay? I thought I heard a crash.""Just a small incident," I said, not want

  • Accidentally Yours, Forever    Chapter 20

    Chapter 20DAMON"No, actually. I also need you to know that your mother's assistant gave me a very detailed schedule for the next three days, and apparently you—or I, pretending to be you—have fourteen meetings, three conference calls, and a charity gala. So, you know, no pressure, but maybe resolve your domestic situation quickly so I can stop living your ridiculous life?"I sank onto the edge of the bed, exhaustion hitting me all at once. "I can't come back yet. Winter just got Thomas back. He's been through hell with Annalise, and he needs stability right now. Time to adjust. Time to heal.""I get that. I do. But Derek, your entire future is riding on this board meeting. If you don't show up—the real you, not me in a suit—your mother will hand everything to Patricia. And Patricia will run this company into the ground within six months.""I know.""So what's the plan?"I looked around the bedroom—Winter's borrowed clothes folded on the dresser, her suitcase open on the floor, the f

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