CHAPTER ELEVEN

The room fell quiet. Her question lingered between them like a sharp blade, while Tessa's heart pounded heavily against her chest.

"I'll tell him. That's not an issue, Justin," she answered confidently. She knew Richard trusted her, and that was all that mattered.

"Alright," Justin replied with a smile. "I'll be on my way, and don't worry, I'll keep your..."

"Listen, Justin. Whatever you're thinking, it's not what you imagine. If Sophia had been someone else, I would still have helped her financially."

She explained calmly, no longer showing any signs of nervousness.

Justin nodded.

Dinner was already being prepared when they returned. The delicious aroma of roasted chicken and freshly baked bread filled the hallways, making the twins' stomachs growl at the same time.

"Mommy, I'm starving!" Ethan complained first, dramatically tugging at Richard's collar.

Tessa stepped into the room and immediately scooped Eliana into her arms again.

Eliana quickly raised her head from her mother's embrace. "I'm hungry too, Mommy!" she announced eagerly, as though she feared Ethan might get his food before her.

Tessa chuckled softly, adjusting Eliana comfortably on her hip.

"Don't worry, my babies. It will be ready soon. Why don't you both go and freshen up first?

Ethan let out a displeased groan but eventually nodded, reluctantly slipping out of Richard's arms. He dropped his little backpack onto the floor with a thump, still full of energy. Eliana, on the other hand, had no intention of releasing her hold on Tessa's neck. She clung tightly to her mother as though they had been separated for years.

"Princess," Richard called gently, bending down slightly to look into her eyes. "Daddy carried Ethan earlier, so it's Mommy's turn to carry you now, okay? Is that okay?"

But Eliana didn't even bother looking at him. Instead, her tiny fingers tightened around Tessa's dress, while she stubbornly rested her chin against her mother's shoulder.

Richard paused, feeling the sting of her rejection more deeply than he cared to admit. Nevertheless, he concealed his disappointment behind a faint chuckle. Rather than insisting, he simply ran his fingers through Ethan's hair and guided him towards the staircase.

As they made their way upstairs, Ethan deliberately lowered his voice, but not enough to prevent Eliana from hearing him.

"See? Mom loves me more too."

Eliana's eyes widened with anger, and her lower lip began to quiver.

"No, she doesn't!" she protested, her voice cracking with hurt.

"Ethan!" Tessa immediately called out, her tone becoming stern as she shot him a warning look. "Stop making fun of your sister."

Ethan's face fell as he dragged his feet along the stairs.

"I was only playing, Mommy," he muttered.

Tessa sighed and gently kissed Eliana's head.

"Don't mind your brother,love. Both of you are equally precious to me.”

Richard stood at the bottom of the stairs, his hands tucked into his pockets as he quietly observed them. He noticed how Eliana held tightly to her mother while refusing to spare him a glance. He also saw how easily she had believed Ethan’s claim that he loved one child more than the other. The smile on his face slowly faded, replaced by a heaviness in his chest. Perhaps he had been making his affection for Ethan too obvious without realizing it.

Later that night, after dinner and their showers, the twins settled in the living room to play with their toys. Ethan's collection of toy cars was spread across the rug, while Eliana sat nearby, carefully dressing her dolls.

Richard leaned against the doorway, his eyes moving between the two children. "So, who wants Daddy to read a bedtime story tonight?" he asked with a warm smile.

Ethan immediately raised his hand. "Me! Me!" he exclaimed.

Eliana paused. Her eyes briefly moved toward her father, searching his face for a sign of reassurance, an invitation, or a promise that this time wouldn't be all about Ethan. But Richard was already laughing at Ethan's excitement as he bent down to pat his son's head.

A small ache settled in Eliana's heart. She lowered her gaze and murmured, "I don't want a story tonight."

Tessa walked into the living room and took a seat beside her.

Richard froze. He had heard her, even though her voice had been barely audible. Turning toward her, he asked, "Princess, why not?"

She shrugged without taking her eyes off her doll. "Because you'll only read to Ethan anyway."

Her words struck him harder than he expected. His chest tightened as he glanced at Tessa, who had just entered with warm milk for the twins. The disappointment on her face reflected the guilt he was beginning to feel.

When it was finally time for bed, the twins were tucked beneath their blankets. Ethan was already drifting to sleep, his little hand still wrapped around his favourite toy. Eliana, however, turned toward the wall and refused to give Richard a goodnight kiss.

He remained beside her for a little longer, gently brushing his fingers through her hair. "Daddy loves you, Eliana," he whispered, his voice soft and almost pleading.

But she neither moved nor responded. The only sign that she had heard him was the gentle rise and fall of her little shoulders as she breathed quietly.

Later that night, in their bedroom, Tessa nestled into Richard's embrace. She gently ran her fingers over his shirt before lifting her face to look at him.

"She notices, you know," she said quietly. "Whenever you give Ethan more attention than her, she feels it. She's still too young to understand what's in your heart, Richard. All she can judge is what she sees you do."

Richard's jaw tightened, but he made no attempt to deny it.

"I never intended to make her feel that way. I just..." He let out a deep sigh and rested his forehead against hers. "You know I've always loved them both equally. I never imagined she felt neglected. God, Tessa, the way she looked at me tonight... it was as if I wasn't even her father."

Tessa gently held his face, her thumb caressing his cheek. "Then make things right. Let her feel how much you love her before she begins to believe otherwise."

Richard leaned forward and kissed her deeply, as though her words had struck a place deep within him. His hand moved to her neck, lightly brushing against the faint mark he had left there earlier. A hint of desire appeared in his eyes, mingling with guilt and a renewed determination.

"I'll make it up to her," he whispered against her lips. "Tomorrow, I'll carry her instead. I'll hold her close until she understands that she means just as much to me as Ethan does."

Tessa gave him a gentle smile, her lashes falling slightly.

"That's the Richard I know."

"I love you more," he murmured, showering her neck with kisses until she broke into a fit of giggles.

"Richard," she called.

"Yes, my wife?" he answered and chuckled.

Noticing the excitement in his eyes, she decided not to spoil his good mood.

Richard was a deeply emotional man. The thought of discovering that she wanted to help Declan might hurt him more than she could bear. He was also the kind of person who would bottle up his pain rather than let it show.

"Tessa?" Richard called, pulling her out of her thoughts.

"Promise you won't leave me, okay?" she whispered, wrapping both arms tightly around him.

"I won't," he replied with a chuckle. Deep down, he silently swore that he would rather die than ever leave her.

Iris had spent hours by her son's bedside. Her body ached from sitting in the uncomfortable chair for so long, but she refused to step away from him.

Declan was still in the hospital, his body frail and exhausted, yet his mind was surprisingly alert.

Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting bright streaks across the room. It seemed almost too harsh for someone who had only just opened his eyes after spending a day trapped in silence.

His hands shook against the white bedsheets, and his chest rose and fell with difficulty, as though even breathing required every ounce of strength he had left.

Iris sat beside him, her fingers intertwined with his. She watched him with the anxious tenderness of a mother who had come terrifyingly close to losing her child. She had already lost him to Sophia once, years ago, and she couldn't bear to let history repeat itself.

Her heart tightened each time his eyes wandered toward the door, filled with hope and expectation as he searched for someone who wasn't coming. She had prayed that waking up with memory loss would spare him the painful memories of his past.

Sophia had been barred from entering his room since the previous day. The doctors insisted that his fragile condition couldn't withstand any emotional disturbance, and Iris had taken it upon herself to guard the entrance like a lioness protecting her cub.

She had even offered Sophia money to walk away and build a new life somewhere far from them.

But Sophia only responded with a bitter laugh, her voice thick with obsession.

"Give me everything in the world, and I swear on my life that I will never leave Declan.”

Iris's words continued to echo in her mind as Declan shifted slightly, his eyebrows drawing together.

"Mom, where is Tessa?" he asked, his voice hoarse. It was the third time he had asked the same question that day. "Why hasn't she come to see me?"

Iris felt a lump form in her throat. She had tried to answer him gently before, hoping to distract him, but his repeated questions were becoming increasingly difficult to avoid. She tightened her grip around his hand.

"Son," she began softly, sadness evident in her voice, "Tessa isn't coming."

Her words struck him like a sudden blow. Declan went still before abruptly pushing himself upright in bed. His face had turned pale, but his eyes burned with disbelief.

"You're kidding, right?" he demanded, his voice growing louder. "Please tell me you're joking, Mom!"

Iris slowly shook her head, each movement weighed down by the truth she was struggling to deliver. "I'm not joking. Tessa won't be coming."

His breathing became uneven as he attempted to swing his legs over the edge of the bed. Iris immediately placed both hands on his shoulders, firmly guiding him back against the pillows. His strength had always been something she admired, but seeing him like this frightened her.

"Mom..." His voice cracked as he stared desperately into her face, hoping to find a different answer. "Where is she? Why are you lying to me?"

"You have amnesia, Declan," Iris whispered, her eyes filling with tears.

"I don't damn care about the amnesia!" he snapped, his frustration growing with every word. "Yes, I know my memories are unclear, but there are things I remember perfectly." He raised a hand to his temple, as though trying to steady his thoughts, then fixed his gaze on her. "I married Tessa. We got married in 2016."

Iris's heart skipped a beat. He remembered. Despite everything, that part of his past was still clear to him.

"Yes," she acknowledged quietly, giving a small nod. "You did. But, Declan..." Her voice faltered for a moment. "It's no longer 2016 We're in 2026"

A heavy silence settled over the room, leaving both of them struggling beneath the weight of the revelation. Declan stared at her, blinking as though he couldn't comprehend what he had just heard.

"Twenty... twenty-Six?" he murmured.

"You divorced Tessa in 2019," Iris explained, her voice trembling despite her effort to remain composed. "And after that, you married Sophia.”

The name struck him like a poisonous blow.

"No!" Declan's voice cracked as he shook his head repeatedly. "No, no, no! That can't be true. You're lying!"

Iris reached out to comfort him, but he quickly withdrew his hand, his breathing becoming increasingly unsteady.

"You're mistaken," he protested, his voice growing louder. "I would never do something like that. I wouldn't abandon Tessa. She was everything to me. My entire world, my reason for living. I loved her, and I still love her. I can't survive without her." His voice broke as the grief he had been holding back finally poured out.

Iris briefly shut her eyes, trying to gather the courage to continue. "I wish I could tell you it wasn't true," she whispered, "but it is. You walked away from her, and she is no longer part of your life. If only you had listened to me back then, perhaps you wouldn't have divorced her. As painful as it is to say, she deserved better than what you put her through. You betrayed her trust, her love, and every sacrifice she made for you. You were so consumed by Sophia that you refused to listen to anyone who tried to warn you. You had no idea what you were throwing away."

Declan continued shaking his head, as though denying the truth could somehow erase the years that had gone by. A sharp ache spread through his chest, more unbearable than the needle of the IV inserted into his vein.

"That's why I cut ties with you back then," Iris continued, wiping her tear-stained nose. "I couldn't stand watching you build a life with that horrible woman."

"Where is she now?" Declan asked, his voice now hoarse and trembling. "Where is Tessa? Tell me she's waiting outside. Please, just tell me she's here."

Tears rolled down Iris's cheeks. She knew the truth would devastate him, but he needed to hear it.

"She's not waiting for you, son. She's not coming back."

Declan's vision suddenly blurred. Before Iris could react, his body gave way, and he collapsed.