Chapter 3: Her Secret Twins

Three days later, Cassidy stood at the airport with one suitcase beside her.

She was leaving everything behind.

Her marriage.

Her mother.

Dylan.

And the life that had nearly destroyed her.

She had also heard the latest news.

Dylan and Selena were engaged.

Cassidy tightened her grip on her passport.

It shouldn't hurt anymore.

Their marriage was over.

“I arranged everything for you abroad,” Rodel said beside her. “A place to stay, transportation, and anything else you might need. If there's a problem, call me.”

Cassidy looked at him.

For the past three days, Rodel had never pressured her to stay. He had simply helped her with everything she needed.

Her eyes softened.

She suddenly stepped forward and hugged him.

“Thank you, Rodel.”

He froze for a moment before slowly hugging her back.

“Take care of yourself.”

“I will.”

Cassidy pulled away.

Then she turned toward the departure gate.

She didn't look back.

If she did, she wasn't sure she would have the courage to keep walking.

So Cassidy boarded the plane and left the country.

She thought she was leaving her old life behind forever.

She was wrong.

Six years later, warm sunlight filled the kitchen of a large house.

The smell of freshly baked bread drifted through the room.

A little boy stood at the counter, carefully slicing bread.

He had jet-black hair, sharp features, and a serious expression that made him look much older than his age.

He glanced at the clock.

Then at his identical brother sitting on the living room couch.

“Noel, we're going to be late. Wake Mommy up.”

Noel looked almost exactly like him, except for the small mole near his eye.

He jumped from the couch and slipped on his slippers.

“Leave it to me!”

He raced upstairs.

Seconds later, a shout echoed through the house.

“Mommy!”

Cassidy groaned beneath the blanket.

Noel jumped onto the bed.

“Mommy, wake up! We're going to miss the plane!”

Cassidy opened one eye.

“Five more minutes.”

“No.”

“Three?”

“No.”

“One?”

Noel narrowed his eyes.

Then his tiny fingers attacked her sides.

“Noel!”

Cassidy shot upright, laughing as she tried to escape his hands.

“Okay! Okay! I'm awake!”

Noel stopped and smiled proudly.

“Good.”

Cassidy stared at him.

Sometimes she wondered how a six-year-old could act like her parent.

She hurried downstairs with messy hair and sleepy eyes.

“Mommy, breakfast is ready,” Noel announced. “Daddy Helton's driver will be here soon.”

Cassidy stopped.

“What?”

She looked at the clock.

Her eyes widened.

“Oh no! I haven't packed!”

Nardy, the boy standing in the kitchen, calmly took another bite of bread.

“We already packed everything.”

Cassidy turned.

Three suitcases stood neatly beside the door.

One large.

Two small.

She stared at them before rushing toward Nardy and pulling him into her arms.

“My baby! I love you so much!”

“Mommy.”

Nardy struggled against her hug.

“Too tight.”

Noel sighed.

Their mother could run a successful life abroad, but somehow she still couldn't prepare for a flight on time.

“She still needs training,” Nardy whispered.

Noel nodded seriously.

“When we find our real daddy, maybe he can help.”

Nardy glanced at him.

The twins had once believed Rodel was their father because they had always called him Daddy Helton.

As they grew older, however, they realized that wasn't true.

Their real father was someone Cassidy rarely spoke about.

And that only made them more curious.

Cassidy didn't hear their whispers.

She was staring at the suitcases.

Six years.

She had been away for six years.

She never planned to return.

But the boys had begged to see the place where she grew up.

Eventually, she gave in.

They didn't know why she had really left.

And they certainly didn't know the name of their biological father.

Dylan Edwards.

Cassidy took a slow breath.

There was nothing to fear.

Six years had passed.

Dylan had his own life.

She had heard that Selena was expecting a child, and Dylan was finally preparing to marry her.

There was no reason for their paths to cross.

At least, that was what Cassidy believed.

Hours later, Cassidy walked through the international airport with Noel and Nardy beside her.

The twins pulled their small suitcases while Cassidy held their hands.

Several people glanced their way.

The two boys looked almost identical, dressed neatly and walking with far more confidence than most children their age.

Then Noel suddenly pointed ahead.

“Daddy Helton!”

Both boys released Cassidy and ran.

A tall man in a brown coat opened his arms.

Rodel laughed as Noel and Nardy crashed into him.

He lifted them both.

“Look at you two. You've gotten heavier.”

“Daddy Helton!” Noel complained. “Save your hugs for Mommy. I'm not her!”

Rodel laughed and put them down.

Then his eyes found Cassidy.

His smile changed.

It became softer.

“Welcome home.”

Cassidy smiled.

“It's been a long time.”

Rodel walked over and hugged her.

His arms stayed around her for a moment longer than necessary.

“Are you tired?”

“It was just a flight,” Cassidy said. “I'm not that fragile.”

“I know.”

But his eyes still checked her face as though he needed to make sure she was truly okay.

Then he asked the question that had been on his mind.

“You're staying this time?”

Cassidy hesitated.

Only for a second.

“The boys want to stay.”

It wasn't exactly an answer.

Rodel noticed.

But he didn't push.

Instead, he looked around.

“Where's your luggage?”

Before Cassidy could answer, Noel spoke.

“Daddy Helton, you're silly.”

Rodel raised an eyebrow.

“Am I?”

“You can buy Mommy anything she needs. Why carry bags when you can use your hands to hug her?”

Cassidy's mouth fell open.

“Noel!”

Rodel burst out laughing.

Nardy covered his face.

“I don't know him.”

“You're my twin!” Noel protested.

Rodel ruffled both boys' hair.

“Fine. Do you need help with your suitcases?”

“No!” Noel said proudly. “We're strong!”

To prove it, he grabbed his suitcase and rushed ahead.

“Noel, slow down!”

He didn't listen.

He ran straight toward a large group of people entering the terminal.

“Noel!”

His suitcase caught against someone's shoe.

He tripped.

Cassidy's heart jumped.

“Noel!”

She rushed toward him.

Rodel and Nardy followed.

Cassidy quickly helped her son sit up.

“Are you hurt?”

Noel shook his head and brushed off his pants.

“I'm okay.”

Then he looked at the people around him.

No one had stopped.

His little face darkened.

“Are you all blind?” Noel shouted. “You wear fancy clothes, but nobody knows how to help someone?”

Several people turned.

Cassidy's eyes widened.

She immediately covered his mouth.

“Noel!”

She gave the people an apologetic smile.

“I'm sorry. He's very outspoken.”

Rodel reached them.

But the moment he saw the group, his expression changed.

“Cassidy.”

Something in his voice made her look at him.

He lowered his voice.

“They're with the Edwards family.”

Cassidy went cold.

For a second, the entire airport seemed to disappear.

No.

Not here.

Not now.

Her arms tightened around Noel.

Then she slowly looked toward the crowd.

And saw him.

Dylan.

Six years had changed him, but not enough.

He was still tall and sharply dressed. His expression was colder than she remembered, and people naturally moved aside for him.

Cassidy forgot how to breathe.

Of all the people she could have met on the day she returned...

Why him?

She instinctively moved closer to Rodel.

Dylan's gaze swept across the group.

Then stopped.

On her.

Something flickered in his eyes.

It disappeared so quickly that Cassidy couldn't understand it.

Dylan walked toward them.

“Mr. Helton.”

His voice was calm.

“Mr. Edwards,” Rodel replied.

Dylan glanced at Cassidy before looking back at Rodel.

“I heard a rumor that you two were together.”

Rodel remained calm.

“Since when do you care about rumors?”

A faint smile appeared on Dylan's face.

“I don't. I was simply curious.”

His gaze returned to Cassidy.

“We're nearly the same age, Helton. I'm getting married soon. You'll receive an invitation.”

Cassidy looked at him before she could stop herself.

“Getting married?”

Dylan noticed her reaction.

“Surprised?”

Cassidy immediately looked away.

“No.”

But her fingers tightened around Noel's shoulder.

Dylan's eyes dropped.

For the first time, he properly noticed the child beside her.

Then he saw Nardy.

Two boys.

Identical.

His gaze stayed on them for several seconds.

Cassidy's heartbeat became painfully loud.

No.

Don't look at them.

Rodel seemed to notice her fear.

He stepped closer and took her hand.

Dylan's gaze moved to their joined hands.

His expression cooled.

“I didn't know you had this kind of taste, Helton.”

Rodel's eyes narrowed.

Dylan continued, “You seem very interested in something I already threw away.”

Cassidy's face went pale.

Rodel didn't lose his temper.

Instead, he lifted Cassidy's hand and gently kissed it.

“Then I should thank you.”

Dylan's smile disappeared.

Rodel looked directly at him.

“If you hadn't let Cassidy go, I wouldn't have had the chance to know how valuable she really is.”

Cassidy stared at Rodel.

Then Noel slipped his little hand into hers.

Nardy did the same on her other side.

Rodel smiled.

“And I wouldn't have these two little miracles in my life.”

Silence followed.

Dylan looked at the twins again.

Cassidy's stomach twisted.

His eyes moved from Noel to Nardy.

Then back to Cassidy.

For one terrifying second, she wondered if he saw it.

The resemblance.

But Dylan only gave a cold laugh.

“Enjoy your family.”

He turned to leave.

Then he stopped beside Cassidy.

“Six years ago, when we divorced, the man you were with wasn't Helton.”

Cassidy stiffened.

Dylan lowered his voice.

“I hope you've finally learned how to stay with one man.”

Cassidy's eyes burned.

Six years ago, those words would have destroyed her.

Now they only reminded her why she had left.

She looked straight at him.

“You don't know anything about my life.”

Dylan's jaw tightened.

Cassidy didn't wait for an answer.

She took Noel and Nardy's hands.

“Come on, boys.”

She walked away.

Rodel followed.

But after several steps, Noel looked back.

Dylan was still standing there.

Watching them.

More specifically...

Watching Noel and Nardy.

Noel frowned.

Then he looked at his brother.

“Nardy.”

“What?”

“That man is weird.”

Nardy glanced back.

Dylan's eyes were still fixed on them.

Cassidy heard the boys and felt her blood run cold.

She didn't turn around.

She couldn't.

Because one terrifying thought had already taken over her mind.

Had Dylan noticed something?

After six years of hiding the truth, had coming home exposed her secret on the very first day?