06

As sunlight filtered through and cast soft golden stripes across the hardwood floor, Adriana stirred beneath the bedsheets, her dark lashes fluttering open. For once, she didn’t reach for her phone to scan emails or skim through news alerts. Today wasn’t about business. It was about beginnings.

Lying on her back, she stared at the ceiling for a moment. Australia had been her sanctuary for years—a place where she had rebuilt herself from ashes into iron. But now, the time had come. California was calling, and with it, the next chapter of her plan.

Rolling over, she reached for her phone and tapped Claire’s name—the kids’ nanny.

“Hello, Ms. Claire,” she said softly.

“Good morning, Ma’am. I’m just heading to check on Hardin and Tessa,” Claire’s voice chimed with its usual calm cheerfulness.

Adriana sat up, pushing the covers aside with purpose. “That’s why I called. Don’t worry about them today. I’ll take care of everything.”

There was a small pause before Claire responded, “Understood, ma’am. Let me know if you need anything.”

Adriana ended the call with a small smile tugging at her lips. She placed the phone gently on the nightstand and glanced at the time. 7:30 a.m.

With quiet determination, she began to gather the essentials for the relocation. Her fingers moved swiftly, folding garments with practiced precision into leather suitcases. It didn’t take long; she’d done this before—leaving a place like home behind. But it was never like this, never with her children by her side.

After a long, calming shower, she got dressed in a simple gown, and applied a light lip gloss before stepping out.

As she creaked the door to her twins’ room open, the dim morning light gave the space a dreamlike haze. 

A smile spread across her lips as she found Tessa still curled under her pink comforter, a tiny fist tucked beneath her cheek. While Hardin sprawled diagonally across his bed like a starfish, with a few strands of his black hair stuck to his forehead.

Having stepped quietly to Tessa’s side, she lowered herself onto the edge of her bed, her eyes lingering on her serene face. 

Then, she glanced over at Hardin. Despite his tough-guy attitude, he looked so small in sleep, his chest rising and falling in soft rhythm.

Her twins both looked so much like her. It was uncanny sometimes—her chin, her lips, her heart-shaped face. But their bright blue eyes and the gentle waves in Hardin’s jet-black hair? That was all him—pure Antonio.

Her throat tightened upon the realisation, but she pushed the feeling down.

Suddenly, Hardin stirred, and his eyes blinked open slowly, as if still hazy with dreams.

“Hey, baby,” she whispered, scooting closer.

“Morning, Mommy,” Hardin murmured, his voice hoarse with sleep. He sat up sluggishly and rubbed his eyes with the backs of his hands.

“Did you sleep well?”

He nodded. “Mmm-hmm. You?”

“I did. Thanks for asking,” Adriana said, brushing her hand across his cheek.

He tilted his head. “What time is it?”

“It’s a little past nine,” Adriana replied to him, and then arched a brow as he sprang up in panic.

“What?! Mommy, we’re late for school!” He cried, throwing off his covers like they were on fire.

But Adriana caught his hand before he could dash out of bed. “No school today, sweet boy,” she talked gently, but before she could explain more, a soft, sleepy voice piped up from the other bed.

“Good morning, Mommy,” Tessa mumbled, peeking out from beneath her blankets.

Adriana turned, her heart swelling. “Good morning, my sweet princess,” she cooed, her arms widely open.

Instantly, Tessa scrambled out of bed into her embrace, her tiny face burying into Adriana’s neck.

“Morning, kid sis,” Hardin said teasingly, already smirking.

Tessa pulled back with a frown. “I’m not your kid sis. Mommy said I was only five minutes late being born!”

Adriana chuckled before squeezing them both into her arms. “Hardin, don’t tease your sister first thing in the morning,” she scolded lightly, her tone laced with warmth.

“Okay, Mommy,” Hardin replied, but shot Tessa a cheeky grin that said he’d already filed it away for later.

With Tessa now leaning against her side and Hardin sitting cross-legged on the bed, Adriana looked between their two faces.

“There’s something I need to talk to you both about,” she said, her voice soft, but serious enough to get their attention.

Immediately, their gazes snapped to her.

“We’re moving out of here,” Adriana declared, her voice faint.

“To where?” Tessa asked first, her brows furrowed.

“Somewhere very far, back to where I was before you were born. A place called California.”

Hardin looked sceptical. “Do they have ice cream there?”

Adriana laughed. “Yes, plenty of it. Even better than here.”

Tessa scrunched her nose. “But what about our school? And Ms. Parker? And dance class?”

Adriana took her daughter’s hand. “I know it’s a lot to take in. But this new place… it’s going to be beautiful. There’s a beach and a big yard, and you’ll get to start fresh. Together. With Mommy.”

She said to them, but there were still lots of questions—concerns about friends, toys, and even how many suitcases they were allowed to bring. 

But by the time Adriana pulled out her phone to show them pictures of their new house and the nearby playground, their reluctance had shifted to curiosity and maybe even excitement.

As they huddled together on that soft bed, laughter split between them like sunshine, and Adriana felt it again—that rare flicker of peace.

An hour later, the scent of freshly baked cinnamon rolls floated through the air as Adriana walked hand in hand with the twins into the dining area. Hardin climbed into his chair with a small grunt, while Tessa, as usual, took her seat like a little princess, adjusting her hairband even though no one was watching.

Adriana helped pour milk into their glasses and handed each of them a warm plate. “Eat slowly,” she reminded them with a kiss to their foreheads.

But before they could take more than a few bites, the sound of footsteps descending the stairs stole everyone's attention.

Eros appeared, and trailing just behind him was the strange blonde with lipstick still smudged around the corners of her mouth. Without a word, she just walked past the dining area and quietly let herself out through the front door without looking back.

Adriana's jaw tightened, but she didn’t say anything. 

Eros approached the table like nothing had happened, his shirt slightly wrinkled, as he smelled faintly of expensive cologne and sin.

“Hi, pumpkins,” he said lightly, planting quick kisses on both Hardin and Tessa’s cheeks as he passed behind them.

Tessa beamed. “Morning, Daddy!”

Hardin, however, stiffened, his small fingers gripping his fork tighter. 

Eros slid into the chair beside Adriana, barely glancing at her. “Morning, wifey,” he muttered like it was a routine he’d memorised.

Adriana’s smile was thin and cold. “Morning,” she replied, her eyes solely on Hardin as he kept pushing his scrambled eggs around on his plate.

With the cheer he’d had earlier now completely drained, Adriana leaned forward slightly in concern.

“Hardin, why didn’t you respond to Daddy?” she asked gently.

He didn't answer at first. Then slowly, he lifted his head. His lips pulled into a tight line, his bright blue eyes were slightly dulled.

“What is it, baby?” Adriana asked again, her voice softer and warmer.

Just then, Hardin blinked. “It’s Daddy,” he mumbled, barely above a whisper.

Instantly, both Adriana and Tessa turned toward Eros, who had just stabbed a piece of toast and paused mid-bite.

Then, Adriana’s gaze returned to her son. “What about Daddy, sweetheart?”

“He… he called us ‘pumpkins’ again,” Hardin muttered, his small shoulders tensing as he fiddled with his fork. “We’re not babies anymore. We’re five now, Mommy. I’m a big boy.”

As he spilt the words, Eros chuckled—a low and careless one.

Just in an instant, Adriana shot him a glare sharp enough to cut through steel.

She reached across the table and took Hardin’s hand in both of hers. “You’re right. You are a big boy now. And I promise, Daddy won’t call you that again.” She said, smiling down at him with warmth and pride. 

“Right, Daddy?” she added, but Eros didn’t answer.

But Hardin, reassured by her words, nodded and finally dug into his food with renewed energy, as if the storm inside him had passed.

Adriana leaned slightly toward Eros, her voice cool and low. “We need to talk. After breakfast.”

Eros didn’t meet her eyes. He just gave her a slow blink, like he hadn’t heard her, and returned to chewing his toast in silence.

Later, after the dishes had been cleared and the twins were giggling in front of the TV, Adriana headed upstairs.

She didn’t bother knocking. The door swung open with a push, revealing Eros sprawled on his grey leather sofa, with his laptop perched on his thighs. He glanced up, his fingers pausing on the keys.

Adriana strode in with arms folded tightly under her chest, her every step echoing authority. She stopped a few strides away, her eyes burning with fury and something else one could assume.

“You’re unbelievable,” she eventually said flatly.

Eros closed the laptop with a soft click and set it aside. “Good morning to you too.”

Adriana’s nostrils flared. “If you want this revenge plan to work, Eros, you need to act like those children are yours. Not accessories. Not strangers. Yours. Your coldness toward them is going to ruin everything.” Her voice came through, cutting like a blade.

“If calling them by their actual names is too much for you, then don’t call them anything, and stop using pet names like you’re playing some fake father game. They’re smart. They feel everything. And they’re watching you.”

She continued, her hands gesturing sharply as she spoke, and punctuated each sentence like daggers.

Yet, Eros remained silent.

But just then, he stood in one smooth motion, and adjusted his shirt before before walking to her until there was barely an inch between them. 

Adriana’s breath caught at his warm scent wrapped around her like an uninvited memory. The last time he’d stood so close in front of her, was when she was still pregnant.

With her chin tilted up, she refused to back away.

“If you truly want me to carry out your request, then don't stop me from what I'm about to do. You looked so hot when mad.” Eros eventually uttered, his breath fanning her face.

Just as Adriana tried to process his words, his hand cupped the back of her neck, and without permission, his mouth crashed into her plump pink ones.