LOGINKillian finally exhaled and turned around on the couch, facing her fully.“Daniela.” His voice dipped low. “Stay with me tonight.”Her breath caught.She blinked, unsure she heard him right.He continued before she could speak, careful like a man revealing the part of himself he usually locked behind a thousand steel doors.“I don’t mean anything complicated,” he said softly. “Just… be there. I sleep better when you’re close.”Daniela’s pulse fluttered.He was asking, genuinely asking for closeness, for her to stay with him.She searched his expression. “Killian…”He leaned forward slightly, elbows on his knees, his fingers clasped together. His eyes held that quiet intensity she always tried not to drown in.Daniela’s chest tightened. Not from pressure, but from something tender rising unexpectedly in her chest.He looked tired in a way even a thousand massages couldn’t fix.The kind of tired that came from too much responsibility, too many silent nights, too many emotions he swallow
Much later that night, long after the house had settled into quiet, a familiar engine hummed outside.Killian's car pulled into the driveway. He didn’t come in through the front entrance. He handed Wilson a big insulated bag instead.“Make sure it gets to them,” he said flatly. “Quietly.”Wilson grinned. “Peace offering?”Killian sighed with a nod.Wilson got out of the car and disappeared into the fortress while Killian remained in the car.He was exhausted from all the work and wanted to stay back for some seconds to regain his energy, after which he'll go inside.——Daniela had just stepped out of the quadruplets room to get water from the kitchen. Wilson silently slipped into the elevator, moving like a shadow. When he got to the second floor, he stepped out then hurried to the boys room. The quadruplets were busy playing a game, of which the winner got to sit beside Daniela while she read them bedtime story. When Wilson entered, and they saw a bag in his hand, their eyes widen
The next morning, Killian left before dawn to attend to some important business stuff.Daniela prepared the quadruplets for school. She noticed they seemed excited today, but she didn't bother asking since they were already late to school.MUMMY, CAN YOU DROP US OFF TODAY— Alessio. Daniela smiled and patted his head. “Alright. I'll come with you.” Since she had already freshened up, she changed into a pair of blue jeans and black shirt. Julian drove them to the quadruplets school which took half an hour. Daniela helped them out of the car. She followed them into the school. “Alright, be good boys at school. Mummy will come pick you up, ok.” The four of them nodded then took turns hugging her.Daniela watched them leave, a smile forming on her lips. She took out her phone and took a picture of them before they disappeared into their class.Just as she turned to leave, she bumped into someone. “I'm sorry, I didn't see you.” Daniela quickly apologized as she reached down to help
Killian’s patience frayed like an overworked violin string, and the quadruplets were the four tiny bow-wielders sawing away at what was left of his sanity. He had sur70vived days of their sabotage. Days of alarms, staged emergencies, fake heartaches.If he had succeeded in bribing Rocco, then tonight was supposed to be his night.He had everything planned.He had Daniela in the living room, finally relaxed, finally smiling, finally not surrounded by pint-sized bodyguards.And just as he was about to say a word to her, the boys struck again. Spectacularly. Like a storm that never ends.It started with a scream so dramatic it could shatter windows.ROCCO IS MISSING!Daniela leapt up in full panic mode. Killian nearly swallowed his own tongue from anger.Rocco wasn’t missing. Killian had seen the child three minutes ago climbing the staircase like an uncoordinated squirrel. There's no way he was suddenly missing.But Daniela was already running through hallways, calling his name, voice
And Daniela…She was the key.She saw those boys as fragile, sweet, needy little lambs.Meanwhile, they were wolves with stuffed animals.He rubbed his forehead.He couldn’t scold them, because they'd cry and Daniela would skin him alive.He couldn’t manhandle them, because they were tiny and would break like breadsticks.He needed a plan.A smart plan.A silent plan.A plan that would make those four rethink challenging their father.Killian leaned back in his chair, eyes sharpening.Step One: Predict the enemy.The boys’ favorite strategy:Emergency.Sickness.Drama.And using Daniela like a shield.So he needed to select a moment they couldn’t interrupt.He tapped the desk.And the perfect moment… is when she’s distracted.Cooking? They'll pretend they splashed hot water on their body.Cleaning? The boys could fake slipping on a speck of dust.Reading? They’d set the book on fire if they had to.But…When Daniela read them bedtime story?Impossible to interrupt.She took it serious
Killian glanced back at Daniela who had gone back to cooking. He sighed and walked out of the kitchen. He's going to make those four devils pay for what they did.Lunch was quick, because the quadruplets claimed they had something to do which concerned school.Killian knew that was a lie, but he didn't bother exposing them because he wanted them far away, as far as possible.After lunch, Killian had to go upstairs to his study to attend a zoom meeting. The quadruplets went to their room, and Daniela, she decided to clear up the dining table. Half an hour later, Killian stepped out of his study. He took the elevator down to the second floor, intending to spy on what those four were up to. Immediately he placed his ear on their room door to listen, the door pulled open from inside and he almost fell. CAN WE HELP YOU?— Matteo. ARE YOU TRYING TO TRESPASS?— Alessio. “Trespass what? I was just walking pass .” Killian replied.OH REALLY?— Rocco.Matteo held up his tab and played a video







