Several Years Later

"Mummy, you promised to take us out." Blake accused his Mom, watching her work on her computer.

"Mom!"

"I'm coming honey, Mummy needs to work you know," Kate spared her four-year-old son a glance. He was pouting and clearly annoyed with her. She had to laugh.

"Give me a minute, honey, Mom will soon be done." Jake, his twin brother, was probably playing with his games. Jake had taken more of her temperament than Blake. Although, they were identical, Blake was his father's son to the bone. From their mannerisms to their sense of humour.

The old wound had finally healed but the scars were still there, and sometimes they hurt. But her boys were her pride and joy. She loved them to death and would do anything to protect them even if it meant keeping their father's identity a secret.

But as they got older each year, they continued to look more and more like Alex.

Edward strolled into the house munching on an apple.

"Uncle Ed!" Blake yelled, flinging himself at Edward. "Atta boy!" Edward laughed, throwing Blake up and catching him. "Again, again!" Blake giggled and Edward obliged, much to the amusement of Kate.

Jake heard the commotion and came out screaming, joining in the fun. Kate's heart was full as she watched her kids happy and playing.

"Uncle Ed, Mom is left out of the fun!" Blake squealed, pointing at Kate. "No, no, no," Kate protested, shaking her head.

"Play time! Play time! play time!" The twins began yelling and Edward winked at her.

Kate could not help herself, she giggled like a child when Edward carried her, spinning her around. His arms were still strong, those same arms that carried her from the alley, the same alley that nearly ended the life of her twins. Because of Evelyn.

She smiled up at Edward. His honey brown eyes were sparkling with delight, and something that looked suspiciously like desire. In the past, he had pledged his service to keeping her and her children safe, but it had been on the orders of her stepfather and now, Kate could see he genuinely wanted to be here with them, so she and the kids had bonded with him over time.

They saw him as a father figure and he cared deeply for them. As for Kate, she admitted she was attracted to him, he was tall, handsome, caring, attentive, protective, literally all the qualities a woman sought in a man.

She would admit that on some days, she fantasised about him doing naughty things to her. It's been a long time since she'd had a man in her bed and sometimes the temptation, especially with someone as hot as Edward around, was strong.

But Kate had also grown wiser over the years. She guarded her heart in a cage and kept it locked. The betrayal had done a lot of damage to her and she didn't know if she could get over it completely. So as much as her body wanted to feel a man move inside her, her mind wasn't fully healed. And besides, she had her kids to think about.

---

Some hours later, after the twins had had their fill of ice cream, they returned to the mansion.

It was one of many they had around the country. In just two years, Kate had tripled the fortune her stepfather had given to her. She was one of the youngest female billionaires to enter Forbes list.

Her achievements and accolades had been groundbreaking. First, she changed her name, then she underwent minimal cosmetic changes. Her features became sharper and more prominent, so she still looked like herself but with subtle differences. And when she wore makeup, it was hard to know it was her.

She did the work to become truly and utterly erased. She learnt new languages, becoming fluent in French, Spanish, German and Russian. She learnt etiquette and fine dining, honing her skills in the art of communication and negotiation. She read books of all kinds, studied for courses, and gained knowledge far and wide.

She had instincts and an eye for profitable investments, which played a key role in her success. Every Saturday, she sparred with Edward on the mat. From boxing to martial arts and wrestling, she learnt it all. She soon became a master of it. Building her body as much as she sharpened her mind.

The new Kate then emerged as, Matilda Emerson. And this Kate was ruthless and had no room for weakness, except when it came to her kids. She was mush for them. But would kill anyone who so much as blinked the wrong way at them.

---

She was working the boxing bag in her gym when the News came on live.

"The CEO of Multi-trex Incorporation, has been under strain after the company suffered heavy financial loss. This comes after a failed investment sank billions of dollars. Financial experts are saying there's a huge possibility the company might go bankrupt."

A grim smile appeared on Kate's face as she watched the news on TV. A footage of Alex and Evelyn came on screen. They were dodging reporters hounding them for a statement. Cameras were flashing in their faces as the press violated their privacy.

Evelyn wore sunglasses. That beautiful face was a mask of shame as the press tore into her. It felt like a dream to Kate that she had once adored this hateful woman, that she once considered her a sister.

For all his crimes, Alex was still looking good, if anything, time had been favourable to him. He was handsome as ever in his black suit. His top buttons were opened, revealing his tanned skin. Against her will, her kids' faces swarm to her mind.

They deserved to have grown up knowing their father. But because of the terrible choices he made, and the hateful woman he chose over her, they were paying for it. God it hurts, it hurts so much when they ask about him and she had to come up with a lie.

That rage was building inside her, but she took comfort in the wheels of her plan beginning to roll. It was time she brought them completely to their knees.

She heard Edward walk into the gym. He came to stand beside her watching the screen.

"You good?" He murmured, looking at her.

"Sure." She replied. Kate's face was now cold as ice.

"Let the games begin."