CHAPTER 5

Kaelen's POV

The divorce papers remained on the table between us and I couldn't bring myself to say anything.

I looked at the familiar words printed across the first page.

PETITION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE

Five years ago, Lyra had sent me these same papers but I never signed them and now she had brought them herself.

She stood quietly across from me. There was no anger in her eyes. No sadness. She simply looked... finished.

"I think this is what both of us wanted," she said calmly.

"Is it?" I asked looking up.

"Isn't it?" She frowned slightly.

I didn't answer because I honestly didn't know. Five years ago, I would have signed without thinking twice but now my hand refused to move. Lyra checked the time on her watch.

"I have another meeting." She picked up her handbag. "Take your time."

She turned toward the door. "My lawyer will contact yours."

Before I could stop her, she had already walked away. I stood there alone, staring at the papers. Something inside me felt strangely empty.

I left the conference center almost an hour later. Rowan followed beside me.

"You've been quiet." He noticed.

"I'm just thinking." I answered.

"About the investment project?" He asked.

"No." I replied.

"Lyra?" He asked looking at me but I didn't answer.

"I knew it." Rowan sighed.

Before either of us could continue, laughter echoed from the small garden beside the parking area.

A little boy chased a paper airplane across the grass.

"Wait for me!" he shouted happily.

A little girl stood nearby with her arms crossed.

"I told you it would fly too far." She retorted.

"But it flew!" The boy laughed.

I couldn't help smiling. They looked about five years old. The little boy had messy black hair and bright silver eyes. The little girl looked almost the same except her hair was longer.

For some reason I couldn't explain, I found myself walking toward them. The boy finally caught his airplane and looked up at me.

"Hello!" He greeted me smiling happily.

"Hello." I replied, smiling back.

"I made this myself." He held up the airplane proudly.

"Really?" I asked feigning surprise.

"I'm getting better every day." He nodded quickly giving the paper airplane to me.

"It flies well." I said as I accepted the paper airplane from him.

"I know." He replied confidently.

His confidence made me laugh and before I could say more, the little girl stepped closer.

"My brother likes talking to everyone." She revealed with a scrowl on her face that reminded me of Lyra.

"I do not." The boy objected.

"You do." She retorted.

"I don't." He argued back

I couldn't help laughing. They look so cute as they were arguing.

"You two sure argue a lot." I commented.

"We're twins," the little girl answered. "And we argue because he never listens."

"I listen sometimes." The boy said in defense.

"See?" She said rolling her eyes.

I laughed again and for some strange reasons I could not fathom, talking to them felt easy and comfortable.

The little boy suddenly looked at me carefully.

"Mister..." He called.

"Yes?" I answered.

"You look lonely." He said.

His words caught me by surprise but before I could respond, a familiar voice called out.

"Aiden! Aria!"

The twins turned immediately.

"Mom!" They both shouted and my heart skipped.

Lyra is their mother? When did she give birth? Many questions ran through my mind at once but I didn't have the time to think through anything.

Lyra hurried toward us and the moment her eyes landed on me, she stopped. Something flickered across her face but it quickly left before I could know what it was.

She looked at me and then she looked at the children.

"What did I tell you about talking to strangers?" She asked in a not too stern voice.

"Sorry, Mom." Aiden apologized, lowering his head.

"He was nice mom," Aria said quietly.

"I know." Lyra replied smiling at them gently.

"But you should always stay close to me." She added as she reached for their hands.

Only then did she finally look at me.

"Thank you for keeping an eye on them." Her voice was polite but distant.

It felt almost as if she was marking her territory and letting me know that they were off limits.

"They're good children and they are also very smart," I replied with a smile.

"They're my whole world." She said with softness in her eyes as she looked at the twins.

Something tightened inside my chest at the sight. An ache that I could not brush away.

I watched as she gently fixed Aiden's collar before brushing a strand of hair away from Aria's face. The children smiled at her with complete trust in their eyes and without saying another word, Lyra led them away.

"Bye, Mister!" Aiden turned around and waved and I found myself raising my hand.

"Goodbye." I answered waving back.

The three of them disappeared into the crowd and I just kept standing there long after they were gone.

'This could have been my family.' the thought crossed my mind shocking me. What was I even thinking? My mind went to the divorce papers in my office.

All it would take was just one signature and my life with Lyra would become a thing of the past but when I look at her and remembered the twins, I knew I could not bring myself to do it. I don't just know why, or could it be that I had fallen in love with Lyra?

I didn't have time to think it over because Rowan walked over.

"You alright?" He asked.

"Those children..." I said, still looking in the direction that they left.

"What about them?" Rowan asked.

"They felt..." I frowned as I searched for the right word to use. "Familiar."

"But you've never met them before." Rowan said looking confused.

"I know." And that was the strange part.

The little boy's smile, the little girl's serious expression and even their silver eyes...

Something about them refused to leave my mind. It was almost as if...

I had seen them somewhere before.