Aurora and Derek had left the hotel earlier that evening, both having important errands to run.
Aurora, with a mixture of hesitation and resolve, had left her children in the care of Ava.
There was no other option; Leo’s upcoming battery replacent required all of Aurora’s focus, and Derek had to finalize so arrangents for their extended stay in Sumturm City.
With a quick hug and a reminder to behave, they had rushed out, leaving the twins in safe hands.
Back in the hotel, Leo and Aria bounced excitedly on the couch as Ava, ever patient and sweet, asked with a smile, "What do you two want for dinner tonight?"
"Pizza!" Leo shouted, jumping up with energy.
"No, burgers!" Aria chid in, her dark hair swaying as she clapped her hands together.
Ava chuckled, clearly amused by their enthusiasm. "How about both?" she offered, watching their little faces light up.
"Yay!" they cheered, clearly thrilled by the suggestion. Ava stood, smoothing her skirt.
"I’ll be right back," she said with a smile, making her way to the door. "Stay put and don’t cause any trouble while I’m gone, okay?"
The twins nodded, but as soon as the door closed behind Ava, Aria’s expression shifted to sothing more serious.
"Leo, it’s almost ti," she whispered urgently.
Leo’s blue eyes widened, and he quickly grabbed his tablet from the coffee table.
They were only five, but they had a cleverness about them that often surprised even the adults around them.
With quick, nimble fingers, Leo typed "Lucas Rossi" into the search bar.
They had learned the na after catching their mother, Aurora, staring longingly at a photo of a man online.
The way she looked at the screen had been enough for the twins to understand that this man, Lucas Rossi, was their daddy.
A quick Google search had confird his na.
Aria tapped her forehead with her palm in mock frustration. "Leo, I told you it’s Lucas Rossi’s eting day today!"
Leo grinned, admiring his sister’s mory. "You’re so smart, just like Mommy."
"Of course I am," Aria said proudly, watching as Leo pulled up the details of Lucas’s business schedule.
Her eyes grew wide as she spotted the ti. "The eting started at 5, and it’s almost 6 now! That ans it’s almost over!"
Leo gasped. "Co on, Aria, let’s go get our daddy back!"
They slipped out of the room, determination shining in their blue eyes as they hurried down the hall.
---
Lucas Rossi was being wheeled out of the eting room by his trusted assistant, Gabriel.
The discussion with the shareholders had gone as expected, and Lucas was ready to head to his hotel room to rest.
As they moved down the hallway, Lucas noticed two small figures standing by his room door in the distance.
His sharp eyes caught the sight of a girl with dark hair and rosy cheeks, and a boy with sandy-blond hair.
Both had striking blue eyes.
"Twins?" Lucas mused silently. His eyes narrowed slightly as he turned to Gabriel. "Get them out of here. I don’t like people lingering around my room."
Gabriel nodded, imdiately walking over to the children.
As he approached, sothing struck him—the boy’s face bore a resemblance to Lucas.
Gabriel hesitated for a mont, but then shook his head.
Lucas only had one child, Caleb, with his wife, Julia. These children couldn’t be his.
"Hey there, kids," Gabriel said gently. "Are you lost?"
Leo straightened, shaking his head firmly. "No, we’re not lost."
Aria looked up sweetly, her voice soft and determined. "We’re waiting for our daddy."
Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "Daddy? Well, I can help take you to the lost and found if you’re looking for your parents."
Before Gabriel could finish his sentence, the twins’ faces lit up with excitent.
"Daddy!" they cried out, rushing towards Lucas, their small legs carrying them as fast as they could.
Lucas, who normally disliked crowds or being approached by strangers, found himself strangely affected as the children hurried towards him, their innocence and joy making his heart soften.
"Daddy, we found you!" Leo exclaid, looking up at him with those familiar blue eyes.
Lucas blinked, his usual guarded deanor faltering.
His heart stirred with an unexpected warmth, though his logical mind quickly asserted control.
He smiled politely but gently. "I think there’s been a mistake. My assistant will help you find your real daddy."
Aria shook her head adamantly. "No, Daddy, you’re our real daddy! Don’t you recognize us?"
Lucas stared at her, stunned by her boldness.
The little girl pointed at her brother’s ear. "Look, Daddy! Leo has small ears, just like yours!"
For the first ti in a long while, Lucas felt truly speechless. The resemblance was uncanny. He glanced at Gabriel, whose expression revealed the sa shock.
"Where is your mommy?" Lucas asked, his voice quieter than before.
Just then, Ava ca rushing down the hallway, her face pale with relief.
She had been searching for the twins after realizing they had snuck out of the hotel room.
"There you are, you little munchkins!" Ava called out as she approached them, a playful tone in her voice, though the relief was evident. "Why did you leave without telling ?"
Leo and Aria looked up at her innocently, though there was a spark of mischief in their eyes.
"We went to find Daddy," Leo explained matter-of-factly.
"Yeah!" Aria chid in. "We found him!"
Ava’s playful smile faltered as her gaze shifted from the children to Lucas. Her breath caught in her throat.
She knew exactly who he was, and the reality of the situation hit her like a wave.
Lucas raised an eyebrow, his expression now guarded. "Are these children yours?"
Ava hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. She wanted to say no, but instead, she found herself nodding.
"Yes," she said quickly. "They’re mine. I’m so sorry for the confusion."
Lucas nodded politely, though his eyes remained on the children, sothing unspoken passing between them. "No worries."
Ava, feeling nervous under his intense gaze, chuckled awkwardly. "They must have mistaken you for soone else. Kids, right?"
Lucas gave a polite smile, though his mind was racing. "Understandable. It was nice eting you."
"Likewise," Ava replied, ushering the twins away. "Co on, kids. Ti to go."
"But, we want to stay with Daddy!" Aria protested, her eyes wide with disappointnt.
Ava gave them a gentle but firm look. "Co on, let’s go."
As they walked away, Leo and Aria both turned to wave, whispering in unison, "Bye, Daddy."
Lucas sat there, watching them disappear down the hallway, his heart feeling sothing it hadn’t in years: a deep, unshakable connection.
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