Evelyn’s POV
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. I specifically told Calvin not to worry the children, yet here he was, deliberately positioning himself outside Leon’s hospital room for everyone to see.
Whatever. I’d given up trying to understand his thought process.
Since I had plans today, I intended to hand Alexis over to Leon to hold. Before I could, Calvin swooped in and took her himself.
"Alexis, let Uncle Calvin hold you," he cooed, pulling her against his chest. "Have you missed , princess?"
Alexis didn’t struggle, settling comfortably against him. But when she looked up at his expectant expression, she simply said, "No."
I had to suppress a smile as Calvin’s face fell dramatically.
Turning to Leon, I said, "I need to go out for a while today. My assistant Emma is swamped, and Gary’s tied up with research. Could you watch the children for ?"
Leon smiled warmly. "Of course, Eve. Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll take good care of Rowan and Rhys."
"The twins are MY children!" Calvin protested.
I didn’t have ti for his attention-seeking behavior. I leaned down to Alexis and stroked her hair. "Be good for everyone, sweetheart."
Alexis nodded solemnly.
As I walked away, I heard Calvin interrogating the children. "Where’s your mother going?"
Rowan looked up at him innocently. "Mom’s going to the airport to pick soone up."
Rhys chid in excitedly, "Dad, Mom said she’s bringing soone very important for us to et!"
Alexis added helpfully, "It’s Hus—"
***
The mont I arrived at the airport, I spotted my best friend waiting at the exit. Husara stood out effortlessly in the crowd with her stylish short hair and androgynous fashion sense, her striking features drawing curious glances from passersby.
"Eve!" she called, waving enthusiastically. "Over here!"
We embraced tightly, years of separation lting away in seconds. I’d worn a simple light gray linen dress today, minimal makeup as usual. Together, Husara and I made quite the contrasting pair—different styles of beauty, but equally magnetic to the eyes around us.
Husara was a renowned landscape photographer whose work took her around the globe each year. Her photographs had a way of touching the soul, though few people realized the internationally acclaid artist was actually a woman.
"God, Eve, let’s get going," she said, looping her arm through mine. "I’m dying to see those gorgeous kids of yours."
As Alexis’s godmother, Husara might not be present often, but every month without fail, packages arrived from various corners of the world for the children.
"The kids are at the lab. You’ll see them soon," I promised.
"Well, hurry up then! I’ve got a pink gemstone for our little princess, and for those two handso boys of yours..."
Once we reached the lab, I showed Husara to the guest room. "Why don’t you freshen up with a shower? I’ll go collect the children."
"Yes, go, go!" she urged, already unzipping her luggage.
I’d barely opened the door when I found myself face-to-face with Calvin and the children. Alexis was cradled in his arms, with Rowan and Rhys flanking him on either side, their eyes watching intently.
The sight of those four identical pairs of eyes montarily disoriented . They shared the sa intense gaze—a Wolfe family trait that had always been both captivating and unsettling.
Rowan spoke first. "Mom, you’re back."
I nodded with a smile.
Alexis reached for from Calvin’s arms, and I quickly took her. As I did, I noticed Calvin’s gaze flicker past to catch a glimpse of a tall figure moving in the guest room. His lips thinned to a tight line.
That guest room was where I occasionally slept when I worked late at the lab, to avoid waking the children.
"Uncle?" Alexis’s confused voice snapped Calvin out of whatever possessive trance he’d fallen into.
The child had her arms around my neck, but Calvin was still gripping her legs. She looked at him with bewildernt.
"Sorry," he mumbled, releasing her. "I was distracted."
I stepped aside to let Rowan and Rhys enter. Calvin remained in the doorway, his eyes tracking the joy and relaxation in my expression—emotions brought on by soone other than him, which clearly bothered him.
"Mom, did your friend arrive?" Rhys asked curiously.
I ruffled his hair. "Yes. Husara’s taking a shower right now. I’ll introduce you all soon."
Turning to both boys, I smiled. "You’re going to have another person in your lives who cares about you. "
When I finally looked back at him, I said firmly, "Calvin, it’s not convenient for you to co in today. You should go back to your hospital room and rest."
I watched the war between reason and rage play out across his features. My dismissal had completely shattered whatever tenuous balance he’d been maintaining.
His expression turned glacial, his voice laced with frost. "Why isn’t it convenient? Because there’s another man in there?"
Not wanting to argue in front of the children, I put Alexis down and instructed her to take her brothers to the living room. Then I grabbed Calvin’s sleeve and pulled him outside.
His composure crumbled completely as anger overwheld reason. He stepped forward, backing against the wall, one hand placed against my lower back.
"What’s the matter?" he growled. "Afraid your new lover will discover you’re still entangled with your ex-husband?"
His scent enveloped . I looked up and caught the dangerous undercurrent in his eyes, montarily stunned by its intensity.
I turned my face away. "Don’t jump to conclusions. Husara knows all about you and ."
Calvin’s voice grew hoarse with tension. "You’re introducing the Husara guy to Rowan and Rhys?"
I nodded. "Husara’s important family to . I want all the people I care about to know each other. And since Husara won’t be leaving the country anyti soon, and Rowan and Rhys are staying with , it’s perfect timing..."
His free hand clenched into a tight fist. I could see his self-control slipping away. It had always been this way between us.
Calvin’s face paled slightly, and I noticed the subtle signs returning—the heart palpitations, sweating, and trembling hands that had sent him to the hospital in the first place.
The air between us crackled with tension as he gritted out, "You—"
My phone vibrated in my pocket. Seeing Husara’s na flash on the screen, I quickly answered, turning slightly away from Calvin to speak quietly.
"Yes, I’m right outside. I’ll be right there."
Calvin wasn’t finished. "Once you’ve got those boys wrapped around your—"
His words cut off abruptly as his face turned ashen. Before I could react, his knees buckled and he collapsed toward . I lunged forward to catch his weight.
"Calvin!" I shouted.
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