CHAPTER 50 – The twins drama
L U C I A N
The sun was barely rising when the mansion was already alive.
Not because of me, I was still in my home office, scrolling through my overnight emails with a mug of black coffee but because of the two little hurricanes running down the hall.
Daddy!
My head turned before I even realized I'd done it.
Lila and Isla barreled into the office like they owned the place, their identical curls bouncing, their pajamas mismatched, giggling like they'd just escaped from a candy factory.
I didn't even have time to put the coffee cup down before they climbed me like I was a tree.
One ended up on my lap, the other standing on the chair arm, pointing at the laptop screen.
"Are you still working?!" Isla demanded, her little brows furrowed as though she was the CEO here.
"Yes," I said slowly, setting the coffee aside. "That's what mornings are for."
Lila gasped dramatically. "But you promised pancakes!"
I blinked. "I did?"
"Yes," Isla nodded fiercely, as though it had been signed in blood. "And strawberries. You said strawberries."
"Silas!" I called, not taking my eyes off them.
He appeared in the doorway almost instantly, perfectly put together as always despite the early hour. "Yes, sir?"
"Cancel my nine o'clock. There are apparently pancakes and strawberries that require my immediate attention."
Silas didn't even blink. "Of course, sir. Shall I also inform Chef Marianne she is now cooking for two miniature dictators?"
Two gasps.
"We're not dictators!" Lila cried.
"We're princesses!" Isla corrected, crossing her arms with all the royal authority she could muster.
Silas's mouth twitched, dangerously close to a smile. "My apologies, Your Highnesses."
Breakfast was chaos.
Marianne had clearly gone all out there were pancakes, strawberries, cream, syrup, and orange juice on the table by the time we sat down.
Correction by the time they sat down.
I was still trying to get them to pick seats.
Because they looked exactly the same.
It was ridiculous.
I had been in boardrooms with world leaders and hostile negotiators and never once been this confused.
"I'm Lila!" one announced when I tried to set her in the left chair.
"No, I'm Lila!" the other shouted from across the table.
I looked at Silas, who was calmly buttering toast like this was not an emergency.
"Are they....."
"Swapping names again? Yes," he said without looking up. "Yesterday they insisted on being Batman and Spider-Man for three hours."
I stared at them, both grinning wickedly.
"You two are going to make my entire staff lose their minds."
"Good!" Isla declared. "Then they'll be funny!"
Lila giggled so hard she nearly fell off her chair.
Despite the madness, something about the morning felt… right.
It is a strange calmness for me.
For the first time in years, the house didn't feel like a mausoleum.
It was alive there was laughter echoing through the halls, tiny feet running across the marble floors, questions being shouted from one end of the corridor to the other.
And I couldn't lie to myself I liked it.
I liked them.
Liked the way they looked at me like I hung the moon.
Liked the way they demanded things without fear.
Liked the way they didn't treat me like the rest of the city did with reverence or fear or hidden agendas.
To them, I wasn't Lucian Dreven, the untouchable, the ruthless, the man entire corporations scrambled to please.
I was just their father.
And they made sure I remembered it every five minutes.
But the calm didn't last.
Because beneath it all, a storm was brewing and I could feel it.
I hadn't heard from Rina since last night.
Not a call. Not a message. Not even a demand to see the girls.
Which wasn't like her.
She was stubborn, yes. Angry, always. But quiet?
Never.
I pushed my chair back and stood, walking to the window, staring out at the estate grounds.
She wouldn't give up.
Not without a fight.
And if she wasn't here now, that meant she was either planning something or breaking down somewhere she thought I couldn't see.
"Sir?"
Silas's voice was careful, measured.
"She hasn't come yet," I said without turning.
"No," he agreed. "But she will."
I glanced at him. "You sound certain."
He smirked faintly. "She's not the type to let you win without a fight. I'd prepare for war, if I were you."
A dry laugh escaped me. "I already did."
And I had.
The best security on the estate. The best doctors for the girls. The best nannies, vetted and certified, who started today, I know my kids are fine.
If Rina wanted a fight, she was going to get one.
But even as I thought it, there was a sharp twist in my chest I didn't want to name.
I wasn't keeping them from her because I wanted revenge.
At least, not entirely.
I was keeping them here because I couldn't stand the thought of them leaving.
Because for the first time in many years, I wasn't empty anymore.
And the thought of them leaving me!
And that scared me more than anything.