The ride home was quiet.
Ethan sat with his headphones on, watching the city lights pass by with curiosity. Ella leaned against Evan's arm, half-asleep despite claiming she "never needed sleep because she was five."
Adrian sat opposite them in the spacious car, his long legs slightly bent, eyes steady on Evan the entire time.
Evan stroked Ella's hair gently and kept his voice low. "She's tired."
Adrian nodded. "She always burns out fast. She's like you that way."
Evan startled slightly. "Like me?"
Adrian met his eyes. "You shine too bright. And bright things tire easily."
Evan startled slightly. "Like me?"
Adrian met his eyes. "You shine too bright. And bright things tire easily."
Evan's breath caught unexpectedly. He had heard countless compliments in his life—fake ones, shallow ones, mocking ones. But Adrian had always been different. He saw too clearly, understood too deeply.
Maybe that was what made him so dangerous.
The car slowed as they entered the private gates of the Grant family estate—though "estate" was a modest word. The sprawling property stood like a fortress woven into a forest, elegant and quiet, insulated from the chaotic city.
Their home.
For the past five years.
The car stopped. The driver opened the door immediately.
Ethan hopped out with his backpack. Ella mumbled sleepily as Adrian lifted her into his arms.
Evan stepped out last, noticing how Adrian's coat wrapped around Ella, shielding her from the cold.
"Papa," Ethan whispered, tugging Evan's sleeve, "are you okay?"
Evan blinked, touched by how perceptive the little boy always was. "I'm fine. Just tired."
Ethan nodded seriously, like an adult, before taking his hand. "Let's go inside."
The foyer lights flickered on as they entered—warm, golden, welcoming.
Evan paused at the threshold, suddenly overwhelmed.
He wasn't supposed to come back like this.
"Evan," Adrian said quietly, still carrying Ella, "let's put the kids to bed first."
Evan nodded.
---
Later That Night
Ethan fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow. Ella managed to protest for exactly thirty seconds before collapsing into unconsciousness.
Evan tucked the blanket around the twins gently. "Goodnight."
He kissed each forehead.
Then he straightened, turned—
And found Adrian standing in the doorway.
The soft hallway light carved shadows across his face, making his eyes look darker, more intense.
Evan's breath trembled.
Adrian spoke first.
"Come to my study."
Evan's stomach tightened, but he nodded.
He followed Adrian down the quiet corridor and into the study—a room of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, soft lighting, and the faint scent of cedar and ink.
Adrian closed the door behind them.
Adrian walked to the desk, leaned against it gently, arms crossed.
"Evan," he said softly, "we can't avoid the truth any longer."
Evan lowered his gaze to the polished floor, fingers twisting.
"I know."
Adrian stepped closer.
"Look at me."
Evan hesitated—
Then lifted his eyes.
Adrian exhaled.
"Are Ethan and Ella… Lucas Hale's children?"
The words hung heavily between them.
Evan's heart pounded so loudly he was sure Adrian could hear it.
He opened his mouth—
Closed it.
His vision blurred for a second.
"Adrian…" he whispered at last, voice cracking, "you don't deserve to be dragged into this."
Adrian didn't move. "I asked you a question."
Evan's fingers curled tightly into his shirt. "You've given us everything. A home. A family. A future. Telling you the truth will hurt you."
Adrian stepped closer.
"Hurt me," he murmured, "but don't lie to me."
Evan shut his eyes.
A tear escaped before he could stop it.
Adrian's expression softened instantly. He reached up and wiped the tear with his thumb—gentle, careful.
"Evan… don't cry because of him."
Evan trembled. "I'm not crying for him. I'm crying because I don't know how to face you."
Adrian's jaw clenched as if those words hurt more than any confession.
"Evan," he said quietly, "tell me."
Silence.
Then—
Evan whispered the truth he had buried for five long years:
"They're his."
Adrian didn't move.
After … a long, silent inhale.
Evan continued, voice trembling:
"Ethan and Ella… are Lucas's biological children."
The room felt colder instantly.
Evan wrapped his arms around himself. "I didn't tell anyone. Not even my parents. Not even my closest colleagues. Only the doctor who delivered them knows."
"Why didn't you tell him?" Adrian asked, voice low.
Evan let out a small, broken breath. "Because the day I found out I was pregnant… I also found out Lucas got engaged to someone else."
Adrian froze.
His fingers curled slightly.
"He… what?"
Evan's voice cracked. "I overheard his family talking. His father saying Lucas needed a politically useful match. That an Omega like me… would only drag him down."
Adrian's face hardened dangerously.
Evan continued, words spilling out after years of silence:
"So I left. I was humiliated, hated, mocked. And pregnant. I didn't want the children to grow up unwanted. I didn't want them to be born into a family that saw us as burdens."
Evan's body began to shake.
"I ran because I wanted to protect them."
Adrian stepped forward instinctively and pulled Evan into his arms.
Evan's forehead pressed against his chest, tears soaking into his shirt.
"You did everything right," Adrian murmured into his hair. "Everything right."
Evan clung to him, breath ragged. "I didn't want to tell you because I thought… if you knew… you'd treat the twins differently."
Adrian didn't hesitate.
"I have loved those children since the day I first held them."
Evan choked on a sob.
Adrian tightened his arms. "Their biology changes nothing. They are my family."
Evan's tears finally broke.
After a long moment, Adrian pulled back slightly, lifting Evan's chin so their eyes met.
"But Evan," he said, voice quieter, darker, "now that Lucas has seen them, things won't end here."
Evan's breath stilled. "…I know."
"He will come after them," Adrian continued. "He will demand tests. He will demand answers. He will want rights."
Evan's heartbeat raced painfully. "What should I do?"
Adrian leaned forward, lips brushing the top of Evan's forehead in a silent promise.
"You don't do anything," he said. "I'll protect you."
"Adrian…"
"And if Lucas wants a war," Adrian murmured, voice low and lethal, "then I'll give him one."
Evan trembled—fear, relief, guilt, gratitude tangled inside him.
But before he could speak, a small knock sounded on the study door.
Both turned.
The door creaked open—
And Ethan stood there, silver eyes wide, clutching his stuffed wolf.
"Papa… were you crying?"
Evan wiped his eyes quickly. "No, sweetheart. I'm okay."
Ethan stepped inside, looking from Evan to Adrian. His expression was calm, but his small fingers curled tighter around the stuffed toy.
"Did something bad happen?"
Evan knelt and pulled Ethan gently into his arms. "No, darling. Nothing bad. Just something Papa needs to talk about."
Ethan leaned back, studying Evan's face with mature seriousness no five-year-old should have.
"Is it because of the man at the airport?"
Evan froze.
Adrian's eyes narrowed. "You noticed him?"
Ethan nodded without hesitation. "He smelled like Papa."
The room went silent.
Evan's heart twisted painfully.
Ethan pressed his small hand to Evan's chest. "Papa… I don't mind who my father is."
Evan's breath hitched.
Ethan continued gently, "But you and Ella are my home. That's all that matters."
Evan pulled him into a tight embrace, tears falling again.
Adrian watched them both, jaw tightening.
After a long moment, he said softly:
"Evan."
Evan looked up.
Adrian's eyes were steady.
"We'll tell the twins the full truth soon. But Lucas?" He paused. "I won't let him take anything from you. Not again."
Evan whispered, "Thank you."
Adrian didn't smile.
But his voice was full of quiet certainty.
"This time," he said, "he's the one who's too late."