44
Kaida
As I walked into the apartment, my mind was still spinning from what had just happened at the beach. Seeing Kaelen had shaken me to my core, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking about the look on his face when he saw my baby bump. It was like a punch to the gut, and even though Bastian had done his best to comfort me, I couldn’t shake the fear creeping up inside me.
I shut the door behind me, trying to steady my breathing. But as I stepped into the living room, I saw someone sitting on the couch, waiting for me. My heart skipped a beat, but then I realized it was Dahlia, my older sister.
“Kaida,” she said, standing up the moment she saw me. Her eyes were filled with concern as she rushed over, pulling me into a tight hug. “I was getting worried. You weren’t answering your phone.”
I hugged her back, grateful for her presence. Dahlia had always been the more protective one, the one who looked out for me, especially after everything I’d been through with Kaelen. But today, her comfort felt more necessary than ever.
“I’m sorry, I mumbled into her shoulder, my voice was shaky. “I didn’t even hear my phone.”
She pulled back, holding me at arm’s length, her gaze scanning my face. “Are you okay? You look pale.”
I swallowed hard and nodded, though I knew I wasn’t convincing her. “I… I saw Kaelen today.”
Dahlia’s expression immediately shifted, her eyes narrowing as she frowned. “Kaelen? Where?”
“At the beach. He’s here… in Crestwood City. He’s on his honeymoon with Alara,” I explained, feeling my throat tighten at the mention of Alara.
Dahlia’s frown deepened. “His honeymoon? What the hell is he doing here?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted, running a hand through my hair. “I didn’t even realize he’d be here, but… but he saw me, Dahlia. He saw me, and now he knows I’m pregnant.”
Her eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, she didn’t say anything. Then she sighed and guided me to the couch, sitting down beside me. “Oh, Kaida…”
I let out a shaky breath, the weight of the situation starting to settle on my shoulders. “What am I going to do? Now that he knows, he might try to take the twins from me. He could… he
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“Hey, hey,” Dahlia cut me off gently, placing her hand on mine. “Don’t jump to conclusions. Just because he saw you doesn’t mean he’s going to do anything. He doesn’t have any rights over you or the babies, Kaida. He gave that up the moment he divorced you.”
“But what if he doesn’t care about that?” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “What if he wants them now?”
Dahlia shook her head, her grip on my hand tightening. “Listen to me. Kaelen may be the father of your babies, but that doesn’t mean he can just come waltzing back into your life and take them away. You’ve built a new life here, and Bastian… well, he’s made it clear that he’s going to protect you, right?”
I nodded, but the unease in my chest remained. “Bastian said he would protect me, but I’m still scared. I know Kaelen… he’s not the kind of person who backs down easily, especially when it comes to something like this.”
Dahlia sighed, leaning back against the couch. “I get it, Kaida. I really do. But you’re not alone in this. You have Bastian, and you have me. We’re not going to let anything happen to you or your babies. I promise.”
I bit my lip, trying to let her words sink in, but the fear gnawing at me refused to go away. “I want to believe that. I do. But what if he decides to fight for custody? What if…”
Dahlia shook her head again, cutting me off before I could spiral any further. “Kaida, listen. Kaelen is with Alara now. They’re on their honeymoon, for crying out loud. If he’s truly moved on, why would he suddenly want to come after you or your kids? I think seeing you today might have just been a shock for him, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to interfere in your
life.”
Her words made sense, but the image of Kaelen’s shocked expression kept replaying in my mind. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t over. That somehow, now that he knew, things would change.
“I just… I don’t know, Dahlia. I’m scared that this will somehow come back to haunt me.”
Dahlia’s expression softened, and she leaned over, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “I know you’re scared. And it’s okay to be scared. But you have to trust that everything will be okay. Bastian won’t let anything happen to you, and neither will I. You’re stronger than you think, Kaida, and no matter what Kaelen does, you’ll handle it. We’ll handle it together.”
I leaned into her embrace, feeling the warmth and comfort of her words, but a part of me still remained wary. I wanted to believe that Kaelen wouldn’t come after me, that he would stay
of out of my life and let me raise the twins in peace. But I also knew that life had a way
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throwing unexpected obstacles in your path, especially when you thought you were in the clear.
“What if he doesn’t back off, though?” I asked quietly, the fear still gnawing at me. “What if he does try something?”
Dahlia pulled back slightly, looking me in the eyes. “Then we’ll deal with it when it happens. But right now, you need to focus on taking care of yourself and those babies. Don’t let Kaelen’s presence shake you. You’ve come so far, Kaida. Don’t let him drag you back down.”
I nodded slowly, knowing she was right but still feeling that lingering sense of dread. “You’re right. I just… I hate that he still has this hold on me.”
“That’s natural,” Dahlia said softly. “You were together for a long time. But you’re stronger than that. You’re building a new life, and Kaelen doesn’t get to be a part of it anymore. You’ve got to remember that.”
I let out a slow breath, feeling a little lighter but still uncertain. “I’ll try.”
Dahlia gave me a small smile, her hand squeezing mine. “Good. Now, how about we get you something to eat? You need to keep your strength up for those little ones.”
I couldn’t help but smile a little at her concern, even though the fear was still there. “Yeah, maybe that’s a good idea.”
As she got up to head to the kitchen, I sat back on the couch, placing a hand over my belly. I could feel the twins shifting slightly, a reminder that they were there, that I wasn’t alone.
Maybe Dahlia was right. Maybe Kaelen’s appearance didn’t mean anything. But as much as I wanted to believe that, I knew deep down that things had changed. And I had to be ready for
whatever came next.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
