Chapter 4

When we got home, I immediately took Leo to my room to tend to his scrapes.

Leo clenched his fists, his face flushed red, but he didn't utter a single cry of pain.

His sister, Lily, leaned her head on her hands, watching me with curious, bright eyes.

I had always disliked children.

But for some reason, I didn't mind these two at all.

After applying the ointment to Leo's scratches, I instructed Martha to take them to their rooms to eat.

But Leo suddenly hugged me tight.

"Mom, can we eat in your room?"

Before I could answer.

Lily mirrored her brother, grabbing my other arm.

"Please, Mom! Let us eat here with you!"

My body went stiff for a second.

Seeing this, Martha quickly intervened, her eyes softening.

"Ma'am, please let them stay. Ever since the day you married Mr. Sterling, the children have wanted to eat with you."

"They're twins, you see. Their biological mother passed away from complications right after they were born."

"Mr. Sterling had to play both roles, but he's a busy businessman. He doesn't know the first thing about raising kids."

"In the past, when the young master and mistress were bullied at school, Mr. Sterling would just drag them home and scold them for getting into trouble."

"This is the first time anyone has ever stood up for them."

Tears glistened in Martha's eyes.

I squeezed my phone slightly.

"Alright. You two can eat here with me."

But once I opened that door, there was no going back.

Over the next few days, the twins didn't just eat with me—they ended up sleeping in my bed too.

Since they were suspended from school, they spent their days dragging me outside to fly kites or take them to the park.

In a blink of an eye, a week passed.

One night, as I was fast asleep with a twin tucked under each of my arms.

I heard the faint sound of the bedroom door opening.

I blinked my eyes open sleepily and saw Dominic standing in the doorway.

He had just returned from his business trip and was still in his suit.

Seeing the two kids sprawled across the bed, he froze for a few seconds.

Then, he quietly closed the door and stepped back out.

A few minutes later, he returned, having changed into his sweatpants and a t-shirt.

He stood by the bedside, looking down at me.

"They're sleeping here. Where am I supposed to sleep?"

His voice was a low whisper, careful not to wake the kids.

This was the first time I had looked at him so closely.

The moonlight filtered through the window, illuminating his sharp features.

He looked nothing like the crude, vulgar mobster of the rumors.

His dark eyes were deep and carried an emotion I couldn't quite read.

I glanced at the sleeping twins.

"Why don't you sleep in their room tonight?"

He remained silent for a few seconds.

"Alright."

With that, he turned and left.

A moment later, I heard the faint click of a laptop opening in the study next door.

He was working.

I rolled over, a strange, warm feeling blooming in my chest.

When I woke up the next morning, Leo and Lily were already gone.

I assumed Dominic had left for work as usual.

But just as I sat up and threw on my robe.

There was a soft knock on the door.

"Can I come in?"

Dominic pushed the door open, holding a warm glass of milk.

He set it on the nightstand.

"Martha took the kids to the amusement park."

"Did you sleep well last night?"

I nodded.

He sat on the edge of the bed and stayed silent for a moment.

"Alina, I want to talk to you about something."

I looked at him.

"Go ahead."

"The deal I went abroad for... it went through."

"My business is going to expand significantly."

"I'm not telling you this to brag."

"I just want you to know that even though people call me a ruthless street thug, every single penny I have was earned honestly."

"I started working when I was a teenager, fighting my way up from the streets to get to where I am today."

"I don't have a fancy Ivy League degree, but I'm not a fool."

His voice was calm and steady. There was no anger, no self-pity.

He was simply stating facts.

Then, he paused and said, "My name is Dominic Sterling."

I stared at him, slightly stunned.

This was the first time in our six months of marriage that he had formally introduced himself to me.

"I know."

He nodded and stood up.

"And one more thing."

"What is it?"

"About the kids... don't take what I said before to heart."

"I didn't marry you because you can't have children."

"I married you because... never mind."

He turned and walked out.

I stood there, staring at the warm glass of milk, unable to move for a long time.