Chapter 27: SELFISH

VERONICA POV

Natasha’s face was flushed, her hands trembling slightly as she stood in the middle of the luxurious living room. “I promise, I tried calling your number, but it kept going straight to voicemail.”

I frowned, folding my arms across my chest as if that could hold me together. My heart was hammering so loud I could hear it in my throat.

“That’s your explanation? You packed up my children, followed three unknown men into a house I’ve never seen, and let them call some man ‘Daddy’? Explain. Everything. Right now.” My voice came out louder than I intended.

Her eyes filled with regret, but she didn’t look away. “I know I crossed a line. I know you’re angry, and you have every right to be.”

“I’m not angry, Natasha. I’m terrified.” My voice cracked. “Those are my babies. I left them with you because I trusted you with their lives. And you…you moved them into a stranger’s house without my permission.”

She stayed quiet for a long second, then drew in a shaky breath and kept going. “When you left for the mall, I stayed with the twins. Maybe fifteen, twenty minutes later, the receptionist called the room phone. Said someone was asking for me downstairs. I told the children to stay put and watch cartoons, then I went alone.”

I nodded. “Go on.”

“I saw three men in suits. One of them stepped forward and introduced himself as Mr. Jules.”

“He said Mr. Xavier Cross had purchased this house for us—for the children—and that we were to move in immediately. He even had the keys and the documents.

I asked him point-blank if you knew about it. He looked me dead in the eye and said yes. That you were aware and had agreed. I tried your line again… it went to voicemail immediately, like the phone was switched off or something.

They kept pressing me, so I… I just listened. I thought maybe you had arranged it quietly and forgot to tell me.”

My face burned. “They kept pressing you? I left you alone with my children, and you’re telling me you felt pressured? Pressured by what exactly? And that was enough for you to uproot my children?

I have told you this over and over. First it was letting a total stranger give you and the kids a free ride. Now this. This is so so much worse.”

She looked at me, eyes steady. “They kept insisting it was urgent. That it was for the children’s safety. I felt… pressured. Cornered. But it wasn’t just the pressure.” She paused, her voice softening.

“I was pushing you toward what you’ve been running from for years. You can’t keep hiding the kids from their father forever. One way or another, the truth was always going to come out. So why not let it out now?”

I laughed bitterly, but it came out more like a sob. “So you decided to force my hand? Behind my back?”

“I did it because I love those children like they’re my own,” she said, eyes glistening. “And because I know the truth. That man—the one you called a stranger—he’s their father. The resemblance is too strong to ignore. He knows it too, even if he’s playing games with you. He bought this house for his blood. And whether you like it or not, he has every rights.”

“Wait…just because there’s a resemblance automatically makes them his children? That’s a pretty wild assumption, don’t you think? We’re in the twenty-first century, ma’am.”

She gave me that look.

I rolled my eyes, already knowing I wasn’t winning this.

I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through my hair.

“I’m already drowning in enough mess as it is. The last thing I need is Xavier—and everything that comes with him—crashing into my life right now.”

Silence stretched.

“You know what, start packing the luggage with the kids. We’re not staying here.”

“Don’t you ever think about the children’s emotions too? I get that you’re trying to protect them physically. But what about how they feel? They were so happy here, and you just want to rip it away because you’re scared of your past? That’s selfish.”

Selfish. The word slammed into me like a slap. Memories crashed over me—the night my own father disowned me, spitting that exact word with so much disgust it still stung years later. My eyes burned. I couldn’t hold the tears back any longer. They spilled hot and fast down my cheeks.

Natasha’s face softened instantly. “It’s okay to cry, my child. Let it all out.”

She pulled me into her arms, rubbing slow, steady circles on my back. Then she guided me to the sofa and sat me down. I buried my face in her shoulder and sobbed quietly, the kind of crying that comes from somewhere deep and exhausted.

“The real reason I agreed wasn’t just because they pressured me,” she whispered, still holding me. “I did it because I knew we would be safe. I knew he knows the twins are his, and you know it too. After all these years, it just surprises me that you never confided in me.”

“No… it’s not that I don’t trust you,” I whispered back, wiping at my eyes with the heel of my hand. “I wanted to tell you. I just… didn’t know how. Things are complicated on my side.”

I swallowed, my voice tightening.

“And thank you—for your encouraging words. Really. But I still stand my ground, ma’am.”

I lifted my chin slightly, even though my chest felt heavy.

“They’re my children. And I know exactly what’s best for them. And this? This isn’t me being selfish at all.”

She opened her mouth, but I cut her off before she could speak.

I’ll start looking for a new place online tonight. Within a week I’ll have somewhere else for us.”

My gaze flicked around the room, cold and distant.

“Just… not this house.”

THIRD PERSON POV

THE NEXT MORNING

Kade stood in front of the mirror, carefully sliding the cufflinks into place on his crisp white shirt while soft morning light poured through the window.

Behind him, Zane stirred under the tangled sheets, groaning in displeasure as the bright sun slipped past his lashes. He rolled over and yanked the blanket up over his head.

“Argh, my body aches,” Zane muttered, voice thick with sleep.

“Sure it does. I pounded your ass so good,” Kade said, a smirk tugging at his lips as he adjusted his collar.

Zane’s eyes snapped open. He shoved the blanket away and sat up fast. “Babe.” His gaze dragged over Kade’s fully dressed body. “Why are you dressed? Where are you going?”

“I’m going to work, honey. Xavier’s expecting me. I already took two days off.”

Zane frowned. “You never mentioned that.”

“I probably forgot. Daddy has to work, okay?”

“Can we just have a quickie before you leave? Please?” Zane pleaded, voice turning hopeful and a little whiny.

Kade’s eyes widened. “What? We’ve been going at it almost every hour for the last forty-eight hours. Aren’t you tired?”

“That’s still too little. I’ve been deprived of that big dick for years. Let me have all the fun I can get. Take one more day off. Tell him you have an emergency or something.”

Kade laughed as he grabbed his briefcase. “Really? Funny guy.” He was already heading for the door.

“Are you seriously just going to leave me here unattended?” Zane asked, flinging an arm dramatically over his forehead.

Kade paused in the doorway. “You can defrost the chicken in the microwave. Make sure you lock the main gate when you leave. See you later.” He stepped out, pulled the door shut, and drove off toward Vanguard Mall.

Veronica had stayed up all night. Sleep never came. She sat hunched over her laptop, scrolling through listing after listing of houses and apartments until her eyes burned and her back screamed.

Just when her hope was fading, she found it. A small house on the edge of the city. Clean. Surprisingly spacious. Available right away and even running a discount. She smiled for the first time in hours and whispered a tired but triumphant, “Yesssss!. I knew the universe was finally on my side.”

She called the agent immediately, but the line didn’t connect. It was already past midnight. He was probably asleep. She told herself she would call first thing in the morning.

As she stood up to head to bed, her phone suddenly rang. It was the agent. She apologized for waking him and arranged to view the place first thing tomorrow.

When morning came, Veronica booked a cab. The whole ride, last night’s conversation replayed in her head on a loop. What if she lost her children? The fear that Xavier might try to claim them sat heavy in her chest.

The house looked even better in person—quiet street, fresh paint, a tiny yard the twins would love. She was seconds away from signing the papers and handing over the deposit when the owner shook his head, looking genuinely sorry.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. It’s no longer available.”

Her heart dropped. “What?”

“It was purchased this morning.”

Her stomach knotted so tight she felt dizzy. “But… it was available last night. I checked at midnight.”

“I know. I’m sorry, ma’am. The man made the payment earlier this morning. Full cash offer. It went through in minutes.”