Chapter 258 Don't Hide It From Me Anymore

Kevin's POV

I narrowed my eyes as I took in the sight of Alexander standing in the living room. The tension in my shoulders was immediate and visceral.

This was the man who had hurt my sister beyond measure, who had driven her into hiding with her children. And yet here they were, playing house as if nothing had happened.

When I left, Katherine had spoken of him with pure hatred. How could they possibly have reconciled so quickly?

"Alexander," I said coldly, offering nothing more than his name as acknowledgment.

Emma's excited voice broke the tension as she ran toward me. "Uncle Kevin! We missed you so much!"

I knelt down, my demeanor instantly softening as I embraced my niece. Her familiar warmth melted some of the ice in my heart. "Look at you, all grown up!" I said, gently brushing her hair back before turning my attention to Katherine. "I feel like you've lost weight. Haven't you been taking good care of yourself like I told you to?"

Before Katherine could answer, Emma piped up, "Mom was sick a little while ago. And then we all got kidnapped!"

My head snapped up, alarm bells ringing as I looked to Katherine for confirmation. "Kidnapped? What happened?"

Alexander stepped forward, his voice steady and controlled. "It was a complicated situation involving Nicholas Turner and Scott Brown. Nicholas has been dealt with, but we're still tracking down Scott."

I couldn't mask my disapproval. "Regardless of what happened," I said coldly, "you shouldn't have let your wife and children be put in danger."

I expected Alexander to defend himself, but Katherine spoke first.

"If it weren't for Alexander," she said firmly, "the outcome would have been much worse. He saved us, Kevin."

Her defense of him stung, but I didn't want to argue in front of the children. Instead, I reached for my oversized luggage and unzipped it with a dramatic flourish.

"Who wants presents?" I announced, instantly drawing the children's attention.

I watched as all four kids crowded around me, firing questions about my wildlife conservation work while I distributed the gifts I'd carefully selected.

"I've got five presents here," I said, pulling out wrapped packages. "One for each of my favorite people."

The fifth gift was for Katherine—a custom pendant featuring a cartoon of her face. I noticed Alexander standing slightly apart, watching the scene with a hint of discomfort.

Good.

After what he'd put Katherine through, he didn't deserve to be included in our family rituals.

I didn't miss Ryan sliding his polar bear keychain toward Alexander, nor Alexander's quiet "Thank you, son" as he pocketed the small gift.

When Alexander offered to make dinner, I immediately cut him off. "No need, I'll do it," I said, beckoning to Katherine. "Come help me, sis."

In the kitchen, Katherine moved around with familiar ease, helping me prepare ingredients.

"Haven't seen you in so long, and now you're a chef?" she teased as I chopped vegetables with practiced efficiency.

"Just brushing up on my skills before battle," I replied with a half-smile. In truth, my conservation work had taught me to cook quickly, even if the results weren't always gourmet.

Looking at my sister, I noticed subtle changes. She seemed simultaneously stronger and more vulnerable than when I'd left.

"Since we were kids, I've always been the one taking care of everything for you," I said, my voice low but intense. "Always. You're my only family now. The only one. I won't allow you to be hurt—not by anyone, not in any way. Do you understand?"

Her hands stilled completely above the cutting board. The scent of the raw vegetable hung in the sudden silence.

When she slowly looked up, her eyes weren't just glistening; they were swimming.

"Kevin," she said, her voice trembling slightly, "I know everything. You don't have to hide it from me anymore."

My heart stopped. I forced myself to keep chopping, to appear normal. "What are you talking about? What am I hiding from you?"

"Kevin, I know about our past, about our family..."

The knife stilled in my hand. The weight of the secret I'd carried for so long suddenly felt unbearable. How could she know?

"You're not Henry's child," she continued softly. "And you're not my mother's biological son either. Mom adopted you when she was pregnant with me."

The truth hung in the air between us. I'd protected her from this knowledge for years, fearing it would change how she saw me, fearing I might lose the only family I had left.

"Silly girl, why are you crying?" I asked, setting down the knife to wipe a tear from her cheek. "What does it matter?"

She sniffled again, a shaky sound, visibly struggling to pull herself together. "I just... I hate that you had to carry this alone," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

"Hey," I murmured, pulling her into a firm hug, letting her lean against me. "We grew up together, remember? Thick as thieves. You'll always be my little sister. Always. Nothing and no one can ever change the bond between us. You are my sister."

I held her for another moment until her breathing evened out slightly. Then, I gently eased back, keeping my hands on her shoulders and meeting her gaze. "Right," I said, deliberately shifting the tone to something lighter. "Enough heavy stuff for now. Tell me... what's really going on between you and Alexander?"

Her expression shifted, becoming more guarded. "What do you mean?"

"When I left, you were planning to divorce him, to keep the children hidden. What changed?"

"Most of the misunderstandings between us have been cleared up," she said simply.

I wasn't satisfied with that answer. "How can you be so sure everything was just a misunderstanding?"

Her eyes took on a softness I recognized all too well. "Alexander is the only man I've ever loved in my life. And I don't think there will ever be anyone else."

"But you can't just let Alexander off so easily!" I insisted. "After everything he put you through!"

I knew my sister's heart—kind and forgiving to a fault. The fear that Alexander might be exploiting those qualities gnawed at me. I needed to know more about their reconciliation, to ensure she wasn't being manipulated.

"Have you slept with Alexander yet?" I asked bluntly.

Her face instantly flushed scarlet. "Kevin, what are you saying?!"

"We can't let that jerk take advantage of you," I pressed on. "Men don't appreciate what they get too easily! Once they get what they want, they'll be impossible to deal with!"

"I get it, Kevin, stop talking about this!" Katherine pleaded.

She hesitated before adding, "Even though we've been through so much, there are still some misunderstandings that haven't been resolved. That's why I haven't fully accepted him back yet."

I nodded, satisfied that at least she was maintaining some boundaries. With dinner prepared, I carried the steaming casserole dish of lasagna toward the dining room.

Alexander's POV

I couldn't focus on the children's conversation. My mind was completely occupied with what might be happening in the kitchen.

Was Kevin turning Katherine against me? The thought gnawed at me, making it impossible to concentrate on anything else.

When Emma asked for juice, I saw my chance.

"I'll get it for you, sweetie," I said, rising from the couch.

"But Dad, there's juice in the refrigerator right here," she pointed out, indicating the mini-fridge in the corner of the living room.

Ryan caught my eye, his knowing expression telling me he understood my real intentions. I winked at him before heading toward the kitchen.

As I approached, I slowed my steps, trying to catch their conversation without being noticed. Kevin's voice carried clearly through the partially open door.

"Have you slept with Alexander yet?"

I froze, shocked by the directness of the question.

I clenched my teeth so hard my jaw ached. The assumption that I only wanted Katherine for physical intimacy was beyond insulting.

After everything we'd been through, did he really think my feelings were so shallow?

"I get it, Kevin, stop talking about this!" Katherine pleaded.

There was a pause before she added, "Even though we've been through so much, there are still some misunderstandings that haven't been resolved. That's why I haven't fully accepted him back yet."

Her words felt like a punch to the gut. I'd been patient, giving her all the time and space she needed. I'd slept in another room, maintained a respectful distance, and endured the torture of having my wife so close yet unreachable.

And yet, it still wasn't enough? What more did I need to do to prove myself to her?

I backed away from the door, my thoughts in turmoil. When Kevin emerged carrying lasagna, I attempted to help, only to be rebuffed.

"Mr. Hudson, just wait for dinner," he said. "How could someone like you be in a smoky kitchen?"

"This is my home," I reminded him, an edge of irritation in my voice.

Kevin raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying I'm not family here?"

Before I could respond, Katherine intervened. "Help the children wash their hands for dinner. Don't keep going to the kitchen."

I swallowed my frustration and nodded. If enduring Kevin's hostility was the price for my past mistakes, so be it.

At the dinner table, Emma exclaimed over Kevin's cooking. "Wow! Uncle Kevin is such a good cook! You made so much in such a short time!"

Kevin launched into stories about cooking in the wilderness, which led to endless questions from the children about polar bears, rainforest animals, and conservation efforts.

Katherine joined in enthusiastically, while I sat at the corner of the table, feeling like an outsider.