Amelia quickly shook her head, trying to regain her composure. "No, Nick. They're not your kids," she blurted out, her voice trembling with the effort to keep it steady.
Sean, picking up on his mom's tension, looked up at her with wide eyes. "Mom, who is that man? Why are you so mad at him?"
Amelia took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. The last thing she wanted was to have a fight in front of her kids. She needed to get them out of there, away from Nick before things got any messier. "Let's go home, guys," she said softly, trying to usher them toward the car.
But Nick, desperate not to let them slip away, played his trump card. "Hey, how about you two come for a ride in my Ferrari?" he said, flashing a grin. He knew that would get the kids' attention.
Sean and Maddie's eyes lit up immediately. A Ferrari? They'd never been in anything like that before. They looked at Amelia with pleading eyes, hoping she'd say yes.
Amelia clenched her teeth, but she knew it would be harder to drag them away now. Reluctantly, she nodded. "Fine. Just one ride, and then we're going home."
Nick's grin widened as he opened the car doors, letting the kids climb in with excitement. He drove them to the Ritz, where he was staying, the kids chattering away in the backseat, oblivious to the tension between the adults.
Once they arrived at the hotel, Nick handed the kids off to a hotel staff member, asking them to take care of the twins while he had a word with Amelia. As the kids were led away, Nick turned to Amelia, his expression serious. "Now tell me the truth, Amelia. Are they my kids?"
Amelia's initial fear and worry began to fade as a surge of confidence took its place. The kids didn't look anything like Nick—Sean, with his dark hair and sharp features, looked just like her, while Maddie, with her round face and big eyes, was a mystery. "Nick, you really think they're yours? You were the one who made sure I was always on birth control," she said, her voice laced with sarcasm.
Nick couldn't argue with that. He had been meticulous about it, almost paranoid. He knew she was right, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say. The silence between them stretched on, heavy and uncomfortable.
After what felt like forever, Nick finally broke the silence, his voice flat and cold. "Then who's their father, Amelia?"
"That's none of your business," Amelia shot back, her eyes flashing with defiance. She stood up, ready to leave, wanting to get her kids and go home. But as she glanced over at Sean and Maddie, who were now thoroughly enjoying themselves in the lavish hotel room, she hesitated.
Seeing her hesitation, Nick's lips curled into a smug smile. "Let them enjoy the luxury for one night, Amelia. I'm sure they've never experienced anything like this before."
Amelia's anger flared up again. "You think I can't provide for them? Have you forgotten who I am? I'm a Wang, Nick. My family could buy and sell this hotel a hundred times over."
Nick turned to face her, his eyes sweeping over her from head to toe. Her simple, no-nonsense outfit, her practical shoes—everything about her screamed of a woman who had left that old life behind. He smirked, taking a sip of his drink, clearly amused. "You still need to leave with me in the morning," he said coolly.
Amelia's temper snapped. "Are you deaf? I said no! You've changed, Nick. You're not the idealistic young professor I married. Now, you're just a stuck-up billionaire who thinks he can boss everyone around."
Nick didn't say anything for a long time. He just stared at her, his face unreadable. Then, with deliberate calm, he reached for a cigarette and brought it to his lips, about to light it. Amelia, without thinking, snatched the cigarette from his hand and tossed it aside. "Are you blind? There are kids here!" she snapped.
Nick sighed, giving in for the moment. "My dad's sick. He wants you to come home," he said, his voice softer now, almost pleading.