As I explore the winding road toward the estate, my mind was a storm of thoughts. The twins—children I had never known existed—were waiting for me, and they claimed I was their father.
As I pulled into the driveway, I saw Collins standing at the entrance, his posture formal yet concerned. I parked and stepped out, taking a deep breath to steady myself. The estate loomed above me, a place filled with echoes of my life, now tinged with uncertainty.
"Mr. Hayes," Collins greeted me, his face a mask of professionalism. "They're in the parlor. I've tried to keep them calm."
"Thank you, Collins," I said, trying to sound composed. "What did they say when you were with them?"
"They mentioned their mother and how she told them to find you. They're anxious and need reassurance," Collins replied, his gaze sympathetic. "I believe they trust you, despite everything."
"Trust? I'm just a stranger to them," I muttered, feeling the weight of responsibility settled heavily on my shoulders.
"Not anymore," Collins said firmly. "You're their father now."
With that, I walked toward the parlor, my heart pounding in my chest. I hesitated at the door, taking a moment to gather my thoughts. What would I say? How would I explain this situation?
Pushing the door open, I stepped inside. The twins were sitting together on the plush sofa, their eyes wide with expectation. They looked so much like me—same dark hair, similar features. For a moment, I was struck speechless.
"Hi," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Dad!" Lily exclaimed, jumping off the sofa and running toward me.
Jake followed closely behind, both of them wrapping their small arms around my waist. The suddenness of their embrace took me by surprise, but a warmth spread through me as I instinctively wrapped my arms around them.
"Is it you?" Jake asked, looking up at me with wide, hopeful eyes.
"Yes, it's me," I replied, my voice thick with emotion. "I'm here."
They clung to me tightly, and for a moment, the world outside faded away. I felt a surge of protectiveness I had never experienced before. These were my children, and despite the chaos that brought us together, I knew I had to be there for them.
"Are you going to take care of us?" Lily asked, pulling back to look into my eyes.
"Yes, I want to help you both," I promised, my heart aching at the vulnerability in their voices. "I'm so sorry for what you've been through."
Jake's expression shifted, and he looked worried. "What about Mom? She said you'd be there for us."
I swallowed hard, unsure how to explain. "I don't know your mom… she's not here anymore. But I want to be your dad and take care of you."
Their faces reflected a mix of fear and hope. "Can we stay with you?" Lily asked, her voice trembling.
"Of course," I replied, trying to sound reassuring. "You can stay as long as you need. We'll figure this out together."
Collins stepped into the room, watching the interaction with a measured gaze. "Mr. Hayes, it might be best if you ask them about their mother and how they ended up here. They might need to share their story."
"Right," I said, nodding. I turned back to the twins. "Can you tell me more about your mom? What happened?"
Lily glanced at Jake, who seemed to gather his courage. "She got sick. We were living in a little apartment, and then… one night, she said we had to find you. She said you would know what to do."
"Did she say anything else?" I pressed gently.
Jake shook his head. "Just that we needed to go to the nice house by the sea, where you were."
As I held Lily and Jake, their innocent faces brought a rush of memories flooding back,
memories from a night seven years ago. I had been at a bar, celebrating a successful project, when I met a woman. We'd shared drinks and laughter, and eventually, I took her back to my estate. The next morning, she was gone, leaving only a faint trace of her presence.
I hadn't thought much of it at the time, dismissing it as a typical one-night encounter. But now, standing here with these twins who bore such a striking resemblance to me, I felt a chilling sense of connection.
"Wait a minute," I said, pulling back slightly to look at them. "can you tell your mother's name?"
Lily looked up at me, her eyes wide. "Rebecca. She just said she was your… friend."
"Friend?" I echoed, trying to piece together the fragments of my past. "What else did she say?"
Jake piped up, his voice quivering. "She said she had to keep us safe. That we needed to find you because you were our dad."
A sense of dread washed over me. "Do you remember anything about her?"
"She said she loved us and wanted us to be happy," Lily added. "But then she got sick and said we had to go."
I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. The pieces were starting to fit together, and the weight of the revelation was crushing. That night had been more than a fleeting moment; it had led to these two children standing in front of me, waiting for a father they didn't know.
"Collins!" I called, my voice rising with urgency. He entered the room promptly, concern etched on his face. "Get the records from the estate. I need to know who that woman was."
"Of course, sir," he replied a flicker of understanding in his eyes. "I'll gather everything we have."
As Collins left, I knelt back down to the twins. "I'm so sorry for what you've been through. I didn't know about you, and I didn't know your mother was… well, connected to me."
"Are we going to live here now?" Jake asked, looking around the lavish room with a mixture of awe and fear.
"Yes, you can stay here as long as you need," I said, my heart aching for them. "This is your home too."
The twins exchanged glances, and I could see a glimmer of hope in their eyes. But I knew there was so much more to unravel—secrets and truths that needed to be faced. The weight of my past had come crashing into my present, and now I had to figure out how to navigate it all while being a father to these children.
"Let's go outside for a bit," I suggested, wanting to create a sense of normalcy. "I'll show you the garden. There are some amazing flowers and a big tree you can climb."
As we walked toward the garden, I felt the urgency to protect them swell within me. I didn't know what challenges lay ahead, but I was determined to be there for them. My life had taken an unexpected turn, and I would face it head-on—starting now.