Sitting at his desk, Allesandro pulled up the image that had gone viral: Ever stood tall and composed, flanked by the twins. The boy had his sharp jawline, and the girl had his piercing eyes. It was uncanny.
His chest tightened. What if I was wrong?
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. His assistant, Matteo, stepped in, a hesitant look on her face.
"Sir, the press is waiting inside the building hall," he said. "They're demanding a statement about the engagement and…" he paused, choosing his words carefully, "about the woman and her children."
The room fell silent as the doors swung open, and Allesandro Wales stepped up to the microphone. The air was thick with anticipation, the weight of the recent scandal hanging heavy over the crowd, the cameras flashing on him.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Alessandro began, his voice calm and authoritative. "I understand the interest surrounding my personal life. I'm here to address the recent developments."
Alessandro's expression remained neutral. "I would like to make my personal matters private."
"I appreciate your understanding," he said, his tone firm but polite. "I will not be making any further statements on this matter."
A reporter from the front row shouted, "Alessandro, can you confirm the identity of the twins?"
Alessandro's expression turned stern. "I'd like to make one thing clear: "the picture surrounding the children and their mother is strictly off-limits. I don't want to see any articles, any photos, or any speculation about them in the media."
He paused, his eyes scanning the room.
"If I do, you'll know who Alessandro Wales is. And trust me, you don't want that."
The room fell silent, the reporters exchanging nervous glances. Alessandro's message was clear: he would not tolerate any media attention surrounding his children and their mother.
Another reporter, not intimidated by Alessandro's warning, spoke up. "Alessandro, how does your current fiancée feel about the sudden reappearance of your ex-wife and children?"
Alessandro's expression remained calm, but a hint of tension crept into his voice. "I'd like to make my personal matters private. I've already stated that the children and their mother are off-limits. I'd appreciate it if you respect my boundaries."
The reporter pressed on, "But don't you think the public has a right to know how this might affect your upcoming wedding?"
Alessandro's expression turned serious, and he took a deep breath before speaking. "The wedding is currently off. We will continue with the plans when everything settles down."
A reporter from the back shouted, "Alessandro, does this mean you're reconsidering your relationship with your ex-wife? Will you be leaving your current fiancée for her?"
Alessandro's eyes flashed with anger, and he slammed his fist on the podium. "That's enough!" he thundered, his voice echoing through the room.
Without another word, Alessandro stormed out of the room, leaving the reporters stunned and scrambling to keep up with him.
Few minutes later, Natalia stormed in Allesandro's office, stiletto heels echoing sharply against the marble floor. She slammed the door behind her, ignoring the startled glance of his assistant.
Allesandro didn't look up from his desk immediately. He was calmly signing documents, as if oblivious to the firestorm brewing in front of him.
"Explain. Now." Her voice was sharp, her eyes blazing.
He finally set down his pen and leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "Explain What Natalia?"
"Don't play coy with me, Allesandro," she snapped, stepping closer to his desk. "The press conference. The articles. Your ex-wife. And those twins!"
"Those articles were nothing but baseless speculation," he said coldly, his eyes narrowing. "I'm handling it."
"Handling it?" Natalia scoffed, crossing her arms. "Do you think destroying media outlets will make people stop talking? You've only made it worse! People are saying you're leaving me for her! That you've been hiding a secret family!"
"Let them talk," he said dismissively, standing up. His towering frame was imposing, but Natalia didn't back down. "I don't owe them an explanation, and neither do you."
"But you owe me one!" Her voice cracked, betraying the vulnerability beneath her anger. "You postponed our wedding without so much as consulting me, and now this? Tell me the truth, Allesandro. Do you still love her ?"
His jaw tightened, and for a moment, she thought she saw something flicker in his eyes, perhaps guilt. "I don't," he finally admitted."
The air between them grew tense. Natalia's anger gave way to disbelief. "You don't know? How could you not know? Why didn't you answer their questions?"
"I thought she cheated on me and wanted to pin the pregnancy on me."
"Then how do they exist to look like you, Allesandro?" she demanded, her voice rising. "Do you realize what this is doing to me? To my family? To my reputation?"
"This isn't about you, Natalia," he said sharply, his patience wearing thin. "It's about protecting the truth."
She laughed bitterly. "The truth? What truth, Allesandro? That you've never let go of her? That you're using me as a placeholder while you figure out how to deal with her and those twins?"
"That's enough," he said, his tone low and warning. "I've done nothing but protect you from this chaos. If you can't handle the fallout, maybe you're not ready for this life."
Her lips parted in shock. "Are you threatening me?"
"I'm stating facts," he said coldly. "This situation will pass, but I need to know that you trust me. If you don't, then maybe we need to reconsider where we stand."
Natalia stared at him, her chest heaving with a mix of anger and hurt. "You don't get to turn this on me, Allesandro. If I walk away, it's because you've already made your choice."
She turned on her heel and stormed out, leaving him alone in the heavy silence of his office.
Just as the door slammed shut, Allesandro's phone buzzed on the desk. He picked it up, his irritation growing, but his expression darkened when he saw the message. It was from an anonymous number, and it read:
> "The twins are off-limits even if you're their real father you don't deserve them or Ever.
His grip tightened on the phone, his heart pounding as a wave of unease washed over him. For the first time in years, Allesandro Wales felt the creeping sensation of fear.