Chapter 56
I heaveil a sich, watching my children
They looked like a family.
children walk alongside Liam Rylie was even holding his hand like it was the most natural thing in the world.
God. Why am I feeling this way!
av betraying my past sell,
I glanced around and noticed a few parents turning their heads toward them. Some who knew me as the twins‘ mother looked between me and Lam, gares lingering before they smiled meaningfully. All I could do was return an awkward smile.
I was seconds away from shouting that they were wrong and that the man holding my daughter’s hand had nothing to do with us. But I didn’t want to cinham ass my children.
1 let out another deep breath, slowing my steps.
I was never a fan of attention. And if you didn’t like being in the spotlight, you should never allow yourself to be seen with Liam Anderson- Jecause once he was with you, there was no escaping the attention that followed.
I barely had time to process the looks we were getting when Miss Lanic approached them with a welcoming smile
“There you are, kiht We were just about to start forming the teams. You’re a little late, but that’s alright. I assume you’re Mr. Miller, the twins” father?” she asked, her eyes bright as she looked straight at Liam.
“No, I’m Mr. Anderson,” Liam corrected her.
I watched as Mass Lane’s expression shifted into confusion.
I was about to step forward and explain when Rylie’s voice shouted.
“Yes! He’s our Daddy, Miss Laniel” she said proudly.
Timmediately started moving toward them, ready to correct her, when someone grabbed my wrist.
“What?” Tasked, frowning in confusion as I turned to Matthew.
To my surprise, he suddenly crouched down in front of me.
“Your shoelace is untied, Mia. You might trip,” he said.
It’s okay
“Oh, is that so, Mr Anderson?”
Tell him it’s not
“Yes,” Lim answered without hesitation.
What the f*ck!!
Matthew stood up, and 1 barely had a chance to check whether my shoelace was untied, but I felt it really wasn’t.
“There, all good now,” he said with a grin.
I narrowed my eyes, irritated by that damn smile.
1xhaled sharply “Thank you,” I muttered, trying my best not to grit my teeth.
“Ryker. Rykest Give Daddy his cap!” Rylie chirped, bouncing on her feet,
Ibraced myself, expecting Ryker to speak up and correct her, to tell his sister, loud and clear, that Liam Anderson was not their father.
But Ryker quietly opened his bag, pulling out the shirt and cap that were supposed to be given to Gavin
I had no idea they had brought those. I thought they had left them in their room
1/4
Chapter in
My stains twisted as I watched him hand the cap over without a single word of protest
Liam accepted it without hesitation.
And I was left there standing like I lost the ability to move
and the Kaines would follow I was immobile until Miss Lanie said we should hurry up since the program was about to start
“Let’s go, Mial” Matthew tapped my shoulder, still smiling, before jogging inwards them.
Horced my legsan move until we arrived at the twins‘ class. The bleachers were almost full, except for the upper section.
“Ryker, is that your alad?” I heard one of the kids ask my son.
Hylie was the one who answered, though. “Ve
“Ves! He is our Daddy?” she proudly declared in front of everyone,
I mentally facepalmed when I realized the entire class’s attention was now CE LIA.
I waited for Ryker to correct her for the second time, but he didn’t. He didn’t even look uncomfortable with Lum being mistaken for their father.
He remained quiet as Liam adjusted their caps with affection.
Mommy Mia, is Uncle Liam really their daddy!” Toby asked, tugging at the hem of my shim.
Before I could uner a single word, Matthew suddenly lifted his son.
“Enough questions, buddy” Matthew said, glancing at Liam, who was now carrying Rylie, before giving me an amused look
Liam glanced back at me. “Let’s go, Mia. Huld Ryker,” he ordered casually as if we were exactly what everyone thought we were–what Rylie had just claimed
Like we were a family.
“Momany, let’s go.” Ryker said, holding my hand as we made our way to the upper bleachers.
“What a lovely family
“Oh, she’s so lucky to have a husband like him”
“The father and son look alike, while Kylie takes after her mother.”
“They’re perfect together”
I swallowed hard, hearing the murmurs and comments from the other parents
There was a sinking feeling in my chest as we sat on the bleachers. Liam and I sat on either side of the kids, and I could feel his gaze on me like he (was waiting for me to say or do something
The program was about to start, and the teachers formed teams for the upcoming gines:
“We still need two pairs of fathers and so
sons for our soccer team. Who wants to
our soccer te n. Who wants to join?”
in?” one of the teachers announced.
“Ryker, you should join! You said you wanted to play soccer, right?”
Ryker glanced at me before shaking his head: “No, I‘
*Do you want to? We could join if you’d like, buddy.” Liar asked him
“Join please! I want to see you play
u play with Daddy?” my daughter said enthusiastically, calling Liam “Daddy” again.
Ryker hesitated, looking at me. My heart clenched at how he seemed to be waiting for my approval as if he felt guilty for even playing along with what Rylie had told everyone
“You can join, baby. 111 cheer for you!
Tilchret, too!
“Then I’ll join with Daddy tool Cheer for me, Rylie?” Toby declared, practically shouting that he would join the soccer team with Ryker
Everyone clapped as Liam and Matthew walked down to write their names.
Hyker turned to me. “Can I go with them, Mommy?” He leaned in and whispered, “What if Uncle Liam misspells my name?
2/4
Chapter 36
d nodded. “Sure, just be careful going down”
I starred at my son and no
“Where is Ryker going. Mommy? Rylie asked, looking up at me
“He’s following them to make sure his name is written correctly
Toby immediately stood up. “Me too! I want to make sure Daddy spells my name right he declared before running after Hyker
‘Curful, Tola Icalled after him
Tlet out a quiet breath, trying to ignore the lingering gares from the other parents.
Rylie scooted closer and wrapped her arms around my waist.
“Mommy“” she called softly
I looked down at her. “Yes, baby!”
Im sorry
I hesitated, processing her words before realization hit me. “F
“For telling Miss Lanie and announcing to everyone that Liam is your daddy?”
She någeted, staring downs at her fingers. I sighed and gently lifted her chin. “Why did you say that?” I asked, even though I already had an idea.
She sighed. “T… I didn’t want Nathan and the others to tease me. When they heard Ryker call Daddy Gavin ‘Uncle, Nathan started making fun of us, saying our family is weird that we’re different from them”
I clenched my fists, silently cursing at those kids. Leven caught myself glaring in their direction.
“I don’t like it when they say mean things, Mommy.” Rylie’s voice broke as she hugged me lighter
My chest tightened at her words.
“But besides that. I also like Unde Lim”
“W–What?*
She looked up at me, a small smile appearing on her lips despite the tears brimning in her eyes. “Uncle Liam is nice to us. He plays with us, gives us gifts, and feels like he’s our Daddy. I love it when he carries me and call me her princess and sweetheart.”
Itch my breath hitch, my heart pounding in my chest.
“And Mommy. I remembered my dream again”
“Y–Your dream?” I asked, swallowing the bump in my throat.
She nodded eagerly. “Yes! The one at the hospital, where he was hugging me and told me he was back. That Daddy’s back”
T
All I could do was smile weakly and stroke her hair. I had thought she had forgotten about that moment
That dream. That wasn’t a dream. Because it really happened, baby
“Are you upset with me, Mommy?” she asked hesitantly. “I know you don’t like it when I le… Please forgive me
Tears welled in my eyes. Seeing my daughter beg for my forgiveness when she had done nothing wrong, my heart ached,
Baby, you’re not lying to them.
You’re not a liar
I was close to saying those words, but I held back. It hurt to see her feeling so guilty over something she didn’t even understand.
I shook my head. “N–No, baby. I’m not upset with you. It’s okay. You don’t have to beg Mommy to forgive you.” I hugged her, and before I could stop myself, my trars spilled down my checks.
If anyone should be asking for forgiveness here, it’s me, Rylie
Mommy is sorry. And I can only hope that when the time comes when I can no longer hide the truth, you’ll forgive me.
“What’s going on?”
I quickly wiped my tears when I heard Liam’s voice.
Chapter 56
“Mommy?” Ryker’s worried youre followed
I forced a smile, pulling my son close, hugging him just as I hugged Rylie
“Everything okay?” Liam asked again, his gaze lingering on me
I looked up at him and nodded. “Yeah,” I answered.
I still don’t like that you’re here, I still don’t like that you came back into our lives.
But for my children
For them, I’ll play along with you, Liam. I’ll take your presence,
