Chapter 57
Chapter 36. Husband
After wiping her sweat. I fired Rylie’s hair and put the cap over her head.
“Baby, maybe you can rest and join another game
“Mommy, please! I want to join the race. I’ve been looking forward to this Rylie pouted and pleaded with me, even clasping her hands together.
I sighed and stared at Rylie. She still looked lively, and there was no sign of farigar or an asthma attack. But she’d been playing games with Liam for a while now, and I couldn’t help but worry.
They had been taking turns–she and Ryker–joining the games with Liam. If it weren’t for making sure everyone got a chance, they probably would have participated in every single one.
“Fine, but this will be your last game, and I want you to rest after. And remember what I always say, you don’t always have to win. You can just have fun, and if you start feeling tired, you stop, all right?”
She smiled at me and nodded. 1 will. Mommy! I love your
She kissed my cheek after
“I love you too, baby.”
“Rylie, let’s choose our color band Toby pulled her, and they ran off together.
I watched them walk away, the worry gnawing at me. The thought of Rylie pushing herself past her limits made me uneasy,
“Til take care of her,” a voice from behind me said.
It was Liam, with Ryker holding a soccer ball.
After lunch, the soccer game was set to start, and Liam had been teaching Hyker the basics.
“Mommy, look! I can do soccer footwork now! Daddy taught met Ryker beamed with joy as he demonstrated the footwork he was talking about.
I was taken aback, and I knew Liam was tou
Hyker had just called him Duddy.
When he noticed my surprised reaction, his smile vanished, his cheeks flushed red, and he walked over to me, hugging my waist and burying his face against me.
I gemly caressed his back.
“You’re all sweaty, Ryker let’s change your shirt, hmm?”
He shook his head, his face still pressed against my stomach.
I was about to crouch down to his level when Liam beat me to it.
“Hey, buildy, what’s wrong” he asked, placing the cap back on Ryker’s head.
“1–Ems–sorry.” Ryker muttered.
“What are you sorry about, ‘bud?”
Ryker remained silent, and I knew I had to say something.
“Ryker, Liam’s talking to you” I said sofily, urging my son to answer.
He let out a small sigh, 1 called you Daddy I’m sorry about that.”
I felt a pang in my chest again. Why does my son have to apologize for that!
Liam looked up at me, his expression softening as his gare locked on my son.
“Hey, there’s nothing to be sorry for, bud,” Liam said gently, placing a reassuring hand on kyker’s shoulder. “You can call me whatever feels
Chapter 57
Ryker sighed and looked up at me, his tiny hands gripping my shirt, “But I shouldn’t, right. Mommy! Im not Rylie, and I should know better than to lie about something like this. T’in sorry. Mommy“
My liputrembleil, and I swallowed the hump forming in my throat. I didn’t know what to say.
“You don’t have to apologize in your mom, Ryker. I already asked her to let me act like your
“Daddy‘ even
en just for today. She doesn’t mind, right,
He’s lying I could even feel that he was avoiding my gaze earlier, as if afraid I’d ask him to leave and put an end to this pretense
Hot as I’ve already said. Tin a mother, and if this would make my children happy, I don’t have the heart to ruin it.
Even for just a day. I’ll let Läam Anderson he thrir Darkly.
I smiled at Ryker: “Yes, Ryker, we already talked about it. So you don’t have to apologize to Uncle Liam or me. You can call him Daddy, too, just like Ryle but only for today”
From the corner of my eye, I saw how the light in Liami’s eyes dimmed at my words.
But I had to make thin
things clear
Ryker saniled. “Thank you. Momow. He glanced at Liam afterward. “Thank you, Daddy?”
Taddy!”
I sighed as our attention turned to Ryhe, who came running toward us, already sweaty again.
“Rylie, the game hasn’t even started yet, and you’re already drenched, 1 said, wiping her face with a towel.
She just grinned at me and jumped into Liam’s arms, who caught her effortlessly.
“The game’s about to start, Daddy! Let’s win this” she said, waving the red band they would tie around their feet.
“Alright, alright, we’re coming
Kylie turned to me, and for some reason, the mischievous sparkle in her eyes made me nervous.
“Oh! Mommy, there’s a game later for moms and dads–it’s a sack race!”
She smiled brightly. “And I told
“Rylie! What-”
Lanie that you and Daddy would join? she announced proudly as if she had just done something amazing.
A whistle blew, and a voice echoed through the speakers, calling the players for the next game.
Til take care of Hylie our daughter, Mommy Liam said as he walked past me, carrying bylie
“Go. Rylie and Daddy Ryker cheered.
What Our daughter! Mommy!
I stood there, watching Liam’s back, and my heart started pounding faster than it should.
No. Could it be that he already knows!
1 shook my head and reminded myself of Hunter–he was
as still here, working for Liam.
Besides, if Liam knew the truth, why would he ask me to pretend to be Camille!
No. He’s just playing with me…
“Mommy, do you think they’ll wint Hyker asked, leaning into the a
The race was about to begin.
into me as we sat on the grass, watching Liam and Rylie stand in fine with the other pairs.
Liam bent down to check the red band and their ankles. I watched as he smiled at Rylie while talking to her.
It was the kind of smile people had rarely seen on him before. At a party, Liam would always smile, but I knew it was all fake, just him acting, and he was good at it
Chapter 57
Our eyes met, and I quickly turned my attention to Hyker. “It doesn’t matter if they win or lose, Hyker, as long as they love fun?
He nodded and kept his eyes as his sister and Liam
“Wow, your husband is really amazing with kide a voice suddenly said beside me.
1 turned, startled, and found a woman sitting beside me. She has a warm, friendly
She looked familiar, I had seen her earlier, but I couldn’t quite remember who she
“Tim Elise, Eunice’s mom” she introduced herself.
“Oh, Eunice. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Mia” I said, forcing a polite smile as 1 prnerssed what she said earlier.
Hudand
The race started, and the place erupted with loud cheers
I watched Liam, who practically carried Rylie as he raced with her.
Oh. right…he’s the husband she was talking about.
your husband is such a great dad. I mean, just look at him out there, running around with your kids, spending time with them,” she said, her voice laced with envy.
I cleared my throat, feeling awkward. “But I think I saw Eunice with her father earlier.”
She scoffed and rested her chin on her palm. I turned my attention back to the race when Hyker cheered for Hylic and Liam.
“Yes, he did come today, but he’s been glued to his phone the whole time, I wish my husband were like yours. He can’t put his jobs aside, not even
for Eunice
I stayed quiet because I didn’t know how to reply to her.
He’s
‘s not my husband
I wanted to correct her. But how was I supposed to explain that he wasn’t actually my husband? That he was just pretending to be a father to my
Well, Mia.. it’s actually the truth. He’s their father-
Shuric
He’s not. He refused to be one.
So even if everyone saw him as the perfect father, that still wouldn’t change the pat
Elise seemed oblivious to Iny discomfort as she continued gushing over my supposed husband. “You’re so lucky to have that kind of man. Men like that are rare. Handsome, involved, and obviously close with his kids“
Then she leaned in and whispered. “Can you tell me your secret
My heart skipped a beat. “W what secret?”
“What position?”
“Paution!”
She gizzled. “What p
position did you use with your husband to have twins who take after both of you?”
1 forced a laugh, feeling my y checks grow hotter, unsure of what to say when I understand what position‘ she was talking about,
All of a sudden, I wanted to snack myself when incories of the night I suspected I had conceived, flashed through my
y mind.
“Oh my, it seems like you’re recalling—”
“N–no! I guess we just have strong gen
E genes; I said, cutting her off.
She laughed. “Yeah, well, you’re lucky. Handsome husband, adorable kids, it’s like y
1 looked away, letting out a bitter smile.
you’re living a
A dream?
There was no such thing in my life.
It was all lies
“Mommy! Mommy! They won! Ryker called out, tugging at my hand to pull me up.
I stared at my son and smiled.
Not all were lies
Ryker, Rylie…
They were the truth in
my life.
“Mommy, let’s go to them!”
Elise nudged me playfully. “See Your husband is amazing. Congrats,” she said before walking away.
Byker led me through the crowd, my eyes never leaving the sight of Liam happily carrying Rylie. My daughter’s arms were wrapped around his
neck
I could still hear their laughter, even with all the noise around us. Ryker let go of my hand and ran ahead to join them.
We
won, Ryker! We’re the best team!”
“That’s just luck,” Ryker teased his twin.
“No! It’s not luck! We’re the best team, right, Mommy?” Rylie said, turning to me with bright eyes.
I nodded, caressing her cheek. “Yes, baby. Congratulations. You did great”
I looked up at Liam “Both of you did”
“And now, it’s your turn, Mommy! You and Daddy have to win the parents race, too!”
Oh, no. I forget that.
I froze.
Liam Anderson, on the other hand, smirked. “I’m sure your mommy and I wilkdo great too, sweetheart. Right, Mia?”
Damn it.
