"..."
The woman froze after hearing Henry's question.
She took a while to gather her thoughts, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to say yes—or even nod.
After a long, awkward silence, she finally spoke.
"Can I… come inside?" she asked, cheeks slightly red.
Henry glanced at her trembling hands, then at the two babies in her arms. Worried she might drop them out of nervousness, he quickly stepped aside.
"Yeah, of course."
...
A moment later.
"This… is?" the woman asked again, her gaze switching back and forth between the two Henrys now in front of her.
Her earlier nervousness had vanished, replaced by pure confusion.
One Henry was sitting on the sofa. The other stood behind him, holding a black jacket.
"Cough."
Henry cleared his throat, then explained everything to her—his awakening, the clone ability, and how he ended up here.
Midway through his story, he realized this was a chance.
A chance to show her his capable, that he could take care of her—and their children.
'They look so big already… should be one-year old already, which lines up exactly with when we slept together!'
'So they have to be my children!'
'That's why she came to find me!'
Henry was convinced of these thoughts.
So his voice grew more passionate as he spoke.
He told her how he'd been searching for her for two years, how he even kept the blood-stained mattress as a keepsake.
Then came the part about being tested and found to be an Esper Type Ability User.
The woman quietly listened the whole time. Her cheeks turned red during the mattress part, but everything else—she accepted easily.
Not because she blindly believed him, but because she already knew a lot about the man in front of her.
After Henry finished, it was her turn to speak.
She took a deep breath.
...
Her name was Rio Hilton.
She was two years older than Henry.
Two years ago, after being betrayed by her own family—though she left out the details—she walked into a random bar, looking to drown her frustrations.
After a few drinks, some thugs tried to take advantage of her.
At first, she didn't even resist. In her messed-up state, she almost agreed to go with them.
But then, a handsome stranger—exactly her type—stepped in and stopped them.
He protected her.
He fought three thugs alone.
He won, but ended up covered in bruises and cuts.
Seeing a stranger treat her better than her own family broke something inside her.
She hugged him and cried.
Later, realizing how silly she looked, she took his hand and dragged him out of the bar.
In the parking lot, they exchanged a few awkward words. He was drunk but still insisted on walking her home, looking at her with such pure eyes.
She fell for him right there.
Maybe it was because she was drunk and not thinking straight, but she kissed him—then invited him to a hotel.
...
What happened next didn't need to be said.
It was a crazy night.
When she woke up, her body was sore and covered in small bruises. That's when she realized what she'd done.
It was her first time.
Her first kiss.
And a lot of other firsts—this man had taken them all.
She was about to smack him awake in anger, but then she saw the bruises all over his body. Not just from last night, but older ones from the bar fight, too.
Unlike some people, Rio remembered everything when she was drunk.
So her feelings for him didn't fade—
(His gallant figure when protecting her, and his blurry yet charming face when their bodies intertwined.)
—they only grew stronger.
She got embarrassed and couldn't even look at his face.
After thinking for a while, she decided to leave.
She got dressed and picked up her bag.
But right before leaving, she hesitated.
Deep inside, she didn't want this to be a goodbye.
So she grabbed his phone, unlocked it using his fingerprint, and saved his number and social media accounts.
For some reason, she also took a photo of him sleeping peacefully.
Then, before walking out, she decided to leave a note for him.
Just as she was writing, the man rolled over in bed.
She panicked, quickly finished the note, and dashed out of the hotel without looking back.
...
"That's what happened that morning..."
"Not long after, I... I-I found out I was... pregnant," Rio said with some difficulty.
After getting the words out, she let out a long breath, finally relieved to speak what had been weighing on her for so long.
Then, tears fell from her eyes.
As if those tears could tell him how much hardship she had gone through during the past two years.
Henry had already expected the children to be his, but hearing it from her directly made his heart burst with happiness.
Without hesitation, he stood up from the sofa and quickly moved to her side.
Then, kneeling on one knee, he looked up at her.
"I've regretted not being able to find you for the last two years. I've thought about you every single day," Henry said sincerely. As he spoke, he reached for his neck and pulled out a necklace. Hanging on it was a silver ring.
A ring meant for a woman.
Rio's heart skipped a beat when she saw it.
But Henry wasn't done yet. He took the ring from the chain and gently held it out to her—the first and only woman in his life.
"I love you. I won't ask you to marry me yet—not until you're ready to accept me as your partner for life," he said, his eyes locked on hers, his voice firm and sincere, with nothing to hide.
He continued, "Can you be my girlfriend first? Let's get to know each other... and take care of our treasures together, okay?" He glanced at the two babies in her arms as he finished.
"...Sob." Rio broke down in tears.
She had imagined many things—romantic scenes, awkward moments, maybe even rejection—but nothing compared to what had just happened in front of her.
He respected her, and he was willing to take responsibility for their children.
For Rio, that was everything she could ever hope for.
So she nodded, crying as she smiled.
"Yes. Yes, I agree."
Hearing her answer, Henry couldn't help but grin like a fool. Carefully, he helped her put on the ring without disturbing the children in her arms.
"..."
The ring easily slipped through her slender finger.
"... It's a bit too big for your finger... I'm sorry," Henry said awkwardly. He had never known her exact ring size—he had simply bought the one that reminded him of her the most.
Seeing her just-dated boyfriend looking embarrassed and the mood becoming a little awkward, Rio thought for a moment and then smiled gently.
"Then... give me the chain. I'll wear the ring as a necklace for now," she suggested softly.
She didn't mind the size at all.
To her, the fact that he kept it with him all this time was what truly mattered.
But Henry shook his head.
"How could I do that?"
"Don't worry, I'll go to the jewelry shop and buy one that fits you perfectly!" he said.
Rio stopped him with a gentle look.
"I'm fine. Really, I mean it."
Then her cheeks turned red as a shy thought popped into her mind. In a soft voice, she added:
"Let's... buy a new one when you... propose to me."
"For now, this one is more than enough. You've kept it with you all this time—it has meaning."
'I know how long you had been looking for me, I saw it.' Rio thoughts.
Henry was deeply touched by her thoughtfulness. Truthfully, he had the same feelings.
He had bought this ring with the thought of confessing his love to her when they met again.
Now that they had finally reunited, it had completed its purpose.
...
As Henry placed the chain necklace with the ring around Rio's neck, the small action stirred the baby in her arms.
"Ba ba?" A soft, adorable voice sounded. It was so cute that it instantly melted Henry's heart.
"Oh my god! Rio, did our baby just call me papa!?" Henry was floating on cloud nine as he stared at the little one looking up at him with big, curious eyes.
Rio smiled at his reaction. She also noticed the clone standing behind the sofa—its expression had changed, now filled with fatherly warmth.
"I show them your photo from time to time," Rio admitted. "For them to remember their father's face." She glanced at the baby who had just woken up. "I just didn't expect her to actually remember."
"Come, hug your daughter. Her name is Rion," she said, gently passing the baby to Henry.
"Yes, yes, let father hold you, okay?" Henry eagerly took his daughter in his arms.
'Oh my god, her body's so soft.'
'So cute.'
'And she looks so healthy.'
A flood of thoughts passed through Henry's mind the moment he held his daughter for the first time.
"So I have a daughter… hehe. I'm a father now!" Henry grinned from ear to ear, and Rion, smiling back, seemed to catch his mood.
"Ba ba hehe," she giggled.
"Yes, yes, I'm your papa, my precious Rion."
Henry played happily with Rion.
But the other baby, woken by all the noise, opened her eyes—only to see her father up so close this time. At first, she was happy… until she realized he was hugging her sister first!
The baby was furious.
Papa was ignoring her!
She was so mad that she started crying.
"Wuuu wuuu ba ba, hug!" she wailed.
Henry quickly swapped babies with Rio and picked up his other children.
"Hey, hey, don't cry, okay? Papa's here for you."
Rio, already familiar with her daughters' personalities, wasn't surprised at all. She smiled and introduced the child to her father.
"Her name is… Henrietta." Her voice was shy—she had named her after Henry.
Henry immediately caught on.
'So I have twin daughters!'
'Rion is named after her mother, and Henrietta… after me.'
He was overjoyed and kissed Henrietta's cheek.
"Oh! Henrietta! My little girl! Haha!"
"Ba ba! Haha!" Henrietta giggled, delighted.
But now it was Rion's turn to pout in her mother's arms.
"No… ba ba! Hug! Wuuu wuuu…"
Rio's face darkened.
'I'm the one who carried and raised you two for two years, okay!? As expected… daughters are always on the father's side!'
Frustrated, Rio's eyes welled up with tears. She stood up, tossed the "betrayer babies" to their loving papa, and went to sulk on the single sofa, hugging her knees.
She cried inside her heart as she watched Henry playing with the girls.
She was happy… but also sad.
Then, a gentle hand rested on her shoulder.
It was Henry's clone, Ry-Two.
"Don't worry. I love you just as much as I love our daughters," he said softly.
He didn't want her to feel left out.
But—
"Erm… Can you not talk to me? It's kinda creepy when there are two of you talking…" Rio pushed his hand away, clearly weirded out.
She glanced over at the original Henry again, jealousy in her eyes.
"!?!"
Ry-Two was stunned.
"I am also Henry, okay? I'm his clone!"
But his protests went unheard.
Ignored, Ry-Two trudged over to a corner of the villa, glanced at the jacket still in his hand… then threw it on the floor.
He sat on it.
Hugged his knees.
Sobbed.
"Even though I'm also Henry…"
He glared at the original, full of envy.
'I can't wait to merge back into him… Let him experience our girlfriend's cold shoulder treatment for once!'
Suddenly--
...
[Ding!]
[The Host has successfully reunited with his first love and daughters. The "Superhero Family System" has been triggered!]
[Starting binding process...]
[3...]
[2...]
[1...]
[Ding!]
[System successfully bound to Host! Issuing starter rewards:
Elementary Body Strengthening Serum x1
Professional Baby Caretaking Memories (6 years' worth)]
[Reminder: As long as the Host treats his daughters well and successfully marries his first love, more rewards will be unlocked in the future!]
...
Ry-Two, the clone, was speechless.
"Damn it, even the System thinks I'm the original! Why won't Rio treat me the same? I'm literally made from his flesh and blood!"
Fuming with frustration, he punched the jacket on the ground.
He was officially throwing a tantrum.
A few minutes later, after finally calming down, Ry-Two opened the System panel again.
Then, closing his eyes, he focused—checking through the new memories now embedded in his mind.
"…I really do have six years' worth of childcare experience," he muttered in amazement. "This System is legit!"
Curious, he reached into the System storage and pulled out a glowing yellow capsule.
"This serum…" as he muttered, information about the item suddenly flooded his mind.
"It actually can boost my strength to the level of a Rank C Physical Type Superhero!"
Ry-Two's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Well, since it doesn't matter whether I or the original uses this, I might as well test it out and give him a surprise later!"
"When I merge back with him, everything I gain goes straight to him anyway!"
With that, Ry-Two popped the yellow capsule into his mouth.
Pain hit him like a truck, dropping him to the ground. His entire body seized, trembling from the agony—but not a single sound escaped his lips.
His Pride wouldn't allow it.
...
The original Henry was still clueless about the sneaky act of his clone.
He was happily playing with his daughters and girlfriend when his phone suddenly started ringing.
Henry was about to ignore it, wanting to focus on his family, but since Rio had her hands free, she reminded him, then reached over and picked up the phone to check the caller's name.
She wasn't expected...
The call was from an official number.
Displayed on the screen was: "Superhero Union is calling…"
Rio's face went pale. She quickly took the babies back from Henry and handed him the phone, her hands trembling slightly.
Henry looked dissatisfied—he didn't want to stop doting on his daughters—but when he glanced at the caller ID, his expression changed instantly.
His face turned pale as well.
After some hesitations, he answered the call, doing his best to sound calm and polite.
"H-Hello, this is Henry…"