But that peace shattered the moment his phone buzzed on the nightstand.
Evan carefully slipped out from between the twins, tucked the blankets around them, and stepped into the hallway.
He checked the caller ID — a security alert.
His pulse jumped.
He answered immediately. "What is it?"
A voice from the other end replied, tense.
"Sir, there's someone at the gate requesting entry."
Evan stiffened. "Someone? Who?"
There was a short, weighted pause.
"…Lucas Hale."
Evan felt the floor tilt beneath him.
"Keep the gates locked," Evan said sharply. "Do not let him in."
"Yes, sir."
He hung up quickly, but his hands were already shaking.
He had expected Lucas to search for him — maybe even try to contact him.
But not this soon.
Evan took a slow breath, steadying himself before heading downstairs.
He found Adrian in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, preparing breakfast like he owned the place.
Adrian looked up the moment he entered.
"You're awake. Did the twins sleep well—?"
"Lucas is here."
The knife in Adrian's hand stopped mid-slice.
Then his eyes narrowed, sharp and cold. "Where?"
"At the gate."
Adrian immediately pulled off his apron and walked toward the front door with silent, deadly calm.
Evan grabbed his wrist. "Adrian— wait."
Adrian turned, expression unreadable. "You're shaking."
"I'm fine," Evan lied.
Adrian didn't believe that for a second.
"Stay inside," Adrian said quietly. "I'll handle him."
Evan shook his head. "No. If he's here because of the twins… I need to face him."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "Evan, you don't owe him anything."
"I know." Evan swallowed hard. "But I owe myself closure."
Adrian stared at him for a long moment before finally releasing a slow exhale.
"Then I'll be right beside you."
---
The sun was still rising when they stepped out of the villa.
The air was crisp, cool, almost painfully fresh.
And at the gate, standing like a shadow carved out of regret, was Lucas Hale.
He stood tall, dressed plainly.
And the moment his eyes found Evan, they softened in a way that made Evan's stomach twist.
He looked… exhausted.
Like he hadn't slept.
Like he'd been standing there all night.
Lucas took a step forward when he saw him.
"Evan…"
His voice broke.
Adrian stepped immediately in front of Evan, blocking Lucas's path.
"That's close enough."
Lucas's eyes flickered to Adrian for the first time.
Coldness flashed in his gaze — territorial, sharp.
"You must be the fiancé," Lucas said coolly.
"And you," Adrian replied, "are trespassing."
The tension spiked in the air, two powerful Alphas facing off like thunder and steel.
Evan stepped forward before it worsened.
"Lucas. Why are you here?"
Lucas's eyes snapped back to him.
And everything in his expression collapsed into something raw.
"I needed to see you," Lucas said quietly. "After yesterday… I couldn't sleep. I couldn't think. I—"
He swallowed hard.
"You left without giving me a chance to talk."
Evan looked away, heart pounding uncomfortably. "There was nothing to talk about."
"There was everything to talk about," Lucas said, voice trembling. "Evan… those children…"
Silence slammed down between them.
Adrian tensed instinctively, eyes narrowing.
Lucas continued, voice barely above a whisper. "They look like me."
Evan felt his heartbeat slam against his ribs.
Lucas stepped closer, but not enough to cross Adrian's line.
"Tell me," Lucas whispered. "Are they mine?"
Evan's fingers clenched.
Adrian snapped, "You have no right to—"
"I'm asking Evan," Lucas said sharply, emotion cracking through.
Evan's throat closed.
Six years of pain, silence, and secrets pressed against him like a weight.
He could lie.
He could push Lucas away.
He could protect the twins from a man who might break their hearts the same way he'd broken his.
But…
A soft sound echoed behind him.
"Daddy…?"
Evan turned sharply.
Ethan stood at the villa entrance, rubbing his eyes, hair messy from sleep.
Ella peeked out from behind him, clutching her stuffed bunny.
Both children stared toward the gate.
Lucas froze.
Evan instantly stepped between them, blocking Lucas's view.
"Go inside," Evan said gently. "Daddy's talking."
But Ethan didn't move.
He looked past Evan's shoulder.
Straight at Lucas.
And Lucas…
Lucas looked like he'd stopped breathing.
The same eyes.
The same expression.
The same stance.
It was like watching the past walk out in miniature form.
Ella tugged Evan's sleeve. "Daddy… who is that man?"
Lucas's lips parted.
His voice was barely a breath.
"…Their father."
Evan's blood ran cold.
Adrian instantly moved forward, voice a razor.
"You don't get to claim them."
Lucas didn't even hear him.
He stepped forward.
"Evan," Lucas whispered, "tell me the truth."
Evan's heart pounded painfully.
The twins were watching.
Adrian was tense beside him.
Lucas looked one breath away from collapsing.
He felt trapped in a storm of emotions he'd buried for six years.
Slowly, painfully…
Evan lifted his eyes to Lucas.
And whispered—
"Yes. They're yours."
Silence crashed over the entire villa.
Only the echo of Evan's trembling confession:
"Yes. They're yours."
Lucas stood completely still, like his soul had left his body and hadn't yet returned.
"Mine…" Lucas whispered, the word unsteady. "They're my children?"
Evan looked away.
Ethan and Ella peeked from behind him, whispering to each other in confusion.
Adrian stepped forward, ready to pull them inside.
But Lucas.
His knees buckled, and he caught the gate for support, fingers trembling so violently the metal rattled.
To Evan's shock, Lucas looked like a man who'd been stabbed.
"I have children," Lucas whispered. "All this time… I had children."
Evan's heart twisted painfully.
He had prepared himself for anger.
For accusations.
For pride and denial.
But he had never imagined seeing Lucas this raw.
This shaken.
This devastated by the years he'd lost.
Lucas lifted his head, eyes glassy.
"How old are they?"
Evan hesitated.
Ethan stepped out first.
"Six," the little boy said firmly. "We're six."
Ella peeked from behind him. "I'm six too!"
Lucas's breath caught, chest rising sharply.
"Six years…" he whispered. "Evan… you left me six years ago."
Adrian took a threatening step forward. "He left because you destroyed him."
"Adrian," Evan said quietly. "Don't."
The tension thinned, but the pain remained.
Lucas slowly reached out — not toward Evan, but toward the children.
His hand hovered in the air, trembling.
Ethan narrowed his eyes, instinctively stepping slightly in front of Ella.
That movement — so subtle, so protective — hit Lucas like another blow.
"That's my son," Lucas whispered, voice cracking. "He even stands like—"
"Don't," Evan said sharply, eyes burning. "Don't claim them like you did something to deserve it."
Lucas froze.
Evan took a step forward, voice low and shaking.
"You broke up with me. You left me alone. You let everyone humiliate me. You let your family destroy my reputation. You let me be mocked as a useless Omega who couldn't even keep his Alpha."