And then—
A small voice echoed from the hallway.
"Daddy?"
All three froze.
The twins stood there sleepily, rubbing their eyes—little pajama-clad figures blinking at the grown-ups.
But when they saw Lucas, they tilted their heads.
The boy spoke first.
"Daddy,what is he doing here again"
Lucas's breath hitched violently, and his eyes filled with tears he hadn't let himself show in years.
Evan felt every wall he had built over five years tremble.
Evan closed his eyes.
He wasn't ready now.
"Adrian," Evan whispered, eyes still shut, "take them."
Adrian nodded immediately, gently guiding the twins.
"Come, little ones," he murmured. "Let Daddy talk for a moment."
The twins hesitated, looking back at Evan, but Adrian's warm voice soothed them enough to follow.
Only when the bedroom door closed did Evan slowly open his eyes.
Lucas stood there—breathing unevenly, shoulders shaking.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Lucas said, the hurt bleeding through every word. "Why did you leave with them? Why didn't you come back to me?"
Evan trembled. "Because when I needed you, Lucas… you weren't there."
Lucas staggered as if struck.
Evan's voice was soft, but every word cut like glass.
"You broke up with me because you were afraid of pressure. Afraid of being seen with an Omega like me. Afraid of losing your status."
Lucas shook his head desperately. "It wasn't like that—Evan, you know my family—"
"Yes," Evan said with a sad smile. "I know them. I know how they controlled you. I know how they humiliated me. I know how your mother made it clear I wasn't 'good enough.'"
His throat tightened.
"And you agreed with her."
Lucas's eyes filled with tears he couldn't hide.
"I didn't agree," he whispered. "I was weak. I was young. I thought giving you up would protect you."
Evan let out a shaky breath. "You didn't protect me, Lucas. You abandoned me."
Silence fell.
Lucas's voice cracked as he stepped closer. "And the babies? Did you think I wouldn't want them? Did you think I wouldn't fight for them?"
Evan turned away, hugging himself.
"I didn't know how to tell you," he said softly. "After everything… I didn't know if you even wanted me. How could I believe you'd want children with me?"
Lucas's eyes widened with pain.
"Evan, I looked for you," he whispered. "Every day. Every city your passport last touched. Every clinic. Every family registry. I searched everywhere."
Evan froze.
Lucas's voice shook with a rawness Evan had never heard before.
"For five years, I carried the guilt. For five years, I hoped—prayed—you would give me one more chance."
He wiped at his eyes angrily.
"But you never came home. And now you're back, and I'm standing here like a stranger in front of my own kids."
Evan's breath hitched.
Lucas wiped his face, took a trembling breath, and whispered—
"I missed everything."
Evan's lips trembled.
A single tear slid down his cheek.
And Adrian, silently watching from the hallway, clenched his fists—
Because he knew, at that moment, nothing would ever be simple again.
"Evan…" Lucas whispered, voice breaking. "Why didn't you tell me sooner…? Why didn't you come back with them?"
Evan closed his eyes. "Because you weren't here when it mattered."
Lucas's breath caught, and he took a step forward—but Adrian appeared in the doorway before he could get closer.
His expression was controlled but sharp, his presence cool and undeniable.
"That's enough for today," Adrian said evenly. "Evan needs rest. The children need stability, not emotional chaos."
Lucas turned toward him, jaw clenching. "This is a family matter. You have no right to interfere."
Adrian didn't blink. "I have every right. I was the one who stood beside Evan for the past five years. I was the one who knew about the pregnancy. I was the one in the hospital. I was there when he almost fainted while carrying two toddlers alone. Where were you?"
Lucas flinched as if punched.
Evan's eyes widened. "Adrian…"
But Adrian continued, voice low and sharp.
"Where were you when he felt the world turn against him? When he didn't have a cent and refused help out of pride? When he couldn't sleep for nights because the twins had fevers?"
Lucas's face paled.
Adrian's voice softened, but the steel beneath it remained. "I don't care what you regret. I only care about what you do now."
Lucas steadied himself, breathing hard. "Then let me see them."
Evan opened his mouth—but Adrian spoke first.
"No."
Lucas's head snapped toward him. "You don't get to decide."
"And you don't get to barge in and demand access to children you didn't even know existed," Adrian shot back.
The air crackled.
Evan stepped between them, pressing a hand to his chest as if holding himself together.
"I… I need time," he whispered.
Lucas's furious expression faltered. "Evan—"
"No," Evan said, more firmly. "Please. I can't think clearly right now."
Lucas stared at him for a long, trembling moment.
His shoulders slowly dropped, defeat carving itself into his features. "Alright," he murmured. "I'll give you time."
He took a breath, eyes shining.
"But Evan… I'm not leaving again. Not this time."
He walked to the door but paused, glancing back.
"When they wake up… tell them…"
His voice cracked.
"Tell them their father wants to meet them."
He left quietly, the door clicking shut behind him.
Evan's knees weakened. Adrian caught him before he hit the floor.
"Easy," Adrian murmured, holding him steady. "You're shaking."
Evan buried his face in his hands. "Adrian… what am I going to do?"
"You're going to breathe," Adrian said gently. "And you're going to take this one step at a time."
Evan's voice cracked. "He looked so… broken."
Adrian exhaled slowly, brushing a hand through Evan's hair.
"Because he realized the consequences of his choices."
"But the twins…" Evan whispered.
"That," Adrian said softly, "is up to you."
Evan looked up at him, eyes red.
Adrian froze.
His expression shifted almost imperceptibly—something bittersweet flickering through his eyes.
Then he cupped Evan's cheek, thumb brushing lightly against his skin.
"You don't need to pick sides right now," he said. "You don't need to choose anything. Not yet. Not until your heart stops hurting."
Evan looked down, throat tight.
Adrian continued, voice calm and unwavering.
"But remember one thing," he said. "No matter what Lucas decides to do… no matter how much he regrets… I'm not going anywhere either."
Evan stared at him.
the twins waking drifted through the hallway.
"Daddy…?"
Evan quickly wiped his face.
Adrian stepped aside, giving him space.
Evan moved toward the twins' room, hand pressed to his chest as if trying to keep it from breaking open again.
Behind him, Adrian watched quietly.
And somewhere outside, Lucas leaned against the elevator wall, eyes red, breathing through the ache .