The Mistress Who Ran Away With The Twins

Chapter 188: No Answer

I opened my mouth.

Nothing came out.

Cairo’s hand was still wrapped around Rome’s fingers. Rome didn’t pull away. He didn’t tighten his grip either. He just stood there, waiting for me to say something, because even he looked like he didn’t know what to say.

As if he was waiting for me to tell the truth.

As if he was waiting for me to admit that the resemblance wasn’t a coincidence.

That he was the father of all three of them.

"Yes..."

I finally said, my voice sounding far away even to my own ears. "Sometimes people can look alike even if they’re not related."

Cairo’s eyes narrowed slightly, the way they did when he was thinking too hard for his age. "But we look really alike," he insisted. "Not just a little."

Egypt gasped dramatically and leaned closer, squinting while comparing the two of them. "Wait. That’s true. The eyes! You have the same eyes!"

"Egypt.." Paris warned quietly.

"What? I’m just observing." Egypt tilted her head left, then right. "Same eyebrows too. And the nose!"

Paris crossed her arms and shot Egypt a look, the kind that clearly said stop talking without actually saying it out loud. Egypt, who still looked like she had more to say, suddenly went quiet.

"Resemblance to someone doesn’t automatically mean you’re related to that person," Paris said in her usual composed tone. "Genetics are complex. It happens sometimes. Like how you look identical to Punch."

"Punch?" Egypt blinked.

"Punch the monkey." Paris shrugged.

It slowly dawned on Egypt who she meant. Punch was the viral baby monkey that had been abandoned by his troop and mother. He was always seen carrying around his adopted stuffed orangutan, which made him famous online.

"Well, at least Punch is cute!" Egypt muttered, pouting. "And if I look like him, that means you look like him too, because we’re twins."

"That would mean Cairo looks like him too," Paris replied calmly. "Because he’s our brother."

"And this uncle too," Cairo added suddenly. "Because he looks like me."

Both girls froze.

Then they slowly turned to Rome.

A moment passed and both of them burst into giggles.

Rome, however, looked genuinely confused as to why Paris and Egypt were laughing.

I shot Paris a grateful look for steering the conversation away.

But Cairo still wasn’t convinced.

"When I was in the hospital," he said slowly, still staring at Rome’s face, "this uncle was very kind to me."

My stomach dropped.

Rome inhaled quietly.

"It’s because I was worried about you.." he answered gently.

"Why?" Cairo asked.

I immediately stepped forward and placed a hand on Cairo’s shoulder before Rome could say anything more.

"Because this uncle is Mommy’s... old friend," I said carefully. "That’s why he was concerned."

Rome’s gaze flickered to me at the words old friend. There was history in that glance. Heavy and unspoken.

"Old friend?" Egypt repeated suspiciously. "Then why didn’t we know him before?"

"We didn’t talk for a long time," I replied. "Grown-ups sometimes lose contact as they grow older."

"That’s sad.." Cairo said softly.

Something inside my chest tightened painfully.

Rome crouched down slowly so he was eye-level with him. "It is," he agreed. "But sometimes... people find their way back."

The words were simple.

But they weren’t.

I gave him a warning look. He only offered a small, almost sad smile before turning back to Cairo.

Cairo studied him for a moment.

Then suddenly, "You’re tall and handsome. Are you single? And are you courting my mom?"

Rome froze for half a second before letting out a quiet laugh. "Why do you think I’m courting your mom?" he asked, glancing at me.

"Because my mom is beautiful. And you brought flowers. And you even gave us food."

"Cairo, this uncle is not—"

"Yes," Rome cut in calmly. "I’m courting your mom."

All three of us turned to look at him.

He was smiling.

But there was something firm in his tone.

"W-what are you saying?" I whispered to Rome.

Cairo tilted his head. "Then why are you courting my mom?"

Before I could recover and before Rome could answer, Egypt grabbed the paper bag from him.

"Ugh, I’m hungry again! You should eat with us, Uncle Rome," she declared. "Since you brought the food."

I opened my mouth to protest, but Rome looked at me first.

Asking permission.

I exhaled slowly. "Okay. Just this once."

Just breakfast. Just one morning. It doesn’t mean anything.

---

We moved to the dining table. The kids were excited as Egypt unpacked everything dramatically. Pancakes, sandwiches, fruit cups, and warm bread from Sylvincolm.

It felt strange watching Rome arrange the containers neatly on the table.

Like he belonged with us. Like he had done this before.

Cairo pulled a chair beside him.

Not beside me.

Rome hesitated for half a second before sitting down.

Paris sat across from them, observing quietly. Egypt was too busy eating to sense the tension.

I remained standing a moment longer.

This is dangerous.

Because this scene looked too normal.

Too peaceful.

Like a missing piece had suddenly been placed back where it belonged.

But no. Stop it, Sylvia. It won’t happen.

Cairo took a bite of pancake and smiled. "It’s good!"

"I’m glad you like it..." Rome replied.

"You didn’t make it though," Egypt said bluntly. "Mom’s cooks probably did."

Rome smiled easily. "You’re right."

"Mom owns the restaurant," Egypt added proudly. "She’s successful now!"

"Yeah" Rome said softly.

There was something in his voice. Respect. Proud. Maybe even regret.

Cairo nudged his arm. "Do you also have kids?"

The air froze again.

Rome hesitated.

"Yes." he said at last.

"Then that means you have a wife, right? But you said you’re courting Mom. Are you a playboy?" Cairo asked innocently.

"Cairo.." I warned.

Rome smiled faintly. "I’m not a playboy. In my entire life, I’ve only ever loved one woman."

He looked at me when he said it.

I looked away.

"I don’t have a wife anymore," he continued. "We separated. So I’m unmarried now."

Paris leaned forward slightly. "But it hasn’t been long since you separated, right? So why are you saying you want to court Mom? Are you using her as a rebound? And what about Gabriel? If I remember correctly, Gabriel is your son. You came here to pick him up before."

The room went quiet.

Even I was startled by how direct she was.

Rome swallowed before answering.

"Gabriel will always be special to me," he said carefully. "But this time... I’m choosing my happiness over everything else."

I looked up sharply.

He was looking at me.

"I mean," he corrected softly, "I’m choosing to fix what I broke."

Paris narrowed her eyes. "That doesn’t answer my question."

"It’s a long story," Rome replied gently. "And it’s not the right time to tell it."

"Why not?" she pressed.

"Paris.." I said quietly, shaking my head.

Rome glanced at me, then back at her. "Sometimes life doesn’t go the way you planned. And sometimes there are stories that aren’t ready to be told yet. When the right time comes, I’ll explain."

Paris pursed her lips. "I’m not that interested now, so just tell it to someone else." she muttered, returning to her food.

But I knew she was listening.

Cairo was still thinking.

"So... do you love your kids more than Mom?" he asked suddenly. "If you had a wife before, does that mean you don’t love her anymore?"

My fork clinked against my plate.

Rome met my eyes before answering.

"I love my kids," he said slowly. "But I made mistakes. And sometimes you have to choose to be better instead of just staying where you are."

His stare lingered on me.

It hurt.

Egypt broke the silence. "Mom, why are you so quiet?"

"Just tired.." I replied.

Cairo suddenly pointed between us. "You two talk weird. You look at each other like you’re having a secret conversation."

"We are not" I said quickly.

Rome simply took a sip of water.

Which somehow made it worse.

---

After breakfast, Egypt and Paris cleared the table. Cairo lingered beside Rome.

"If you and Mom were friends before... were you close?" Cairo asked.

"Yes" Rome answered honestly.

"How close?"

Too close.

"We were very close" he admitted.

Cairo hesitated before asking quietly, "Did you ever hurt Mom?"

Rome didn’t hesitate.

"Yes."

"Bad?"

"Yes. Very bad."

The kitchen felt too small.

"And you’re here now because...?"

"Because I want to fix what I broke."

Cairo was quiet.

Then he stepped forward and hugged Rome.

Just like that.

Rome stiffened, then slowly wrapped his arms around him.

"If you hurt Mom again," Cairo said seriously, "I won’t like you."

"That’s fair."

"And if you make her cry, I’ll protect her."

"You can hate me forever if I ever do that." Rome replied softly.

I turned away because my eyes were burning.

Paris watched everything.

"You two loved each other before, didn’t you?" she asked calmly.

Neither of us answered.

"I thought so" she said, walking away.

Rome stood slowly. "I should go."

Relief and disappointment hit at the same time.

At the door, Cairo asked, "Will you come back?"

Rome looked at me.

"Depends," he said quietly. "If your mom wants me to."

Three pairs of eyes turned to me.

I swallowed.

I couldn’t speak.

He nodded.

Before the door closed, Cairo spoke again.

"If we really look alike... maybe it’s not an accident."

Rome’s expression softened.

"Maybe" he said.

And then he left.

The house fell quiet.

Cairo walked toward me slowly.

"Mom?"

"Yes?"

"If he’s not related to us... why does it feel like he is?"

I had no answer.