Playground

After a fun-filled afternoon at the playground, I gathered the twins and headed toward the car. As we walked, I decided to check in on something that had been on my mind.

"So, how's school going?" I asked casually, hoping to keep the conversation light as we reached the car.

Jake shrugged, but Lily remained silent, her gaze focused on the ground.

"Is everything okay at school?" I pressed gently, opening the car door for them.

Lily glanced up, her expression clouded. "It's fine," she replied, but I could sense the hesitation in her voice.

I climbed into the driver's seat and turned to face them. "You can tell me if something's bothering you. I want to make sure you're both happy there."

Jake shifted in his seat, glancing at Lily before speaking. "It's just… some kids say stuff."

"What kind of stuff?" I asked, my heart beginning to race with concern.

Lily bit her lip, looking uncomfortable. "They say we don't have a dad."

My stomach dropped. "What? Who says that?"

"They just… they don't get it," Jake said quietly. "They say it a lot."

I took a deep breath, processing their words. "Have you talked to your teacher about it? Maybe she can help."

"Yeah, but she doesn't really do anything," Lily admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "She said kids say things, but she doesn't care much."

Frustration bubbled inside me. "That's not right. You deserve to feel safe and supported at school. If this continues, we can talk to the principal together."

"No, we don't want to make it worse," Jake said quickly. "It's fine, really."

I nodded, wanting to respect their feelings but also knowing I had to protect them. "Okay, but remember, I'm here for you both, no matter what."

As we drove away from the playground, I turned to the twins, still feeling the weight of their earlier comments. I needed to address this head-on.

"Listen, if things are really tough at school, we can look into enrolling you in a different one," I suggested gently. "You deserve a place where you feel safe and accepted. I'll be there for you every step of the way."

Lily frowned. "But what if it's the same at a new school?"

Jake nodded. "Yeah, and what if kids there say we don't have a mom?"

I took a deep breath, knowing this was a sensitive topic. "I understand it's confusing. But you have to know something—just because some kids say things don't make it true. You have me as your dad, and that's what matters."

"But they're saying that we don't have a mom either," Lily said, her voice trembling slightly. "What do we say to that?"

I felt a pang in my chest. "You can tell them that every family is different. Some families have one parent, some have two, and that's okay. What matters is the love and support we have for each other."

Jake looked thoughtful. "But it still hurts when they say it."

"I know it does," I replied softly. "But remember, their words don't define who you are or how much you're loved. You're my kids, and that will never change. We can also talk to a counselor at school if you'd like—they can help you navigate this."

Lily sighed, looking out the window. "I guess that might help."

"Plus," I added, trying to lighten the mood, "if we do switch schools, I promise to take you to the best ice cream places in the area. We'll make it a fun adventure!"

Jake perked up at that. "Ice cream? Okay, that sounds cool."

"Just remember, no matter where you go, I'll always be your dad. You're not alone in this," I reassured them.

As we drove home, I felt a mix of hope and determination. As we pulled into the driveway, the familiar sight of the estate brought a sense of comfort. But as I stepped out of the car, I noticed an unsettling commotion coming from inside.

"Collins?" I called, seeing him near the front door. He looked tense, glancing back toward the chaos inside.

"Sir, we have a situation," he said, his voice low. "Claire's here, and she's not happy."

I felt my heart drop. "What's she doing?"

"Creating quite the mess, I'm afraid. She's demanding to see you." Collins hesitated, then added, "The kids might want to stay back."

I turned to the twins, who were peeking curiously from the car. "Stay close to me, okay? You don't need to worry."

We walked toward the entrance, where Claire's raised voice echoed through the hall. "You can't just ignore me, Ryan! I deserve to know what's going on!"

As we stepped inside, Claire whipped around, her eyes landing on me with a mixture of fury and surprise. "You!" she shouted, her voice sharp. "You think you can just cut me off?"

"Claire, this isn't the time—" I started, but she interrupted.

"And who are these kids?" she demanded, her gaze shifting to the twins. "What are they doing here?"

Lily and Jake exchanged confused glances, clearly bewildered by the scene.

I stepped protectively in front of them. "These are my children, Claire. They're not your concern."

"Your children?" Claire laughed bitterly. "You've got to be kidding me! Where did they come from?"

"From my life, which you seem to have no understanding of," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "They're here because they belong with me."

The twins looked up at me, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern. "Dad, who is she?" Jake asked softly.

I took a breath, glancing at Claire. "This is Claire. She used to be my wife, but we're divorced now. She shouldn't be here."

"Divorced? And what gives you the right to bring strangers into my home?" Claire shouted, her frustration spilling over.

As Claire stood there, her frustration palpable, I stepped forward, my voice steady. "Claire, this estate is mine. It always has been. You've never had any claim to it."

Her eyes narrowed. "Why did you hide who you are, Ryan? Max Donovan? I trusted you!"

"I never hid it from you," I replied, maintaining my composure. "You were focused on your ambitions. I was just trying to support you."

Claire crossed her arms, her demeanor shifting. "Well, it doesn't matter now. I have news—you should know I'm pregnant."

My stomach twisted at her words. "You think it's my child?"

"I thought it might be," she said defiantly.

"But you and I both know we were always too busy for that." I felt a wave of relief mixed with disbelief. "Claire, we never slept together during our marriage. You were always chasing your career, and I was busy with mine."

She looked flustered, her bravado faltering for a moment. "So what? You think you can just walk away from this?"

"Claire, you're not going to use this against me. You can't manipulate the truth to fit your narrative," I asserted, standing my ground.

"Also those 'strangers' are my kids," I replied firmly. "They deserve to feel safe, and that means you need to leave."

Collins stepped forward, his presence commanding. "Claire, I must insist you leave the premises. This is no longer your home."

Claire opened her mouth to protest, but I could see the realization dawning on her that she had no ground to stand on.

"Fine!" she spat, her voice dripping with disdain. "But you'll regret this. I will not be pushed aside."

As she stormed out, I turned to the twins, crouching down to their level. "I'm sorry you had to see that. I'll make sure you're safe here. You can always talk to me about anything, okay?"

Lily nodded, her eyes wide. "Is she gone?"

"For now," I assured her, feeling a wave of protectiveness. "And she won't be coming back. This is your home now."

As I led them further into the estate, I felt a renewed determination to create a loving environment for them, free from Claire's chaos.