Chapter 28: No More Running

Elias stood frozen as Lily clung to him, her small arms wrapped around his neck with surprising strength. He could feel her tiny heartbeat against his chest, steady and warm. He wanted to say something, to acknowledge the truth that had just been laid bare, but the words lodged in his throat.

Luca, standing a few feet away, watched them with unreadable eyes. He wasn't a child who spoke unnecessarily—he observed, he listened, and he had pieced things together before anyone had said them out loud. Elias wasn't sure whether that made things easier or harder.

Lani, on the other hand, was stiff in her chair, watching them with wary eyes.

Elias pulled away slightly to meet Lily's bright, trusting gaze. She grinned, clearly proud of her little sculpture, oblivious to the weight of the moment.

"Lily," he said softly, "do you know what it means when two people look alike?"

Lily tilted her head. "That they're family?"

Elias felt something break inside him.

"Yeah," he murmured. "Something like that."

Lily giggled. "Maybe we're secretly family, then!"

Luca exhaled sharply, crossing his arms. "It's not a secret anymore," he muttered.

Lily blinked up at her brother, confused. "What do you mean?"

Luca glanced at Lani, then at Elias. He was waiting for them to speak.

Lani inhaled shakily, pressing her fingers against her temples for a brief moment before looking at her son. "Luca," she started carefully, "this isn't something we can just talk about so suddenly."

Luca frowned. "Why not? We're not babies."

Elias let out a small, humorless chuckle. "No, you're not." He hesitated before finally looking at Lani, searching for permission in her gaze.

She swallowed, then nodded.

Elias turned back to the twins. "Lily, Luca…" He exhaled slowly, then finally said it. "I'm your father."

Silence.

Lily's eyes widened as she looked between Lani and Elias, her little mouth parting in shock. Luca's expression, however, remained carefully blank.

"You're joking, right?" Lily asked.

Elias shook his head. "No, sweetheart. I'm not."

Lily looked up at Lani for confirmation. Lani's throat tightened, but she managed a small nod.

Tears welled up in Lily's eyes. "So… you're really my dad?"

Elias's chest ached at how fragile her voice sounded. He reached forward, gently cupping her cheek. "Yeah, princess. I am."

Lily let out a shaky breath before suddenly launching herself at him, hugging him even tighter than before. Elias caught her easily, his arms wrapping around her like he had been meant to do this his whole life.

Luca, meanwhile, stayed silent. His gaze was still on Elias, sharp and scrutinizing.

Elias met his stare. "I know this is a lot to take in," he said quietly. "You don't have to say anything right now."

Luca was quiet for a moment before he asked, "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

Elias's throat tightened. "I didn't know at first," he admitted. "And when I found out… I didn't know how to tell you."

Luca's lips pressed together, and for the first time, his voice wavered. "Do you even want to be our dad?"

Elias didn't hesitate. "More than anything."

Luca's eyes flickered with something unreadable before he turned away, mumbling, "I need to think."

Elias didn't stop him as he walked away. He understood. Luca needed time.

Lily, however, refused to let go of Elias. She nuzzled against his chest, sniffling softly. "I always wanted a daddy."

Elias kissed the top of her head. "And I always wanted you."

Lani felt something tighten in her chest as she watched them. She had spent years fearing this moment, dreading how the truth would change everything. But now, watching Elias hold their daughter, she realized something.

Maybe this wasn't the end of everything.

Maybe it was the beginning.

Lani sat at her desk in Lelani Tech Corp, watching Elias hold Lily as if he had been doing it forever. There was something about the way he cradled her so naturally, how he instinctively rubbed small circles on her back to soothe her, that made Lani's throat tighten.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

She had spent years raising the twins alone, keeping the truth buried deep inside her. Now, in just a matter of minutes, it had all unraveled.

Luca had left the office, needing space. Lani wanted to go after him, but she knew her son. He was like her—he needed time to process, to figure out how he felt before talking about it. She couldn't force him to accept Elias overnight.

Lily, on the other hand, had accepted Elias as her father without hesitation.

Lani exhaled, dragging a hand through her hair. "Lily, baby," she said softly. "Why don't you go find Luca? Give him some time, okay?"

Lily hesitated but nodded. "Okay, Mommy." She looked up at Elias with big, adoring eyes. "You won't leave, right?"

Elias's expression softened. "I'm not going anywhere, princess."

Lily beamed, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek before hopping off his lap and running out of the office.

And just like that, Lani and Elias were alone.

The air grew heavy between them.

Lani stood, walking toward the window. She stared at the city skyline, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts. "You weren't supposed to find out like this."

Elias leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple. "Would there ever have been a right way?"

Lani's jaw tightened. "I don't know."

Silence.

Elias sighed. "Lani, why didn't you tell me?"

She turned to face him, crossing her arms. "What difference would it have made?"

Elias's eyes darkened. "You don't think I had a right to know my own children?"

Lani swallowed hard. "You were sick, Elias. You still are. I didn't want to—" She stopped herself.

Elias sat up straighter. "Didn't want to what?"

Lani turned away, pressing her fingers against her temples. "Didn't want to give them a father who might not be around for long."

Silence fell over the room like a thick fog.

Elias clenched his fists. "So you made that decision for me?" His voice was rough, filled with a hurt that made Lani's chest ache.

She spun around, her own anger rising. "Yes! Because I was the one left to raise them! I was the one who had to think about their future, about what would happen if I told them about you and then—" She exhaled sharply, voice breaking. "And then you were gone."

Elias stood slowly, stepping toward her. "Lani…" His voice was softer now, almost pleading.

She shook her head, blinking back tears. "I didn't want them to love you only to lose you."

Elias's expression twisted with pain. "I'm fighting, Lani. I'm trying to be here for them."

Lani let out a bitter laugh. "For how long, Elias?"

His jaw clenched. "Long enough to make sure they know I love them."

Lani looked away, heart pounding. She wanted to be angry. She wanted to push him away. But the way he spoke, the raw emotion in his voice—it was breaking down every wall she had built.

Elias exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "I get why you did it," he admitted. "But I need you to understand something, Lani. They're not just your kids. They're mine too. And I don't care how much time I have left—I'm going to be their father."

Lani's breath hitched.

Elias had always been stubborn. But this? This was different. He wasn't just saying it—he meant it.

And for the first time in years, Lani felt something dangerous creeping into her chest.

Hope.

She looked at him, her walls cracking. "Then prove it."

Elias didn't hesitate. "I will."