"Promise me, will you come back to our parents' home and let me explain everything slowly? I bet you'll really like them too!"
I knew the "them" Evelina was referring to were the twins I had seen in the photos.
I couldn't understand how her values had become so twisted.
She wasn't like this before.
Had these past eight years in front of me all been an act?
I tried my best to calm my emotions and agreed to her request, but chose to drive alone on the way there.
Only this way could I cool down enough.
When we arrived at the mansion, I saw Evelina's two children run out.
The boy clung to Evelina's side, while the girl stuck close to Damien.
They each held a child in their arms, looking so warm and cozy.
It was as if they were the married couple, and I had become the villain trying to break them up.
But I was Evelina's lawful husband!
I stayed in the car for a long time, while Evelina continued to accompany the children.
The promised explanation seemed to have slipped her mind completely.
"Mom and Dad, you'll be together forever, right?"
The little girl blinked and asked Evelina in a coy voice.
Evelina replied without hesitation, smiling, "Of course, Mom and Dad will always be with you until you grow up."
"Really? But I heard there's a bad guy out there who wants to take you away!"
When the little girl mentioned "bad guy"...
My heart felt like it was being violently wrenched!
Evelina immediately scolded in a low voice, "Don't ever say such things again. There's no such thing as a bad guy!"
"Will Mom live with Dad then? I just want Mom, Dad, grandparents, and little brother!"
Faced with her daughter's plea, Evelina was silent for a few seconds.
I thought she was worried about me, but unexpectedly, she smiled and replied, "Yes, the six of us will live together in the future."
Even if it was a lie, those words were enough to shatter my last hope.
I watched the happy family of six outside the car.
Suddenly, I had the illusion that I had become the most redundant one.
I didn't leave, simply because I wanted to know the reason.
So just as I got out of the car to go over, I noticed the hostile glares from the two children when they looked at me.
The little boy pointed at me and shouted, "It's him, the bad guy! Dad, you need to protect Mom. Don't let the bad guy get near her!"
His sister chimed in, "Hurry up and make the bad guy leave! I don't want to see him!"
The siblings' reaction caught Evelina off guard.
She quickly tried to explain, "You need to remember, he's not a bad guy. He's going to be your dad in the future."
"He's not Dad! I don't want him to be my Dad!" the little boy yelled.
Suddenly, the little girl burst into tears, looking utterly miserable with her eyes brimming with tears.
The scene made Evelina's heart melt. She hurriedly comforted her, "It's okay, Daisy. He's not Dad, he's the bad guy. Let's chase him out together!"
"Really?" Daisy's tears stopped abruptly.
"Really!" Evelina nodded in response.
Her eyes were filled with indulgence and infinite tolerance for the children.
I stood there dumbfounded, thinking I must have misheard.
As a husband in name only, should I be kicked out of the house by my wife because of the words of two children who aren't even mine?
Evelina came over holding Daisy, pretending to be angry as she said to me, "What are you still doing here, you bad guy? Get out now!"
My mother-in-law chimed in with her own scolding, "That's right, get the hell out of here! Don't dirty my floors!"
The explanation I was hoping for never came. Instead, I was being thrown out of the house.
Even though I knew Evelina might just be trying to protect the children.
But this also showed how important the children were to her.
And the little territory I once held in her heart.
Had probably been completely devoured by Damien long ago.
I nodded and gave a self-mocking smile. "Fine, I'll go. I wish you all happiness."