Family Secret

Chapter 37

The days that followed settled into a rhythm that almost felt normal—almost.

Mornings began with the usual chaos. Nate expertly maneuvered around the kitchen in his vest and rolled-up sleeves, buttering toast while sipping coffee, keeping one sharp eye on Ryan’s attempt to sneak a second pastry, and the other on Kyan as she braided her hair with far too many colorful clips. Alexia swept in not long after, fixing collars, packing lunches, and brushing crumbs off Nate’s tie before the family spilled out into the street.

The twins survived school one day at a time. Ryan leaned on Clint Reese’s sharp mind whenever a pop quiz appeared, subtly plucking answers from the boy’s head with practiced ease. Kyan fended off Chadwick Summers and his pack of cronies with fiery retorts, calling him a “meanie buttface” loud enough to earn glares from teachers but smirks from Ryan. Miguel Monroe remained polite, friendly even, but kept his distance whenever Chadwick lurked nearby.

Evenings were filled with homework, shared dinners, and the constant hum of routine. Nate and Alexia’s partnership grew more seamless—tag-teaming bedtime, sharing small smirks across the table when the twins tried to negotiate “five more minutes” before sleep. And though both knew their arrangement was built on lies and secrets, neither could deny that these fleeting, quiet moments had begun to feel… comfortable.

Then the day arrived.

The entire school gathered in the auditorium, buzzing with anticipation. The Headmaster stepped up to the podium, his posture as rigid as ever, spectacles glinting under the stage lights. He tapped the microphone once, clearing his throat, his voice echoing across the hall.

“It is with great pleasure that I announce the five winning families of this year’s fundraiser. As you all know, the first prize is an all-expenses-paid trip aboard the SS Nautilus.”

A wave of whispers rippled through the crowd.

The Headmaster adjusted his papers. “First… the Reese family. Congratulations, Clint Reese.”

Clint sat straighter in his seat, face going crimson as the students around him clapped politely.

“Second… the Summers family. Congratulations, Chadwick Summers.”

Chadwick stood tall, smirking, while his friends whooped obnoxiously, the sound carrying across the room. Ryan clenched his jaw, forcing himself not to roll his eyes.

“Third… the Quinn family. Congratulations, Penny Quinn.”

A girl in the second row squealed with delight, covering her face with her hands.

“Fourth… the Monroe family. Congratulations, Miguel Monroe.”

Miguel blinked in surprise but quickly gave a shy wave as polite applause followed. Ryan’s stomach twisted with tension. His eyes flicked toward his sister.

“And finally…” The Headmaster paused deliberately, scanning the paper in his hand. The room hushed, the silence thick with expectation. Ryan held his breath, his fists tightening against his knees.

Beside him, Kyan simply swung her feet back and forth, completely unfazed. She already knew.

The Headmaster lifted his gaze. “The Atkins family. Congratulations, Ryan and Kyan Atkins.”

Ryan exhaled sharply, his chest heaving as the tension bled out of him. A rush of relief, disbelief, and excitement tangled inside his chest all at once.

Kyan, grinning from ear to ear, leaned over and whispered with the kind of certainty only she could carry:

“Told you.”

The school bell had barely rung before Ryan and Kyan barreled out the front doors and spotted Alexia waiting by the gates. She leaned casually against the brick wall, her blonde hair catching in the afternoon sun, the oversized coat draped around her figure making her look both elegant and effortlessly striking.

“Mommy! Mommy!” Kyan shouted, tugging her along the moment she reached her. “We won! We’re going on the big fancy boat! The cruise!”

Ryan, still catching his breath, chimed in. “Not just us—Clint won too. And… Miguel.” He tried to sound casual, but there was a strange note in his voice when he said Miguel’s name.

Kyan scrunched her nose dramatically. “And butt-face Chadwick won too.” She glanced over her shoulder with shifty eyes as though spies might be listening in. Then she whispered, “Maybe I can push him overboard and no one will ever know.”

Alexia couldn’t help but burst out laughing, covering her mouth with her hand. “Kyan…” she said between giggles, shaking her head. “Let’s keep both feet on the boat, alright?”

As they walked down the busy street toward home, Ryan couldn’t ignore what was happening around them. Nearly every man they passed—old shopkeepers sweeping their steps, soldiers on leave leaning in doorways, young apprentices carrying crates—paused mid-step to stare at Alexia. Their gazes clung to her, shameless and heavy, and the thoughts that spilled unbidden into Ryan’s mind made his cheeks flush bright pink. They weren’t just inappropriate—they were graphic. He quickly ducked his head, mortified, trying to shut their voices out, but the harder he tried, the louder they seemed to grow.

Alexia, of course, noticed none of it. She walked confidently, listening intently as the twins chattered about how Clint nearly fainted when his name was announced and how Miguel smiled at them afterward.

By the time they reached home, Nate was just stepping onto the porch, his briefcase in hand. He barely had time to turn when Kyan squealed, “Daddy!” and leapt full force into his arms.

“Bloody hell, Kyan!” Nate staggered, almost dropping his briefcase as he caught her midair. “Warn a mate next time!”

She only giggled, arms tight around his neck. “We won the cruise! We won! It’s real! We’re going!”

Nate blinked, stunned, his brow furrowing as his gaze flicked to Alexia.

Alexia lifted an eyebrow, shrugging lightly. “Between your job and mine… I guess it was enough.”

For a moment Nate studied her, then a slow smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Well then. This calls for a special dinner.”

Before Alexia could reply, Kyan clapped her hands excitedly. “Homemade spaghetti and meatballs!”

Ryan pumped his fist in the air. “YES!” His voice cracked slightly, but the excitement was unmistakable. Spaghetti and meatballs was their holy grail—Nate only made it for truly special occasions.

Alexia chuckled softly, stepping forward to grab Nate’s briefcase before it slipped from his fingers. She followed him and the twins into the house, setting it neatly by the coat rack.

Kyan scrambled upstairs, already talking about drawing pictures of the cruise ship. Ryan trailed after her, grinning from ear to ear.

That left Alexia alone with Nate in the quiet of the entryway. She slipped out of her coat and hung it carefully, then reached for his, helping him slide out of his jacket and neatly pressing it onto the hook beside hers.

When she turned back, Nate was watching her. His expression was softer than usual, not guarded, not sharp—something rare flickered in his blue eyes.

“Would you like to help me make dinner?” he asked, his voice low, carrying a weight that made it feel more like an invitation than a casual suggestion.

Alexia blinked, caught off guard. She laughed nervously, brushing a strand of hair back. “I don’t know. I can’t cook. I’ll probably burn it.”

Nate’s mouth curved into a faint smile—gentle, genuine, the kind of smile he rarely showed anyone. “I’ll teach you. It’s easy.”

Alexia opened her mouth to decline, but the words stuck. She looked fully into his eyes for the first time, really looked, and found herself unable to pull away. Her heart skipped once, betraying her.

“…Alright,” she whispered at last.

Ryan trudged up the stairs behind Kyan, still buzzing from the excitement of the fundraiser results, though his mind was already shifting to more practical things. If they were going to be stuck on a boat for a week, he needed to figure out a way to befriend Miguel Monroe without tipping off Chadwick. It wasn’t going to be easy—Miguel was quiet, almost too careful, like he’d learned to keep his guard up. Ryan knew the type.

By the time they reached their room, Kyan had already thrown herself onto the floor, spreading out her paper and colored pencils like she was on some grand mission. Ryan sat cross-legged on his bed, scribbling notes in the little notepad he’d swiped from Nate’s desk. “Step one,” he muttered to himself, “make Miguel laugh. Step two, maybe sit next to him at lunch. Step three…” He chewed on the pencil eraser, tapping it against his chin.

“Are you even listening?” he asked suddenly, glancing over at Kyan. She hadn’t responded to him once.

She didn’t even look up, her little brow furrowed in concentration as she dragged a red crayon across the paper.

Curious, Ryan slid off the bed and leaned over her shoulder. At first glance, the drawing looked like her usual scribbles—big, bright colors and slightly uneven lines—but the details made him pause.

It wasn’t just random shapes. It was two people. A tall man and a woman, standing close, so close it almost looked like they were about to hug. Their faces were tilted toward each other, eyes locked.

Ryan’s stomach tightened. The man had dark hair, broad shoulders, and a square jaw. The woman had long blonde hair tied in a loose bun. Even in Kyan’s childish style, there was no mistaking who they were supposed to be.

He raised an eyebrow. “Is that…”

Before he could finish, Kyan cut him off with a little giggle. She pressed her crayon down with extra flourish, adding a heart above their heads. “It’s Mommy and Daddy,” she said matter-of-factly. Then she covered her mouth, laughing like it was the funniest secret in the world. “They’re starting to like like each other. I saw it.”

Ryan froze, staring at the drawing, his brain stuttering. “Like like?” he repeated.

Kyan nodded, her pigtails bouncing. “Mhm. You’ll see.”