Hiding the Billionaire's Twins (English)

Chapter 18

“Wow! So pretty!” Hera’s voice echoed with pure wonder, her face lighting up as she stared at the massive iron gates towering before us.

Even from the outside, Rihav’s opulent residence in La Fera Uno Village was a breath-taking sight. Back in my college days with Sean, I used to dream about building a home in an exclusive enclave like this. Entry was strictly controlled, guarded by round-the-clock security personnel at the gates and mobile patrols roaming the perimeter.

The village was lined with grand estates; there wasn't a humble house in sight. Only the exceptionally wealthy could afford to live here, and Rihav was clearly one of them. It was no surprise that he owned such a lavish property on Isla Fera.

“Daddy, is that house yours?” Hera asked, pointing toward the tall gates.

Before Rihav could answer, the heavy gates automatically swung open. Hera let out an excited squeal, her gaze glued to the opening driveway. Even Hacov stood up from his seat to catch a better view.

My jaw practically dropped as the full view of Rihav’s mansion came into focus. It was grander and far more extravagant than the Madreal Mansion. The architectural design was breathtaking, clearly the masterpiece of a top-tier architect. Scanning the landscaped grounds, my eyes landed on a sprawling, illuminated swimming pool along the side of the house.

I glanced back at the twins, who were staring at the pool with wide, mesmerized eyes. In all their years, they had never splashed around in a swimming pool before; their only swimming experience was in the sea at La Azul.

Amer had sneaked them out for that trip back then, an incident that had me nearly in tears as I searched frantically for them. Looking at the pristine water now, I could tell they were itching to jump right in.

“Daddy, can we swim in there?” Hacov asked, looking up at Rihav.

“Of course you can. We’ll go swimming first thing tomorrow morning. Not tonight, though, it’s getting late, and I don't want you two catching a cold.” Rihav gently adjusted Hacov’s hair.

“Hacov! I’m so excited!” Hera squealed inside the car.

Hacov covered his ears, leaning his head away from Hera’s loud voice. I heard Rihav chuckle softly at their antics. Some days they got along seamlessly; other days, they bickered endlessly. I only ever enforced one strict rule: no physical hurting. No hitting, pinching, or roughhousing. Whenever one of them felt sulky, they had to stew in quiet until they eventually made up on their own.

An older household worker approached the vehicle and opened my side of the door. She greeted me with a warm smile, which I politely returned. I stepped out first before helping Hera and Hacov down.

“Please grab my wife and children's luggage from the trunk,” Rihav instructed the woman who had opened my door.

“Right away, Sir,” she replied, stepping away to retrieve the bags.

Hearing Rihav refer to us as "my wife and children" made my heart skip a beat. Our eyes met briefly, but I quickly averted my gaze. With Hera cradled in his arms and Hacov holding his hand, Rihav led the way inside while I followed closely behind.

Stepping through the massive double doors, I was thoroughly awestruck by the mansion's interior. Every piece of furniture and decor screamed luxury and elegance.

I followed Rihav up the grand staircase, my eyes still wandering over the surrounding architecture. Distracted by the decor, I failed to notice that we had already reached the top landing. Stepping forward as if there were another step, my foot caught the edge, causing me to stumble, but before I could hit the floor, Rihav’s arm swiftly wrapped around my waist, catching me effortlessly.

“Be careful, Angel,” he murmured, holding me steady.

I offered a shy, timid nod, offering a bashful smile to hide my embarrassment. Resuming our walk, I held Hacov’s hand while Rihav kept his hand resting comfortably at my waist. He guided us into a spacious bedroom thoughtfully decorated entirely for children. He had clearly customized this room specifically for the twins. It was massive, far larger than our entire house back in La Meyanda.

Hera wriggled down from her father’s arms the moment her feet touched the floor. She dashed straight toward a large play tent castle big enough to fit two people. She ran her hands over the fabric, looking around until she spotted something that made her squeal in delight.

“Mommy! Look! It’s this one!” she cried out repeatedly, clutching a toy she had desperately wanted when we visited the mall a while back.

I hadn't been able to afford that toy back then, so I had promised her we would come back for it on their birthday. But life had gotten in the way, and that promise fell through. Now, here it was, the very toy Hera had longed for, right in her hands. Even the exact phone model Hacov wanted was already sitting on his nightstand, all thanks to Rihav.

Even without him, I was always determined to provide for my children and give them what they wanted. But I couldn't deny my own financial limitations. Providing luxury items was beyond our modest means, and our financial situation had been tough for a long time.

Part of me wanted to put a stop to Rihav’s lavish gifts, but another part of me felt my children deserved all of this from their father. Still, a quiet fear lingered in my heart, fear of what might happen if the children grew too attached to Rihav, only for things to fall apart later.

I offered Hera a reassuring smile. “Don’t break it, Hera. Be careful with things that aren't yours,” I gently reminded her.

Hera’s brows furrowed, and just as she was about to speak, Rihav cut in smoothly.

“No, Hera—it is yours. Didn't you tell me how much you wanted this?” Hera nodded enthusiastically, hugging the toy tightly against her chest. “Daddy bought this specifically for you. Everything in this room belongs to you and Hacov.”

Hera’s jaw dropped in complete disbelief. “Really, Daddy? This castle? This bed? These toys? All of it?!”

I pressed a hand against my forehead as Hera bombarded her father with questions. She was so talkative today. Ever since we were at the mall, she hadn't stopped chatting Rihav’s ear off, even spilling details about Amer. There really were no secrets with Hera; she blabbed about practically everything.

“Yes, Sweetheart. Every single thing,” her father answered with a warm smile.

She squealed once more, diving straight into the play castle. Hacov, meanwhile, walked over to the bed, flopping onto the mattress and instantly unboxing the new phone Rihav had bought him.

I felt Rihav squeeze my waist gently, drawing my attention toward him.

“Do you want to rest?” he asked softly.

I pouted slightly, giving him a small nod.

“Come on,” he murmured.

My brows furrowed at his invitation. “H-huh?” I stammered.

“To our room. Let’s leave them to play for a bit. They’re completely occupied.”

“What? No, I’m staying right here. I’m not going with you,” I replied instantly.

“We need to talk,” he said, his expression turning serious.

Seeing his earnest look, I knew he was sincere about needing a conversation.

“We need to talk and figure some things out.”

I let out a quiet sigh, glancing back at the twins. He was right, we needed to talk and bring clarity to everything between us. I was never the type of person to hold unending grudges, nor did I have a heart of stone. If someone genuinely deserved a second chance, why withhold it? I just needed to process everything carefully. I had been hurt deeply once before, and I couldn't afford to let history repeat itself.

I gave him a slight nod and bade a quick goodbye to the twins, who were far too engrossed in their new belongings to mind us. Rihav led me out of their room and down the hall toward his master suite. He held the door open for me to enter first.

My heart hammered against my ribs, a nervous energy settling deep in my chest. I couldn't quite explain the sudden jitteriness, we used to share spaces like this all the time, but the context of our relationship was entirely different now.

“W-what do you want to talk about?” I asked, my voice betraying my nervousness.

He gestured for me to sit on the edge of the large bed before taking a seat beside me.

“I just wanted to be with you, alone,” he confessed softly. “Whenever the twins are around, your entire focus is on them. I know they’re my kids, but sometimes... I feel... jealous.”

“W-what?” I sputtered, quickly looking away.

Jealous of his own twins?! That was absurd.

“What I mean is... ah, never mind,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck as he averted his eyes.

“I don't get you, Rihav. Why are you acting like this? It doesn't suit you at all, you used to be so cold and moody before,” I teased lightheartedly, trying to laugh off the tension in the room.

His expression instantly softened into something deeply serious, causing my laughter to fade. I cleared my throat, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear, and looked back up at him awkwardly.

“Do we actually have something to discuss? My kids might be looking for me soon.”

Before I could react, Rihav shifted closer, wrapping his arms around me and pulling my body flush against his. He buried his face in the crook of my shoulder, holding me in a firm, tender embrace.

“Just for a minute... let me have you first,” he whispered softly.

The comforting warmth of his hug washed over me, and I found myself relaxing into his hold, allowing him to pull me close. The wounds of the past hadn't completely healed, the struggles, the heartache, and the tears were still etched into my memory. Yet, wrapped in the arms of the man who had caused that pain, I somehow felt a deep sense of peace and comfort.

He was the root of my past heartbreak, but standing here now, he felt like the only person who could truly mend it.

I realized then... I was still deeply in love with him.

Try as I might to erase him from my life, I couldn't. He would always be connected to me through our children, and because my heart still belonged to him.

“Are you done?” I asked quietly after a long moment passed in silence.

“Just a few more minutes, please. I missed holding you so much. Hug me back... I missed your hugs.”

As if acting on their own accord, my arms lifted and wrapped around his back, yielding to his request. I closed my eyes, savoring the quiet intimacy of the moment. I lost track of how long we stayed wrapped in each other's arms. I simply let go, setting aside the pain in my heart, if only for a brief moment.

“Thank you, Angel. Forgive me for everything I did to you,” he whispered emotionally. “I won't make the same mistakes again. This time, I’ll do my absolute best to be a better man for you and our children. I won't trap you in my shadow if that’s what you’re afraid of. You’re free to do whatever you want, just please don't leave me.”

I stood speechless, unsure of what to say or how to respond. I remained quiet in his embrace until he finally pulled back to look at me. Moisture shimmered in the corners of his eyes. Cupping my cheeks gently with his hands, he searched my face.

“Don't leave me again, okay?” he pleaded softly.

Even without complete certainty about what the future held, I offered him a gentle smile and nodded. I didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but for now, I had no intentions of running away. It wasn't just about me anymore, I had to think about our children and how difficult a broken family would be for them.

“Thank you. I love you,” he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss against my cheek.

The sudden gesture caught me off guard, but before I could process it, he pulled me back into another tight embrace.

A sudden series of knocks in the bedroom door interrupted us. Rihav released me to answer it, revealing Hera and Hacov standing in the hallway accompanied by two house staff members wearing matching uniforms.

“Mommy! I thought you left me!” Hera cried out, running inside and wrapping her small arms around my waist.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I reached down to hug her back, smoothing her hair gently. My heart ached at the thought that she believed I had walked out on her.

“I told you Mommy didn't leave, Hera,” Hacov remarked, standing quietly beside Rihav.

I cupped Hera’s tear-stained face, gently tilting it up to look at me. Her eyes were red, her cheeks wet with tears, and her shoulders hitched with tiny sobs. I wiped away her tears with my fingers and brushed the loose strands of hair from her forehead.

“Hush now, Sweetheart. Mommy is never going to leave you,” I promised, pressing a warm kiss against her cheek.

She nodded softly through her sniffles, burying her face back into my side.

Rihav and Hacov watched us quietly until one of the staff members politely informed us that dinner was served. I took the children downstairs first while Rihav stayed behind to quickly change his clothes.

Walking down the grand staircase, I took in the sweeping views of the estate. It was hard to believe he lived in this vast home all by himself. Didn't it get lonely living in such a massive space alone? Even back in our modest home, I felt restless whenever I was by myself. I couldn't imagine how quiet a mansion like this could feel.

“This way, Ma’am,” the staff member guided us gracefully toward the dining hall.

We followed her into a grand room featuring a long dining table laden with a lavish spread of dishes. It looked like a full feast, far more food than our small family could ever finish. The twins darted ahead excitedly at the sight. It wasn't their first time seeing a spread like this, but the variety clearly thrilled them.

I pinched the bridge of my nose as I sat down, watching the two immediately launch into a loud debate over which dish to try first. The house staff couldn't hide their amused smiles at the twins' lively banter over the food.

“Is this delicious, Miss?” Hera asked, turning to one of the helpers standing nearby.

“Yes, Sweetie, it’s very tasty,” the woman replied warmly.

“Vegetables everywhere and it’s tasty? Are you lying, Miss? Have you actually tried it?” Hera questioned playfully.

I gave her a gentle look, reminding her to mind her manners, this wasn't our house.

The helper laughed lightheartedly. “I’ve tried it, Ma’am. It really is very delicious!”

“Oh, I’m not a teacher! Please don't call me Ma’am. My name is Hera! What’s yours?”

The woman and her colleague chuckled softly, sharing a quick nod before answering. Before she could reply, Hacov scolded Hera for being too talkative, but Hera simply rolled her eyes at him. Irritated, Hacov reached out and pinched Hera’s arm, causing her to let out a dramatic shriek.

I closed my eyes tightly, suppressing the urge to raise my voice. I was about to stand up to handle the situation when Rihav came rushing into the dining room, shirtless and visibly panicked.

“What happened? Is everyone okay?” he asked anxiously, eyes darting to Hera.

“Hacov pinched me right here!” Hera whined, pointing at her arm. “It hurts, Daddy!”

“Hacov...” Rihav started, hesitation clear in his voice as he tried to navigate the conflict.

“She rolled her eyes at me, Daddy! That’s disrespectful! I’m her older brother, and she keeps rolling her eyes at me!” Hacov defended himself sternly.

“That still doesn't give you the right to pinch her!” I interjected firmly, drawing everyone's eyes toward me. “What is my golden rule, Hacov? Hera? No physical hurting each other.”

I checked my tone, mindful that we were surrounded by house staff. I wanted to discipline my children without making a scene in front of others.

“I’m sorry, Hera. I won't do it again... just don't roll your eyes at me,” Hacov muttered quietly, backing down first.

Hera’s crying quickly subsided. Hacov reached out, gently rubbing the spot he had pinched on his sister’s arm as if massaging the sore spot. I heard Rihav let out a long breath of relief before taking his seat at the head of the dining table.

“I thought something terrible had happened,” Rihav exhaled quietly as he settled in.

We began our meal in earnest. Throughout dinner, Rihav and the twins chatted happily as if the minor squabble had never happened. Hera even pulled the house staff into their conversations. Fortunately, the staff didn't mind her endless questions at all, answering her with genuine smiles.

“Wait, Mommy... what was your name again?” Hera asked the head housekeeper as we prepared to leave the table, with Rihav already heading upstairs.

“My name is Inesya, Hera,” she replied fondly.

“Hi, Inesya. This is my Mommy…” Hera said and hug me tightly.

“Oh, you sweet child. Call me Nesya!” Nesya laughed.

“Sounds good, Nesya!” Hera offered a enthusiastic thumbs-up.

Nesya smiled warmly at her before offering me a polite nod. We bade the staff goodnight and made our way upstairs. Rihav took charge of getting the kids bathed and ready for bed. Once they were finished, I changed into my loungewear. Tucked into their pajamas, the twins settled into the plush bed, and I pulled the soft duvet up to their chests.

“Sleep here with us, Mommy. I can’t sleep without you beside me,” Hacov murmured, tugging at my dress just as I made a move to step away.

Rihav and I locked eyes across the room. He bit his lower lip, a quiet resignation washing over him, it was clear his plans of having me stay in his room tonight were officially foiled.

“Mommy and I will sleep here,” Rihav said smoothly, gently guiding me back toward the mattress.

We settled down on either side of the twins, holding our small family close as the night settled around us.