Hiding the Billionaire's Twins (English)

Chapter 5

“Where are you taking me, Sean?” I asked as he pulled me by the hand toward the back entrance of the building.

I was completely unfamiliar with the club's layout, but the private rear access was impressive. It featured an exclusive elevator, and every detail breathed quiet luxury, a stark contrast to the lively front entrance. Keeping his hand firmly pressed over the handkerchief on my forehead, Sean guided me inside the elevator.

“I’ve got it, Sean,” I said softly, gently leaning my head away from his hand.

“Of all the jobs out there, Aphrodite, why did you have to pick this one?” he asked, his tone laced with frustration.

I let out a heavy sigh. “I’ve tried so many jobs, Sean. None of them lasted, and I desperately need to earn money right now.”

Aside from Amer, Sean was one of my closest friends back in La Meyanda. I was never particularly close with the other girls during my school years, mostly because I’d constantly catch them whispering rumors about me behind my back. Eventually, I stopped trying to make female friends altogether.

Amer was my main companion growing up, but he left for City during our college years. That was around the time I met Sean, and his presence brought genuine joy to my life. Even when rumors circulated on campus claiming I was only using him for his family's wealth, he never turned his back on me. He only stepped away when his own circumstances forced him to move abroad.

“I heard from Grandma Sonya that you have a child now, Fay,” he remarked, his eyes searching mine.

News really traveled fast back home. The fact that my pregnancy had reached Sean's grandmother all the way at the main estate proved how relentless local gossip could be. The estate was quite a distance from our village, but nothing stayed hidden in La Meyanda for long.

“I... I do,” I admitted softly. I couldn't bring myself to lie to Sean; he was someone I had trusted for as long as I could remember.

“Where’s the father? Grandma said you returned to La Meyanda all by yourself.”

I could tell he was preparing to drill me with questions. Narrowing my eyes, I desperately scrambled for a way to derail the conversation.

“Ow!” I winced dramatically, placing a hand over my forehead.

He muttered a quiet curse under his breath and immediately reached out to inspect the wound. I simply wasn't ready to lay bare the full extent of my past mistakes to him. While I trusted he wouldn't judge me harshly, the embarrassment of being a once-promising girl with big dreams who ended up pregnant by a coward was still too heavy to bear.

Sean gently wiped the edge of the cut. When the elevator chimed open, my eyes widened at the sight of the floor. It was entirely different from the areas Farah and I had walked through earlier.

“Sean, I don't think we’re supposed to be here,” I whispered as he led me into a private suite.

He bypassed a keypad lock, and the heavy door glided open. The room inside was breathtaking, reminiscent of the luxury hotel suites Rihav used to book back in City. The sheer opulence made it obvious just how wealthy the club's owner was.

He guided me to sit on the edge of the bed before turning to search through a set of drawers.

“Sean, we’re going to get in trouble...”

He completely ignored my protest, not even bothering to glance back. When he turned around, he was carrying a compact medical kit. Kneeling beside me, he began carefully dressing my forehead.

“Did you catch a look at the guy who shoved you?” he asked, his eyes focused on applying a bandage.

“It was too dark to see his face clearly,” I answered truthfully. “But I overheard someone say he works for the owner of this place.”

Sean’s jaw clenched tightly at my response, a deep furrow forming between his brows. Yet, the moment our eyes met, his tense expression softened, melting away the lingering anger.

Once he finished bandaging the wound, he packed the kit away. “I’ll handle that bastard. Don't bother going back down there tonight. Just go home and—”

“I can't do that, Sean,” I interrupted gently. “If I go back to La Meyanda right now, my kids won't have anything to eat. I need to work here, but I’ll make sure to stay away from trouble.”

“No, Fay. Go back to La Meyanda. The main estate is looking for someone to look after Grandma Sonya. You can work there instead of staying in La Fera Dos.”

I shook my head firmly. As old as Grandma Sonya was, she was as sharp and stubborn as ever, nothing could break that woman. More than that, she intimidated me. Her stern demeanor was the main reason I had never set foot inside their estate alone as a girl.

I knew how sharp her tongue could be. It would be no different from the demeaning workplaces Amer had tried to set me up with in the past.

“No, Sean. I can take care of myself. I need this job; I can't bear watching my children suffer.”

“'Children'?” he caught on instantly, his eyes widening.

“They’re twins.”

“What the hell!” he blurted out, genuine shock washing over his face.

“So please... don't stop me from working for them.”

He fell silent, his gaze fixed on mine as he processed the news.

“Who's the father? Why did he abandon you? Why are you the only one working your fingers to the bone for two kids? He’s the man, he should be the one providing for his family!” His jaw clenched in visible frustration.

I averted my eyes, letting out a heavy breath to ease the knot tightening in my chest. Perhaps it was time to let go of the pain I had been carrying by myself for so long.

Ever since I fled the Madreal Mansion, my life had felt like an endless cycle of silent tears. When my parents passed away, the grief nearly consumed me. Yet, I had never allowed myself to break down in front of Amer or the Madreal twins. I had chosen to hide my pain behind closed doors rather than let anyone see how broken I truly was.

Looking at Sean, I hoped he was ready for the dark truth behind my quiet life.

“I had to drop out of college, Sean,” I began quietly. “We were drowning in debt, so I left Isla Fera and moved to City to find work. I got hired as a housemaid. The family treated me well enough, but...” I closed my eyes, feeling the sting of old memories.

“But what?” Sean prompted gently.

“I fell in love with their son. We started seeing each other, Sean. We kept it a complete secret because I was just a maid, and I was terrified of his mother finding out. They never suspected a thing... until the day he announced his engagement to another woman. He said it right in front of my face.” A single tear escaped my eye, and I quickly wiped it away.

I deliberately left out the cruelest details, the harsh, demeaning words he hurled at me after everything we had shared.

“What a f*****g coward!” Sean hissed, his fists clenching tightly. “Give me a name, Fayre!”

I assumed he wouldn't recognize it anyway. The world was too big for coincidences like that.

“Rihav...” I murmured.

Sean’s eyes widened instantly. His brows drew together in deep thought as recognition flickered across his features. A sudden wave of panic rushed through me.

“Rihav Madreal?” he asked sharply.

My heart skipped a beat. Wait... he knows him?

“Y-You know him?” I stammered, my voice trembling.

“That bastard is a close friend of mine!” he spat through gritted teeth.

I closed my eyes and pressed a palm to my face. Of all the people in the world, how could they possibly be friends?! I wanted nothing to do with Rihav ever again. The realization meant I would have to distance myself from Sean, too, to avoid any chance of running into Rihav through him.

“Sean, p-please... don't tell Rihav about the kids,” I pleaded, my voice shaking as I got ahead of his thoughts. “Please promise me.”

Sean reached out, pulling my hands toward him and drawing me into a firm embrace. He stroked my hair gently as I rested against his chest.

“Fay, I had no idea what you went through all these years. But when Rihav announced his marriage... I was right there in that room,” he murmured, still stroking my hair. “What about the twins? Are they supposed to grow up without a father? Fay, maybe you two need to sit down and talk about this.”

I immediately shook my head. “I can raise them on my own without Rihav. We don't need him.”

“Maybe for their sake—”

“I said no, Sean!” I cut him off, a sharp edge entering my tone at his persistence.

I heard him let out a resigned sigh. I simply wasn't ready, not now, and perhaps not ever. Rihav was settled with his own family, and bringing my children into his world would only invite chaos that my kids didn't deserve.

“If that’s what you want... fine,” he conceded softly. He paused for a moment before continuing. “Rihav is actually downstairs right now. You need to avoid our section so you don't run into him. Table 11, stay away from that table at all costs.”

I pulled back from the hug and gave him a grateful look. A wave of relief washed over me; knowing his exact location meant I could actively keep my distance. Still, a lingering thread of anxiety remained. The realization that Rihav and I were sharing the same island once again made my heart heavy with dread.

I excused myself to get back to my shift. Sean tried to protest, citing my head injury, but the cut was minor, and I was fully capable of walking. Realizing he couldn't change my mind, he let me go. I stepped out of the suite and navigated my way back to the club floor.

The crowd had grown significantly denser during my absence, with alcohol flowing freely. I walked over to the main bar where a bartender was mixing drinks. He glanced up at me and pushed a tray loaded with liquor across the counter.

“Table 11,” he said casually.

My eyes widened in instant panic. “Pardon?”

Before I could protest, another waitress swooped in, checked the table number on the slip, and picked up the tray with a confident smile. She walked off toward the section without a second thought, clearly accustomed to serving that high-profile table.

Thank goodness!

“Get back to your shift,” Sir Haiden said smoothly, turning his attention back to me. “If any of those idiots bother you again, come straight to me.” He threw an arm over Sean's shoulder, and the two walked off together into the VIP area.