The Mistress Who Ran Away With The Twins

Chapter 193: Co-Parenting

Morning came quietly.

I must have fallen asleep at some point but not fully. Just enough for exhaustion to pull me under for a few minutes at a time.

My head rested against the side of the bed, my hand still loosely wrapped around Cairo’s. My neck ached slightly as I stirred, my eyes fluttering open slowly.

Even though the room was cold, I hadn’t felt it.

That’s when I noticed the jacket draped over my shoulders. It was warm and familiar.

I paused, realizing it was the same jacket Rome had been wearing last night.

He must have put it on me.

For a brief second, warmth crept up my cheeks but it faded just as quickly when everything came rushing back.

Cairo.

I straightened immediately, my heart tightening, but his breathing was steady.

Relief washed over me so suddenly it almost made me weak.

"He didn’t wake."

The low voice pulled my attention away.

I turned.

Rome was already awake.

Only then did I notice how exhausted he looked. Not just tired but worn down in a way that sleep alone couldn’t fix. He was still sitting in the same chair, though his posture had shifted slightly. His hair was a little messy, but it didn’t take away from his composed appearance.

One arm rested near Cairo, close enough to reach him at any moment.

"Did you sleep?" I asked softly.

"A little.." he replied.

It wasn’t convincing. But I didn’t push.

I nodded faintly and adjusted my hold on Cairo’s hand, gentler this time.

The room was still quiet. But it felt different from last night. Less suffocating and heavy.

Then, a soft knock.

Before either of us could respond, the door opened.

"Mom—!"

Egypt’s voice broke through the silence, panicked.

She rushed in first, her eyes wide as she scanned the room frantically until they landed on the bed.

"Cairo!"

Paris followed right behind her, quieter but no less alarmed. Her gaze immediately found her brother, her face paling slightly.

"Is he okay...?" she asked softly.

Then, a third figure stepped in.

My eyes widened slightly as I recognized him.

Sylvester.

His expression was tense, his eyes immediately locking onto me.

But then, they shifted to Rome. And everything changed.

The air in the room turned sharp, almost suffocating.

"What is he doing here?"

Sylvester’s voice dropped cold and heavy in a way I had never heard before. It didn’t sound like him at all.

Paris stilled.

Egypt looked between all of us, confusion slowly forming on her face.

"Wait..." she said slowly, her gaze moving from me... to Rome... then back again.

"What is Uncle Rome doing here? What’s going on?"

My chest tightened.

This was happening too fast. I forced myself to stay calm.

"Kids... why are you here? Why are you with Sylvester?" I asked carefully, trying to redirect the situation.

Egypt answered quickly, still shaken.

"When we woke up, you and Cairo weren’t there. Paris and I got scared... we were looking for you, and then our new neighbor was inside the house while Uncle Sylvester was arguing with him..."

She swallowed.

"Then Uncle Sylvester brought us here. He said he knew where you and Cairo were... so we came."

I rubbed my face, trying to steady myself. This was exactly the confrontation I had been trying to avoid.

I wanted to tell them slowly. Not like this.

"I’m sorry, sweethearts," I said softly, casting a brief glare at Sylvester. "I had to leave last night because of Cairo’s condition. You know your brother isn’t well, right?"

"Yes," Egypt nodded quickly. "But is Cairo going to be okay? Can he still play with us when he gets better?"

Her innocent question made my chest tighten painfully.

I didn’t know how to explain Cairo’s condition to her without hurting her.

Without breaking that innocence.

For a brief moment, I found myself glancing at Rome. Unsure why, but likely searching for his support and answer to Egypt’s question.

"Cairo is strong," I said gently. "He’s going to be okay. But he can’t get too tired. He needs to get much better first and be properly treated before he can play again."

I brushed Cairo’s hand lightly and careful, almost afraid to disturb him.

"For now, just stay by his side while he gets better."

"Then when will he be okay?" Egypt asked again, her voice softer now. "How many nights until he gets better?"

I hesitated.

"About that..."

"It might take a while before he fully recovers.." Rome said gently, cutting in before I could struggle through an answer. His voice was calm and soft in a way I wasn’t used to hearing from him.

"As his strong and kind older sister, you understand that, right?" he continued, looking at her gently. "We’ll take care of him and make sure he doesn’t feel sad.."

Egypt nodded, though worry still lingered in her eyes.

"Yes... I’m strong. I can take care of Cairo because he’s my brother."

Then her gaze shifted again, back to me and Rome.

"But... why are you with Mom and Cairo, Uncle Rome?"

Rome and I briefly met eyes then both looked away.

"You see, Egypt," I said softly, "Uncle Rome helped me bring Cairo to the hospital. He’s also worried about your brother."

"So... he stayed with you all night?" she asked.

"Y-yes..." I answered, avoiding her gaze, suddenly feeling like I was being questioned in a way I wasn’t prepared for.

I caught Sylvester watching me from the side, like he was measuring every reaction I gave.

"Uncle Rome," Egypt turned to him, "is it true you’re also worried about Cairo?"

"Yes," Rome answered without hesitation. "I’m very worried about him."

"Why?" Egypt asked again, tilting her head slightly. "Why are you worried about him?"

I froze.

That question. It wasn’t simple. It wasn’t something I could answer with another excuse.

"Egypt, sweetheart..." I started, forcing a small smile. "Of course Uncle Rome is worried because he’s—"

I stopped.

The words wouldn’t come out because I couldn’t lie anymore. But I also wasn’t ready to tell the truth that Rome is their father. Not like this.

"...he’s what, Mom?" Egypt asked innocently, waiting.

I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. I glanced at Rome briefly.

He was watching me. Waiting.

But he didn’t interfere. He was leaving the choice to me.

"...About that..." I said slowly. "I’ll tell you something after Cairo wakes up. Can you wait until then?"

"Um... okay!" Egypt nodded and finally turned her attention back to Cairo.

I exhaled quietly, relief slipping through me.

But it didn’t last....

"No."

Sylvester’s voice cut through the room sharply.

All attention shifted to him.

"I think this is exactly the right time to tell them the truth." he said firmly.

"Don’t wait for Cairo to wake up to tell them what they need to know."

His gaze locked onto Rome.

"And you—Mr. Hariston," he continued, stepping forward slightly. "I hate what you did to my sister. But I hate even more how you’re just standing here, saying nothing."

His voice dropped lower.

"I hate that you can stomach hiding the truth from your own children. Haven’t you heard of co-parenting?"

I stared at him, stunned.

"W-wait, Sylvester—don’t say things like that in front of the children—"

"Co-parenting?" Egypt repeated, confused. She looked at Paris. "Do you know what that means?"

Paris shook her head slightly. "No... ask Mom."

Egypt turned to me again.

"Mom... what does that mean?"

I almost sighed.

Calm down, Sylvia.

I shot Sylvester a look, but he only shrugged, completely unapologetic.

This man...

"Mom...?" Egypt called again, softer this time. "What does co-parenting mean?"

Her question hung in the air.

I opened my mouth but nothing came out.

Because how was I supposed to explain that?

How was I supposed to tell them the truth now, when everything was happening too fast... when Cairo was still lying there, fragile? This is not the perfect moment for that!

My fingers tightened slightly around Cairo’s hand.

"I’ll explain it later," I said gently. "For now, just—"

"No." Sylvester cut in again, firmer this time.

"They deserve to know now."

His eyes shifted back to Rome.

"And you," he added coldly, "stop hiding behind silence."

Rome didn’t respond to Sylvester’s provocation. He didn’t react.

But I saw it, the slight tightening of his jaw, the subtle way his shoulders straightened. Like he was holding something back. Like he was restraining everything he wanted to say.

"I’m not hiding." Rome said calmly.

Sylvester scoffed. "Really? Because from where I’m standing, you’ve been silent long enough."

"That’s enough, Sylvester." I said, my voice firmer now.

Sylvester looked at me again. And this time, there was something else in his expression.

Concern and frustration. And something close to helplessness.

"I’m not doing this to make things worse," he said, quieter now. "I’m doing this because they’ve been kept in the dark long enough."

His words hit me because he wasn’t wrong.

I just... wasn’t ready.

"Mom..."

This time, it was Paris.

I looked at her.

"I think I already understand what Uncle Sylvester means," she said quietly. "If you’re ready to tell us the truth... we’ll understand."

My chest tightened.

Paris had always been perceptive.

I swallowed.

Rome still hadn’t spoken.

He was watching me, just like Paris. Leaving all the decision to me.

My heart pounded loudly in my chest.

I guess there was no more delaying this, no more running from it, no more pretending there was still time to choose a better moment.

"...Co-parenting," I began slowly, my voice quieter now, "means raising children together... even if the parents aren’t together anymore."

Egypt frowned slightly, trying to process it.

"So... like... two parents taking care of their kids together?" she asked.

"Yes.." I said softly.

Her gaze shifted again.

From me to Rome. Then back to me again.

And I saw it.

The moment everything started to connect.

"Then..." she whispered, her voice trembling slightly, "why did Uncle Sylvester say that to Uncle Rome...?"

Silence.

I couldn’t breathe.

Because I knew what came next. I felt it even before I said it.

"...Because," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, "he’s not just someone you can call your uncle... or my friend."

The room stilled.

Every second stretched.

"He’s..." I swallowed. "He’s your father."

The words fell softly but they echoed.

Egypt froze.

Paris didn’t move.

Sylvester went silent.

And Rome, he exhaled slowly, like he had been holding his breath this entire time.

Egypt blinked twice.

Then her gaze slowly lifted to him again.

"...You’re... our dad?" she asked, her voice small, almost uncertain.

And in that moment, everything hung on his answer.