Chapter 35
Apr 17, 2025
Felicia knelt before Danny and Max, her hands gently holding theirs, her heart pounding like a drum. She could feel Damien’s gaze burning into her, waiting for her to say the words that would change everything.
She swallowed hard, looking into her sons’ wide, expectant eyes.
“Boys… this is your father.”
A heavy silence fell over them. The wind rustled through the trees, the distant chirping of birds the only sound breaking the stillness.
Max blinked up at Damien, then turned to his brother. “He was our father the whole time?”
Danny furrowed his brows, his sharp eyes scanning Damien as if trying to piece together something that never made sense before. “But… why didn’t you tell us?”
Felicia’s throat tightened. How could she explain five years of pain, of betrayal, of protecting them from truths that she hadn’t even fully processed herself?
She exhaled slowly. “I was scared,” she admitted. “Scared of what it would mean… scared of how it would change things. But you deserve to know the truth.”
Damien took a step forward, his green eyes filled with an emotion Felicia couldn’t quite place. He crouched down so he was at their level.
“I never stopped thinking about you,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “Not for a second. I missed so much… too much. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love you.”
Danny and Max exchanged glances, uncertainty flickering in their young faces.
Finally, Max stepped forward, tilting his head curiously. “Did you ever play games when you were little?”
Damien blinked, caught off guard by the question, before a small chuckle rumbled in his chest. “Yeah,” he said. “All the time. My favorite game was hide-and-seek. I was the best at it.”
Max’s eyes lit up. “No way! I bet I can hide better than you!”
Danny crossed his arms, his expression still skeptical but curious. “You said you were the best, but were you ever the fastest?”
Damien smirked, rubbing his chin. “That’s a good question. I used to be really fast. Wanna test it out?”
Danny and Max both perked up, their hesitation melting into excitement. “Yes!” they cheered.
Felicia watched with a mix of relief and uncertainty as Damien led them toward an open field, his tension slowly dissolving into laughter as he let the boys chase him, their giggles echoing into the sky.
For the first time, they weren’t just strangers. They were a father and his sons.
A Shadow from the Past
Felicia stood off to the side, watching as Damien played with their sons, her arms wrapped around herself. Lucien had been right. The boys needed their father.
She exhaled slowly. Maybe this wouldn’t be so—
Clap. Clap. Clap.
The sound of slow, mocking applause shattered the moment.
Felicia’s body stiffened, her instincts flaring in alarm.
Damien froze mid-laugh, his expression darkening instantly.
Danny and Max turned toward the sound, their smiles fading.
And there she was.
Danielle.
She stood just beyond the clearing, her red lips curled into a sickening smirk, her arms crossed as she leaned against a tree. Her piercing blue eyes gleamed with something sinister.
Felicia felt her stomach drop.
Damien’s entire body went rigid, his jaw clenching so tightly it looked like he was about to snap. His green eyes darkened with fury.
Danielle tilted her head, her smirk widening. “What a happy fucking family.”
