Chapter 13
Evelyn’s ’s POV
Rhys, upon learning he was supposed to stay with me, absolutely refused. “Dad, I don’t want to stay here p>
I let him go with Calvin. As he reached the door, Rhys glanced back quietly, and felt strangely sad when he saw I wasn’t looking at him.
By eight o’clock that evening, Calvin still hadn’t returned to pick up the children. After bathing them, I tucked Rowan and Alexis into my large bed, which connected to a child’s bed.
Rowan lay beside Alexis as I read them a bedtime story. Before I could finish, both children had fallen asleep.
I lay at the edge of the bed, watching them with tender eyes, wishing I could keep them all with me forever.
Calvin arrived at half past ten, smelling of alcohol and Clara’s rose scent.I had smelled it on him many times before.
His lips parted. “I’m here to pick up Rowan p>
I stepped back in disgust. “Calvin, didn’t you say you wouldn’t drink when around the children p>
He narrowed his eyes. “Evelyn, mind your own business. My affairs are no longer your concern p>
I moved aside to let him enter.
Seeing his eldest son lying next to Alexis, Calvin froze.
“The clothes are new, washed and dried. They’re clean,” I explained, referring to Rowan’s pajamas.
As I was about to wake Rowan, Calvin quietly stopped me.
“Let him sleep. I’ll come get him in the morning p>
He left as quickly as he’d arrived, his steps slightly unsteady. I found his behavior odd and went to the window to look down. In the distance, I could see a woman standing by the passenger door of his car, eagerly greeting him.
Her clothes had changed. This morning she’d worn a pure white dress; now she was in vibrant red.
What kind of “appointment” required a change of clothes?
I tilted my head back to look at the brilliant night sky, my mind gradually clearing in the night breeze.
I needed to look forward.
The starry sky of Ravenshade was definitely not as beautiful as that of Viremont.
The next morning, Alexis woke up early. Seeing Rowan beside her, she flashed a happy, toothy grin.
Rowan also opened his eyes at that moment, turning to find himself in a soft, warm embrace.
When he looked up and saw my face, it took him several seconds to remember he’d slept in his mother and sister’s room last night.
I smiled at Rowan’s sleepy expression and gently ruffled his hair. “If you’re not tired, get up and wash p>
Rowan nodded.
I picked up Alexis and took Rowan to the bathroom.
We had plenty of children’s toothbrushes at home. After preparing Rowan’s toothbrush with toothpaste, I helped Alexis brush her teeth and wash her face.
My little girl was especially cooperative, closing her eyes just before the washcloth came, then opening them to reveal a sweet, fragrant little angel.
Noticing the longing in Rowan’s eyes, I set Alexis down on the little chair by the door, then took out a new washcloth, wrung it out, and wiped his face.
His eyes flickered with poorly concealed happiness.
I watched as Rowan stole glances at me across the breakfast table, quickly looking down when our eyes met.
My heart swelled with tenderness for my son. It had been so long since we’d shared moments like these.
Alexis clutched her pajama top, trying to stifle her giggles.She looked absolutely adorable with her chubby cheeks and bright eyes, finally regaining the healthy glow she’d lost during her illness.
“Daddy did come to pick you up last night,” I explained to Rowan as I set down plates of French toast and bacon, “but you were fast asleep. He didn’t want to wake you, which is why you stayed here p>
Despite my complicated feelings toward Calvin, I would never deliberately damage his relationship with our children.They deserved to know their father loved them, regardless of what had transpired between us.
The doorbell rang, interrupting our peaceful morning.
Calvin had arrived to collect the children, with Rhys trailing behind him.
When my younger son spotted Rowan sitting with Alexis, his face fell.
I saw the pain in his face. The twins had always been close, eating every meal together. Missing dinner last night and breakfast with his brother had clearly hurt him, and watching Rowan care for his sister only made it worse.
“Dad, why are you here so early?” Rowan asked, fork still in hand.
“Don’t you remember promising Clara last week that we’d go to the aquarium on Sunday?” Calvin reminded him.
I couldn’t help but notice how different Calvin looked today.Instead of his usual perfect suit, he wore jeans and a fitted henley that showed off his strong build and made him look younger, more relaxed. His handsome face seemed softer somehow.
My heart skipped a beat at the sight, but I quickly pushed those feelings away.
Rowan looked at Rhys, who was partly hidden behind Calvin. “Dad, I never made that promise. Rhys was the one who told Clara he would go to the aquarium p>
Rhys nervously shuffled his feet.
“You promised Clara you’d go to the aquarium today, remember?” Rowan said to his brother.
“I… I just wanted to hang out with you,” Rhys admitted.
“But you did promise her,” Rowan reminded him.
“Dad, you can take Rhys,” Rowan declared decisively. “I want to stay with Alexis. Beta Zeon can drive me home later p>
Calvin had always encouraged the boys to express their true feelings, so Rowan’s directness came as no surprise. Rhys was about to agree with his brother’s suggestion when Calvin spoke.
“Rhys, you begged to go to the aquarium, and Clara is already waiting downstairs. Are you going to disappoint her by canceling at the last minute p>
In the end, Rowan got his wish to stay. I watched from the window as Calvin led Rhys to the car, my younger son looking back repeatedly as they walked away.
“Dad, can I come with Rowan to visit next weekend?” I heard Rhys ask hesitantly.
“When Alexis’s father isn’t around, yes,” Calvin replied, unable to deny the hope in our son’s eyes.
Rhys scratched his head in confusion. “I thought Alexis said she didn’t have a father when we were at Viremont p>
But he quickly shrugged it off, pleased that his father had agreed to the arrangement.
Unfortunately, Rhys couldn’t join Rowan in visiting Alexis the following weekend.
Astrid’s accident changed everything.
When a crew member’s mistake caused her to fall from a safety harness during filming, she suffered multiple injuries requiring immediate hospital care. I quickly packed bags for Alexis and myself, and we drove through the night to the city where she was being treated.
“Why did you bring Alexis? You both need rest at home,” Astrid scolded when we entered her hospital room.
“Stay still!” I rushed to keep her from sitting up. “You’ll make your injuries worse p>
Astrid sighed, then oddly enough started comforting me. “Evie, don’t worry. I’m tough as nails, this won’t keep me down p>
Alexis tugged my sleeve, and I lifted her so she could reach Astrid. My daughter softly kissed Astrid’s uninjured cheek.
“Kiss makes better,” she said seriously.
“You’re godmother’s little angel,” Astrid replied, tears forming in her eyes.
When she tried to hold Alexis, I gently stopped her. Though nothing was broken, her bruises made holding a child too risky.
We spent the whole weekend in the city with Astrid. Thinking of my promise to Rowan, I sent him a voice message that evening explaining what happened.
Alexis insisted on adding her own message: “Be good, brother. Wait for me p>
We stayed until Astrid was released from the hospital, then flew back to Ravenshade together.