Chapter IV: These are my children, - 1

Yvaine.

Since the twins were born, my life has been a roller coaster of emotions. Thankfully, the pregnancy went very well, and I went into labor in the eighth month. I named my children after my parents. I named the girl Aila and the boy Roy. However, since I wanted to honor their father, and since I couldn't give them his last name, I also named my daughter after Norman's mother and my son after his father.

Like me, Norman Miller lost his parents as a child in a terrorist attack while traveling abroad.

After doing some research, I found out that his parents' names were Caroline and William.

My babies were registered as Roy William Stewart and Aila Caroline Stewart. I promised myself that when my children were older and wanted to meet their father, I would contact him. However, after a year without hearing from my first and only lover, I thought he had forgotten me. As for the promise he wanted me to fulfill, he only did so out of obligation because he felt guilty for taking my virginity. In reality, I forced him to take it; he didn't take it.

That's probably why I never heard from him again. If he came looking for me and found out I was pregnant, I'm sure the rumors about me sleeping with anyone would have dissuaded him. My disappearance must have been a relief to him.

I don't know why I still think about him. Maybe it's because seeing his children grow up reminds me of him, or maybe it's because the night I spent in his arms left a mark on me.

I looked at my children and smiled. Except for the color of their eyes, which are green like mine, they both look like their father. They were both dark-skinned. Aila was petite, with white skin and black hair. She was smaller than her brother. Roy, on the other hand, has black hair and is bigger for being only three months old. They are both very bright. Aila is more tearful and cuddly. Roy is calmer but more demanding, especially when he wants something. He reminds me of the man who steals my dreams.

This morning, on my way to drop the babies off at daycare, I received a call from a neighbor in New York.

"Yvaine, I'm sorry, my dear. We couldn't do anything. Some government agents showed up, asking for the owner of the house to come forward because they are going to expropriate the property. They want to build a cultural center in the area and have expropriated many homes." I felt like I was going to faint. What about the house my parents left me? Does the government want to take it away from me? "You have to report to the city hall offices in two days, or they will proceed with the expropriation."

Without delay, I called the company and asked for days off from my vacation time. The company had always treated me well, even keeping me on the payroll when they found out I was pregnant. So, I wasn't surprised when they gave me a week off.

I booked tickets for the three of us and asked the pediatrician for permission to fly. After checking, he told me there were no problems. I was in such a hurry that I didn't realize I had used the babies' and my real names to buy the tickets. This oversight would lead to another surprise when I arrived at LaGuardia International Airport in New York.

Norman.

I was in an executive board meeting when Jason walked in with a tablet.

"They've been found. They're on their way to New York," he whispered as he handed me the tablet. It had a photo of my wife with the two babies.

I was overcome with emotion. My heart began to beat faster, and my jaw reflected the tension of what I had just discovered. I didn't just have one child! I was the father of twins! To be precise, I was the father of two three-month-old babies, a boy and a girl.

As I turned the tablet's page to see all the information it contained, I discovered the tickets with their names on them.

My heart skipped a beat. Yvaine had thought of me when naming our children; they were both named after her four deceased grandparents. Thanks to information I had gathered about Yvaine, I knew she was an orphan. I had even discovered the names of her parents. I was overwhelmed with emotion when I realized that she had taken the time to find information about me and had been kind enough to look up the names of my parents. However, I was not happy that my children only had their mother's surname. I planned to fix that today, as well as add myself as the father on their birth certificates. After our marriage, the four of us would have the same last name as soon as possible. Soon, Yvaine Stewart would become Yvaine Miller, and that wasn't going to change.

I stood up abruptly, cut the meeting short, and left without looking at anyone. I gestured for Jason to take over, then walked out the door with a determined stride. I could hear Jason's last words as he followed me out.

"The meeting is canceled," he told them. We arrived at LaGuardia International Airport in record time. Thanks to my connections, we were given access to a VIP lounge where we could watch all the arrivals from Los Angeles. Yvaine.

I didn't understand what was going on. I had to get home as soon as possible. Roy was restless and hungry. I had to breastfeed him soon, or he would throw a tantrum at any moment—and that would not be pretty.

Aila was waiting to see when she could join in, as she couldn't stand not being the center of attention. She would feed off her brother's anger. I tried to tell the police, but they just told me to follow them.

As we approached a room, I was fed up with them not telling me anything. Roy wasn't willing to put up with it anymore, and Aila was about to join him.

"Either you tell me where we're going, or I'm not moving! I have to feed my son. If you don't want to see my breasts, turn away. Then arrest me for causing a public disturbance because my son has to eat now!" I said angrily, looking at them.

"That won't be necessary, Alicia. Our son is going to eat right now, and I'll help you feed him. The rest of you are not needed. I don't want anyone to see something that belongs only to me and my children." That voice paralyzed me and brought back memories. I looked toward the source of the voice and felt as if hell had broken loose and I was in the middle of the fire. My mind went blank, and I didn't react. He, on the other hand, ordered everyone out of the room. He took his two children from the stroller, placing one in each arm. His face reflected all the love in the world as he introduced himself to them.

"Hello, my heirs. I am your father. From today on, you will be the most important assets in my life and in Miller Holding, along with your mother," he said, kissing them on the head. His voice expressed emotion—something that did not fit with what I knew about the great CEO of Miller Holding—but the surprises did not end there. Those two little rascals looked at him calmly and curiously. Finally, Aila smiled at her father, captivating him with her siren's smile.