Chapter 8 My best friend

Emelia's mind spun as Tyrone's words played on a loop: "Meet my best friend." Her wide eyes locked on the man standing before her, his tall, commanding figure cloaked in a tailored suit that screamed power. Her mouth went dry, her pulse hammered in her ears, and her vision blurred slightly. This couldn't be happening. Not here. Not like this.

Beside her, Beatrix seemed to be in a state of shock. She was gaping, eyes as wide as saucers. She pointed shakily at the man in front of them, who exuded a calm confidence that only made everything worse. "Th-that... that's Alexander Donovan!" Beatrix stammered, the words tumbling out. "Top of the food chain in business and culinary world! A freaking genius with an IQ of 220!"

Hearing the name, Emelia's knees felt weak. Alexander Donovan? Of course, she knew who he was-everyone did-but now, a horrifying connection crashed through her. He wasn't just a celebrity figure, not just a household name... he was him. Her past, the man from that night-the father of her children.

Her world tilted on its axis, and everything around her seemed to slow down. Subconsciously, her hand shot out to grab her children, her motherly instincts kicking in to protect them from this sudden intrusion into their lives. But to her shock, instead of retreating, both Kymora and Treyvon took a synchronized step toward Alexander, their small bodies moving confidently toward the man she now feared more than anyone.

Emelia's heart lurched in her chest as she watched in stunned silence. Kymora, her fierce little girl, glared at Alexander, her stance shifting into a small but determined fighting pose, eyes burning with defiance. Treyvon, always the quieter one, moved as though he was shielding his mother, placing himself subtly between Emelia and Alexander.

Alexander's smile remained soft, yet there was something knowing behind his eyes. He looked down at the twins, amused but gentle. "Welcome back," he said in a voice that seemed too calm for the chaos Emelia felt inside.

Emelia opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Words failed her completely as she stared helplessly at the scene unfolding before her. Her entire life had been flipped upside down in a matter of minutes. She was supposed to be starting over, to avoid this very man, and now here he was, casually standing in front of her like some kind of grand orchestrator of fate.

Beatrix, snapping out of her initial shock, turned on Tyrone with a fierce look. She elbowed him hard in the ribs, causing him to grunt. "Since when," she demanded, barely keeping her voice from turning into a yell, "since when is the elusive, enigmatic CEO Alexander Donovan your best friend?"

Tyrone rubbed his side and gave her an apologetic grin. "Since we were kids," he replied nonchalantly, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

Beatrix looked like she was about to implode. She blinked rapidly, clearly trying to keep herself from screaming. "Kids? Kids?! You mean to tell me you've been best friends with THE Alexander Donovan all this time and never thought to mention it?"

Tyrone scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "It didn't really come up?"

Beatrix bit back a scream of frustration, her face turning red. She glanced at Emelia, whose face had gone pale, then back at Tyrone, then over to Alexander, who stood there with that same calm expression. "This is not 'not coming up,' Tyrone!" she hissed.

Kymora, still glaring at Alexander, broke the silence. "Brother," she said in her serious little voice, without taking her eyes off Alexander, "prepare sour food that will last him a month."

That sentence hung in the air like a bomb.

Tyrone froze, his eyes widening as he turned to Kymora, who was deadly serious. Beatrix, standing next to him, went utterly still as well. Slowly, like gears clicking into place, Beatrix's brain started working. She replayed that moment-Kymora had once said she'd make her father eat sour food for a month. She had joked about it before, but Beatrix hadn't thought much of it... until now.

Then, it clicked. Her eyes shot to Alexander, then back to Emelia. The color drained from her face as realization dawned. Her jaw dropped.

"Wait... wait, wait, wait..." Beatrix stammered, pointing a trembling finger at Alexander. She turned to Emelia, then back to Alexander, and then back again. "He's the baby daddy?!"

The words exploded from her mouth so loud that even the nearby bodyguards flinched. Emelia's eyes snapped shut, her face flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and disbelief. She wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole.

Tyrone grinned wider, clearly amused by the entire situation. "Yup," he said, as if the revelation wasn't the most earth-shattering thing happening at the airport that day.

Beatrix covered her mouth, her eyes now wide with the excitement of someone who had just stumbled upon the juiciest piece of gossip ever. "Oh my GOSH!" she squeaked, unable to control herself. "I mean... I knew the twins were talented and special, but this explains EVERYTHING!"

Emelia shot her a glare that could've melted steel, but Beatrix ignored it entirely. She was too caught up in the drama. "I mean, genius IQ, top of the world in business and culinary arts? The kids are, like, born prodigies! This is... wow. Just wow."

Kymora, still focused, added with all the gravitas of a five-year-old with a vendetta, "He will eat the sour food. For a month."

Treyvon, ever the more diplomatic, turned to his sister and whispered, "We need to go easier on him. Maybe two weeks?"

Kymora snorted. "No. He deserves a month."

Meanwhile, Alexander had remained composed throughout the exchange, his eyes flicking between the twins and their mother. Finally, he took a step forward, addressing Emelia directly. "I didn't come here to cause you any more trouble," he said quietly, his voice softer now. "I just wanted to see my children... to know the family I had been watching secretly."

Emelia's lips parted, but she still couldn't bring herself to speak. She was overwhelmed, torn between her instinct to protect her children and the strange, undeniable connection she felt to this man. Her heart raced, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

But before she could respond, the deep rumble of an incoming announcement echoed across the airport speakers, momentarily distracting everyone.

The tension crackled in the air as Alexander's gaze lingered on Emelia, his expression unreadable.