Billionaire's Secret: The Single Dad's Love Affair

Mila had fun at the beach, while her twin sister Lia did nothing but watch her. Lia was already happy when she saw her twin's eyes light up with joy.

"Lia! Lia! Come here and hang out with me. Let's go swimming, the water is so nice!"

Mila told her twin as she splashed around in the water. Her smile was even brighter than the sun. It was as if she lit up all of the sun's light with it.

Lia didn't want to go with her sister because she was cold. When she was near Mila, she felt like she was sharing her twin's happiness.

But sometimes she liked to look at her twin from afar to admire her.

She took out a camera to take pictures of Mila without her knowing. She loved every moment she spent with Mila. She couldn't picture herself without her.

Mila was only half an hour older than Lia. Their mother thought that Mila was older, and Lia agreed with her.

Lia couldn't forget what their mother had said.

....

Sandra told her children, who were fighting over silly things, "Come here, my beautiful daughters."

"You shouldn't argue with each other. You should care for each other and love each other. Lia, you should remember that Mila is your older sister and treat her with the same respect you have shown me. Mila, you shouldn't fight with your sister. Since you're older, you should be the one who stays calm. You were the one who needed to clear up the confusion. If you were wrong, you should apologize to Lia, and if Lia was wrong, you should explain to her why she was wrong and get her to apologize to you."

....

When they were young, they didn't fully understand what their mother was saying, but as they got older, they saw how important her words were.

Because as they got older, they didn't turn against each other and they stopped fighting.

Mila was always the older sister who looked out for and helped her younger sister.

People thought she was easy because she was friendly, but she was stronger than they thought.

Lia talked about how Mila always looked out for her when they were young.

...

"Hey, hey! Why are you hurting my sister?" Mila, when she was younger, told the other kids they were playing with.

Mila stood in front of Lia and put her arms out so that nobody could get close to her. Lia was already crying and sitting on the ground.

"Nothing! She was just clumsy that fell by herself," said the other girl, crossing her arm.

"Nothing, really? Don't you get it? Her hands and knees are scratched up. Can't you see?" As Mila went up to her sister, Lia, she said, "Let them see her wound."

"Did you fall on your own?" Mila calmly asked her sister.

Lia, the little girl, shook her head quietly, but she still cried.

"Look, someone pushed her down. Tell me, who did it?" Mila asked one of the other kids.

"S-She isn't telling the truth. She fell down on her own. She wasn't pushed, right?"

When the girl replied, the other kids nodded to show that they agreed with her.

"Lia might be a fragile child, but she's not that clumsy and she's not a liar. She never would lie!" Mila defended her sister.

"Well, whatever, I'm also not lying. Let's go, I'm tired of playing with these two brats. And we're no longer friends," the girl said, and the other kids laughed along with her.

After all the crying, Lia finally said, "I'm sorry, Mila. I shouldn't come with you to play with your friends."

"Don't worry, it's all right. They hurt you, so I don't want them to be my friends. I don't need them because I have you. We are sisters and will always be friends!"

Mila said with joy to cheer up her sister.

"Really? Will we always be together?" Lia's eyes glowed when she heard her say that.

"Of course. Together, forever!"

Mila took Lia's hand and said, "Let's go home and play in our house."

As the sun went down, the two girls walked back to their house together, holding hands the whole way.

....

Mila had always looked out for Lia since that day. Whenever someone tried to hurt Lia, Mila would rush to help her.

Mila was brave and happy, while Lia was shy and quiet. Mila was always happy and carefree, so you would never guess she was the brave one.

Mila talked a lot, while Lia never said a word.

Even though they were different, their love was like the end of a rainbow: you couldn't see it or it went on forever. It was different from everything else.

Even though they didn't look alike, their mother and their later grandparents always treated them fairly.

And the twins were fine with it. They liked it when people said they were one because they saw themselves as equals.

Both of them got the same amount of love, and they couldn't have asked for more.

When Mila was happy, Lia was happy, too.

Mila was her light because she shone brightly like the sun in the blue sky.

Mila's smile was also always Lia's favorite because it was so sweet. Lia's life was wonderful because of Mila.

...

When his younger brother Kayden came into the room, Edward was busy getting ready.

"B-Brother, are you leaving me for good?" Kayden stuttered, "I don't want to be alone," because he didn't want to cry in front of his brother.

But Kayden's eyes really showed how sad he was.

Edward stopped what he was doing and said, "Kayden, come here."

"Didn't we already talk about this? I'm not leaving you. I'm going to school in Barcelona to help us out," Edward said again, but his brother didn't say anything.

"You knew this was what our parents wanted. You're not the only one, so you shouldn't feel like that. Uncle James and Aunt Perla are with you. They'll be sad if they hear you and think you don't care about them," Edward told his younger brother.

"No, that's not true. I love them. When our parents died, they took care of us and were our guardians," Kayden said.

Kayden knew what was going on even when he was young. Still, he couldn't get used to the idea that his brother would be far away.

When their parents died, Kayden was only eight years old and Edward was fourteen.

.....

"I'm sorry for what happened."

"My heart goes out to the family."

"I hope you're both feeling better soon."

At their father's funeral, these were the words that were always said.

A car accident took the life of their father. He was drunk. He was always like that because he couldn't get over the fact that his wife had died.

Before their father died, their mother died a few months ago. She died because of the breast cancer she had.

Their mom and dad worked hard to help them beat the cancer, but it was too late. They really lost.

When their parents died, Edward didn't cry at all because he had to be strong for his brother.

He always thought that they were all alone now. So he should be tough and feel nothing so he can forget the pain.

He promised his brother that no matter what, he would never leave his side. As long as his brother was alive, they would be together.

But when their mother's younger sister, Auntie Perla, and her husband came to the funeral, it made him feel better when she told him something that touched his heart.

"It's okay now, and we're here to help. It's okay to cry, you don't have to keep those feelings to yourself," she told him as she hugged him.

Edward started crying. He didn't think he'd ever find someone he could trust. He was glad her aunt was there to help.

They couldn't have asked for a better aunt. They knew both of them well. They were the ones who helped Edward and Kayden move forward in their lives.

Auntie Perla took care of the brothers like they were her own.

....

They had finally moved on, so it was up to them, especially Edward, to do what their parents had asked.

He needed to go to school in Barcelona so that he could run their business and company when the time came.

"Okay, you can leave now. I will also do my best in school," Kayden said, making his brother smile.

They said their goodbyes and said a few words as they sent Edward to the airport.

"Don't hurt yourself, Edward." Auntie Perla told him, "If there's a problem, call us right away."

"Don't worry, he'll be all right. Uncle James said with pride, "He's all grown up now."

"Do your best and come back as soon as you can!" said his younger brother with a lot of energy.

Kayden was no longer feeling sad. He promised to do the same thing as his brother. He wanted to be someone who would make his brother proud.

As Edward walked into the airport, he gave one last wave.

They knew they wouldn't see each other again for a while, so when they did, they were sure it was worth the wait.

And Edward promised himself that he would never leave the people he loved again once he got back from college.

And that will be the last time he puts himself ahead of other people.

After almost five years, Edward had already adapted to being alone in Barcelona. He didn't have a choice but to make sacrifices to fulfil their parent's wishes.

Edward was walking down the street while having deep thoughts about his stay in Barcelona. He glanced at his right side and saw the river.

"Should I stay here? What if I take my master degree in New Zealand?" he said out loud.

Edward was alone in the river.

"My parents wouldn't be disappointed if I didn't follow their wants, right? As long as I could manage our company so it would be all is well in the end," he took a deep breath as he threw the stone in the river.

After all the thinking, he left the place with a heavy burden because his question was left unanswered.

When he discovered the river, he would visit it from time to time if he wanted to unwind and think about what he should have done.

After a year of studying in Barcelona, he got the answer to his questions. He would finish studying there, so he could manage their company effectively.

Once a year, he would go to New Zealand to visit his brother and his aunt during the summer break. Kayden had the biggest smile when Edward visited them without fail.

"Welcome home, brother!" Kayden exclaimed as he ran towards his brother.

"Woah! Every time I see you, you're always growing bit by bit," Edward patted his brother's head.

"Of course, I wanted to grow just like you. Come on! Auntie Perla cooked your favorite dishes, and we bought your favorite gelato," his brother said as he was being pulled to their house.

"Is there any celebration? It looks like we are having a feast here," Edward commented when he saw many dishes on the table.

"Of course, you went home, so it was natural to cook this many. Don't worry, we will share it with our neighbors. You're the one who is going to deliver so they can know that you're back," his aunt stated.

During the whole month, they spent their time storytelling about each other's lives. They went to a resort and tried different sports together. But all of those moments had reached their ends.

"Time flies really fast, huh? See you next summer," Edward bid goodbye to them.

"After my studies, I will make up with you," he added.

"Just focus on your things. I'm a man now, I won't try to beg you to stay." his younger brother said.

That was how they had lived for the past five years. But this year, Edward decided to stay because he planned to visit the other cities in Barcelona.

He was so engrossed with his studies that he couldn't find time to stroll around the place. This would be the first time that he didn't go home.

He wanted to explore different cities, but Edward chose Macotta City as his first destination. He wanted to explore the other places, but he was eyeing the top universities in the city.

As he roamed around, he was fascinated by the structure of the famous University, so he took his time admiring it. He visited other universities and museums on the same day.

It might seem silly, but it was an accomplishment for him to tour around because he was always engulfed in his studies. If someone saw Edward, they could mistake him for a handsome-nerd genius.

Another day had passed. Edward decided to take a tour again, but when his legs went numb, he just realized the tiredness was already taking a toll on his body.

He was about to return to his hotel, but he still wanted to walk around the place until the sunset came into view.

When he spotted a gelato shop, he didn't think twice about buying it.

'I will never get tired of eating this,' he thought as he watched the vendor scoop his ice cream.

He spotted a park and went there. He looked around and noticed there were still many people, so all the benches were occupied except for one.

He walked towards the two-seater bench. As he sat down, he saw some things that were left unattended on the other side of the bench.

It was a book and a planner.

Edward scanned the place, but no one was approaching the seat. He got a hold of it and was about to open it, but someone snatched it from him.

"Hey, that's mine," the woman abruptly took her things from his hand.

The woman seemed irritated, but it was the opposite of what he felt. When he looked at her, he was stars truck by her beauty.

The woman had fair skin that complimented her blonde hair. Her blue eyes were radiant and could captivate anyone, and her jaw was an angular shape and slightly defined.

"What are you doing with my things? You shouldn't touch someone else's property without their consent," The woman asked him with disbelief.

Edward coughed for a little and tried to compose himself, he was hoping that he didn't look creepy to her because he was internally drooling.

"I-I am sorry, I didn't mean to take it. I just sat there a few minutes ago, and no one's claiming it, so I thought the owner was not here anymore. I also wanted to know the owner's name, so I could return it," Edward explained.

'I have never felt this nervous before,' he thought.

The woman appeared to understand what he said, so she just nodded, sat beside him, and didn't mind him at all. He saw her open her book and start to read. He didn't know what was getting into him, but he couldn't look away from her.

This was the first time that he was already head over heels toward the woman, up to the point that the gelato he bought had already melted and dripped on his clothes.

"Oh, goodness!" he exclaimed.

His face reddened because of the embarrassment.

He looked for a tissue inside his bag but couldn't find one. The woman glimpsed at him. She noticed the gelato stains on his clothes, and handed him her handkerchief instead.

"Here, take this as an apology because I thought you would do something outrageous," she said to him.

He was stunned by her gesture and was more surprised by what she said.

"No worries, thank you for this," Edward said, feeling grateful.

When the woman talked to him, he was not only thankful, but he also felt something strange.

"Mom, please! I just wanted to spend my time relaxing before my nineteenth birthday," Lia begged her mother.

"Alright, but on one condition. I will appoint bodyguards and helpers that will join your vacation. And you also need to meet Farrah, my friend in Barcelona," Sandra, her mother, said firmly.

"Yes, I will. But Mom, I'm not a kid anymore. I am fine by myself," she tried to oppose her mother.

"If you don't want it, then you can't go," her mother stated, and you could tell the power she held.

"Fine! But only one lady guard and helper only. I don't want to get other people's attention because of that," Lia said but sounded unwilling.

Lia understood that she would never be allowed to go out without a bodyguard. But she still wanted to try her luck, and she didn't have any for today.

So technically, she was okay with it because she knew how dangerous it was to be away from her mother.

But still, she was always dreaming of the day when she could be anywhere without a bodyguard on her side, and she wouldn't be anxious that someone might stab her in the back.

Lia flew to Macotta City, and her mother gave her a twenty-day vacation, so she wouldn't waste time staying in the hotel.

It was already her third day, and she decided to walk to the nearest park from the hotel where she stayed.

Lia sat down on a bench and started to read her favorite book. She preferred to relax today instead of roaming around because her feet were swollen, and she couldn't even walk for more than an hour.

When her eyes got tired from reading, she stood up as she, put down the book on the bench, and walked around the park.

Lia spotted the fountain at the center and captured a photo of it. She captured the sky, the kids playing, and the family on a picnic.

But when her phone suddenly stopped at the bench she was sitting on earlier, she immediately marched towards the man.

When Lia got there, she saw the man held her book and planner.

She became furious all of a sudden and nervous at the same time because her guard was not with her at the moment. She asked him what he was doing, and the man explained himself.

'The man seemed to have a similar accent to hers,' Lia thought.

She felt more nervous and thought the man was related to the Kennedy clan. It was her relative who wanted to harm her in any way. She had already thought of leaving because she felt uneasy, but she didn't.

She wanted to confirm first if he was a henchman or not, so she would know who to avoid.

Lia felt more uncomfortable because the man didn't look away for once. But when she glanced at him, she noticed that his clothes were dirty because of the melted gelato.

"Thank you for this. I am Edward, by the way," the man introduced himself and extended his hand.

"I'm Lia, nice to meet you," Lia said as she shook their hand.

"Are you from here? I was wondering where you came from because your accent seems similar to mine," she added.

She wanted to know if she needed to be cautious of this man or not.

"No, I'm just here for the vacation. My hometown was in New Zealand. How about you?" he answered her.

Her suspicions grew wider, but Lia thought thoroughly.

'If he were a henchman, he wouldn't give his information easily, or he might be faking it,' that was on her mind.

"We are almost the same. I lived in New Zealand and went here for a vacation," Lia said excitedly to hide what she was aiming for.

"Actually, I was studying here in Barcelona. I should be in New Zealand right now, but I chose to explore the cities because I didn't have time while I was studying," Edward started talking.

Lia was surprised that he was this talkative. She didn't think that Edward would talk about himself without thinking twice. So she realized that the man had no ill intent on her.

A bit by bit, she was getting comfortable talking with him because he would always be the one who initiated their talk.

Little did Lia know, Edward talked about himself because he wanted Lia to know him better, and he wanted to know the woman as well.

He took this opportunity to be close to her. He had already admitted that he had feelings for her.

It was unusual for him to fall in love at first sight because he had met beautiful women before, and he didn't feel this foreign affection he had.

They talked endlessly as if it couldn't be done tomorrow.

"I actually have a twin sister, her name is Mila, and she was older than me by thirty minutes," Lia suddenly blurted out.

"Really? Do you look alike?" he asked.

"No, we're not identical, but people mistake us as if we are one, and I don't have a problem with that. She was bright as the sun and brave as a man. She was my protector because I was a fragile child back then and was really weak. She was the best sister I could wish for," she said, who was being sentimental.

"I could tell that you really love your sister because the eyes always speak the truth," Edward said because he saw that Lia was happy while saying it, and he noticed her sadness too.

Edward was worried about her, but he didn't ask further questions. He thought that they would always have time for that. He would definitely make time for that to happen if there wasn't.

The sunset had already come to view, so they decided to leave and return to their respective places.

"Thanks for today, I had fun talking to you," she said as she smiled genuinely.

"No worries, I also enjoyed my time with you. What way will you go?" he asked and pointed to the two sides of the road.

"My hotel is this way, I will just walk because it is near, and I don't need to take a cab," Lia answered as she pointed the way where she was going ahead.

"Oh, that's nice, I'm going the same way. So, let's go?" Edward said, and she only nodded.

The two of them were strangely quiet as they walked. No one wanted to break the silence, and both of them felt that it was comfortable and there was nothing to be awkward about.

After ten minutes of walking, they were both surprised that they had stayed in the same hotel.

"Are you staying here as well?" Edward asked unbelievably.

"Yes, and you mean that you are staying here too?" she asked with astonishment.

By that incident, Edward thought that they were fated to meet each other. So he didn't want to lose this chance to get to know Lia better.

"Alright, I'll head on to my room now," Lia bid her goodbye, but Edward grabbed her arms.

"Lia, wait a minute. I didn't know when we would be able to meet again or if we would have a chance to meet again, so I wanted you to know what I was feeling. Would you like to go out with me tomorrow and visit the cities together?"

Edward thought that there was no room for hesitation. If he wanted her for himself, he should really make a move.

Lia was stunned by what she heard, but it also made her heart flutter, so all she could do was nod her head as she agreed with him.

As soon as Edward loosened his grip on her, she quickly went to her room and screamed on her pillows.

On the other hand, Edward entered his room and felt lost. He couldn't believe he had asked a girl to go out with him.

He couldn't move an inch from the shock, and when he recovered, he clutched his chest when he felt his heart beating so fast.

'I thought she wouldn't accept my invitation.' He thought.

When his phone rang, he answered immediately, and it was his Aunt Perla.

"What happened? You looked happy. Did you enjoy your tour there," his aunt said when Edward was grinning on the phone.

"Is it too obvious?" he chuckled.

"I'm doing well here, and I'm having a pleasant time roaming around. And guess what, Auntie?" he said in a boastful tone.

"What is it?" his aunt asked.

"I just asked the girl I like on a date," he said, feeling proud.

"Oh, I thought you were too focused on your studies that you didn't have an interest in finding a girlfriend," she commented.

"Well, because I also thought the same, but the first time I stared at her eyes. I didn't know that I was captivated by her," Edward said as he remembered their encounter earlier.

"I'm glad that you feel that way towards her. I won't forbid you not to date her because you're old enough to make your own decision. I just hope for your happiness," she said.

"Thanks for your concern, Auntie. Don't tell anybody about this, especially my brother. I wanted to be the one who will break the news when she is officially mine," Edward replied.

"Alright, I'll be going now. Take care of yourself," his aunt bid goodbye and hung up the phone.

'I really like her. I just hope that she feels the same way?' he thought.

Edward laid on his bed, and his mind started to wonder about her. He wanted to know what was running to Lia's head.

He was thinking of what she was feeling towards him, even if she didn't feel the same way. He was determined to do everything so Lia would learn to like him.

'Maybe what I feel right now was what they call, 'love at first sight?'