*Alexander*
The next morning,
I stood implanted at a spot in the extensive and extremely unique living room, watching how the servants move out one after the other with Kiara's items of luggage. I fixed my gaze upon the stairs, impatiently waiting for her to appear with my son, but I couldn't understand why she was not here yet. Is she probably having some kind of discussion with Henry Torres? I continued to glance at my wristwatch from time to time, reckoning what my next movement would be like. Shortly, the sound of her heels echoed in the place and I quickly look over at the stairs to see her ascending the stairs one after the other, with Aiden, held up in her arms. My lips twisted in a wide grin instantly as I hurried toward the stairs, “Daddy!” Aiden screamed with ecstasy as soon as he saw me, stretching his little arms forward, indicating that I should carry him, “How are you, buddy?” I asked him while I ruffle his super-dense black hair, “I'm fine, daddy. Are you here to take us away from Uncle Henry?” he asked immediately, blinking his eyes for a positive response. “Hmm…” I placed my fingers under my chin and pretended as if I was thinking about it, “Please daddy, don't say no” he pouted, pressing his little palms against my cheeks. I cracked a rough grin and kissed his cheek, “Of course not, my boy, I'm here to take both you and your mommy away” I told him and his face lit up at once. His eyes were bright and beautiful, they looked like a crescent moon when he smiled, “Thanks, daddy” he pronounced and then nestled in my chest directly. I patted his back in my arms while my gaze flickered to Kiara, who had been standing on a spot all the time, watching us with tenderness, but her expression was extremely pale. “Is there a problem? Where's Henry?” I asked, searching her eyes, “He's upstairs. Come on, let's go” she uttered and walked past me.
I gazed at the hallway for a while, thinking he was going to appear, but I was wrong. I shrugged slightly and followed her in tow, “Alexander,” his deep hoarse voice suddenly called out. Furthermore, I halted my pace and then properly turned around to see him standing in the foyer and holding the rails. “I wish you all the best in your togetherness again. Take care,” he said profoundly, his face devoid of emotion. “Thank you, Mr. Torres. Goodbye” I let out, “Bye, Uncle Henry,” Aiden said, waving at him. He smiled this time and also wave back. With that, we ambled out of the place to the parking lot. “Have you informed your Granny about this beforehand?” Kiara questioned inquisitively as we both walked side by side. “No, babe” I answered honestly, and her face crumpled up at once, “But why, Alexander? What if she doesn't welcome me?” she asked worriedly, and I chuckled warmly, wrapping my arm around her shoulders, “I want it to be a surprise, babe. And don't ever think Granny wouldn't like you, okay?” I told her with a reassuring smile, and then she nodded.
Half an hour later, we arrived at my residence. I came down from the car with Aiden in my hands first, and Kiara did the same after us. “Whoa,” she muttered, staring at the environment with full of admiration in her eyes. “Daddy, is this your house?” Aiden asked, clinging to me with his arms wrapped around my neck, “No, darling. It's our house” I corrected, and my gaze met with Kiara's and locked for a heart-stopping moment that took my breath away, “Sir, should I bring the luggage in the house?” the driver's voice seemed to interrupt, and broke off our intense gaze, “No need, the servants will do that,” I answered him half-heartedly discarded with him with a single movement. “Let's go,” I gently took her hands, and proceeded to the house. Passing through the yard to the front door villa, I bent the doorknob and set my foot inside. Seeing Granny's back view ascending the stairs, I was damn glad, “Granny,” I called out, having a big grin on my face. Granny twirled around properly and smiled widely, and climbed down the stairs immediately. However, getting close to where I was, the smile glistening around her face couldn't continue any longer and was replaced by a confused expression. “Whose child is this, Alexander?” he quizzed, looking from Aiden's face to my face. I grinned and then moved a step aside and revealed Kiara.
Her jaw dropped instantly while her eyes widened with horror and shock, “Is this… Kiara?” she stuttered, not willing to hide how dumbstruck she came out. “Yes, Granny. This is Kiara, the only woman I've always told you about” I introduced and then threw Aiden up and caught him almost immediately, “And here is our unexpected fruit, Aiden” I input, staring at his face. After being for several minutes, “This is unbelievable, Alexander. And why didn't you tell me about them earlier?” Granny interrogated, still unable to wipe off her aghast expression. I twitched my lips, giving off an impression of annoyance, “What do you mean, Granny? Remember that Amelia was the first person who came here and told us about everything. So, that means she had met Kiara before I did” I reminded, word by word. “So Amelia was right about everything all along? And to think that she had met her before, is she okay with you being with another woman?” Granny grilled further, “Granny, would you at least welcome them first?” I asked with an eye roll, and she quickly regained the presence of mind and wear her most charming smile, “Pardon me, my dear, please come in and sit down” she ushered Kiara in and walked behind her. “I'm so sorry about everything you encountered in the past, and raising a kid all by yourself, I bet it wasn't easy,” Granny said sadly after we all sat down.
Kiara peeked at my face and smiled, “It's alright, Granny” she said in a very light tone. “Come here, darling” Granny urged Aiden with a sweet smile on her face. Aiden stared at my face and I nodded and then he slipped out of my grasp and went to Granny obediently,” Whoa, this is Alexander's younger version” Granny acclaimed, carrying him up to her chest. I grinned with proud, “Yes, Granny, he takes everything after me, especially my beauty” I praised, stealing a glance at Kiara and winking broadly, “I doubt it, dear grandson, you are never obedient as this cute little boy right here,” Granny retorted, readjusting Aiden's shirt with a fulfilled smile dwelling on her lips. Kiara chuckled at me and I just scoffed, thinking of my next words, “Anyway, we have a lot to get done in a very short time” Granny began, putting away her smile, “But before I could say anything, I would love Amelia to be here first,” and it was at this moment I noticed Amelia wasn't around, “Where has she gone to, Granny? Today is a weekend, isn't it?” I asked in bewilderment, “Yes, I guess there was an emergency, but she had promised to be home soon” Granny responded, and I nodded slowly. “Granny,” a voice from the kitchen direction called out, and we all turned to see the head of the maids walking towards us step by step. However, she suddenly halted her steps and looked at Kiara's face carefully. “Oh my goodness, she's here now!” she shrieked with excitement and jumped on Kiara immediately.
Granny and I exchanged a surprise glance, “Will you get a grip of yourself now, Marian?” Granny cautioned in a stern voice, and she quickly disengaged from the embrace and stood properly. And I was beyond stunned by the sum of tears that had pooled into her eyes, “I'm so sorry, Granny. My heart was lost with happiness that I couldn't hold back myself” she defended, wiping off her tears that kept streaming down her cheeks uncontrollably. “I'm sorry, I'm easily brought to tears” she put in, wearing her most charming smile. I watched as Granny stared at her face with confusion boldly written across her face, “You're being weird, Marian, or is it just me?” Granny quizzed, looking at my face and I nodded directly in affirmative. “Forgive me, Granny, young master. It's just that, I was stunned and deeply touched to see Amelia's twin sister here unexpectedly” she clarified, looking from my face to Granny's. “And how sure are you they are twin sisters?” Granny asked again, and she smiled, “The odds, Granny, they are both identical” finishing her brief words, she walked away at once, leaving none of us a chance to protest. “Who's she?” Kiara faced me and asked, “Don't pay attention to her, dear, she's the head of the maids” Granny answered her, and she just nodded, looking in the direction of the kitchen.
At night, in Granny's bedroom.
Amelia sat right next to Granny on the bed, while Kiara and I sat beside each other on the divan sofa. “Are you sure Aiden is asleep?” Granny asked, facing Kiara, “Yes, ma'am” Kiara answered back. “So, I'll start with Amelia, I hope you would forgive me for my ignorance” Granny began, lowering her gaze. Amelia opened her mouth for a while but couldn't produce a word, “What are you talking about, Granny?” I asked instead, “I enforced her to get married to you without seeking her opinion” she admitted guilt, and Amelia and I shared a knowing look, “Then we should be the one to beg for your forgiveness, Granny,” Amelia said and Granny looked at her face with puzzlement expression.
“Yes, Granny, Mr. Alexander, and I had everything planned. Our marriage certificate was fake, and our love life was all counterfeit too” Amelia confessed and quickly lowered her gaze, “She's right, Granny. And to be honest, Amelia was ready to marry me back then for your sake, Granny, just to make you happy, but I didn't want it because no matter how much she looks like Kiara, she's not Kiara” I spoke up, but Granny could only stare at my face as if she wouldn't believe what she just heard. “So you both are not married?” she asked, after a few moments of silence. “Yes, Granny. I love someone else” Amelia notified, “And I only love Kiara too” I put in, clasping Kiara's hands in mine. “Whoa, I was fooled by grandchild?” she asked with protruded eyeballs, “No, Granny…” “You all should get out of my room now” she ordered firmly, interrupting my words. We all shared a glance among ourselves as we slowly stood up, “Granny…” Amelia also called, attempting to touch her, “Just get out” she raised her voice this time. She stood up and walked into the arcade, without sparing us a look. “Come on, let's go,” Amelia said, and Kiara and I followed her out of the room.
Kiara and Amelia sat on the bed while I paced the length of the bedroom with a heavy heart, “If we had known the outcome would be like this, we wouldn't have told her the truth” Amelia pronounced, her voice quivering as she spoke. “But she will still find out in the end, don't you know?” Kiara asked her calmly. I just watched the two of them in silence, not even knowing what to say. I hated moments like this, but if we had not said the truth, Granny might just suggest that I should get married to both of them. “What do we do now? What if Granny doesn't forgive us?” I asked quickly, feeling the tight knot that twisted in my chest. “Let's go back to her room again, she needs to understand our predicament,” Amelia said, standing on her feet already. “And do you think she doesn't understand? You just have to give her some time alone,” Kiara advised, and I released a sigh I didn't realize I was holding.