The Mistress Who Ran Away With The Twins-Chapter 172: Cold Confrontation Between Hariston’s Family

Chapter 172: Cold Confrontation Between Hariston’s Family

I left before the sun fully climbed into the sky.

Rome didn’t stop me.

He didn’t try to follow, didn’t block the door, didn’t say my name again like it might tether me to him. He simply stepped aside, giving me space—something he had never been very good at before.

I booked a Grab to get home. Rome insisted on driving me himself, but I didn’t let him. I didn’t want to be in the same space with him anymore.

The streets blurred past the window, familiar yet distant, like I was watching my life through glass. My head still throbbed faintly, but it was nothing compared to the ache pressing against my chest.

By the time we neared the neighborhood, my hands were shaking.

Fear crept in quietly. What if they could tell something was wrong? What if I looked different?

I took a deep breath before opening the door.

Small laughter.

The kind that immediately loosens something tight inside your ribs.

"Mom!"

Egypt was the first to see me.

She came barreling down the hallway, her socked feet sliding across the floor as she launched herself straight into my arms. I barely had time to drop my bag before I caught her.

"There you are!" she said, muffled against my shoulder. "You were gone the whole night! Where did you go?"

"I’m here now," I murmured, pressing my lips to her hair. "I’m here."

Behind her, Cairo and Paris peeked around the corner, then slowly walked toward me with wide, observant eyes.

"Mommy?" He asked softly. "Are you okay?"

I smiled faintly—or at least, I tried to.

"I’m fine," I said. "Just tired."

Egypt pulled back slightly, studying my face with the seriousness only children could manage.

"You smell different."

My breath hitched.

"Do I?" I asked lightly. "Probably just outside air."

She hummed, unconvinced, but just let it go.

Where did you go?" Cairo asked next. "We woke up and you weren’t here. I thought you would come back to sleep beside us." he said, pouting.

I froze.

The truth pressed against the back of my tongue. I couldn’t give them that. I couldn’t let them know I had been with Rome all night—not even through words.

"I visited a friend," I said carefully. "I wasn’t feeling well last night, so I stayed overat her place."

Egypt tilted her head. "Which friend?"

I swallowed.

"Um... Amie," I answered.

Egypt frowned. "But Teacher Amie was with us the whole night!"

My heart sank.

What?

"And she doesn’t live far," Paris added. "If you stayed at her house, why didn’t you just come home?"

"I—I stayed late," I stammered. "I mean... I was with another friend. I didn’t notice the time, so she let me sleep over."

The three of them exchanged a look.

Egypt crossed her arms. "Mom."

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"You’re bad at lying."

That almost broke me.

Before I could respond, a familiar voice echoed from the living room.

"She is."

I stiffened.

Amie stepped into view, arms crossed, eyes sharp, her hair slightly messy. Beside her stood Alpheus, wearing an apron. The faint smell of burnt butter lingered in the air.

Was he cooking—or trying to burn my house down?

My brain stalled.

"What are you two doing here?" I blurted out, instinctively pulling the kids closer.

Alpheus raised both hands slightly. "Relax. I was asked to watch them."

"Asked by who?" I demanded—then stopped, remembering that Rome had asked him to look after the kids.

"Well, someone was worried enough about the kids to ask the principal himself to babysit," Amie said dryly. "Even I was surprised he was this obedient to work. And apparently, he’s also good at babysitting."

"I was just concerned about the three of them," Alpheus added, smiling. "And I don’t mind babysitting if the kids are as cute as these three."

"Thank you," I said stiffly, "but you didn’t have to go out of your way. Tess could’ve watched them. She’s my kind neighbor."

Amie rolled her eyes.

"You shouldn’t just leave your children with a neighbor, Sylvia. You shouldn’t trust anyone just because they look kind."

"Yes. I know. I’m sorry."

"And you also shouldn’t get drunk and just go with anyone.." Amie added in a whisper, scolding me quietly.

"Wow, coming from someone who encouraged Sylvia to get drunk—" Alpheus started, but Amie elbowed him hard before he could finish.

She scoffed. "Shut up, Mr. Principal. Don’t butt in when you’re not part of the conversation."

"How can you just hit me like that? I’m still your principal!"

"Yeah, I know," she cut in sharply. "So don’t start with me."

Egypt looked between us. "Mom, are you in trouble?"

"No," I said quickly, softening my tone. "Not at all."

Amie crouched in front of the kids, her expression instantly gentler.

"Your mom just had a rough night. She’s okay now."

The three of them nodded solemnly, accepting the explanation.

Alpheus cleared his throat. "I didn’t do anything except make sure they ate, brushed their teeth, and didn’t burn the house down."

Cairo smiled. "He makes really bad pancakes."

"They were edible.." Alpheus said defensively.

Egypt giggled.

I should have laughed.

Instead, my knees suddenly felt weak.

Amie noticed immediately. She crossed the distance in two strides, her eyes scanning me—head to toe. Slowly.

Then her expression hardened.

"Oh hell no," she muttered.

Before I could react, she grabbed my shoulders and turned me slightly, inspecting my arms, my neck, my wrists.

"Amie—"

"Did he touch you?" she hissed.

"What?" I pulled back. "No!"

"Are you sure?" Her eyes blazed. "Because if Rome Hariston laid even a finger—"

"He didn’t," I said firmly. "I swear."

She searched my face, unconvinced.

"You disappeared," she said quietly. "You didn’t answer your phone. You woke up in his house. Sylvia, I thought you were kidnapped."

"I wasn’t," I said softly. "I promise."

She cupped my face, forcing me to look at her.

"Did he hurt you?"

"No."

"Did he threaten you?"

"No."

"Did he—"

"No," I repeated. "He didn’t do anything like that."

She exhaled sharply and pulled me into a hug so tight it knocked the air from my lungs.

"I was ready to kill him," she muttered into my shoulder. "I already rehearsed my speech to the police."

Alpheus cleared his throat awkwardly.

"I was going to help hide the body."

Amie glared at him. "You would’ve cried."

"I would’ve panicked.." he corrected.

Despite everything, a small laugh escaped me.

Amie pulled back, eyes still sharp. "You scared me."

"I know," I whispered. "I’m sorry."

She narrowed her eyes. "You better be."

The kids were watching us now, curious but quiet.

"Okay," Amie said, clapping her hands. "No more drama in front of the children."

She turned to them. "Who wants snacks?"

All four hands shot up.

Crisis temporarily postponed.

As the kids scattered toward the kitchen, Amie leaned in again.

"You’re not off the hook," she murmured. "We’re talking later."

"O-okay"

She hesitated. "He didn’t follow you, did he?"

"No."

Her jaw tightened. "Good."

Alpheus lingered nearby. "For what it’s worth," he said quietly, "they were fine. They barely noticed you were gone."

Guilt twisted sharply in my chest.

"Thank you," I said. "For staying."

He nodded. "Anytime."

As I watched my children argue over who got the blue cup, warmth slowly spread through me.

This.

This was real.

This was mine.

No matter how much the past tried to claw its way back in—no matter how loud regret became—this life, with its laughter, mess, and ordinary moments, was what I had fought for.

And I wasn’t going to let anyone take it from me.

Not again.

******************

Rome.....

"Welcome back, son!"

The warmth in his mother’s voice hit Rome the moment he stepped inside the house.

"How long has it been since you last visited?" she continued, smiling brightly. "We missed you! Your dad, Greece, and even Gabriel—they’ve all been asking about you!"

She moved to hug him, but Rome immediately stepped back.

His mother froze, confusion flickering across her face before she masked it with a gentle smile.

"Oh," she said softly. "You must be tired from traveling."

"Yes," Rome replied shortly. "And I won’t be staying long either. I came here because I need to talk to you."

His shoulders were stiff, his jaw tight.

"T-talk to me?" his mother asked, clearly caught off guard. For a brief moment, her gentle composure faltered before she forced a smile. "About what, son?"

His father appeared from the living room, glasses perched low on his nose as he studied Rome with sharp, knowing eyes.

"Why did you come here?" his father asked. "Did you finally realize that you won’t get anywhere if you keep living on your own without our help?"

Rome didn’t respond.

Meanwhile, Greece peeked out from behind the sofa, a cellphone in his hand, his expression bored.

"Or maybe... you finally remembered we exist," Greece said sarcastically. "I thought you were no longer part of this family. So why are you here? Changed your mind?"

He then returned his attention to his phone.

"Hey, Greece," their mother said quickly. "You shouldn’t say that to your brother. He hasn’t been home in a long time, and now he’s here. Maybe, at some point, your brother realized it’s better to come back to us—his family—and try to fix things with his wife, right, Ro—?"

"No."

Rome cut her off immediately.

He placed the envelope he had been holding onto the table.

"I didn’t come here to ask for your help or to fix something that was already broken and had nowhere left to go," he said coldly. "I came here because of this."

He fixed his gaze on his mother.

"This is my gift for you, Mom," Rome continued, his voice controlled but laced with restrained anger. "Can you read it out loud—clearly—and explain to me why you did it?"

His mother stared at him in confusion before slowly opening the envelope. As she read its contents, the color drained from her face.

Her hands trembled slightly as she lifted her gaze back to Rome.

His eyes were no longer warm.

They were cold. Unforgiving.

"Now," Rome said quietly, his voice sharp, "explain everything to me."

He took a step closer.

"Why did you do it?"

"Why did you do all of this to Sylvia?"