I didn't expect the house to feel… this loud.
Not in noise.
In life.
Kiss stood at the doorway of the nursery longer than she intended to. One hand resting against the frame, the other hanging loosely by her side like she didn't know what to do with it.
The twins were on the floor.
Fighting.
Again.
"That's mine!" her daughter snapped, clutching a stuffed bear like it was a national treasure.
"No!" her son grabbed the other side.
"Mine!"
"It's pink!"
"I like pink!"
"You don't!"
"I do!"
Kiss blinked.
Then she sighed under her breath.
"…I came back to this."
She stepped in.
"Okay—hey, hey, hey." She crouched down, gently prying their hands apart. "Why are we fighting at this early hour?"
Both of them immediately turned to her.
"Mama," her daughter complained first, pointing at her brother. "He took my bear."
"She took my car yesterday," the boy shot back quickly. "So I take bear."
"That's not how life works," Kiss said, trying to sound serious.
They both stared at her.
Then—
"Then how it works?" her son asked.
She opened her mouth… then closed it.
"…Good question."
Her daughter huffed. "Mama, tell him."
Kiss exhaled slowly, then pulled both of them closer.
"Okay. Listen to me," she said, softer now.
"You don't take things because someone took yours. You talk. Or you ask Mama or Daddy."
Her son frowned. "But Daddy say fight back."
Kiss froze.
"…He said what?"
Her daughter nodded seriously. "Daddy say don't lose."
Kiss stared at them for a second.
Then she let out a small laugh.
"Your father is a bad influence."
From the doorway—
"I heard that."
She didn't turn immediately.
"Good," she replied. "You were supposed to."
Adrian leaned against the frame, arms folded, watching them with a quiet expression.
He didn't interrupt.
Just watched.
Kiss glanced at him briefly, then looked back at the twins.
"Alright," she said. "New rule."
They both leaned in.
"We share."
"No," her son said instantly.
Kiss blinked.
"…You didn't even think about it."
"I don't like sharing," he replied stubbornly.
Her daughter nodded. "Me too."
Kiss pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh.
"You two are impossible."
Adrian chuckled softly.
She shot him a look. "This is your fault."
"I didn't do anything."
"They quoted you."
He shrugged. "I'm proud."
She rolled her eyes.
But then—
Her son crawled into her lap without asking.
Her daughter followed right after.
And suddenly she was stuck between two warm, small bodies, both talking at the same time.
"Mama, I saw butterfly yesterday—"
"No, Mama, I fell and Daddy didn't carry me—"
"He carried you!"
"No he didn't!"
"He did!"
"No—!"
"Okay!" Kiss laughed suddenly, louder than she expected. "One at a time. Please. I only have two ears."
They paused.
Then looked at each other.
Then started talking again.
At the same time.
She laughed again.
Not forced.
Not controlled.
Real.
Adrian stilled,smiling faintly.
He hadn't heard that sound in a long time.
Later that morning
The house settled into its usual rhythm.
Kiss was in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, watching Augustina prepare something while Harmony sat in her little chair, kicking her legs happily.
"You're staring," Augustina said without looking up.
"I'm observing."
"You're judging."
Kiss smirked slightly. "Maybe a little."
Augustina turned to face her. "So. Are we going to talk about the fact that you've been here for… what? Five days now?"
"Six," Kiss corrected.
"Even worse."
Kiss shrugged lightly. "I said one week."
"And you're counting down?",asked Augustina.
"…I don't know.",replied Kiss.
Augustina paused.
That was new.
"You don't know?" she repeated.
Kiss looked away.
"I'm trying not to think too far," she admitted quietly. "If I do, I might leave again."
Augustina softened.
She walked closer, lowering her voice.
"Then don't think," she said simply. "Just stay."
Kiss gave a small smile.
"You make it sound easy."
"It is easy," Augustina said. "You just don't trust it yet."
Silence.
Then—
"Where's Isaac?" Kiss asked, changing the subject.
"Office. He said something about checking on Adrian, but your husband is avoiding him."
Kiss snorted lightly. "Sounds about right."
Elsewhere
Ashley was gone.
No one knew when.
No one saw how.
One moment she was locked, broken, barely breathing…
The next—
Nothing.
Empty.
Her absence sat like a shadow.
Unspoken.
Unexplained.
ASHLEY'S POV
Pain.
That was the first thing she felt.
Not confusion. Not fear.
Pain.
Her eyes fluttered open slowly, vision blurry, body heavy like it didn't belong to her.
White ceiling.
Sterile smell.
Beeping sounds.
"…Hospital?" she whispered weakly.
Her throat burned.
A nurse appeared beside her. "You're awake."
Ashley blinked. "Who… brought me here?"
The nurse hesitated. "You were brought in by someone. He didn't stay."
Ashley's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Did he say anything?"
"No."
Silence.
Her fingers curled weakly against the sheets.
"Someone saved me",she thought.
But who?
And why?
Hours later
She was discharged.
A car waited for her outside.
Driver silent.
No explanation.
She didn't ask.
Didn't need to.
Because deep down—
She knew.
This wasn't random.
LATER – A DIFFERENT HOUSE
The door opened slowly.
Ashley stepped inside.
Familiar.
Too familiar.
Her chest tightened.
"…Home."
A man stood in the hallway.
Older. Calm. Sharp eyes.
Her father's most trusted man.
"Miss Ashley," he said respectfully.
Her gaze sharpened. "You."
He nodded. "You're safe now."
"Did you bring me out?" she asked directly.
A pause.
Then—
"You needed to be removed from that situation."
"That's not what I asked."
Silence stretched.
Then he simply said, "Rest. You're not in danger anymore."
Ashley stared at him.
But something in his tone told her—
He wouldn't answer.
Not now.
Maybe not ever.
She turned away slowly.
"…Fine."
But her mind didn't rest.
Not for a second.
Because somewhere, deep inside—
She knew.
This wasn't over.
Not for her.
And definitely not for Kiss.
BACK TO THE MANSION
Night fell slowly.
The house quieter now.
Kiss sat on the bed, the twins beside her, both half-asleep but still talking.
"Mama," her daughter mumbled. "You go tomorrow?"
Kiss stilled.
Her son looked up immediately.
"You go?"
She hesitated.
Then shook her head slowly.
"…Not tomorrow."
They both relaxed instantly.
Her son crawled closer.
"Good."
Her daughter yawned. "Stay long."
Kiss brushed her fingers through their hair.
"I'll try."
Adrian stood by the door, watching.
Listening.
And for once—
He didn't interrupt.
Because this…
This was everything he had been waiting for.
And maybe—
Just maybe—
She was finally staying.