“I’m so happy you’re here, Cezar. The girls will lose their minds when they get home. They should be here soon. And Tudor is on his way too.” She beamed, despite her knowledge of my past.
Lina’s confusion was obvious—she hadn’t expected this. A part of my world she didn’t know yet.
She turned to Lina, extending a welcoming hand. “You must be Lina. We’re excited you came with Cezar.” Then, addressing me again, she added, “I can already tell she’s good for you.”With that, she ushered Lina inside, leaving me to lug all our belongings.
Why the fuck did I pack so much shit?
When Tudor got home, I introduced him to Lina. She stayed polite but guarded. I’d talk to her later once things calmed down. Too much was happening at once, and I didn’t want her overwhelmed.
As the time for the twins’ return crept closer, I got up to hide. Lina started to trail after me, but Liana snagged her mid-step, laughing as she told her stories about the pranks I would pull here. At least it earned a smile out of her, even if she still looked unsure.
I heard the bus.Showtime.
The girls stormed in like a pair of tornadoes, dropping backpacks, kicking off shoes, and greeting their parents. They froze the moment they saw Lina on the couch, and I watched the understanding click in her expression. Their eyes widened, as if they’d seen a real-life princess.
Before they could ask who she was, I jumped out from behind the doorway, growling and flailing my arms like an idiot pretending to be a bear. They screamed and tackled me to the floor, and we wrestled until their mom broke us up.
Sometimes, I felt awkward—I wanted to be a part of a family desperately, but I struggled with the concept of normalcy.
“Girls, this is Lina. She’s Cezar’s girlfriend,” Liana announced.
Lina glanced at me, questions written all over her face, but she offered a steady handshake. Crina and Violeta introduced themselves shyly at first, then exploded into nonstop chatter. Every compliment they could think of, every question their little brains could generate—they hit her with all of it.
I tried to jump into the conversation several times. Every attempt crashed and burned. I’d lost them. They were hers now.Defeated, I wandered into the kitchen where Liana and Tudor were pretending not to laugh.
“Hurts, doesn’t it?” Liana said, bumping her hip against the counter.
“Sure fucking does. But I’m glad they like her,” I admitted, smiling.
Liana folded her arms and leveled me with a look. “Cezar, why’d you tell us you two were together? She didn’t exactly give me a “we’re dating” vibe.”
“Well…” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Does it count if that’s what I want to happen?”
She huffed and shook her head. “Whatever this is, you look happy. Happier than I’ve ever seen you. You deserve that. Don’t mess it up and don’t let her slip away.”
Then she slapped me on the back—harder than necessary. I hissed and rubbed the spot, glaring halfheartedly.
“I have no intention of ever letting her go,” I stated. That earned me matching worried looks, because they both knew I meant exactly what I said. Affectionately. Not… stalker-ish. Mostly.
We stayed up late, talking and laughing and eating like things were simple again. Being with the girls and Lina reminded me of what family felt like before everything fell apart. What it could feel like again.
Chapter 49
ADELINA
After clinging to me half the afternoon, the girls drifted back to Cezar like magnets. They poked at him while he pretended to sleep, whispering loud enough for everyone to hear. Then—exactly like he planned—he lunged, capturing Crina under his blanket.
Violeta rushed to save her sister, but she didn’t stand a chance. Their laughter filled the living room in a joyous melody. A sound I hadn’t heard in what felt like years. Easy, innocent joy. It shouldn’t have hurt, but it did, because Cezar’s words replayed in my head… how these girls ended up here… how far he’d gone to protect children who weren’t even his.
I was trying my best not to be awkward and ruin the mood. Cezar wore his mask of happiness so convincingly, concealing the pain beneath his flawless fucking smile. How did he manage to do it?
His love was pure and innocent—such a contradiction to how we exist. The way he looked at those girls, the way he let himself be silly for them—it was love and guilt and longing all entwined. Watching him play, watching him let his inner child breathe for the first time in forever, warmed something cold inside me.
I couldn’t let him have all the fun. After getting my thoughts in order, I joined. He adjusted instantly so I fit right intothe chaos. He was incredible with them, reading their moods, matching their energy, keeping everything light and safe. This man was made for moments like this; he would be an amazing father.
I lost track of time as the night wore on. Liana called everyone inside, shooing the girls into pajamas and dragging them toward their room. I followed, worn out but content. Cezar told me he had plans for the next day while they were at school, which sparked a little thrill in my chest despite how drained I felt.
Once the girls were tucked in, he disappeared to read them a story. They insisted. Apparently, “Cezar-voiced bedtime stories” were a sacred tradition. I listened from the hallway, hearing him shift between character voices and dramatic gasps.
