CHAPTER 233: FIXED

–Damon–

I arrived home safely. Just as Livana instructed me. Like it’s just a one-night stand. I came home with wrinkled clothes, messy hair, and my son ran toward me... but he stopped halfway, staring up at me with curiosity.

I tried to smile and lowered my arms, spreading them wide for him.

"Not Dada!" He turned back and ran away.

"Sky, it’s Dada!" I called after him. He paused, turned his head, and stared again. It’s probably the beard. I forced a smile. He turned again and raised his forefinger, shaking it.

"It’s Dada," I knelt down, and this time he approached me.

"Dada!" He cupped my face and pointed at my jawline.

"Hello, my Sky," I breathed, kissing his temple.

I went upstairs with Sky, our robot trailing behind us. I rummaged through the drawers and pulled out the document. I opened it, and there it was—the small house that was named to me and Sky. There was also a picture and the location. But most importantly, specific instructions written by Livana.

No devices allowed.

I started packing my clothes, then a few of my wife’s. Then I brought Sky into his room and started packing his things too.

"What are you doing?" Jane stood there with her arms crossed. I glanced at her.

"Doing exactly what you told me to... months ago."

She scoffed.

"Isn’t it too late for that?" she asked sarcastically.

"It’s not too late," I answered simply.

"I’ll take care of Sky’s things. You can take a bath or whatever."

I nodded and left it to her. She’s probably used to cleaning up my mess.

I went to the bathroom, bathed, scrubbed hard—like I was trying to peel grief off my skin. Then I chose what to wear. It’s a date with my wife. I dressed casually, grabbed my luggage. I didn’t bring any phone or any device. I also took my wife’s favorite toys.

Downstairs in Livana and Laura’s mansion, the twins were having their little tea party. I kissed Zendy’s head and then Zayvier’s.

"Bye, bye~" Sky waved to the twins.

"I’ll go," Zendaya declared, standing up.

"Oh, shoot," Jane rubbed her forehead. "We should take the backdoor. The twins will throw tantrums."

I did want to take them.

"Can’t we take them?"

"Of course not. I can’t take care of three kids." Jane complained.

"I got them," Logan said, appearing with bags for the twins.

"Oh, now problem solved." I sighed, looking at the twins.

Jane scratched her head defeatedly.

"Fine. Whatever."

She instructed the twins’ nannies. They took the twins upstairs, probably for diaper changes or whatever. Jane packed snacks for the kids while I sat and called Damien.

"Hello?" Damien answered cheerfully.

"We’re going out of town... I’m taking the twins before they start throwing tantrums."

"Oh yeah, Logan already called. It’s time for me and my wife’s second honeymoon!" Damien laughed.

"Yeah, do that," I sighed. "We’ll be gone the whole weekend."

"Just feed my twins, they’ll be fine. I’ve got to go to a meeting. Bye!" He hung up just in time as the twins were carried down the stairs by the nannies.

"The three of you can take the weekend off after cleaning and sanitizing," Jane told the nannies.

I stood and went to the garage. A family van. Logan and Jane had already set three seats for the twins. She told me where to sit—next to Sky by the window—Logan sat in the back with the twins.

"No devices," she reminded me.

"I left mine," I told her. "So if there’s an emergency within the empire?"

"We’ll know first," she said, starting the car.

"Mama!" Sky clapped his hands like he knew exactly where we were going.

"Mimi!" Zendaya and Zayvier clapped too.

The whole trip? Nursery rhyme music. And the trio sang.

"Was it like this every time?" I asked Jane.

"Not really. Mostly, Sky sleeps. But with the twins, we need music to keep them from boredom."

Logan was singing along with the twins. A perfect babysitter.

We stopped for fast food, takeout. I ordered, and they gave me the biggest burger. Yes, I need to eat. I need more muscles. My wife hated it when I got thin.

"All right, kids. Sing!"

The twins continued singing, and Sky clapped and laughed.

And for a moment... their laughter drowned out the ache in my chest. The ache that never leaves. The ache of missing her.

******

I must’ve slept longer than I thought, because the moment I felt that tiny palm slap my cheek and heard Sky’s high-pitched voice, I snapped awake immediately.

"Mama!" he squealed, vibrating with excitement.

"Was he always this excited?" I muttered as I rubbed my temples.

"Yes." Jane smirked.

"Traitors," I grumbled, earning a laugh from her.

"It’s your fault for not opening that envelope. And I think you finally understand now why Livana had to do all of this."

"Yeah, I don’t really give a fu—" I caught myself. "As long as she’s alive."

We drove into the underground garage. As soon as the door closed, Sky’s excitement doubled.

Then the door to the house opened—Livana, in her pink silk dress.

I jumped out of the van instantly.

"Mama!" Sky squirmed with excitement. I unbuckled him and scooped him up. He practically launched from my arms to her, clinging to her like a damn koala.

I kissed her lips—gentle, desperate—and she kissed back quickly, before Sky smothered her with baby-hugs.

"Oh, the twins!" Livana looked at them as Logan set them down. Zendaya grabbed onto Logan’s pants, staring up at Livana with curious eyes. They probably didn’t remember her.

"Hello, Zendy. Hello, Zay-Zay."

"Zay-Zay," Zayvier pointed to himself, then pointed at Zendaya. "Zendy."

Livana giggled softly.

"Let’s go inside. The playroom is ready."

The house was spacious, minimalist, and comfortably cool. Livana led the kids to the playroom. The twins immediately searched for toys like they owned the place. I turned to my wife—still clinging to Sky.

"Put him down," I told her, jealousy creeping in.

She laughed and showered him with kisses.

"Oh come on, my love. I haven’t held him in days."

"I haven’t held you in a year, Livana."

She blushed slightly. "Do you want to play with your cousins?" she asked Sky, but he hugged her tighter, soaking up every second with her. She giggled and covered him in kisses again, then set him down in the playroom.

The moment Sky saw toys, he forgot everything else. Zendy sat at the mini piano and started pounding keys off-tune while humming some kind of melody.

I pulled Livana into me and kissed her cheek.

"Let’s talk," I muttered.

"Hmm? Are you going to scold me?" she teased, cupping my face.

"Hey guys, lunch is ready," came another familiar voice.

"I’m starving," Logan declared as he strolled out.

I turned, and my chest nearly gave out.

Standing there in an apron—Laura.

Except no—

"Mom?!" I gasped.

Ines. My mother-in-law. Alive.

She chuckled and spread her arms. "Hey, Damon. Glad you finally decided to come."

I rushed to her, embraced her, kissed her cheeks, held her shoulders.

"You’re alive too!"

"Gandmama!!!" Sky sprinted toward her, the twins close behind.

She crouched and hugged all three of them together.

"Alright, you boys should eat. I’ll take care of these little ones."

I pulled Livana close again.

"Now, you’ve got a lot of explaining to do."

She brushed her fingers along my jaw.

"Of course, my love."

She led me into the dining room—eight seats, elegant. I pulled a chair for her but she pushed me down instead, gathered my messy hair, and tied it up like she used to.

Then she served me—side dishes and steaming main course.

"I prepared this all day," she murmured, kissing my cheek. I glanced at Logan who was eating like an animal. "With mom, of course."

She sat beside me and fed me. I ate everything she gave me.

"Oh please, he’s not disabled!" Logan snorted, but still casually placed a cut of meat on Jane’s plate. Typical nursery-rhyme chaos-sitter.

I picked up my utensils and actually ate like a normal human. The food tasted amazing—like someone put life back into my taste buds.

My wife rubbed my back.

"Tell me, when was the last time you smoked?"

I shrugged.

"Jane?" Livana called.

"That was last week," Jane reported. I stared at her.

"I monitor everything your wife told me to. That’s part of my contract, right?"

"Traitor," I muttered again. She shrugged.

"So next week, you’ll get checked by doctors. Lungs, internal organs, everything," Livana ordered. I loved her strict tone. I loved everything about her.

"Call Dr. Reyes, alright?"

I nodded. "Hmm."

"We can’t make babies if you’re not healthy."

Her palm pressed down on my thigh, and damn—instantly aroused.

"Right, Jane?" she added casually.

"Hmm, yeah," Jane answered, unfazed.

"So Jane... you knew their plan from the start?" I asked.

"I was forced to."

"Nomnom!" Sky yelled, running with the twins behind him.

I stood and set up the three high chairs—Sky first, then Zendy, then Zayvier.

"Thank you, dear," Ines smiled as she prepared their food. Livana fitted the silicone bibs and fixed Zendy’s thick hair.

"Nomnom!" Sky clapped and the twins followed.

Livana wiped their hands clean like the expert she is.

She finally sat beside me. I took her hand and squeezed it. She smiled at me with those violet gemstone eyes that stole my soul years ago.

"Eat more, my love."

God, she was everything. Alive. Breathing. Here.

"Dada," Sky pointed as Ines gave him a spoonful of his favorite. "Taykyuuuu."

"You are welcome, my little one," Ines kissed his forehead.

The twins mimicked, forming clearer words.

I hadn’t realized how much time passed without me noticing them grow.

What I missed—

What I lost—

What I was given back...

I’d kill anyone who tried to take this from me again.

And I’d cherish it with every piece of my broken heart.

–Livana–

Damon’s hands rest on my waist as I gently brush his hair back, guiding the strands between my fingers the way a violinist tunes strings—slow, deliberate, loving. His touch is warm, reverent, as if memorizing the shape of me again.

"Will last night get you pregnant again?" he murmurs against my skin, voice low, uncertain. "We didn’t use any protection."

"I hope not just yet," I answer, tracing the line of his jaw with my thumb. His morning stubble scratches my palm, grounding me. "We need healthy sperm, love."

He straightens a little, wanting to argue yet wanting to please me at the same time. "Then I’ll ask Dr. Green. I can—"

"You are not well," I say simply. The truth, laid bare in the air between us.

"I will eat healthy, exercise—"

"And no drinking or smoking," I finished, narrowing my eyes slightly. He knows I mean it.

He doesn’t protest. Instead, he wraps his arms around me and hugs me tightly, almost childlike in his craving for reassurance. I cradle his head and kiss the top of it, breathing in the faint scent of him—musk, sweat, and the lingering ghost of my perfume.

"We will make Sky his sibling," he whispers. "But only when we are sure."

"We trust Dr. Green," I remind him quietly. "Sky is healthy because we planned. We monitored every detail. A baby should never be sacrificed to wishful thinking."

His brows soften. He understands. Damon always understands, even when his heart wants to rebel.

"But we can make love, right?" he asks, voice lower now, almost pleading.

"Yes," I answered with a small smile. "Of course."

I stand and slowly slip off my robe. The air shifts—Damon inhales sharply, eyes devouring me like he is starving. I feel the hunger ripple in him.

"Mama! Mama!"

I freeze mid-motion. Damon curses under his breath.

I lift my dress back up, gather myself, and go to open the door. There stands Sky, cheeks flushed, arms stretched out, tears clinging to his lashes like dew.

"What’s wrong, my little love?" I sweep him up, his tiny fingers clutching at my hair before he buries his face against my chest, seeking milk out of instinct.

I glance at Damon and sigh. "My love, I’ll put him to sleep, okay?"

He nods and forces a smile, resigned.