CHAPTER 128: THE ARRIVAL OF CAIRO

Third Person.....

"What was that just now?"

Bern glanced toward the person driving the car. His brows furrowed the moment he recognized who it was.

"Where is my driver?" he asked sharply.

"Oh, I bribed him to take the day off just so I could be the one to pick you up today. Why? You don’t like me taking you to the airport?" Sylvester replied with a mischievous grin.

Bern frowned. "No. I just don’t understand why you’re even here. Don’t you have anything better to do with your life right now?"

"Wow, that’s harsh, my friend," Sylvester said, pretending to be hurt. "I was just curious about what you’ve been up to. Turns out you’re making up excuses just to leave Cairo under Sylvia’s care. Tell me honestly, did you really have to leave him with her? You could’ve just left him with me or Stephen. You know we can take care of him."

Bern leaned back in his seat, eyes following the Sylvia helped Cairo into the car that would take them home from the window. "It’s what Cairo wants. He wanted to spend his birthday with his mom and his sisters. I only fulfilled that wish."

Sylvester let out a soft chuckle. "Aww... how touching. What a very loving father." His tone shifted to a half playful, half probing. "But what if one day Cairo finds out you’re not really his father?"

Bern’s expression hardened. He turned toward Sylvester, eyes narrowing dangerously.

"Watch what you’re saying."

Sylvester only smirked. "Relax. I’m just saying... how long can you keep pretending to be his dad? I heard the real one’s been lurking around again, close to Sylvia and the twins."

Bern’s hand clenched tightly into a fist. "Tsk. Sylvia will never let that bastard near the kids. He doesn’t deserve to be their father."

"Pfffft—!"

Sylvester immediately raised one hand in mock surrender when he caught Bern’s dangerous glare in the rearview mirror, though the teasing curve of his lips never faded.

"Chill man, you know, we’re all grateful for what you’ve done. You’ve always been there for Sylvia. You’ve treated her son like your own. And I believe that one day, she’ll finally see it, she’ll come to love you too, after everything you’ve sacrificed for her."

Bern’s fist slowly loosened. His voice softened. "I don’t need her to love me back," he murmured, his gaze fixed on the passing view outside. "I just want her and the kids to be safe. That’s enough for me."

Sylvester leaned back in his seat with a knowing grin. "If that’s what you say... but we both know that kind of love doesn’t stay buried forever."

Bern didn’t respond. He simply closed his eyes, letting the low hum of the car fill the silence as they drove down the road.

After a few quiet minutes, Bern opened his eyes again. "Anyway, how about you? When do you plan to finally show yourself to Sylvia?"

Sylvester caught his gaze in the rearview mirror and smirked.

"Oh, I’m still enjoying watching her from afar. It’s not like I don’t see her often, she works at my restaurant, after all. She’s not even a good employee. She just does whatever she wants, takes time off whenever she feels like it."

Bern arched a brow. "So, you’re saying you actually enjoy watching her struggle to work in the restaurant you built for her?"

Sylvester laughed. "It’s not like she’s suffering. I’ve given her light duties. I just... enjoy watching where her determination comes from. After all these years of running away from us from her family I want to know what keeps her going."

Bern studied him quietly, his expression unreadable. "You’re still testing her, aren’t you?"

Sylvester’s grin faded slightly, his gaze turning distant for a moment. " I just want to see if she’s still the same Sylvia who used to defy everyone just to protect what she loves."

Bern turned his head toward the window again, his tone low but edged. "Be careful, Sylvester. Testing her might only push her even further away from you."

Sylvester chuckled again, though the amusement didn’t reach his eyes this time.

"I’ll take my chances. It’s not like she’ll not realize anytime soon that she has no choice but to come back to the family she abandoned. Just watch, sooner or later, she’ll get tired of running away and eventually choose to return to us... rather than to the man who hurt her."

Bern’s jaw tightened. "You talk as if you’ve already decided her fate."

"I’m not deciding it. I’m simply waiting for the moment she realizes that no matter how far she runs, everything she left behind... will always find its way back to her."

Bern turned to look at him, his expression darkening. "You’re forgetting something. Sylvia isn’t the same woman you once knew. She’s stronger now. And she’s not the type to bow down just because you or anyone else says she should."

Sylvester smirked faintly, resting one hand on the steering wheel. "Maybe. But even the strongest people break when love pulls them in two directions. Let’s see which one wins, her pride... or her heart."

Bern didn’t answer. He only stared out the window again, even he was curious about which one Sylvia would choose.

------

On the other hand.....

The drive home felt longer than it should have been. Cairo sat quietly in the back seat beside me, clutching his small bag after we left the hospital.

I wanted to hold his hand, but even I was trembling—I didn’t know how to start or what to say. I was more afraid of what would come next, so we both remained silent the entire ride, the only sound being the low hum of the car as Bern’s driver took us home.

I kept glancing at Cairo through the rearview mirror, watching the way his gaze followed the passing streets, as if he were memorizing every turn that would lead him to his new home.

When we finally arrived, my hand hesitated on the car door handle.

My heart thudded uneasily in my chest. How would I even begin to explain this?

I hadn’t told my daughters anything.

Egypt and Paris had no idea who Cairo was. To them, I was the only family they knew and I had never once spoken about their brother.

I exhaled slowly. "Cairo," I said softly, turning to face him. "We’re here."

He looked up at me with those same eyes that mirrored my own. "Is this your house, Syl?"

I nodded, forcing a small smile. "Yes... this is where you’ll be staying for now."

He nodded quietly, still clutching his bag. I reached out and took it from him, then held his hand. He looked up at me in surprise, his eyes flicking down to my trembling fingers wrapped around his—but he didn’t say anything.

We stepped out of the car together and began walking down the narrow alleyway that led to my house.

The faint smell of garbage lingered in the air, mixed with the aroma of food cooking nearby and the sound of radios playing from neighboring homes. The houses stood close together, worn and patched, yet everything felt normal.

As we reached the front door, I froze for a moment. Even from outside, I could hear the faint laughter of my daughters echoing through our small home.

Please, not now....but before I could even turn the key, the door swung open from the inside.

"Mommyyy! Welcome back! We missed you!!!" Egypt and Paris chorused, running toward me.

They were about to hug me when both suddenly stopped, their eyes landing on Cairo.

They were supposed to be at school. My heart dropped to my stomach as they stood there in their uniforms, eyes wide with confusion.

Egypt’s hair was a little messy, her usual carefree smile replaced by surprise.

Paris, on the other hand, stood beside her with furrowed brows, her gaze darting between me and the unfamiliar boy at my side.

It was as if time had frozen. I stood there like a statue, unsure of what to do, my throat tightening as the twins’ stares shifted toward Cairo.

Neither of them spoke at first, and Cairo’s grip on my hand grew tighter—his small palm trembling against mine.

His bright, curious eyes now looked uncertain as he faced the two girls silently observing him.

Paris was the first to break the silence.

"M-Mommy... who is he?" she asked, her brows knitting together as she looked at Cairo.

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. My voice felt caught in my throat, tangled between guilt and fear.

How could I possibly explain?

Even Egypt, usually the more cheerful of the two, wasn’t smiling. Her gaze was serious now, her lips pressed into a thin line as she studied Cairo closely.

Cairo, sensing the tension, looked up at me. I could feel him trembling slightly, trying to stay brave, but the weight of their gazes seemed to shrink him where he stood. He squeezed my hand tighter.

I forced a smile, my voice unsteady. "Girls... this is Cairo. He’ll be staying with us for a while."

Paris frowned. "Staying with us?"

I swallowed hard, my mind racing for the right words. But before I could answer, Cairo stepped forward.

"Hi," he said politely, trying to smile. "I’m Cairo. My dad said... I’ll be staying here with Syl."

The twins exchanged a confused look then turned back to me.