CHAPTER 38: THE COST OF HIS CHOICES

I kept my gaze on Dave and Alpheus, watching as they exchanged stunned glances.

I even noticed Dave swallow hard before finally meeting my eyes.

"We... we’re sorry if we disrupted your morning," he said carefully. "But at least let us take the kids to school—"

"No. We can manage."

I cut him off again and let out a long, weary breath.

"And it seems like you didn’t fully understand what I just said."

I held their gazes, steady and unflinching.

"I said I need peace right now. And honestly? I haven’t had any in the past two weeks—ever since you started showing up out of nowhere."

I could see the flicker of confusion and discomfort slowly registering on their faces.

"The kids and I have been doing just fine on our own. Taking them to school is the least of it. So it’s better if you just leave."

They both looked taken aback—like my words were only now beginning to sink in.

"But... we came here hoping to talk to you..." Dave said seriously.

I clenched the fabric of my shirt, trying to steady myself.

"There’s nothing to talk about," I said coldly. "Just leave. We’re busy. And while I do appreciate the breakfasts you’ve been dropping off these past two weeks... the kids and I don’t want to owe you anything. I don’t have time for this—or for a conversation."

Without waiting for their response, I turned and gently placed a hand on each of the twins’ shoulders.

"Come on," I said softly. "Let’s get you both ready for school."

I led them toward the bedroom. But just as we reached the hallway, I heard a soft, barely audible voice behind me.

"I’m sorry."

I froze.

It was Alpheus.

His voice was gentle, and it sounded sincere.

"I’m sorry if we came off as pushy... or like we were barging into your life," he said seriously.

I heard him stand up behind me. "That was never our intention. We’re not here to interfere. We just... we just want to see the kids."

I didn’t turn around, but I could tell Dave had gone still too.

"Please believe us, Sylvia," Alpheus continued. "We know we don’t have the right to be here. We get it. But we’re not trying to make your life harder."

I tightened my grip on the kids but still didn’t say anything.

"If you’ve chosen to cut him out of your life... we respect that. We’re not here to question your decision. We’re not here to stir up the past. All we’re asking for is a little space—to care about them too."

He paused, taking a breath.

"We’re not trying to cause harm, Sylvia. We’re just... here because the kids matter to us too."

And then, just as his words settled in the air, I heard the front door creak open—someone quietly stepped out.

I glanced back—only to find that Dave still hadn’t left. He stood there, watching me intently, his expression serious and unreadable.

He let out a long breath before casually walking over to join Alpheus, leaving me and the kids frozen for a moment.

What was that all about?...

"Mommy..." Egypt’s hesitant voice broke the silence. "What did Mr. Alpheus mean? Is he mad because of what I said?"

I sighed and gently patted her on the head. "No, sweetheart. He’s not mad at you... and even if he were, he has no right to be."

-----

Meanwhile, at the office...

(Third Person POV)

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"Yo, man!"

Calyx greeted with his usual grin the moment Alpheus stepped into his office.

"Took you long enough. So? Did Sylvia finally let you into her precious little home?"

Alpheus stopped in his tracks, letting out a deep breath as he caught sight of the familiar chaos inside.

As expected, both Calyx and Alfonso had made themselves far too comfortable—Calyx lounging on the couch with a half-empty bag of chips in one hand and his phone in the other, and Alfonso, who was similarly sprawled out and looked completely absorbed in whatever he was watching on his phone.

Alpheus just sighed and ignored their teasing. He walked past them and headed straight to his desk.

"Tsk..." he clicked his tongue in frustration as he sat down, burying his face in his hands.

Why the hell did I say that...?

What he had said to Sylvia lingered in his mind. Now that he was no longer in her presence, the embarrassment fully hit him.

I don’t even know what she’s been through... and yet I still said all of that to her...

Guilt gnawed at him—he had come hoping to help, but somehow, he’d only made things worse.

Maybe it was because he knew just how deeply Rome had been hurt—after they recently discovered that Sylvia, the woman he couldn’t forget, was the same woman who had left him five years ago.

None of them had ever met Sylvia back then. Rome never got the chance to introduce her to any of them... because she was already gone before he could.

And after that? Rome was never the same. He changed so drastically that even his closest friends could barely recognize him at times.

At first, they didn’t understand why Rome—who already had a wife at the time—was still in so much pain. They had even assumed that the woman who left him must have been a mistress or some fleeting affair.

But seeing Sylvia now... she didn’t look like someone who would just walk away without a reason. She seemed decent. Respectable. Nothing like the heartless image they had built in their heads.

And maybe—just maybe—she didn’t walk away without a reason. Maybe she left because she was pregnant with twins. Maybe she was hurting too.

He had suspected something like that. And yet... he still said all those things to her. He and his friends still pushed their way into her life—into her children’s lives—when they had no right to demand anything.

All Sylvia wanted was peace for herself and her kids. And they were the ones who disrupted it.

He let out a frustrated groan, tugging at his hair.

"Hey, what’s up with Alpheus? Is he losing his mind or something?" Calyx’s voice rang out.

Alpheus snapped out of his thoughts, startled to realize both Calyx and Alfonso were now watching him. He hadn’t even noticed their eyes on him.

He shot them a glare and quickly straightened up in his seat, trying to play it cool—even though his mind was still all over the place.

"So, what happened during your visit, Alpheus?" Alfonso asked between mouthfuls of chips, chuckling. "You look totally frustrated."

"Nothing." Alpheus replied shortly.

"Uh-huh. Yeah, sure. Your face says it’s not nothing," Calyx said with a smirk before turning to Dave. "Hey, Dave spill! Looks like we’re not getting anything out of Mr. Stonewall over there."

Dave glanced at Alpheus, who was clearly in no mood to talk, then shrugged. "Well, he kind of... demanded that Sylvia at least let us see the kids," he said casually.

"Oh?" Alfonso perked up. "So you finally talked to her? What’d she say?"

Dave hesitated, then shrugged again. "We don’t really know. Right after Alpheus said it, she just... walked out."

"What? That’s it?" Alfonso blinked. "I thought something dramatic happened. Turns out it wasn’t even a big deal. Honestly, you should be thankful she even let you into her home. At least you got to see the twins. I just don’t get why she’s being so guarded with us. We just want to see the kids—there’s nothing wrong with that."

Calyx leaned back on the couch and crossed his arms. "You still don’t get it, do you, Alfonso? Sylvia raised those kids alone. She built a life for them without any of us—without Rome. It’s not like we can just show up and expect everything to be okay. I mean, I get where she’s coming from. Why she wouldn’t want us around."

"Oh?" Alfonso raised an eyebrow. "So you’re siding with Sylvia now?"

Calyx didn’t answer, but his expression stayed serious.

"Don’t forget," Alfonso continued, "she left Rome and kept the kids a secret. If Alpheus hadn’t been nosy, we never would’ve found out. So honestly? She should be thankful. We’re doing her a favor by not telling Rome about the twins."

"Before you even say that," Alpheus cut in. "Have you ever wondered why Sylvia hid the kids and walked away from Rome?"

"I don’t know," Alfonso muttered. "But still... she should’ve told Rome about her pregnancy before just disappearing like that—"

"But did it ever cross your mind," Calyx interjected, not even letting Alfonso finish, "that maybe Sylvia was hurting too? That maybe it was because Rome chose to marry another woman instead of her?"

"N-No, but... she should’ve told Rome at least, right?" Alfonso stammered, trying to defend his point.

"And what—make herself look like the desperate other woman chasing after a guy who was already getting married?" Dave added dryly.

Alfonso went quiet, his eyes darting between the three of them. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"Okay, okay, I get your point," he finally said. "But seriously, I don’t understand why you’re all siding with Sylvia instead of our friend—when we all know Rome still loves her!"

"Tsk. It’s simple," Dave muttered as he dropped himself onto the long sofa beside Alfonso, squeezing in without warning.

"It’s because Rome was an idiot."

Alfonso blinked in surprise.

"If he wasn’t, then why would he let the woman he loved feel abandoned? Why marry someone else while Sylvia was already pregnant with his twins?" Dave continued, grabbing a handful of chips from Alfonso like they weren’t talking about something so heavy.

"So between the two of them, Rome has less right to be angry or hurt. He’s the one who gave her every reason to walk away."

Silence fell over the room. Calyx and Alpheus exchanged glances, while Alfonso stared down at his lap.

They didn’t want to blame their friend.

But deep down... they knew Dave was right.

And as much as it hurt to admit, they couldn’t deny it anymore—Rome had messed up, badly.