CHAPTER 64: BETWEEN ROME AND DANIEL

Egypt zoomed in on the photo of Rome, her eyes widening in awe.

"Whoa... he’s handsome! He doesn’t even look like a dad with how young he seems!"

Unlike Egypt, Paris wasn’t smiling. Her expression faded quickly as she glanced back and forth between the photo and her twin.

"Don’t you notice something... off?" Paris asked, her brows drawing together in a tight furrow.

Egypt blinked. "Huh? What do you mean?"

Paris hesitated for a moment before saying, "He... he looks like us, Egypt. Don’t you see it?"

That made Egypt pause. She stared back at the image, this time more closely.

The man in the photo had deep gray eyes... thick lashes... defined brows... even the shape of his lips—all of it was oddly familiar. And his dark brown hair, with that slight natural wave? Its also the same shade as theirs.

How could a man they had never met look so much like them?

The twins slowly turned to each other, uncertainty flickering in their eyes.

"Is he... maybe our father?

"...our uncle?" they both said at once.

Paris shot her sister a confused look. "Why would you think he’s our uncle when he looks exactly like us?"

Egypt pouted and looked away. "Because there’s no way he could be our dad, Paris. He’s Gabriel’s dad, remember? We can’t just assume we’re related to him just because we look like him. I mean, someone like him... it just doesn’t make sense. It’s impossible."

Paris’s brows drew closer together. "Why not? What makes him impossible to be our dad?"

Egypt gave her a pointed look, as if the answer was too obvious to say aloud.

She even sighed and muttered, "Because he already has a family of his own. And if anything, that would make us his illegitimate children. That’s why... it just doesn’t make sense for him to be our dad."

Paris couldn’t speak.

Her mind wandered back to how their mom had acted earlier—the way she looked scared and panicked when Gabriel’s dad was outside—it said a lot. It was possible their mom had some connection to him.

Paris wanted to tell Egypt her that, but she held back. She didn’t want to hurt her sister.

Egypt was the more sensitive one between them. She always saw the best in people, always believed in fairytale endings. And Paris didn’t want to be the one to shatter whatever fantasy Egypt was holding onto.

But then—

"Look, Paris! That Mr. also has a twin look!"

Egypt suddenly blurted out, interrupting Paris’s thoughts. She shoved her phone toward her, eyes gleaming with excitement.

It was another photo. A man who looked exactly like Rome—same deep gray eyes, same sharp brows and strong jawline—but with messy hair and a cheeky grin on his face.

"And this guy’s single! See? Maybe he’s our real dad!"

Paris leaned in and read the name under the photo.

"Daniel Greece Hariston."

So... there were two of them? Twins?

Now she was more confused than ever. If one of them was their father, how were they supposed to know which one? Everything was getting more complicated.

Egypt tapped the screen eagerly.

"This one! This man should be our dad! And that means Gabriel would be our cousin instead of our brother. That makes way more sense, right?"

Her voice was bright—like a child trying to convince herself. But Paris could see it in her sister’s eyes—she’d already chosen to believe the man in the photo was their dad.

"Do you think we can tell Mom what we found out?" Egypt asked innocently.

Paris tensed.

"No."

Egypt flinched.

"Why not?"

Paris looked at her, now serious.

"Why do you think Mom always says our dad is dead every time we ask? Don’t you think it’s strange how she shuts down the moment we bring him up?"

Egypt blinked, her excitement faltering. She thought about it for a moment, then remembered how similar this felt to the plotlines of some of the dramas they liked watching on their phones.

"Uhm... maybe because our dad cheated on her? Or left her for someone else?" she guessed hesitantly.

"It could be that. Or maybe something else entirely," Paris said. "Whatever the reason is, one thing’s clear—Mom doesn’t want us involved with the Haristons. So don’t say anything to her yet."

"Unless she brings it up herself, we shouldn’t tell her that we already know. Maybe for now, just knowing our dad might still be alive is enough."

"Mom wouldn’t be hiding from them if there wasn’t a reason, right?"

Egypt pause, her expression falling into a deep frown. "You’re right. Mom wouldn’t hide the truth from us unless she had a reason. Maybe... maybe our dad really did hurt her. Now that I think about it, mom used to have nightmares all the time, maybe its because of our dad."

Egypt hugged her knees to her chest.

"Now I hate the idea of having a dad," she muttered bitterly. "If he’s the one who broke Mom’s heart, then I don’t want to meet him at all."

"Me too," Paris agreed. "If he’s that kind of man, I’d rather he stay away. We’re better off just being the three of us. We already have a lot of uncles anyway... and honestly, they seem way better than whoever our dad is."

-----

Meanwhile...

Rome sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose as he waited for the call to connect.

When Gio finally picked up, his irritated voice rang out immediately.

"Ugh, what is it this time? I already gave you the location of your son. Why are you calling again—especially at this hour?!"

That was the first thing Gio barked out.

Rome had just gotten home after safely taking Gabriel back to his mother, yet his mind refused to rest.

There was something else gnawing at him—something strong enough to keep him wide awake.

"I know. And this isn’t about Gabriel," Rome said coldly. "This time... it’s about another child. Or more simply... twins."

Gio went silent for a moment, then let out an incredulous scoff.

"What? Another child? Do you think I’m some kind of babysitter or something? I used to be an international criminal tracker and covert agent, and now you’re treating me like a glorified kid-finder? That’s insulting, man!"

Rome clenched his jaw, his fingers drumming restlessly against the table.

"Tch. This is important. Maybe even more important than finding Gabriel. I wouldn’t call you if it wasn’t serious," he snapped. "And it’s not like I’m asking you to do it for free. I’ll pay—name your price. Just accept the damn request already!"

Gio cleared his throat dramatically. "Ahem... ahem..."

Then his tone suddenly shifted, dropping the complaints.

"My dear VIP, since this seems really important to you, then I have no reason to turn down your request. However, if you’re saying this case is even more important than when I helped you find Gabriel... then it’s gonna cost a lot more."

"Tch. Just name your price already."

"That’s what I like about you, Rome. You’re easy to deal with," Gio chuckled. "Anyway, who are these kids exactly? I mean, twins? Don’t tell me... they’re your secret illegitimate children or something? Haha!"

Gio burst into laughter—but when he noticed the silence on the other end, his laughter immediately died down.

"Hey... I was joking when I said that," Gio said, suddenly uneasy. "But why do I get the feeling I hit the mark? Don’t tell me... it’s true?"

"Tch. Don’t ask me. I don’t know either. That’s your job—to find out."

"Whoa... the great Rome—soon to be the city’s most eligible bachelor—hiding a scandal like this? Come on, tell me... are they your ex’s secret kids or something? Is that why you’re suddenly this invested—because you think they might be yours?"

"Yes," Rome finally confessed. "They’re Sylvia’s daughters. Their names are Egypt and Paris. I want you to investigate them. I need to know if they’re connected to me. I didn’t get the chance to see them in person, but... I have a gut feeling. There’s a real chance they could be mine."

"Paris and Egypt?" Gio snorted.

"Pfft—Rome, come on! That’s not just a coincidence! They have to be your daughters. Who else would name their kids after famous cities—just like you—if they weren’t yours?"

He chuckled. "Honestly, all you really need to do is sneak in a DNA test. That’ll prove everything. You don’t even need me anymore once you do that."

Rome took a long swig straight from the wine bottle before snapping back irritably, "Tch. If it were that easy, do you think I’d be calling you for help?"

"What do you mean?"

Rome’s expression darkened.

"I’m not the only one who could be their father," he muttered coldly. "Sylvia had a past with Daniel too. They had an affair. That’s why I need to know who the children really belong to."

He paused, his hand slowly curling into a tight fist.

"What I want you to find out... is whether I’m their father—or if Daniel is."

Rome clenched his jaw and took another long swig from the bottle.