CHAPTER 83: A FAMILIAR VOICE THOUGH THE LINE

I stared at my phone for a long time, unable to decide whether I should call the number that had been haunting me since earlier.

My thumb hovered uncertainly above the screen, yet I couldn’t bring myself to press the caller ID.

Minutes slipped away, heavy and suffocating, but still, my hand refused to move.

With a trembling sigh, I slipped the phone back into my pocket and exhaled deeply.

So much had happened today that my chest felt unbearably tight.

First, Rome suddenly appeared, boldly claiming his rights over the twins. Then came the unexpected call from the number I never thought would reach out.

The fact that both happened on the same day made it almost impossible to breathe. It was as though fate had decided to crush me all at once.

I was just about to head back to the room where Egypt was when the vibration in my pocket froze me in place.

My ringtone echoed faintly.

Mommy, someone is calling you~~🎶

Egypt’s innocent voice only tightened the knot in my throat.

Slowly, I pulled the phone out of my pocket, my hands trembling uncontrollably.

My breath hitched the instant I saw the caller ID. My knees nearly gave out.

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. It was as though all the strength had been drained out of me at once.

The call was seconds away from ending when I pressed the green button.

My hand shook violently, and I bit down on my lip, holding my breath, terrified that the pounding of my heart might be heard from the other end.

Seconds passed in long, heavy silence, with no sound from the other end. It felt like we were both waiting who should speak first.

And then, breaking that unbearable silence, a small, delicate voice came through the line.

"Daddy, is this number correct? Why isn’t anyone answering on the other side?"

My chest clenched.

A man’s voice followed, warm and very familiar.

"Yes, son, that’s the correct number. Try speaking to her again, maybe she’ll answer this time."

"Uhm... hello? Can you hear me?"

I gasped softly and covered my mouth with trembling fingers, terrified they might hear even the smallest sound from me.

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes as I listened to them.

My throat burned, but no words would come out. I was frozen, robbed of my voice, unable to respond.

"Dad, no one’s talking... Is she asleep? Or maybe she can’t hear me?"

I pressed a hand against my chest, feeling my heart hammering wildly.

"Okay, let me check."

The next moment, I heard his voice, clearer and closer now. A voice I had missed so badly.

"Hello, Sylvia... can you hear me? This is Bern."

Slowly, I lowered the hand that had been covering my mouth, forcing myself to hold back the storm of emotions threatening to break free.

"Can’t you hear me, Sylvia? ...Hello?"

"H-hi... how have you been, Bern?"

I don’t even know why those words were the first to escape my lips. There were so many things I wanted to say, yet none of them would come out right.

Even just facing them and hearing their voices, already felt impossible and unbearable.

"I’m glad you finally spoke. I thought you’d never say anything. By the way, I’m with Cairo right now, and he badly wants to talk to you. You must be startled that we’re only able to call you just now. We just want to let you know that we’re here in the country, together with Sylvester and your—"

"I’m glad you’re here."

I cut him off sharply before he could finish.

My whole body tensed at the thought that my world was shrinking and closing in too tightly, now that they were in the same country as me. I just prayed I wouldn’t run into any of them.

Please, not here...

"Why did you call?"

I forced my voice to sound cold, but all I heard was Bern’s chuckle from the other end.

"Haha, honey... why so cold? Of course I called because I wanted to check on you. And Cairo misses you too."

My blood suddenly ran cold. Not because he dared to call me honey, but because of those words, Cairo misses me.

"Don’t call me honey. I’m fine, so please, don’t ever call me again—"

"Dad... is that Mom you’re talking to? Did she finally answer?"

A small voice cut in from the background, freezing me completely.

"Yes, it’s your mom I’m talking to. Seems like her signal was weak earlier, that’s why she wasn’t answering you. But it’s fine now. Do you want to talk to her?"

Panic crawled all over me at Bern’s words.

"Oh? Can I? Please, let me talk to her..."

"Okay. She said she misses you too. Here, talk to her."

Then I heard it—the small, fragile voice I hadn’t heard in so long, now clearer than ever.

"Mom, hello? Did you finally find a good signal—"

Tut... tut...

The moment I heard Cairo’s voice, I couldn’t take it anymore. My chest tightened, and with trembling hands, I immediately ended the call.

I pressed my palm against my chest, trying to hold myself together. It felt like every drop of color had drained from my face.

I realized I still couldn’t bring myself to talk to him. It was too much for me, just hearing his small voice was enough to tear at my heart, reminding me of the mistakes I had made in the past.

I had sacrificed him for my own happiness, for my own peace of mind. And because of that, I could never be the kind of person he deserved to call ’Mom.’ Not ever.

I didn’t notice at first, but tears had already begun slipping down my cheeks.

I’m a bad mother...

How could I let him grow up without me, while I raise his two sisters by my side?

The guilt pressed heavier on my chest with every thought.

I really am a bad mother...

"Sylvia?"

I’m a bad mother...

"Sylvia, are you okay?"

I felt a gentle shake on my shoulder and slowly lifted my gaze, only to see Dave staring at me with worry in his eyes.

His brows were furrowed, his expression tight.

Maybe he thought I was completely falling apart, and perhaps I was.

Embarrassment pricked at me as I quickly wiped my tears away.

Damn it... I actually let him see me weak. I shouldn’t let anyone, especially one of Rome’s friends, see me like this. They can’t be trusted.

"Here."

I blinked when Dave held something out to me. His hand was offering me a neatly folded handkerchief.

"This is clean. Use it to wipe your tears," he said softly. "Everyone is looking at you right now."

My chest tightened. I glanced around—and only then realized that he was right. Somehow, in my daze, I had wandered into the hospital’s hallway near the lounge.

Some people had already noticed me in this vulnerable state, their curious stares digging deeper into my shame.

"T-thank you..." I murmured, quickly taking the handkerchief from him.

I dabbed at my damp cheeks before handing it back.

But Dave didn’t take it. He just looked at me, his frown deepening as his gaze lingered, not on the handkerchief, but on me. It was as if he was silently questioning something he didn’t dare say aloud.

Maybe he didn’t want his handkerchief back since it was already dirty.

"I-I’m sorry. Uhm... if you want, I can wash your handkerchief first before returning it to you. I’ll make sure to clean it thoroughly so—"

"Tsk. What are you even saying? I don’t want that handkerchief anymore. It’s yours now. You still have a runny nose, so use it properly and wipe your face."

The moment those words left his lips, my face burned with embarrassment.

I quickly wiped my face again, but the thought nagged me, maybe I looked disgusting in front of him.

Of all people, it had to be Dave. I could only pray he wouldn’t go around telling his friends about this humiliating moment.

"Tsk. I’ll go ahead." he muttered before turning around.

That was when I noticed he was also carrying a bouquet of flowers and some paper bags. Without even thinking, I hurried after him.

"A-are you going to visit the twins?" I asked, trying to calm my racing heart.

I shouldn’t let my emotions get the best of me. The twins were my priority right now—before anything else.

"Yes" he answered curtly, quickening his stride.

I frowned. It almost felt like he didn’t want me walking beside him. Still, I matched his pace and followed him toward the room where Egypt was.

----

What Sylvia, on the other hand, didn’t realize was that someone had been watching her from a distance all this time.

Dave, however, had already sensed it, the piercing gaze digging into his back. It made him walk even faster.

It started the moment he approached Sylvia, who had been standing in the hallway lost in thought, tears streaming down her face.

And not too far away, standing silently, was Rome. His eyes were fixed on Sylvia, burning with a look that longed to reach her, yet his feet refused to move.

Dave shook his head slightly at the sight.

If looks could kill, Rome’s glare would’ve already left him sprawled lifeless on the floor. That sharp stare, unmistakably full of jealousy, was impossible to ignore.