The words hit him with the force of a freight train.
For a moment, the noise of the venue faded, replaced by the dull roar of blood rushing in his ears. He stared at the kids—Noah with his determined jaw, Nora with her almond-shaped eyes. Both features that mirrored his own.
He swallowed hard. “Why… why didn’t you tell me?”
Lila’s gaze was steady. “I tried. For weeks. But you were always too busy. Then I saw you with another woman on TV. So I left.”
His voice dropped to a whisper. “You should have told me anyway.”
“I was pregnant, alone, and exhausted,” she replied, her composure unwavering. “I didn’t want to beg for your attention while you played the tech god.”
Cassandra, who had been observing from the sidelines, stepped in and pulled Alexander aside. “Is this for real?”
He didn’t answer. He couldn’t.
The twins stood awkwardly, sensing the tension in the air.
“Would you like to say hello?” Lila asked them gently.
Noah stepped forward and offered his hand. “Hi. I’m Noah. I like dinosaurs and space.”
Nora followed suit. “I’m Nora. I like drawing and I can do a cartwheel.”
Alexander knelt, overwhelmed. “Hi… I’m… I’m your father.”
