Always Been You

~Dante’s POV~

It was snowing outside, which meant that the skies were great and the people’s moods were gloomy. Today I’m feeling extremely sluggish. I am clueless as to the reason. In the entirety of my existence, I have never before experienced weakness on this scale. I stood up from my chair and went to the balcony. The slow, gentle morning breeze always has a soothing feeling when it caresses my face. One of the reasons I enjoy my balcony. Too bad I won’t be standing for long today because it’s a bit freezing today. I returned inside and went directly to the shower. When I was finished, I walked to my desk and began sorting the hotel reports, separating the completed reports from the unfinished ones. As I did so, they began to pile up. I took a deep breath after finishing all the reports. I needed some coffee. I put on my suit jacket, got in my car, and began hunting for the nearest coffee shop. As I drove, my mind wandered back to when Lev told me that Candice had picked up the photo and that I had given her enough time to come to me with the photo, but she never said anything to me. Which meant she was sure no one saw her. It is now very clear that Candice cannot be trusted. I came to a halt at the traffic lights after noticing a coffee shop not far from the traffic lights. I stroked my temples, unsure what to do with Candice and her schemes. Lev has been looking for a condo for her, but I don’t think she merits my sympathy. One thing is certain if she saw that photo and decided to hide it, it means she knows what that picture is. My ocean of thought was disturbed when someone suddenly crashed into my car in the back. The loud bang was then followed by screams. Whoever crashed my car had children in their vehicle.

The fucking snow

But when I looked outside, the skies were now clearer and no longer gray. They had a bluish hue to them in some lights. When I got out of the car, I noticed a lady looking over my vehicle, perhaps concerned about the cost of the damage. I chose not to make a fuss. Accidents happen all the time, right? I took a step closer to check my car and also make sure the lady and the kids were safe.

“Are you okay, ma’am?” I asked her without moving an inch while I checked my car to make sure it wasn’t badly wrecked. I could still drive it and possibly take it to a mechanic for a good repair. I could feel the lady’s gaze on me. Probably trying to check if I was okay too or maybe worried about my car. “It’s not severely damaged. I can still drive it.” I smiled and cocked my head in her way, not wanting to make her feel embarrassed about the situation.

Bunny!

My wife was the woman who bumped into my car. I could see the desire to run written all over her face, but her legs didn’t appear to be up to the task. I kept looking at her, and before I knew it, I was lost in her lovely amber eyes all over again. Her chestnut eyes dazzled me all over again. You would just want to just drown in them. Her pale cheeks revealed that she, too, was in shock, as I am right now. I have a lot of questions right now, such as why you fled. What was that picture I found in her clothes? I had many questions for her. She was even more stunning than before. She is, even more, curvier than ever. What the fuck is she doing? What about those kids? Whose are they? I watched as she squeezed her eyes tightly, her hands forming into fists. Then I heard a child’s voice coming from her car.

“Mama, are you hurt?”

Mama?

I watched as her eyes widened and her attention moved to mine, then to the car. What is she trying to hide? Wait, a minute… Did she meet someone and get pregnant while she was still married to me? My thoughts were immediately interrupted by the sound of the car door opening, showing a little boy, perhaps 4-5 years old. The boy’s hair was styled in the same way as mine was. He rushed to Lola, more like trying to protect her and wanting to make sure she was okay. I heard a sigh coming from his mouth once he was sure Lola was okay.

“Sir, I’m sorry. My mom is always careful while driving. It may be the snow. I apologize on her behalf.” For the second time, the boy addressed her as ′Mom.′ The boy finally looked up at me, and my world came to a complete halt. The boy was looking at me, all confused like I was. Lola, why? Why did you do this to me? There was no denial; the boy in front of me was the spitting image of me. I was about to cry, but I couldn’t do it in front of my son. With whom was she raising my son? She stole 4 years from me, four years of being a father to my son. Lola remained where she was, not moving an inch. This time, she was facing the ground as though she was counting her toes.

“Mom, why does he look like Tyler? Is he our father?”

Tyler? Our father?

What on earth is he talking about? Wait… Tyler Monroe? The boy Lev told me about 2 years ago? If he is not Tyler, it means Lola gave birth to two boys. Is that why he said ‘our father?’ So I got twins, and she kept my sons away from me for four good years. Who the fuck does she think she is?

I then heard another voice coming from the car.

“Kai, is mommy okay?” I stumbled back a bit. So, the boy in front of me is Kai, and the other one is Tyler. Wait, I remember when I was in high school telling Little Lola that if I ever had a boy, I would name him Kai ‘Malakai’ or Tyler, and if I ever got a girl, I would name her Mia or Kiara. Why did Lola have to inflict such pain on me? I could hear someone trying to open the car door.

“No, stay in the car!” Lala yelled. Is she also trying to deprive me of seeing my sons now? How dare she? But the boy came out, and a girl followed him and started crying while holding Lola’s leg. Lola comforted the young girl by bending down and gently stroking her hair before wiping away her tears.

Who does the girl belong to?

“Are you okay, mama?” Tyler inquired, but I realized Kai was already approaching me, and I felt compelled to sprint to him and give him a bear hug. But my legs failed me. I will never forgive Lola for all of this. Even if she didn’t want to be with me, she could have at the very least informed me that we had sons or that she was pregnant. But she chose to rob me of all these years. I’ll never be able to forgive her. I am quite disappointed. No matter what her reasons were, I deserved to know. I fucking had to know I was a father. My life could have been better. I wouldn’t be fucking around knowing I had kids. I could have been a father to my children no matter what, dick aside. Why did she do this to me? My gaze shifted to her. I had feelings of dread, pain, and betrayal all at the same time. I was furious to the core. I will never forgive you for this, Lola. You will have to pay for all these years. You will have to give me back all the lost years. I don’t fucking care what your reasons are. I had every right to know. From where she was, I could feel her trembling. Then the little girl turned to look my way and, God, my world stopped. She was mine. I fucking had an angel, and Lola chose to keep them away from me.

“Kai! Get back to the car now!” She screamed.

“But mother! He is my father!” I froze. My son knew I was his father. I couldn’t put into words how thrilled I was.

“Who told you that?” She screamed. Then a car pulled over, and a guy got out of the car.

“Mia, Kai, and Tyler board the bus! Now!” When I glared in that direction of the guy, my stomach turned, and my blood began to boil. Another man was busy raising my children, and she didn’t dare tell me about them. I smirked. She will bear the brunt of my wrath. Then the guy came back to drag her into his car. He closed his car and walked toward me.

“I am so sorry, sir. I need to get them to the hospital first. I’ll return to discuss the damages. Could you please take this?” He said as he shoved his business card into my palm, then he continued, “Kids first. I hope you understand.” I watched the idiot trying to play dad, but then it was for my kids. I will let this slide. I scoffed unwittingly. But then again, who cares?

“I understand. How old are your children?” I watched as he thought of what to say to me.

“Oh, no, they aren’t…” He paused, then continued, “They are four, sir.” My gaze shifted to my little Bunny in the car. I smirked wickedly. She will pay a high price for this.

“Don’t worry about the car. You go ahead, my attention never leaving my Bunny inside his car.

“Are you sure, sir?” I gave a simple nod in agreement. This guy is starting to annoy me now.

Fucking leave and take my kids to the hospital!

“Thank you very much, sir!” Like a little boy who has just gotten a girl to like him back, the guy turned and left. The man started the car and drove away, but my gaze remained fixed on my Bunny. Bunny, I’ll make you pay. You will beg for me to take your life instead. You hurt me so dearly, Bunny.

I took out my phone and took a picture of her car registration and sent it to Elvis.

Me: Find out where the car’s owner is staying.