Claiming her babies

Monica POV

“I’m going to pretend that I didn’t hear or see anything here today but I need my kids and I need them now”

“And what do you mean by you need them now?” Nicholas asked, his jaw clenching once more as he frowned

“I want to take them home. They are mine” Ethan said, stating his intentions.

“Can we all just sit and talk above this calmly? We might wake the kids” I said as my gaze landed on Macy and Mason who were already fast asleep.

Nicholas glared at Ethan one more time before going to take a seat then Anthony who had been quiet all these years followed to sit beside Nicholas.

Ethan followed after and Fiona who sat on the floor with her eyes puffed didn’t make any move. “Come on, let’s go take a seat,” I said, trying to hold her by the hand and lift her but she took her hands off mine.

“Just leave me here,” Fiona said, her eyes fixed on the floor as she sat still.

“I’m sorry I slapped you. I just couldn’t believe that you did those things and I overreacted. I’m truly sorry” I said, apologizing as guilt enveloped my heart as I stared at Fiona.

“You don’t have to apologize. You are right for slapping me. I deserved it” Fiona uttered calmly, her voice barely above a whisper and her gaze on the floor.

“Come on Fiona let’s go,” I said again trying to lift her but she still hesitated “I’m not leaving you here. If you want to sit on the floor then I’m going to join you here” I said intending to sit with her on the floor

Her eyes widened when she saw I was about to sit on the floor and she quickly rose to her feet so my butt doesn’t end up on the floor.

I still felt bad about how I shouted and slapped her but I was glad that she wasn’t bold enough to tell us the truth. Not everyone does that.

We walked to join the three men who were staring daggers at each other while seated. Anthony and Nicholas joined forces as they stared at Ethan and if eyes could kill, Ethan would have been ten feet under this house by now.

“I didn’t say we should come sit and stare. I said we should sit and talk like adults” I uttered sharply, my voice loud as I tried to remind them about the reason I asked they should come sit.

“I want to take Mason and Macy home” Ethan stated again.

“And that will not happen,” Nicholas said, his voice sharp and firm

“I’m the mother of those kids and I also have a say in this” I uttered looking from my husband to my ex-husband. “Firstly the twins cannot and will not go with you Ethan,” I said, standing firm on my words

“What! I won’t allow that. I’m their father and have every right to take them home with me” Ethan yelled.

“What makes you their father huh? Just because you have those tiny pencils between your legs doesn’t make you their father” I yelled back.

“Ouch Monica that was harsh,” Anthony said, giving Ethan a mocking smile.

“You were never there when I was pregnant. You were never there when I was in labor. You were never there when they came into this world. You were never there when they had their names and you were never there when I almost lost my life while bringing them into this world so don’t ever yell and tell me that you’re their father because you don’t deserve that title” I breathed in and out rapidly as I finished talking.

Enough was enough. I’ve had enough of Ethan saying he was their father. He never played a role as their father and he was never there for them so he doesn’t deserve to be called a father.

“You heard her right?” Nicholas said to Ethan whose face was down.

“Ethan you can come as long as you want to see the kids but there’s no way the kids would go home with you today. You can come see the kids anytime you want and that’s it” I said, staring at the terms for him.

“what about moving in and just making this place my home?” Ethan asked

“you’re a sick man. F**k you. Come to my house and do what? Does my house look like a hotel?” Nicholas responded harshly to Ethan who I knew asked a stupid and thoughtless question.

“But they’re my kids and I have the right to_” Ethan was immediately cut short by Anthony.

“I’m the lawyer here and Ethan you have no right to come stay in Nicholas’s house and turn it into your second mansion. You’re allowed to see the kids but not spend the night in Nicholas’s house just because you want to spend time with them” Anthony said, explaining in a calm tone.

“Coming during the day to see them is a suitable idea Ethan and I suggest you stick to that and don’t cross the line,” I said, frowning slightly at his suggestion of spending the night.

“All right then but I can take them anywhere I want right?” Ethan asked.

“Yes but with my permission,” I said.

Finally, the tension in the room gradually reduced as we were slowly resolving the issues we had at hand. Just when I thought the week was already going smoothly, Ethan showed up with a copy of a contract that was supposed to be in Anthony’s possession.

Fiona who I thought I could maybe trust had finally built back the wall of distrust in my heart. I want nothing more than life, peace, unity, and trust but these things keep going away one after the other.

“Alright I think it’s time I leave,” Ethan said, standing to his feet.

“It’s way past time you get lost” Nicholas uttered rudely and I could see Ethan’s fist clenching by his side.

“All right fellas I think we’ve had enough drama for today,” I said, walking to Ethan, dragging him by his hand, and taking him towards the door “Good night Ethan,” I said as I opened the front door for him, gesturing with my hand that he should go home.

“Good night Monica,” he said, staring at me affectionately but I couldn’t care less. I was with Nicholas and Nicholas was the man I love. He was the man after my heart.