The Mistress Who Ran Away With The Twins

Chapter 197: Putting Everything on the Line

After Cairo, Paris, and Egypt fell asleep, no one spoke for a few seconds, though it was obvious the conversation wasn’t over. Not even close.

The silence inside the room felt strange and suffocating now.

I could feel it from my father alone. The way he stood stiffly near the bed, like he was holding himself back from saying something harsher. I could see it in Rome too, the way he remained composed but guarded, as if he already expected whatever was coming next.

Stephenson shifted slightly, glancing between them like he was waiting to see who would speak first.

Sylvester, on the other hand, remained near the door quietly observing everything.

Even Bern, who had been focused entirely on Cairo earlier, slowly straightened after making sure Cairo was sleeping peacefully again. His expression turned colder too.

"...Cairo and the two kids needs some space. Let them rest.." Bern finally said, breaking the suffocating silence.

That seemed to be enough to push things forward.

My father finally looked away from Cairo and toward Rome again.

"...Okay," he said curtly. "But we want to talk to this Hariston guy."

The way he said Rome’s surname carried enough coldness to make the tension in the room rise again instantly.

Rome didn’t respond.

My father stepped closer to me, his expression softening just a little when his eyes landed on Cairo again.

"We’ll step outside." he added.

But his tone made it clear it wasn’t a request. It was a firm command.

Stephenson straightened immediately.

"Yeah. Probably better." he muttered.

Sylvester nodded once.

Bern did the same, though his expression remained unreadable now that Cairo was asleep.

One by one, all four of them turned toward the door and stepped outside first.

But Rome didn’t move immediately.

For a brief second, his gaze flickered toward Cairo. Then to Paris and Egypt.

And lastly...

To me.

There was something unspoken in that look. Something heavy. Like he wanted to say something to me before leaving.

But in the end, he stayed silent.

Then, without another word, he stepped away and followed them outside.

The moment the door closed behind them, I finally let out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding.

The room felt quieter now.

But not lighter.

If anything, the silence only made me more anxious.

I stared at the closed door for a few seconds. I didn’t know why I felt nervous for Rome. Maybe because I knew my family too well.

They weren’t easy people to deal with when it came to me.

Especially my father. Especially after everything Rome had done.

I lowered my gaze slowly.

Part of me wanted to believe Rome could handle them.

But another part of me knew this wasn’t something simple.

Not after the years of pain. Not after everything my family witnessed me endure alone.

And somehow...

I couldn’t stop thinking about the look on Rome’s face before he left.

The restraint. The regret. The desperation he was trying so hard to hide.

I pressed my lips together quietly.

I just hoped he wouldn’t make things worse for all of us.

**************

Outside, the hallway was wide and quiet. But the atmosphere felt suffocating.

Sylvia’s father stopped first, turning around slowly.

Stephenson leaned casually against the wall nearby, though the glare in his eyes made it obvious he was anything but relaxed.

Sylvester stayed slightly behind them with his arms crossed, a small playful smirk playing on his lips while looking at Rome.

Bern quietly stood beside them, but his cold demeanor made it clear he didn’t like Rome’s presence either.

Then there was Rome. Standing a few steps away from all of them.

Facing them directly. Facing their hatred.

For a moment, no one spoke.

The silence stretched heavily between them until,

"You’ve got some nerve."

Sylvia’s father’s voice cut through the silence. It was low and controlled, but the anger beneath it was unmistakable.

Rome didn’t show any reaction. His expression remained calm, though his shoulders subtly stiffened.

"I came to see my children.." he said quietly.

Stephenson let out a soft scoff.

"You’re saying that as if it’s supposed to mean something now." he said coldly.

Rome finally glanced at him.

"But it does."

Stephenson pushed himself off the wall and straightened fully.

"Oh, yeah?" he said sharply. "Because from where I’m standing, it sounds too late for that, Mr. Hariston."

Sylvester shifted slightly but remained silent, watching Rome carefully.

Sylvia’s father took a step forward.

"You disappeared when my daughter needed you the most," he said, his voice growing sharper. "You left Sylvia alone. You left her to raise three children without you even knowing they existed, and now you’re showing your shameless face in front of them like you have every right."

Rome’s jaw tightened.

"It was Sylvia who left me first without telling me about our children." he replied quietly.

The moment those words left his mouth, the atmosphere instantly worsened.

Stephenson’s expression darkened.

Sylvia’s father stared at him coldly.

"Are you blaming Sylvia for your shortcomings as a father?" he asked dangerously.

Rome immediately shook his head.

"That’s not what I—"

"You don’t have the right to say that," Sylvia’s father interrupted harshly. "First of all, you were a married man."

The words struck heavily.

Rome fell silent.

"Now that you’ve met my grandchildren, it doesn’t change anything," Sylvia’s father continued coldly. "I want you to stay away from them. Especially from Sylvia."

His eyes hardened further.

"I don’t want my daughter associated with you anymore. Don’t drag her back into your mess. Your family is already in chaos, and you’re only making things worse."

His voice turned colder.

"You think your family will be happy knowing you have children aside from your wife? If this gets exposed, you’ll only destroy the Hariston reputation with your shamelessness."

The hallway fell silent again.

It was the kind of silence no one dared to interrupt immediately.

Rome didn’t speak.

And somehow, that silence only made Stephenson angrier.

Stephenson crossed his arms tightly.

"So what? You suddenly lost your tongue now?" he asked bitterly. "You just show up and suddenly decide to play father after everything?"

Rome exhaled slowly before finally answering.

"...No."

His voice was quieter this time.

"I’m not acting like I did nothing wrong," he admitted. "I understand where your anger is coming from."

Stephenson scoffed harshly.

"You understand?"

Rome ignored the bitterness in his tone and continued.

"But I don’t want my children growing up knowing nothing about their father," he said honestly. "I want to take responsibility for my mistakes. And I want to make things right with Sylvia."

That made all of them stare at him.

Stephenson looked genuinely disbelieving.

Then he laughed softly in disbelief.

"You’re shameless, Mr. Hariston," he muttered. "I never thought I’d hear something like that from you."

His eyes sharpened.

"Do you even understand what you’re saying? Are you saying it’s fine if people look down on Sylvia? On the children? That the public will think my sister is a mistress?"

Rome’s gaze darkened slightly.

"That’s not what I mean."

"Then what do you mean?" Stephenson snapped.

Rome inhaled slowly.

"I’m saying I want to acknowledge my mistakes publicly if I have to," he said. "I want to correct what I failed to do before."

He paused briefly.

"And the public already knows I’m no longer married. I divorced my wife. The public doesn’t have any right to interfere in this matter, and if they do..." his jaw tightened slightly, "...I’ll shield Sylvia and the children from them. I’m willing to accept everything they throw at me, even if it means I’m the one who gets ruined publicly."

The words echoed heavily through the hallway.

Sylvia’s father’s expression hardened even more.

"You think that’s enough?" he asked coldly. "You think divorcing your wife suddenly makes this acceptable? You think saying you’ll shield my daughter from the public’s judgment is enough to fix what already happened?"

Rome didn’t answer immediately.

"You don’t deserve them. My daughter and my grandchildren," Sylvia’s father continued harshly. "And now that Cairo’s condition is worsening, the last thing he needs is emotional stress."

His eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Your presence is already complicating Sylvia’s life again and might put Cairo’s heart in danger."

Rome lowered his gaze briefly for the first time.

The accusation hit exactly where it hurt most.

"You’re still being selfish, Mr. Hariston," Sylvia’s father said quietly. "Even now."

Silence followed.

Then Rome finally spoke again.

"...You’re right."

That answer caught all of them off guard.

Rome slowly lifted his gaze again.

"I was selfish," he admitted quietly. "Back then and even now."

Stephenson frowned slightly.

"But if staying away from them was truly the right thing..." Rome continued, his voice rougher now, "then why does it feel wrong to leave again?"

Silence.

For the first time since the conversation started, the composure in Rome’s expression began cracking slightly.

"I know I failed Sylvia," he admitted. "I know I hurt her more than any of you probably realize."

His voice lowered further.

"And I regret it every single day."

Stephenson’s expression shifted slightly.

Even Sylvia’s father remained silent.

Rome swallowed once before continuing.

"When she disappeared before... I searched for her."

That made Sylvester’s gaze sharpen slightly.

"But I stopped too soon," Rome admitted bitterly. "I convinced myself it was better to let her go because I thought she hated me."

His jaw tightened painfully.

"I thought giving her distance was the least I could do after everything... and maybe she would finally be happier without me."

Stephenson stared at him coldly.

"And while you were busy convincing yourself of that," he said sharply, "my sister was raising three children alone."

Rome closed his eyes briefly.

"I know."

The regret in his voice sounded genuine enough to silence them for a moment.

"And no matter what I do now..." Rome continued quietly, "I can’t take those years back."

Silence.

Then slowly, for the first time Rome’s composed mask completely cracked.

"Please..." he said hoarsely.

The word stunned them.

Stephenson blinked.

Even Sylvia’s father looked caught off guard.

Rome lowered his head slightly.

"Please let me stay with them," he said quietly. "With Sylvia. With the children."

His voice sounded strained now.

"I know I don’t deserve it," he admitted. "But I want to spend the rest of my life making up for everything I failed to do."

Stephenson stared at him in disbelief.

"Stay?" he repeated. "You think it’s that simple?"

"No," Rome answered immediately. "I know it’s not."

Sylvester finally spoke.

"Then why say it like it is?"

His voice remained calm, but it carried weight.

Rome turned toward him.

"Because I mean it," he answered honestly. "Even if none of you believe me yet."

Sylvester studied him carefully.

"Then put something on the line equal to your words," Sylvester challenged calmly. "Only then will we believe you."

Rome didn’t hesitate to meet Sylvester’s challenging gaze.

"If that’s what will assure all of you," he said firmly, "then I’ll bet my company and everything I have. I can abandon my family name if I need to. I’m willing to go bankrupt and become a poor man if that’s what it takes to prove I’m serious."

All four of them paused slightly at Rome’s words.

Sylvester recovered first, a playful smirk briefly appearing on his lips.

"Pfftt... It’s easy for you to say that you’d throw everything away just so we’ll believe you," he said mockingly. "You think you can fool us that easily?"

Rome didn’t hesitate.

"I’m not kidding," he said firmly. "I’m willing to put everything on the line just to prove that everything I’m saying is true."

Stephenson narrowed his eyes.

"You expect us to believe that?" he asked coldly. "You, Rome Hariston, the man who had everything can throw it all away just for this?"

Rome’s expression hardened slightly.

"If abandoning everything is what it takes to protect Sylvia and the children from public humiliation..." he said quietly, "then yes."