Chapter 139
Sean POV
I slammed my office door behind me, the glass walls vibrating with the force.
Our trip had been a complete disaster-Angela fleeing after our visit to Elizabeth's grave, leaving me with nothing but questions and a renewed sense of betrayal.
Thomas entered cautiously, informing me about the division reports while I massaged my stomach, the ulcers acting up again.
When he left, I turned toward the city view from my window, needing something substantial to quiet my mind.
Slumping into my chair, I pulled out my phone, opening Instagram almost without conscious thought. My thumb hovered over the search icon before tapping it, entering the now-familiar handle: @TwinsAdventure.
To my surprise, there was a new video posted just two hours ago. An unexpected brightness cut through my dark mood as I tapped the thumbnail.
The video quality was poor, shot with a shaky hand in what appeared to be an indoor playground. But the sound of children's laughter-those familiar voices-immediately soothed something in me that I hadn't realized needed soothing.
Aria's face filled the screen, her dark curls bouncing as she jumped excitedly. She had the same radiant smile that I'd watched in dozens of videos before, the same energy that inexplicably drew me to her channel in the first place.
"Olivia aunt, Aria wants to eat takoyaki!" she exclaimed, her voice carrying that slight, endearing accent I'd come to anticipate.
"Takoyaki? Of course we can," a woman's voice answered from behind the camera.
The camera panned shakily to Ethan, who was more reserved as always, methodically climbing a rope ladder at the edge of the frame.
"Ethan, come with us," the woman called again. The camera briefly turned, capturing the woman's face as she waved at the boy.
I tapped the screen, pausing the video. Something didn't feel right. I rewound slightly, listening to the children's exchange with the woman again.
Olivia aunt.
The realization hit me like a physical blow. Olivia. I knew that name. Olivia Jordan-Angela's friend. The same woman who had approached me at The Rain, who had tried to arrange a meeting with Angela.
My mind raced as I connected dots I hadn't seen before. Why would Angela's friend be with these children? The coincidence was too great to ignore.
I quickly opened WhatsApp, an app I rarely used anymore. There, buried beneath months of unread messages, were multiple notifications from "Olivia J."
Mr. Shaw, I had such a wonderful time meeting you...
Mr. Shaw, would you like to have dinner sometime?
Mr. Shaw, I'll be at The Rain again this Friday...
Dozens of messages, all unread, all attempting to pursue me romantically. And now this same woman was filming with the twins I'd been following for months.
I switched back to Instagram, scrolling through Olivia's profile. There they were-multiple photos of her with the twins. In a park, at a restaurant, in what appeared to be an apartment.
Why would Angela's closest friend be spending time with these children I'd been drawn to? The coincidence seemed increasingly impossible with each passing second.
I called Olivia right away.
The line rang three times before she answered, her voice breathless with excitement.
"Mr. Shaw, hello?"
"Hello,"
"Is there something I can help you with?" The eagerness in her voice was unmistakable.
"I'd like to ask you about something, if you have a moment."
"Of course, Mr. Shaw! What would you like to know?"
I chose my words carefully. "I happened to see your Instagram. There were some photos that caught my attention."
"Photos?" Her voice rose slightly, uncertain.
"Yes. Posted last night. I noticed two children in them."
"Oh, you mean Aria and Ethan!" Relief colored her tone. "I do watch their videos. Are you a fan too? What a coincidence!"
"Something like that," I replied, measuring each word. "Are they your children?"
Her laugh tinkled through the phone. "Goodness, no! If I had children, would I have been trying to get your attention at The Rain? They're my friend's kids."
My grip tightened on the phone. "Wilson? The friend you mentioned before?"
"Yes, exactly! They're her children."
The admission hit me with the force of a physical blow, and I fell silent, the implications washing over me in waves.
"Mr. Shaw? Are you there?" Olivia's voice seemed distant through the roaring in my ears.
"Hmm. Your friend Wilson is quite fortunate," I finally managed, my voice unnaturally calm.
"I think so too! The twins are so adorable and well-behaved."
"Thank you for the information, Olivia. I need to handle some business now."
"Of course, I understand. You must be very busy."
I ended the call. Angela had children. Two children whose faces had drawn me in from the first moment I'd seen them. Two children whose ages would put their birth...
"Mr. Shaw?" Thomas stood in the doorway, concern etched across his features.
"Come here," I instructed.
He approached cautiously. "What's wrong?"
Without a word, I held up my phone, displaying a photo of the twins with Olivia.
"Those are the children you often watch videos of," he remarked, then frowned. "Who's the woman with them?"
"Angela's friend."
His eyebrows shot up. "Friend? Angela Wil- Ms. Wilson? Wait, you're not suggesting these children belong to Ms. Wilson's friend, are you? That would be quite a coincidence."
"A coincidence indeed." I leaned forward, watching his expression carefully. "What if I told you these children belong to Angela Wilson herself? Would that seem more or less coincidental to you?"
Thomas's jaw dropped. "Ms. Wilson has children? This big already? Then... then you have no chance with her anymore, do you?"
"No chance?" I echoed, something dangerous entering my voice. "How would you know whether I have a chance or not?"
"Mr. Shaw, if her children are this age, it means they have a father," Thomas blurted, gesturing wildly. "That means you definitely have no chance! If you pursue her now, you might even become the third party in someone else's marriage. Is that what you want your reputation to become?"
"Do you remember what you said before?" I asked quietly.
"What did I say? Mr. Shaw, could you please be more specific?"
"Take another look at the photo," I instructed.
Thomas sighed. "Mr. Shaw, I've already examined this photo thoroughly. What else is there to see? They're just Ms. Wilson's children."
"Look at their features. Their eyes."
"Well, they are quite attractive children. They look similar, but with distinct qualities. The girl has her own charm, and the boy has a different presence. It's just-"
"Just what?" I prodded.
He squinted at the screen, then his eyes widened. "They don't really look like Ms. Wilson. They actually look more like..."
"Go on," I prompted, though I already knew what he'd say.
"Like you, Mr. Shaw. They really do resemble you. I mentioned before that these children reminded me of someone, but I didn't think much of it. But now... Mr. Shaw, if these children are connected to you somehow, doesn't that mean that five years ago, Ms. Wilson was already-"
"I want everything on these children, Thomas" I said without turning around. "Birthdays, residence, schools, regular activities-every detail you can find."