Chapter 57: Chapter 57
"Whoa! Look at this one!" Gabriel shouted, his sneakers squeaking against the polished floor as he raced toward a flashing driving simulator.
Chloe was right behind him, instantly tugging on Christian’s sleeve, practically bouncing on her heels. "Dad, can we try this game first? Please?"
"Of course, sweetheart," Christian replied. The harsh lines of his face softened as he brushed a hand affectionately over her dark curls.
As the children rushed toward the glowing screen, Fleur glanced around the sprawling arcade, a strange prickle of unease settling in her chest. The entire place was dead silent, save for the electronic bleeps and chirps of the machines. Not a single other customer occupied the dozens of games. No crowded lines, no shouting teenagers. Nothing.
She turned toward Christian, her eyebrows lifting. "You rented the entire arcade?"
Disbelief colored her voice, but Christian merely offered a casual, indifferent shrug.
"Why would you do that?" she pressed, exasperated.
"Because I can."
Fleur shook her head, turning away to hide her frown. The man treated money as though it were water, completely detached from the reality of ordinary people.
Nearby, his assistant, Lucas, had already materialized like a ghost, having arranged a lavish spread of refreshments. Tables were stocked with gourmet snacks, desserts, and drinks, while attentive staff stood in the shadows on standby, eager to ensure the afternoon ran flawlessly.
But the twins wasted no time analyzing the empty room. They darted from one neon attraction to another, their laughter echoing off the walls as they competed, cheered, and teased each other whenever a high score flashed on screen.
To Fleur’s absolute surprise, Christian didn’t just watch. At first, he stood back with his hands buried in his pockets, a detached observer. But before long, his innate, ruthless competitive streak emerged. He challenged the children to high-stakes motorcycle races, joined them in shooting down alien hordes, and, shockingly, laughed openly when Gabriel managed to beat him.
The sound caught Fleur completely off guard. It was a genuine laugh—warm, resonant, and entirely stripped of the cold smirk or calculated amusement she was accustomed to.
Christian himself seemed startled by the feeling. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed himself this much.
In truth, his mind held very few happy memories at all. His childhood had been a grim battlefield of survival—a cruel, unyielding father and a mother whose ultimate betrayal had left wounds that never truly healed.
Those scars had forced him to grow up far too quickly, forging him into the feared, unfeeling man he was today.
Yet here, drowned out by the ecstatic chatter of two children, the crushing burden of his past felt suddenly lighter. For the first time in decades, a dangerously unfamiliar sensation washed over him.
Peace... As though he were finally living a life, instead of merely surviving it.
Without realizing it, Fleur found herself captivated by the sight. It felt entirely unreal. The notorious alpha king, a man whose name was whispered with terror, looked less like a monster and more like an ordinary father losing himself in an afternoon with his kids.
Eventually, the twins skidded to a halt in front of an enormous claw machine packed to the glass with oversized plush toys.
Christian stepped forward with a confident, dangerous grin. "Stand back, kids. Let me show you how a professional handles a weapon."
The twins exchanged thrilled, conspiratorial looks.
"Which one do you want?" he asked, eyeing the mountain of velvet fur.
"That one!" they pointed simultaneously, both zeroing in on a massive, ridiculous-looking stuffed bear.
Christian rolled up his bespoke suit sleeves with dramatic flair. "Good choice. Watch closely."
The children crowded against his legs, holding their breath as his large hands maneuvered the joystick with intense focus. The metal claw descended, hovering for a tense second. It grabbed. It lifted. For a heart-stopping moment, the heavy toy teetered dangerously on the edge of the metal prongs. Then, with a soft thud, it dropped neatly into the prize chute.
"We got it!" Chloe screamed, jumping up and down.
"You did it, Dad!" Gabriel shouted, his face lit with pure awe.
The word struck Christian like a physical blow. Dad.
For a fraction of a second, the flashing lights and arcade music faded into static. His calculated mind struggled to process the sheer weight of the title.
Then, a slow, brilliant smile spread across his face—a real one, the kind of raw warmth few people on earth had ever been permitted to see.
Kneeling down on the sticky arcade floor in front of Gabriel, he placed a heavy, steady hand on the boy’s shoulder.
"Are you happy, champ?" His dark eyes shone with an emotion he rarely allowed himself to acknowledge, let alone show.
Gabriel nodded enthusiastically, squeezing the giant bear tight against his chest. "I’m really happy. You’re the best dad ever."
Across from them, Fleur’s breath caught painfully in her throat. Her gaze flickered between her son and the man holding him, a sudden tightness gripping her chest.
Gabriel had always been a cautious, guarded boy around strangers, rarely trusting anyone outside of her. Yet somehow, Christian had bypassed every single one of his walls without even trying.
Watching them together filled her with a chaotic tangle of emotions. Part of her screamed to pull her children back and maintain a safe, guarded distance. But another part of her—the aching, tired part—couldn’t deny the undeniable magnetic connection forming between father and son. Perhaps blood truly was a law unto itself.
Chloe, meanwhile, had already surrendered completely to her father’s gravity. The little girl adored him, and seeing Christian spoil her so fiercely, so openly, only deepened Fleur’s internal crisis. Everything felt too perfect. Too easy. It felt entirely too good to be true.
"Dad really is the best!" Chloe declared proudly, preening. "He’s so much fun."
As if rewarding her absolute loyalty, Christian scooped her up effortlessly into his arms. Then, to the children’s absolute delight, he wrapped his free, powerful arm around Gabriel, pulling both twins into a fierce, protective hug. The three of them looked absurdly, undeniably happy.
Fleur found a soft smile tugging at her own lips before she could stop it.
Once the initial excitement finally settled, Christian glanced down at his watch.
"Since my two champions look like they’re about to collapse, how about dinner?"
Only then did Fleur realize how late the afternoon had gotten. She had spent so much time lost in the sight of them that the hours had slipped away like sand.
"We’re starving!" the twins chorused in unison.
Christian chuckled, the low sound vibrating in his chest. "Then let’s eat."
Earlier that afternoon, Christian had cleared out a private dining area at one of Paris’s most prestigious, heavily guarded Michelin-starred restaurants. The moment they stepped through the heavy glass doors, a beautiful hostess hurried forward to greet them.
"Good evening, Mr. Wayne." Her smile brightened with a practiced, dazzling intensity. She tilted her head flirtatiously, subtly straightening her posture to accentuate her frame, her intentions radiating off her in waves.
Christian barely even looked at her.
"The usual table?" she asked, her voice dripping with sweetness.
"No." His answer cut through the air, immediate and icy. "The family table. I have a reservation."
The practiced warmth instantly vanished from his expression. His voice remained smooth and superficially polite, but the lethal authority behind it made the hostess visibly stiffen, her breath catching in her throat.
Before the silence could stretch, the restaurant manager rushed over, sweating slightly.
"Mr. Wayne, welcome. A privilege to have you. Everything is prepared exactly to your specifications."
The manager personally escorted them through the opulent dining room. Without a word of complaint, Christian hoisted Chloe back into his arms and walked firmly beside Gabriel, his eyes scanning the room like a protective shield.
Several waiters and high-profile diners stared openly. The rumors surrounding Christian Wayne were endless and legendary. Business titan. Ruthless alpha king. Elite playboy.
But a family man? That was entirely rewriting the script.
The bewildered hostess watched them disappear into the secluded, private dining section, her mind racing.
Since when did Christian Wayne have children? More importantly, who was the stunning, enigmatic woman walking beside him? A secret family? The sheer implication of it was enough to fuel the high-society gossip mills for months.
Walking a few steps behind, Fleur didn’t miss a single curious, lingering glance directed their way. She couldn’t stop her mind from drifting to Christian’s notorious reputation. Women practically threw themselves at his feet. If the children hadn’t been standing right there, would he have flirted back with that hostess? Would he have taken what was so easily offered?
Probably.
The thought brought a sharp, unexpected prickle of irritation that annoyed her more than it should have. No matter how convincing, how beautiful his act seemed today, Fleur reminded herself to tighten her grip on her heart.
The children might be falling helplessly under his spell. But she wouldn’t make the same mistake. Not again.
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