GIDEON

As I park into my driveway, I spot Victor and Diana giving each other wide-eyed looks.

Harlington is another world compared to their town, and from the way they’re staring through the windows, I think they’re beginning to realise just how different our lives are from each other.

As we step out of the car, somebody’s phone rings.

It’s Victor’s phone. He takes one look at the caller ID before excusing himself, only walking a few steps away from us as he takes the call.

He speaks quietly and I take the moment to turn to look at Diana. Her eyes scan across my entire face as she most likely tries to spot the similarities between us.

“This is probably just as weird for you as it is for me.”

I say to her, noticing how quickly her cheeks become pink as she drops her eyes to the floor.

She shrugs as she takes in deep breaths. Together, we stand like that for a few seconds before she finally turns to look over at me.

“Can I ask you something?”

I nod.

She plays around with her fingers, looking at the ground before she finally finds the confidence to look back at me. And when she does–fuck, when she does–it’s like I’m looking at Lyra all over again.

If I’m counting the months right, then Diana is only fifteen.

Three years younger than my pumpkin.

“Did you know about me? Like, at all?”

My lips pull up slightly at that like, but I shake my head.

“I had no idea you existed. If I hadn’t shown up today, I don’t think I would have ever found out about you.”

She folds her arms across her middle as her bottom lip wobbles. She blinks furiously and I know she’s trying to stop herself from crying, so with a gentle touch to her arm, I speak softly.

“I’ve missed out on your entire life, but now that I do know about you, we can spend some time getting to know each other. How does that sound, Diana?”

She shrugs her shoulders as she runs the back of her hand across her eyes.

“I’d like that, please.”

I smile down at her–at my daughter–and curl my arm around her back before pulling her to my side.

“You won’t ever have to worry about any of the things Serena mentioned before. Here, you’ve got me, and I’ll give you and Victor the world.”

I gave Lyra everything I could have given her, it’s only fair I treat her sister the same way.

And Victor…my sweetness deserves it too.

“Earlier, when Mum said you’re the father to her daughters…”

Diana trails off, and I already know what it is that she’s talking about. I clear my throat before I can reply.

“You have an older sister; Lyra. And as far as I know, so long as nobody else is going to be showing up on my doorstep claiming they’ve birthed my child, it’s only you two.”

That gets a small smile out of her.

Victor soon joins us and as his eyes dart between Diana and myself, he goes to stand beside her. They share a few quiet words before he has his eyes locked with mine again. He lets a deep breath out and together, the three of us walk towards my home.

As soon as I’ve opened the door and we’ve all stepped inside, my eyes scan the floor before I let a small apology slip out from my lips for the mess they’re looking at.

“I don’t usually have any staff at home since my daughter’s moved out, but if you both want, I can arrange something. You won’t need to do much except clean your own bedrooms at the most until I’ve got things sorted.”

My home isn’t a dump, but it’s not as clean as it once was when I would have staff helping out. Since Lyra moved out to be with her husband next door, I didn’t see the point in keeping our staff. They had only been employed so that my daughter wouldn’t need to busy herself with the simple tasks of cooking and cleaning.

“Staff?” Diana squeaks out, and as I face her, I can’t help but laugh.

“Since I often worked long hours, I employed staff to help raise her and keep our home tidy. My daughter is spoilt, but she’s not a brat. Since it’s only me now, I’ve managed to keep things running.”

For the most part, that is.

“You said bedroom–do you want us to stay here with you?”

Victor asks.

“I certainly won’t be letting Diana go back to be with Serena unless she wants to go back, and I assumed you would want to stay with your sister. Have I thought wrong?”

He shakes his head as his cheeks begin to fill with colour.

“No–I mean yes,” his eyes widen as he stumbles over his words and I can’t help but smile at him. He’s adorable. “What I mean to say is–”

His sister interrupts him as she steps closer to him.

“What my brother is trying to say here is thank you. I don’t think either of us really expected you to bring us here.”

Shrugging, I turn to face her.

My daughter.

“I gave Lyra the best life I was able to. Now that I know about you, I want to give you that same life if you’ll let me. I know you and your brother are close, so I’m happy to have you both here if you’re comfortable to stay here.”

It takes a second for either one of them to respond.

“Yes, please.”

Diana finally squeaks out before taking a step closer to me.

“Would you like me to show you to your rooms?”

They both nod, and so we begin to walk through my home.

Lyra’s bedroom is off-limits, and even though she no longer lives here, she does come over frequently and spends some time with me. She’s been married for a couple of months now, but since she’s only next-door, it doesn’t feel like it much.

I show Victor and Diana the two spare rooms. Even though it was only Lyra and I, William would sometimes spend the night here prior to him purchasing the place next-door, and Brandon’s youngest son who is the same age as my Lyra would often stay here. It didn’t make sense to have two extra bedrooms when it was only the two of us, but Lyra enjoyed having all the extra space, so we didn’t move out.