The Mistress Who Ran Away With The Twins

Chapter 196: The Right To Stay

Sylvia’s POV

I didn’t expect the silence to feel this heavy when I stepped back into the room. For a moment, I just stood by the doorway, but everything felt different. My eyes adjusted slowly to the scene in front of me and then I froze.

Rome was sitting beside Cairo, taking care of him.

Cairo was already awake, though still weak. His small body leaned slightly against the pillows, his face still pale, and Rome...

Rome was holding a spoon carefully.

"...Open a little more." he murmured, his voice low and gentle in a way I had never heard before.

Cairo hesitated for a second before slowly opening his mouth.

Rome fed him. Like he had done this a hundred times before.

And somehow... that made everything feel even stranger.

I didn’t move. Behind me, I could feel Paris and Egypt step closer, but none of us spoke.

We were just... watching.

Rome didn’t notice us right away. He was too focused on Cairo.

"...Is that okay?" he asked quietly.

Cairo nodded faintly.

Rome exhaled softly, almost like he had been holding his breath the entire time.

"...Good..one more." he murmured.

Then he scooped another small portion and lifted the spoon again, but this time, his hand paused mid-air.

He noticed us.

Slowly, his gaze lifted.

And the moment his eyes met mine, he froze. The spoon stayed suspended awkwardly between him and Cairo.

"...Ah—"

He blinked.

For a second, he looked like he didn’t know what to do and that... that was new.

Rome, who always looked composed, suddenly looked caught. Almost like a child being seen doing something he didn’t expect anyone to witness.

"...You’re back.." he said, his voice quieter than usual.

I nodded slowly.

"Yes."

And then, silence but this time... it was different. Because now, we were all standing there, watching him take care of our son.

Our child.

My chest tightened slightly.

"I... I can do that," I said, stepping forward a little. "You don’t have to—"

"No."

Rome blinked, like he hadn’t meant to say it that quickly.

"I mean—" he cleared his throat, lowering the spoon slightly. "It’s okay. I can... handle it."

I hesitated.

This was... awkward.

Because this wasn’t just anyone.

This was Rome, the triplets’ father. The same man who once didn’t even know they existed until recently. And now... he looked like he didn’t want to miss this chance of taking care of them, especially Cairo. Like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"I should help.." I insisted quietly, taking another step forward.

Our hands almost touched.

I froze.

It suddenly felt like something warm passed between us, like a small spark and we both looked at each other at the same time.

Rome instinctively pulled back a little too quickly, which only made it more obvious.

We both froze.

For a second, neither of us spoke.

Then Cairo shifted slightly.

"...Mom..."

His voice was weak but it broke the tension instantly.

I moved to his side immediately.

"I’m here," I said softly, brushing a hand gently against his hair. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired..." he murmured.

I nodded, softening.

"You should rest, okay?"

Rome cleared his throat quietly beside us.

"...He needs to eat a little more," he said, his voice careful again. "The doctor said—"

"I know.." I replied.

Another pause.

"...Uhm. You can continue." I added after a second, stepping slightly aside.

Rome looked at me like he wasn’t expecting that.

"...Are you sure?"

I hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then I nodded.

"...Yes."

He studied my face for a moment, like he was trying to understand something.

Then slowly... he lifted the spoon again.

"...One more." he said gently to Cairo.

Cairo obeyed.

I stayed right beside them, close enough to see everything. I noticed the way Rome’s hand still wasn’t completely steady and how careful he was trying to be, like every small movement mattered.

I reached for the glass of water on the table.

"...Cairo," I said, handing the glass closer. "Drink a little after."

Rome nodded slightly.

"...Thank you."

And then, our fingers brushed again. Just barely but it was enough to send another small jolt through me.

I pulled my hand back almost immediately.

And so did he.

God... this was so awkward.

Why did everything feel so complicated now?

Even the simplest things felt heavier than they should.

"...Y-you’re holding the spoon too stiffly." I muttered without thinking.

Rome blinked.

"...I a-am?"

"Yes," I said, crossing my arms slightly. "You’re making it harder for him."

He looked at the spoon. Then at Cairo. Then back at me.

"...Like this?" he asked, adjusting his grip slightly.

I leaned in a little.

"No. Not like that—here—"

I reached out.

My hand guided his and for a brief second, we were too close again.

I could feel his warmth. The slight tension in his arm. The way he went still under my touch.

"...Like this." I said softly.

Our eyes met.

And suddenly... everything felt too quiet again.

I pulled my hand back quickly.

"...I-is this better?.."

"...Ehem... that’s better." I added, clearing my throat.

Rome nodded slowly.

"...Right."

He tried again.

And this time, Cairo swallowed without struggling.

"...Good. Now feed him again." I murmured.

And then..

"...You two look weird."

Egypt’s voice cut through everything.

I stiffened.

Rome almost dropped the spoon.

"W-what?" I asked quickly.

Egypt raised an eyebrow.

"...Nothing." she said, though her expression clearly said otherwise.

Paris looked away, trying not to smile.

My face heated.

"...Focus on Cairo." I muttered.

"Yes," Rome said quickly.

A few more minutes passed, and the tension slowly eased... just a little.

Until, a soft knock.

All of us turned toward the door and before we could even react, it opened.

Bern stepped inside first. Followed by Stephenson. And then, my father.

My breath caught.

"...Sylvia."

My father’s voice was full of concern but it disappeared the moment his gaze landed on Rome. The warmth in his expression turned cold instantly, his eyes sharpening into a glare.

Behind him stood Sylvester as well, his expression unreadable.

And just like that, the atmosphere shifted again. From awkward to unbearable.

Bern’s eyes immediately moved to Cairo.

"...How is he?" he asked, stepping forward quickly.

"H-he just woke up." I answered.

But Bern didn’t stop there. His gaze shifted to Rome and to the spoon in his hand, to the way he was sitting beside Cairo.

And something in his expression... changed.

"...I see. Looks like we arrived a little late.." Bern said quietly, as if he understood something just by looking at us.

Rome stood up slowly. Like he knew exactly how it looked.

"...since someone is already taking care of Cairo." Bern finished.

Rome didn’t answer.

Stephenson crossed his arms slightly, watching the scene with interest.

Sylvester remained silent.

But my father, my father’s gaze was sharp.

"Rome Hariston. It’s surprising to see you here."

Just his name filled the room with tension.

And suddenly, the earlier awkwardness felt small compared to this because now everyone was here.

"Daddy!"

Cairo’s weak voice suddenly lifted with excitement, his face brightening as he looked at Bern, then at my father and the others.

"Uncles and Grandpa, you’re all here!"

The tension cracked slightly at his voice.

Bern’s expression softened immediately as he stepped closer.

"Hey... easy," he said gently, placing a hand near Cairo’s shoulder without putting too much weight. "You shouldn’t get too excited."

"But you all came!" Cairo said, smiling faintly despite his condition.

"Of course I did," Bern replied softly. "You think I wouldn’t?"

Stephenson stepped closer next, ruffling Cairo’s hair lightly.

"You gave everyone a scare, kid."

Sylvester stood at the side, arms crossed, but his gaze lingered on Cairo longer than usual.

"Yeah, you know how you made us all worried, kid? You should be more careful." he said, his tone calm, but there was a quiet concern beneath it that he didn’t bother hiding.

Cairo blinked up at him, a little surprised, then gave a small, sheepish smile.

"...Sorry.." he murmured.

Sylvester exhaled softly, shaking his head just a little.

"Don’t apologize. Just get better." he replied, his voice gentler now.

Stephenson let out a low breath beside him.

"He’s right. Next time, don’t scare everyone like that." he added, though his arms remained crossed, his posture still guarded.

Cairo nodded faintly, clearly trying to stay awake despite how tired he still looked.

Bern, still seated beside him, adjusted the blanket carefully.

"You’ve already done enough for today," Bern said quietly. "Rest after this, alright?"

"...Okay." Cairo whispered.

I watched how easily they gathered around him, how naturally they showed their concern in their own ways.

And then, my gaze shifted.

Rome was no longer standing as close. He had taken a step back. Not too far, but enough to create distance. Enough to make it clear. He was giving them space.

His expression was calm, composed, but I could see the restraint. The way he held himself back, like he was trying not to cross a line he wasn’t sure he was allowed to step over.

And somehow... that hurt more than the tension from earlier.

Because just a few minutes ago, he was right there carefully feeding Cairo. And now, he looked like someone standing outside of something he wanted to be part of.

I swallowed..

My father also stepped forward but his eyes never left Rome.

"How long have you been here?" he asked, his voice calm but there was something underneath it.

Rome met his gaze.

"...Long enough." he replied simply.

That didn’t help. If anything, it made the tension thicker.

I stepped in slightly.

"He helped me bring Cairo to the hospital. He’s been here since last night." I said, trying to ease the situation.

My father’s eyes flickered to me then back to Rome again.

"...I see."

But the way he said it made it clear, he didn’t like it. Not one bit.

The room fell quiet again.

And this time, it wasn’t just awkward. It was tense kind of awkwardness. Like one wrong word could break everything.

Cairo looked between all of us, his small brows furrowing slightly.

"...Why is everyone so quiet?" he asked softly.

No one answered immediately.

Then Rome spoke.

"...Nothing," he said calmly, stepping slightly aside. "You should finish eating first, okay?"

His voice was steady again, like earlier had never happened. But I noticed the way his hand tightened slightly at his side. The way he kept a careful distance now.

And somehow... that felt even heavier than before.

I swallowed.

This was going to be complicated. More complicated than I thought.

And as I stood there, surrounded by everyone. By my family... and Rome.