Chapter 167

Evelyn awkwardly stepped forward.

Not every taqueria served decent burritos. To play it safe, she directed Dominic to her old apartment complex.

After returning from abroad, Evelyn had lived there briefly. She knew every eatery in the neighborhood like the back of her hand.

The black Range Rover made a dramatic entrance, drawing curious stares from passersby.

The striking family unit - a distinguished father with perfect posture and his angelic twins - turned heads effortlessly.

Lunch rush had the tiny shop packed to capacity.

"Order number 23!" The owner bellowed.

A high schooler in uniform scrambled to the counter, exchanged his numbered token, and grabbed his foil-wrapped meal.

The shopkeeper's eyes sparkled when the gorgeous quartet entered.

Not because of the extra business, but their sheer magnetism. They looked like Hollywood royalty.

"Please, make yourselves comfortable! We'll find you a spot!" She shooed students from their table with surprising efficiency. "Could tables one and two consolidate? We've got VIPs here!"

The teenagers obliged instantly, clutching their lunches as they squeezed in elsewhere.

The owner wiped down the vacated table with extra care. "What'll you have?"

Evelyn glanced at Dominic, recalling his earlier deference to her choices. "Four burritos. Two original, two mild."

"We can handle spice..." Alexander and Isabella chimed in unison.

Evelyn hesitated, seeking confirmation from their father.

Dominic settled into his seat. "Alexander tolerates heat well, but Isabella's pediatrician advised against it."

Evelyn amended the order.

As the owner jotted it down, she leaned in conspiratorially. "You folks shooting a reality show or something?"

Evelyn shook her head. "I used to live around here. Your burritos are legendary."

The woman kept polishing the already-clean table, unconvinced. "Could've sworn you were undercover celebrities. You know that show where rich folks pretend to be normal? My shop could use that kind of exposure!"

Evelyn knew Dominic's aura was to blame. "We're really just regular people..."

Technically, Dominic wasn't a celebrity - he existed in a more exclusive stratosphere.

Fortunately, the lunch crowd consisted mostly of construction workers and locals who wouldn't recognize a billionaire if he bit them.

"Order up!" The owner delivered their meals.

The twins attacked their burritos with glee, their enjoyment palpable.

Evelyn's chest swelled with unexpected pride. Had her humble palate genes manifested in her children?

1:15 PM.

Dominic navigated the Range Rover through narrow streets.

His phone buzzed.

"Grandfather?" Dominic answered on speaker.

"Dominic, your great-aunt arrived with her medical team. You know her husband's condition? The man's barely coherent. She thinks seeing the twins might give him some peace before..." Reginald Blackwood's voice crackled.

Everyone in the car heard the request.

Evelyn stayed silent, respecting family matters.

"Does this mean we're missing the movie?" Isabella's lower lip trembled.

"We'll reschedule," Dominic decided firmly.

Forty minutes later, Sebastian collected the twins outside Dominic's office.

"Aren't you joining them?" Evelyn remained buckled in.

Exiting here would invite unwanted attention from Dominic's employees.

The engine purred to life. "I'm concerned he might recognize me as their father."

This white lie was for a dying man's comfort.

"Could you drop me a block away? I'll walk back."

Dominic ignored her, merging into traffic. "We need to discuss the children."

The car's atmosphere shifted dramatically without the twins' chatter. Tension thickened between them.

Evelyn would endure anything for this conversation, even forgetting her earlier escape plan.

The drive continued in heavy silence.

She waited for him to break it.

But Dominic remained unreadable as ever.

A movie theater seemed an odd venue for this discussion. Yet Evelyn pressed on. "Can I see them regularly?"

"Yes."

At the intersection, Dominic nodded while executing a perfect turn.

Evelyn exhaled. "Maybe... occasionally have them stay overnight?"

A reasonable request from their birth mother, yet she held her breath.

Dominic considered briefly before nodding again.

Evelyn's opinion of him softened considerably.

Theater parking lot.

Dominic's gaze locked onto a familiar Porsche Cayenne two spots over.

The license plate confirmed it belonged to Maxwell.

'Since when does Maxwell attend matinees alone?'

Knowing his cousin, he wouldn't be solo.

Evelyn had reservations about this movie date sans children. But Dominic's logic was sound - she could recount the film to the twins later.

Their seats weren't prime real estate. Sebastian had chosen discretion over prestige, avoiding potential business interruptions.

As they settled in, Evelyn focused on the stage.

Then a chillingly familiar voice cut through the darkness ahead.