Chapter 53

The next morning brought an unexpected sight - the boy wasn't sleeping in.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Little feet raced back to his room. Alexander grabbed his toothbrush, scrubbing his pearly whites with meticulous care.

Finished, he dashed to find Isabella. Throwing open her door, he declared, "Our mother's alive."

Isabella's braid swung as she tilted her head. "What are you saying, Alex?"

"I said our mother's alive!" Alexander marched forward, kneeling to help his sister with her shoes before leading her through the mansion's corridors.

Their nanny paid no attention to the children's antics.

Alexander positioned Isabella as lookout while he slipped into Uncle Julian's room. He snatched the phone from the nightstand, tiptoeing back out...

"Got it?" Isabella's eyes widened.

Nodding, Alexander led her to a secluded corner. Small fingers dialed a familiar number.

Across town, Walter Harrison's phone rang.

Walter and Margaret were jogging through their gated community when the call interrupted their morning routine. Walter frowned at the caller ID. "It's Julian Blackwood."

"Why would Dominic's brother call you?" Margaret's brow furrowed.

The couple had worked with the Blackwoods two decades prior. After old Reginald Blackwood retired, his son took over - only to fall gravely ill years later. The patriarch had to resume control until Dominic returned.

Dominic proved himself a natural leader, inheriting the family's best traits. Unlike his philandering father, the young heir showed remarkable restraint. Thirteen years since his return at sixteen, Dominic had cemented his position beyond challenge.

Now retired, the Harrisons dreaded any Blackwood contacting them. Every inquiry in recent years centered on one topic: the twins' mother.

"Mr. Julian?" Walter answered cautiously.

A child's voice replied instead. "Grandpa Walter..."

"Alexander?" Walter's confusion grew.

"Grandpa, can I ask you something?" The boy's politeness couldn't mask his urgency.

"Of course, young master."

Alexander knew better than to expect full honesty from the old retainer.

"Daddy finally told me last night... Mommy's alive." The boy's voice wavered. "Everyone says you and Grandma Margaret knew her. Will she come back for us?"

Walter hesitated.

"Will Daddy marry Mommy again?"

Choosing his words carefully, Walter deflected. "I doubt it. I heard she has a boyfriend now."

Last year's vacation to England had placed them near Evelyn's university. Whether Dominic orchestrated this remained unclear, but Walter had reported seeing Evelyn with a young man. The way Dominic's expression darkened spoke volumes.

Walter recalled those early days - Dominic visiting Evelyn's room nightly like a man possessed. The frequency alone suggested more than mere physical need. Five years of celibacy since confirmed Walter's suspicions.

Now Dominic had told his son the truth. Evelyn must have returned.

"Okay... thanks, Grandpa." Disappointment colored Alexander's voice before the line went dead.

Over breakfast, Walter analyzed the situation with Margaret.

"Dominic's nothing like his father," Margaret mused. "Remember how he'd sneak into her room every night? Like some lovesick tomcat." She sipped her milk. "Even without this boyfriend situation, that prideful boy would need several lifetimes to win her back."

Walter smirked. "Arrogant to a fault. If he saw Evelyn with another man but couldn't swallow his pride..."

Meanwhile at Blackwood Manor:

The twins deleted the call history and returned the phone.

"Can we ask Daddy for phones?" Isabella trailed after her brother.

Alexander shook his head. "Uncle Julian's a heavy sleeper. We'll just keep borrowing his."