Chapter 137

Serena's POV

Lucas stood in the doorway, his presence changing the dynamics of the room instantly. I kept my expression neutral, acknowledging him with the kind of glance you'd give a casual acquaintance.

"Daddy!" Milo's voice broke through the tension. His eyes darted between Lucas and me, practically vibrating with hope. "Can I go to Mommy's place? Please?"

Stella, still standing close to me, reached out to tug gently at her father's sleeve. "Daddy..." Her soft voice carried a quiet determination. "I want to go too."

I watched Lucas's throat work as he swallowed, his eyes moving from the children to me, then deliberately away.

"Alright," he said finally, his voice low and controlled.

Milo's face lit up instantly. "Mommy, Daddy said yes! We can go to your place!"

"Thank you," I said to Lucas, my tone polite and distant.

Stella's small fingers found mine. "Mommy, can we paint together when we get there?"

Before I could answer, Rachel stepped forward. "Milo, Stella, darling..." Her smile was warm, practiced. "I'm heading back to Philly soon. Could we have dinner together before I leave? As a proper goodbye?"

I felt Stella shift slightly, moving behind me in a subtle retreat. Milo's protective instinct kicked in immediately as he stepped closer to his sister.

"Miss Thorne has made reservations at Le Jardin," Walter added from his position near the hallway, his tone carefully neutral.

"I can bring the children back afterward," I offered, maintaining the veneer of civility. "Just let me know when you've finalized the time."

Rachel's smile brightened. "That would be wonderful! Wouldn't it, kids?"

Stella pressed closer to me, her silence speaking volumes. Milo's usual enthusiasm was notably absent. Lucas remained where he stood, watching the scene unfold with an unreadable expression.

"Well then," Rachel continued, undeterred by the children's lack of response. She moved forward as if to embrace them, but both twins instinctively shifted away. Stella retreated further behind me while Milo straightened his small shoulders, creating a barrier between Rachel and his sister.

The awkward moment hung in the air until I smoothly intervened. "We should get going. It's getting late, and I promised these two some ice cream."

"Ice cream before dinner?" Rachel's laugh tinkled like crystal. "You're spoiling them."

I met her gaze steadily. "Sometimes a little spoiling isn't such a bad thing."

"Walter, could you help the children get their things?" Lucas spoke for the first time since giving his permission, his voice carrying that familiar quiet authority.

As Walter led the twins to their rooms, I found myself alone with Lucas and Rachel in the sun-drenched living room.

"I'll have Walter coordinate about dinner," Rachel said, her smile never wavering. "The children should have a chance to say goodbye properly."

I nodded, keeping my expression pleasant. "Of course."

The twins returned quickly, each carrying a small backpack. Stella immediately gravitated to my side while Milo bounced on his toes, eager to leave.

"Goodbye, darlings," Rachel stepped forward again, but stopped short when both children moved closer to me. If the rejection bothered her, she didn't show it.

Lucas remained where he was, his stance casual but his eyes intent as they followed his children's movements. Just before we left, Stella turned back to look at her father.

The sliver Benz glided past us like a phantom ship, making my heart skip a beat despite my best efforts to stay focused on driving. In the rearview mirror, I caught a glimpse of Stella, her grey eyes momentarily lifting from her book to track the familiar vehicle. Milo, on the other hand, practically bounced in his seat, pressing his small face against the window.

"Daddy's car!" Milo exclaimed, his excitement palpable in the confined space.

"Milo, please sit properly," Stella's gentle reminder came before I could say anything. "Mommy needs to concentrate on driving."

I smiled at her maturity, though my heart ached a little. At six years old, Stella often seemed more like a miniature adult than a child. "Thank you, sweetheart," I said, carefully navigating through weekend traffic. "How about we do something fun today?"

"Fun like what?" Milo's attention immediately shifted, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Well..." I pretended to think, though I'd already made up my mind. "How about the amusement park?"

The suggestion hung in the air for a moment. Through the mirror, I saw Stella's carefully controlled expression crack slightly, revealing a flash of longing.

"Really?" Milo's voice rose with excitement. "Can we really go?"

"Of course," I assured him, then caught Stella's eye in the mirror. "Unless you're too tired, Stella?"

She shook her head, her blond hair swaying slightly. "I'm not tired," she said softly, then added with characteristic thoughtfulness, "But are you sure you're not too busy, Mommy? We understand if you have work..."

My throat tightened at her words. "Nothing's more important than spending time with you two today."

The parking lot was crowded when we arrived, but I managed to find a spot not too far from the entrance. As I helped Milo with his seatbelt, Stella was already organizing their small backpack, making sure they had everything they might need.

"Have you been here before?" I asked casually while we walked toward the entrance, each child holding one of my hands.

"No," Milo answered cheerfully. "Daddy always says we need to focus on our lessons first."

"He's very busy," Stella added quickly, her grip on my hand tightening slightly. "And he wants us to learn important things."

I swallowed hard, keeping my voice light. "Well, having fun is important too. And today, we're going to try everything you want."

The transformation in their expressions that made me feel warm. Milo's face lit up like Christmas morning, while Stella's carefully maintained composure softened into something more childlike.

The amusement park was a riot of color and sound, with carnival music mixing with laughter and excited screams.

I guided the kids to a charming ice cream parlor near the carousel. Stella chose strawberry with rainbow sprinkles - her usual favorite, while Milo couldn't decide between chocolate and vanilla until I suggested he could have both. As we sat on a nearby bench, Milo's face lit up with each bite of his two-scoop cone, while Stella delicately licked her ice cream, occasionally glancing at me with her beautiful eyes.

Milo's eyes darted everywhere, trying to take in all the attractions at once and Stella's gaze lingering on the carousel.

"Would you like to ride that first?" I asked her gently.

She hesitated, then nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Is it... is it okay?"

"Of course it is." I squeezed her hand. "Today is about having fun."

As we waited in line, I watched Stella automatically straighten Milo's collar and smooth his hair. Such a little mother hen, always taking care of her brother. When we finally boarded the carousel, though, something magical happened. As the ride began to move and the music played, Stella's careful mask slipped completely.

A genuine laugh escaped her lips as her horse rose and fell with the motion. Milo, on the horse next to her, was giggling uncontrollably, but I couldn't take my eyes off Stella.

We moved from ride to ride, and I found myself cataloging each new expression on their faces. Milo's uninhibited excitement was a constant, but Stella's moments of childhood delight were like precious gems I wanted to treasure forever.

It wasn't until we were sharing cotton candy - pink for Milo, blue for Stella - that I noticed him. A man in a dark suit, trying very hard to look inconspicuous while maintaining a careful distance. One of Lucas's security team. The knowledge that he was still watching over them, even from a distance, sent an unexpected warmth through my chest.

"Mommy?" Stella's voice pulled me back to the present. She was looking at me with those knowing eyes of hers, a small frown creasing her forehead. "Are you okay?"

"I'm perfect," I assured her, reaching out to wipe a smudge of cotton candy from her cheek. "Just thinking about how lucky I am to be here with you both."

Her smile in response was shy but real. "We're lucky too," she whispered, then added even more quietly, "I wish we could do this every weekend."

"Me too!" Milo chimed in, his face covered in sticky pink sugar. "Can we, Mommy? Please?"

I looked at their hopeful faces and felt something shift in my chest. "We'll do our best," I promised, meaning every word. "Now, who wants to try the Flying Elephants?"

As we climbed higher, the park's lights beginning to twinkle below us, I felt Stella lean against my side. "Thank you, Mommy," she murmured, her voice heavy with approaching sleep.

I wrapped my arm around her, pulling Milo closer on my other side. "Thank you," I whispered back to them. "For letting me be part of your world."