"I already have a family that I love"

"I see... So you married?"

"No..."

"Why?"

"I don't need marriage to have a family."

"Will you ever forgive me?"

"I already have"

"Then-"

"I did forgive you but there is no second chance now if you excuse me..."

Killion stood there frozen. Maybe he thought that giving such an excuse would make me run to his arms.

I have already forgiven him for the sake of my lovely children. Since he is their father.

I went back to the ballroom and observed the young ladies dance with their escorts. Then memories from my first dance flashed in front of me.

Killion's gentle touch, his mesmerising eyes and seductive smirk. Astro had all of it. I could see that Astro would look just like Killion.

A hand appeared in front of me and disturbed my thoughts. A familiar pale manly arm that was now blistered.

"Will you dance with me?"

A low silky voice that was soft and calming. Without doubt that voice belonged to Killion. The sight of Killion after all these years awakened a part of me that was buried deep inside me.

Like a little girl who just fell in love, I was again seduced by this man. I raised my gaze and we locked eyes. His eyes were different. He looked tired and pale. His eyes were reddish. I thought

He is human too after all...

Now I can see that he loved me a lot. He even went crazy to look for me. I was very conflicted. I should be angry at him but I really want to dance with him. I want to place my arm above his and stay close to each other. Close enough to feel his breath and move to the song.

My heart won and I accepted his offer. Killion let out a smile that could not hide his tiredness. I realized that he was too tired to dance. I had to wait for the next banquet.

I grabbed his arm and forced him into the carriage. He looked surprised. His face looked like a little puppy. He seemed genuinely confused. I entered the carriage and sat on the other seat.

When he saw me enter he was more confused.

"Silvia what is going on?"

"Silence. Just sleep."

"Eh?"

"Are you deaf? ... Argh! Come here!"

Killion sat beside me and I gave him a lap pillow. I placed my hand on his head and stroked his soft hair. I knew his hair would be just like Astro's.

The carriage reached to my estate. Killion was already asleep so I couldn't take him to his home.

I carried him to my bed and let him sleep. When I was about to leave he grabbed my wrist. His grip was weak but desperate.

"Don't leave... Silvia"

"Killion calm down."

Then he cried. He was having a nightmare. Tears streamed down his face and reached to his neck where they evaporated from the heat.

Seeing him cry so desperately, made me more worried about him than angry. What if what he said was true?

What if we had shared the same pain all those years?

*Sigh*

I gently freed my hand from his grasp and went to the window. I wanted to ask the moon.

Should I trust him?

Should I give him a second chance?

Should I let him meet Selene and Astro?

If I do those will I get hurt again?

I returned to his side. I observed the man who was occupying my soft bed.

He seemed to suffer. He lost weight and his complexion got pale. His lips were dry from malnourishment. He was more human than before.

I sat beside him and saw the traces of the tears on his colourless cheeks. My heart kept beating fast. I gulped a bit of my saliva and placed my hand on his face.

His body was hot. He had a fever. I quickly went out of the room and called for Jonathan.

"Did you call your grace?"

"Jonathan bring a doctor!"

In a matter of minutes Simon entered hurriedly and got close to me.

"Your grace what happened?"

"He has a fever please check on his condition"

Simon threw his gaze on Killion and made a clear diagnosis.

Malnourishment, stress and malnutrition.

It was all my fault. For a moment I thought that maybe If I had listened to him that day five years ago, things would be different.

A sudden wave of guilt hit me. I have to take responsibility.

Selene and Astro rushed to my room worried and  came to my embrace.

"Mommy, are you okay? We saw Simon come and we got worried about you~"

"Selene... Astro... I am not sick I am fine but he isn't..."

"Seems like it..."

"Who is he?"

"He ... "

"Is he our father?"

"Shhhh! Let him sleep... Please tell Sienna to prepare a meal and some water."

"Yes mommy~!"

*Haaaah*

Fortunately Killion is sleeping. If he saw Astro he would want to stick to us. But... If he knew that the twins are his children he would have to marry me and that would make him unhappy...

The night was long. Killion kept shaking from the nightmares and sometimes weep. I was heartbroken. I couldn't sleep. I stroked his soft messy hair with my fingers and he finally calmed down.

My eyes were heavy. I couldn't stay awake. I closed my eyes and took a nap.

I felt the bed moving and I woke up thinking that Killion had another nightmare. He was awake. He still looked weak.

He was about to get up when I forced him to lay back. He looked at me confused and as he saw me on top of him his face turned red.

"You are sick. Lay down for now"

I stood up and as I was about to go and find Sienna to prepare him a meal, he grabbed my hand.

"Don't go Silvia... Don't leave me yet"

"Where can I go when this is my home?"

His eyes widened in surprise and then he turned his gaze around anxiously only to realise that they were in Silvia's bedroom.

"Silvia sorry..."

"Why?"

"Because I am in your room I may make your husband upset"

"Who?"

"Your husband"

"Are you really deaf?... I don't have one!"

"Then what kind of family do you have now?"

"Why do you care so much?"

"If you don't have a husband then marry me!"

"Marry you... I wanted to do that five years ago..."

"Do you still want to?"

"Killion what changed your mind?"

"You did."

"Explain"

"When you left I realized that I lost you. Your absence made my life meaningless. I, who thought that we could still love eachother without marriage, realized that by marriage I could at least keep you close to me."

"So why do you want to marry me now?"

"I have loved you since long time ago and even if you already have a family I plan to treat them as mine! Please marry me Silvia Fury"

"I see... Okay."

"Really?"

"I have some conditions though."

" What conditions?"

"Tomorrow I will give you a contract that states them all clearly. For now just eat well and sleep."

Killion's eyes lit up enthusiastically as he gained a grain of hope out of nowhere.

"Silvia... When can I meet them?"

"Meet who?"

"Family"

"After the marriage".

Killion showed a bright smile that made him look like a cheerful puppy. As I saw his lips curl up in a smile, my heartbeat got quicker.

After I made sure Killion ate, I went to my kids' bedroom. My cute children were sleeping peacefully.

I stroked their little heads and noticed that both had soft hair just like Killion had. I looked at their little faces and saw the same pair of lips as Killion.

If someone could see them next to Killion, The would be sure that they are his children. If Killion finds out about this, I don't know how he would react. Maybe he would hate me... What if he takes them away from me?... What if he doesn't like them?

I slapped myself to sober up and stop thinking about this. I asked Jonathan to make sure that Killion doesn't see the children until marriage.

I went to my study and composed a contract.

"Marriage contract.

Party A will get married to party B.

Party B should make sure to love and take care of party A's family.

Party B should cherish party A and unconditionally love her.

In case the marriage doesn't work out well for either party A or B , a divorce procedure will take place and the divorcees will part without dispute.

In case Party A doesn't want to continue the marriage after one year, Party B will receive 10 million silvers.

Party A will show party B her family after the marriage is done. Party B should accept them no matter what.

Party A:
Party B:"

The contract was stated like that.

The next morning, I went to my bedroom where Killion had just woken up. He looked at me with a big smile that made his eyes narrowed.

He looked better than before. After he ate breakfast and was still in his sleepwear, I brought him to my study.

He has to sign in order to proceed with marriage.