Babies' Secret: My Ex Wants Me Back!-Chapter 25: Surprise us?

Chapter 25

Katherine sat in the corner of the hospital room, a blanket draped over her legs as her eyes focused on the soft rise and fall of Jasmine’s chest.

Katherine barely left the hospital except for a few short bathroom breaks, her body aching from the small couch where she’d been sleeping. But she didn’t care. Not when Jasmine was still recovering. Mathew practically forced her to eat and bathe.

Mathew had been there and had been helping as usual—staying with Hanith, even bringing her the daily necessities she needed.

Katherine shifted in her seat beside the hospital bed, brushing back a stray strand of Jasmine’s hair. Katherine smiled—her baby was okay. She leaned forward, placed a soft kiss on Jasmine’s forehead, and gently patted Hanith’s head. Mathew had brought him earlier, and the little boy hadn’t left his sister’s side since. Both of them were curled up on the bed, their foreheads nearly touching as they whispered and giggled.

Katherine smiled, seeing both of her kids fine, and leaned her head against the chair. Her heart full but stung painfully as she looked at her children. She still hadn’t figured out how to explain things to them properly—she just dumped the word "father" on them. The father that had been there, yet Hanith wasn’t taking it well while Jasmine was thrilled by the news of having a father.

She rubbed her temple, hoping to get a perfect opportunity to explain things to her kids so that they would understand. She didn’t mean to hide it. Or rather, the reason why she needed to hide it.

God, she rubbed her face. It wasn’t easy.

"Mommy?" Jasmine’s small voice drew her out of her thoughts.

Katherine raised her head toward her daughter, sitting upright a little. "Yes, sweetheart?"

Jasmine pouted slightly, her face scrunched with questions and Katherine felt her heart skip. She didn’t think she was ready for Jasmine’s inquisitiveness. "Why didn’t you tell us he was our daddy the day we met him?"

Katherine’s breath caught, blinking unsurely. "What?" she asked, tilting her head like she hadn’t heard the question as Hanith looked up at her too, wide eyes curious and innocent.

"I—" Katherine swallowed, caught off guard by the question. She wasn’t expecting it to come now. She was still trying to rehearse or know how she would explain to them, but none of them seemed right for the children to know. How could she tell her children that their father wasn’t aware till days ago? Or that their father left her? Or was she too scared to let Aaron know so that he wouldn’t take the children? Or was she too hurt to face him again?

So instead, she smiled gently, blinking away the tears gathering in her eyes.

"Because Mommy didn’t know how to say it," she said softly. "And I was—" she trailed off, then laughed sheepishly, "But now... hasn’t your wish come true?" she asked dramatically, her eyes widened comically.

Jasmine looked at her dumbfounded and Katherine moved closer, caressing her hair.

"You wanted a daddy, right?" Katherine continued. "Well, now you have one." She shrugged her shoulder, grinning too widely.

Hanith nodded slowly while Jasmine giggled, wiggling her fingers to match her mother’s fake energy. "So Uncle Piano is really our daddy?"

Katherine nodded. "Yes."

"And you didn’t tell us because you wanted it to be a surprise?" Jasmine guessed with a knowing grin.

Katherine laughed nervously, "Something like that." Thank God for the children’s thinking. How could Jasmine think to that level? Katherine sighed in relief. She didn’t have the strength to refute Jasmine’s reason. But it was a perfect excuse they could understand now.

Jasmine was discharged a few days later.

Even though the doctor said Jasmine had made a full recovery but still needed proper rest and follow-up appointments, Katherine couldn’t shake the worry from her chest. Every sigh, every wince Jasmine made—even if it was just from stretching—made her heart skip a beat. She was constantly on edge.

Which was why, despite Matthew offering to watch them, despite the nanny calling to check in, and despite the school calling, Katherine packed the lunch for the three of them, scooped up her babies, and brought them with her to the hotel—after her abrupt leave.

She couldn’t leave them. Not after this.

It was a weird feeling, walking into the hotel lobby with both of them beside her. It had been long since she walked with them side by side. There was no need to fear again about Aaron knowing—the cat was out of the bag already.

Jasmine wore a cute yellow sundress with a soft pink cardigan over her shoulders, and her hair tied in two messy puffs, while Hanith walked close to her side, holding onto her blouse tightly, his thumb pressed gently to his lips as his eyes were downcast.

Aaron leaned against the hallway, not showing himself as he watched the twins interact with Mathew. He sighed dejectedly, his eyes were on Hanith. He didn’t know how to approach him.

Should he give him space? But space would mean absence again. He rubbed his face frustratedly. His gaze lingered on Hanith, who clung to Mathew like a baby doe.

What can he do to make him warm up to him?

Katherine sat with the kids in her office lounge while Matthew ran out briefly to get something from the restaurant. Jasmine sat on the couch, a pillow behind her back, scribbling slowly in her coloring book, while Hanith sat beside her, staring at his sister’s work while pointing and correcting some colour preferences.

Katherine was watching their interaction from her desk when the door opened slightly, pulling her attention to Aaron who stepped in.

He paused just at the entrance, unsure whether to enter or not. His eyes found Jasmine first, then moved to Hanith, and stopped at Katherine.

Katherine dropped the pen, sighing as she walked closer to him.

"I just wanted to see if she’s settled in," Aaron muttered softly, chucking his hands in his pockets.

"She’s okay," Katherine responded, looking at Jasmine over her arm. "Thank you again."

Aaron gave a short nod, didn’t move to enter. Katherine, taking note of how his eyes kept looking at the kids, rolled her eyes.

"Buds, look who’s here?" she called out, drawing their attention to the hopeless man in front of her. He didn’t move farther in.

Jasmine’s eyes lit up and she ran to him, "Uncle Piano!"

Aaron immediately opened his arms while crouching down.

"How are you?" he smiled softly while Jasmine giggled, giving a response. Aaron’s eyes darted to Hanith, who hid behind Katherine’s leg.

The small flash of disappointment in his eyes as Hanith avoided his gaze.

Aaron stood up, smiling sheepishly, "I’ll go now," he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

Jasmine pouted, "Okay. Bye, Uncle Piano." she waved her hand.

Aaron waved back and glanced at Hanith, who avoided his gaze yet again.

He really had work to do.

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