The Mistress Who Ran Away With The Twins-Chapter 175: Ghost Neighbor

For a long second, neither of us moved.

I stood there under the dim streetlight, my arms wrapped tightly around myself, my heartbeat loud enough that it felt like it might echo through the quiet street.

The night air was cool, brushing against my skin, but it did nothing to calm the sudden heat crawling up my spine.

He was still there.

The man on the balcony.

The faint light behind him barely spilled out from inside the room. It outlined his figure but hid his face completely, turning him into nothing more than a dark silhouette against the night.

Tall. Broad shoulders. Still.

My fingers curled into the fabric of my sleeves.

Why was he just standing there?

I couldn’t see his eyes, but I felt them on me. The awareness pressed heavy against my chest, as if the distance between us didn’t matter at all. As if he could see straight through me.

I swallowed.

This was ridiculous.

He was just a neighbor. A stranger. Someone who happened to be standing on his balcony at the same time I stepped outside.

And yet—

My heart didn’t believe that.

There was something about him. Something familiar. Not in the obvious way. Not because he looked like someone I knew. But because of the way he stood there. The way his presence alone made the air feel tight and heavy. I had felt this before.

Not long ago.

Not long enough.

"No.." I whispered to myself.

I shook my head slightly, as if that alone could scatter the thoughts forming far too clearly in my mind.

It couldn’t be him.

Rome wouldn’t be here.

Rome wouldn’t live across the street from me. He wouldn’t hide behind darkness and silence like this. He wouldn’t watch me from a distance like a ghost.

The irony of the thought almost made me laugh.

Ghost.

My breath came out shaky.

The man on the balcony shifted slightly. Just a subtle movement. But it was enough to send my heart jumping straight into my throat.

Then, without a word, he stepped back. The balcony doors slid shut.

The faint light vanished.

And just like that, he was gone.

I stood there alone, staring at the now-dark second floor of the house across the street.

"What is wrong with me...?" I murmured.

I stayed there for another minute. Maybe two. Waiting for something to happen again. For a light to turn back on. For a shadow to move behind the curtains. For proof that I hadn’t imagined everything.

But the house remained still.

No movement. No sound. Nothing.

Eventually, the chill finally sank into my bones. I turned back inside, locking the door behind me even though I knew it was unnecessary. My heart refused to slow down as I leaned against the door, pressing a hand to my chest.

Familiar.

That was the word echoing relentlessly in my mind. My heart and mind were telling me I couldn’t be wrong.

I went to bed after that, but sleep came in broken pieces. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the dark outline of a man standing on a balcony, watching without being seen.

----------

The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual.

Too early.

The sky outside was still gray, the sun barely beginning to rise. The house was quiet. The kids were still asleep, their soft breathing filling the small rooms.

I lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling.

The thought returned immediately.

The neighbor.

My chest tightened.

I sat up slowly, careful not to make any noise. My feet touched the floor, cold against my skin, grounding me just enough to keep my thoughts from spiraling completely out of control.

I wasn’t stupid.

I knew exactly what I was doing.

I was looking for confirmation.

Either way, I needed to see him in daylight.

I quietly changed clothes, tied my hair back, and slipped out of my bedroom. I moved through the house like a thief, careful with every step.

I was just going to look. Just a quick glance.

I reached the front door and gently turned the knob—

Knock. Knock.....

I froze.

My hand tightened around the doorknob, my breath catching painfully in my throat.

Someone knocked again.

Knock. Knock....

Who would knock this early?

I glanced toward the kids’ room, making sure they were still asleep. After a few seconds of hesitation, I unlocked the door and opened it just enough to peer outside.

A man stood there.

Not the one from the balcony.

This man looked to be around my age. Clean-cut. Calm. He was the same man I had seen yesterday—the one carrying a large bag when he entered the once-abandoned house.

He smiled when he saw me.

"Good morning," he said warmly. "Sorry to bother you so early."

I blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Good morning..."

He lifted the container he was holding. "I’m your new neighbor. I just moved in yesterday. I wanted to introduce myself properly."

New neighbor.

I looked down at what he was holding.

A large, clear container filled with breakfast food. Rice, eggs, pancakes, and what looked like carefully cooked meat arranged neatly inside. It smelled incredible. Not homemade-good.

Restaurant-good.

"Oh," I said slowly. "You didn’t have to—"

"It’s nothing," he said quickly. "Just a small gesture. I cooked breakfast for everyone on the street. I think it’s better to start things on good terms."

As he spoke, my eyes caught something near the bottom of the container.

A small sticker. Printed neatly. A very familiar logo from one of the most expensive restaurants in the city.

I stared at it.

He cooked this?

Is he serious?

The man noticed my gaze.

His smile faltered for half a second.

Then he scratched the back of his head, laughing lightly. "Ah... you noticed that, didn’t you?"

I didn’t respond.

He sighed softly. "I actually didn’t have time to cook. I had to prepare for work, so I ordered food and transferred it here."

Right. At least he was honest now.

I bit back a smile. "You know you could’ve just said that from the start."

He chuckled sheepishly. "Old habit. I thought it would sound more... neighborly."

"Well," I said, glancing at the food again, "you saved me from cooking breakfast. That already makes you a good neighbor."

He looked relieved.

"I’m Cloud," he said, extending his hand. "Cloud Greg."

I hesitated before shaking it. His grip was firm but respectful.

"Sylvia.." I replied.

"Nice to meet you, Sylvia," Cloud said genuinely. "You have kids, right? I saw them yesterday."

"Yes," I answered. "Three."

"That’s wonderful," he said. "Please accept this. I’ll be delivering to the others as well."

I took the container slowly. "Thank you."

He nodded. "I won’t take more of your time. I just wanted to say hello."

And with that, he stepped back, gave a polite wave, and walked down the street toward the next house, knocking cheerfully like he was on a mission.

I closed the door slowly.

The container felt heavier than it should have in my hands.

I placed it on the table and leaned against the counter, my thoughts racing.

Cloud.

He wasn’t the man from the balcony. I was sure of that.

But then—

My eyes drifted toward the window again.

If Cloud wasn’t the one I saw...

Then who was?

The kids woke up soon after, drawn immediately by the smell.

"Mom! This looks fancy!" Egypt exclaimed.

"Did you cook this?" she asked, eyes sparkling.

"No.." I replied absently.

"Did you win the lottery?" Cairo asked seriously.

I laughed softly. "No. The new neighbor brought it."

Paris paused mid-bite, frowning slightly. "The quiet one?"

"Yes," I said. "His name is Cloud."

Paris nodded slowly. "He feels... normal."

I stared at her. "Normal?"

She shrugged. "Not ghosty."

Egypt giggled. "So the ghost is still hiding."

"Enough," I said, laughing despite myself. "Eat your breakfast."

Later, after the kids left for school, the house felt empty again.

Too quiet.

I stepped outside under the excuse of throwing out the trash, my eyes immediately drawn to the house across the street.

The curtains were closed.

Nothing moved.

A shiver ran down my spine. There’s a rumor that the house has a ghost.

A white lady!

I scoffed quietly. "Don’t be ridiculous."

Ghosts weren’t real.

But familiarity was.

And whatever I felt last night had been real.

******************

Inside the house across the street, behind thick curtains, Rome stood completely still.

The room was dark, the early morning light carefully blocked out. His hands were in his pockets, his posture calm, but his eyes were sharp as he watched through the narrow gap in the curtain.

Sylvia.

She stood outside for a moment, her gaze lingering on his house before she turned away.

His chest tightened.

"I’m glad she accepted it.." he murmured.

Her hair was tied back simply, doing nothing to lessen her beauty. If anything, it made her look like sunlight in the early morning.

Cloud entered the room quietly.

"I gave the food," Cloud said. "Just like you asked."

Rome didn’t turn around. "Did she notice?"

Cloud hesitated. "You mean the sticker? Yeah... she did."

A faint, humorless smile touched Rome’s lips. "That’s not what I meant." He shot Cloud a sharp look. "Don’t tell me you forgot to remove it."

"Well..." Cloud scratched his head. "I did. But she accepted it, right? And she didn’t ask anything."

Rome exhaled slowly. "Good."

"You’re really going to do this quietly?" Cloud asked.

"I don’t have the right to disrupt her life," Rome replied. "Not yet."

"And the kids?"

Rome’s expression softened, just for a moment. "I’ll watch from here."

Cloud nodded. "Understood."

As Cloud left, Rome returned to the window.

Sylvia was gone.

"I’m here," he whispered. "Even if you don’t know it yet."

Across the street, Sylvia shivered.

For no reason at all.

Or maybe...

Because someone was watching her again.