CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Steve Clayton was dumbfounded. He wouldn't have ever imagined he would be threatened in his own house by a future son-in-law.

However, he didn't know what to reply. If Grace was there, she would have flooded Nate with words until the latter's head started spinning. But Steve was different.

«Sit down,» he invited them. «I'm not sure what you are talking about.»

«You told the press about my pregnancy,» Lara spat out, annoyed by her father's calm demeanour. He wouldn't be nervous even if the world was collapsing.

Once, she thought it was a sign of his strength. But, with time, she had started realising he was actually a coward. And that he didn't care as much as he would say he did.

«The one you gave me money to interrupt, do you remember it?» she added with a disgusted grimace. «But I didn't do it. I kept the child, and then I gave birth to twins.»

«Must have been difficult for you,» was his reply. «I gave you my advice as a senior. Life with a baby isn't easy, but with two? A single woman has it harsh in our world.»

«They are the same kids Nate and I are raising now,» Lara continued. «Our kids. And we'll ensure they have everything they need and live happily, even without their grandparents. I don't need you anymore. I came here to warn you about the consequences of your actions. Don't try messing in my life anymore.

Not a single time. And don't even consider making me look like an ungrateful brat who doesn't know how to forgive her parents, because you haven't asked for my forgiveness. Not once, even while asking Nate to collaborate with your business.»

Steve sighed, shaking his head.

«You're raising children of another man,» he said with a suspiciously empathic tone. He was turned to Nate, his lips curled in a sad smile. «It's tough, isn't it?»

«What?» Nate muttered. «Whose children?»

«No one knows,» Steve said. «And that might make it a little easier.»
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Nate blinked, lost. What was that man talking about? And why did it feel like he was sorry?

«Lara, what is this about?» he asked, confused.

She shrugged, dumbfounded just as much. Her father wouldn't say cryptic things, so she was surprised by his reaction. What had she said that made him feel sorry for Nate?

«Oh, maybe he thinks we don't know whose children ours are,» she realised.

«But we do,» Nate pointed out. «We know very well.»

Steve's expression became even more sorry with their chat. He thought Nate either didn't know he had been tricked, or he had accepted the kids and would say they were his. In both cases, it was heartbreaking for poor Steve. No man deserved that fate, but life could be unfair.

«You're not that different from your mother, after all,» he said.

Lara felt hurt by those words. She knew it wasn't true: she had more in common with her father than her mother, always had. Yet, it felt like Steve wanted to say more than just that.

There was still something she didn't know about her own birth family, and she felt as if it was relevant - for once. As if it would explain something.

«What is this about?» she asked him, taking a step forward.

Steve winced, not expecting such a gesture from the shy little girl he had seen growing up. Yet, she was a grown woman now. She could make her decisions and mistakes, and she would bear all the consequences.

She wasn't dependent on them anymore.

«What do you mean, dad?» she pressed him.

«Don't call me dad,» he said, turning away and observing the family pictures in the corner. His family, he thought. Those people, Grace and David, were his family. Lara was not, which made it right to cut her out of every single picture.

«Why? Aren't you going to ask me to come back and be family again now that I have some use?»

«You're not my daughter,» he said. «You have never been. Not now, and not earlier. You're another man's child. Just like your twins.»

Lara blinked, taken back. Could her family have any more secrets? For real?

«And whose daughter am I?»

«Are you sure you want to know? Your real father was a violent man. He's serving his sentence in prison now, but he had hurt your mother. She still gave birth to you. And you repay her by bringing her shame? I thought I could help you grow up like a fine lady even if you weren't mine, but some things are difficult to accept.

I tried hard, but I couldn't do it.»

While Lara's jaw almost reached the floor, Nate scoffed. He was annoyed by that talk.

«How can't you recognise your children?» he said.

His face was cold, and furious but calm at the same time. It was a mystery how could he show so many emotions with so few changes in his grimaces.

But then, he remembered he couldn't explain it with scents and the like.

«And you do look alike. Lara is clearly your daughter. And the twins are mine. I remember very well how Lara and I met, and they resemble me too much for it to be a coincidence.»

After those words, he turned to face Lara's inquiring expression. She was asking him, with her eyes, why was he giving explanations? Steve Clayton didn't need to know the details of their family, after all.

As for Lara, she didn't know what to think. She didn't even care about who her father was.

Her mother had told Steve she wasn't his daughter and, according to Nate, it had been a lie. But... Why?

What reason would a woman have to tell her husband that their child was of another man? It didn't make sense!

«You said my father is in prison,» Lara said. «Who is he?»

Since Steve didn't reply, she had to do it by herself.

«I can guess who you think my real father is. Well, he's not in prison anymore,» she said. «And he's already being a better grandfather than you, for my children.»