Chapter V

After his talk with Dev, Thierry kept the twins away from the building. He misses his babies, but that is the best choice, keeping them away from their good-for-nothing father. Well..., Thierry thought, The man I know is different from the character in my sister's book. He is shy and seems to have a good temper. But what if it is just a ruse? He can't risk the kids like that.

The more Thierry knew about the man, the more he thought that if that was a ruse, it was a really good one. Because even he started to believe that the man in front of him was a good person. Maybe... I'm a butterfly after all. So much has changed because of me. He might have changed as well. Thierry thought for a second, then drove that thought away. In his mind, Cael was someone he could never trust. No matter how much the world gave him other signs.

"Thi", Dev called him one night.

They have just had dinner together and put the kids to sleep. Thierry was doing the dishes, distracted by his own thoughts. How long has Dev been staying with them? He had his own apartment, but Thierry couldn't remember the last time he went home. Dev was always helping him with the kids, and taking care of them. Cael could never do that. He thought.

"Thi, drop the dishes and let's sit down for a while".

"Sure", Thierry just finished washing a plate and dropped everything else down. He looked at the toys Collin and Killian just got from Dev. That was all they needed. Not having a father in the picture wasn't a bad thing.

Thierry sat down on the sofa in front of Dev, still lost in his thoughts. Dev started talking, but he could only listen to a word or two of what he was saying, unable to unravel the meaning of those phrases. Until Dev said:

"He knows". Dev looked straight at Thierry but the man didn't react. "Thi", He called Thierry's attention, while holding his hands. Thierry looked at him, brought back from his dream world.

"Sorry, I got distracted. What did you say?"

"I said that he knows. Cael knows about Collin and Killian". Dev repeated, looking Thierry in the eyes. "I wasn't 100% sure, but after this afternoon I'm pretty confident that he knows. He must have seen Killian the other day and figured it out".

Thierry turned paler than a ghost. What does he mean with 'Cael knows?' How could he know? Why does he know? Couldn't he just leave them alone? Thierry thought, his fear turning into anger.

"Thi, you need to talk to him. Give him a chance". Dev held Thierry's hand firmly, trying to calm him.

"Give him a chance?", Thierry laughed, slapping Dev's hand away. "He should have just stayed away from us, pretend that night never happened and that he doesn't know me. A man like him doesn't deserve a chance".

"Thi, I pretended not to care for whatever you are hiding, but I'm tired. You act like you know some big secret that no one else knows. If you really do, why don't you share? I'm trying to help you. I've always been on your side, no matter what happened. And I always did my best for your sons. But, in the end, I feel like a stranger who you can't trust". Dev said, sitting away from Thierry. It wasn't the first time that Thierry acted like that, drawing a limit between them.

"I trust you... I just" Thierry said, not finishing his phrase.

"You what? Give me a good reason".

"I can't". At Thierry's answer, Dev sighed and got up.

"I'll sleep in the guest room tonight".

That's how the night ended. Thierry finished the dishes, took a shower and went to sleep. His slumber was filled with nightmares. About what would happen now that Cael knew. Dev leaving him for not telling the truth. Dev leaving him for telling the truth. Deveraux was the person he trusted the most in this world, but he was still scared of telling the truth and his best friend leaving him. But now he was also scared of not telling and losing his precious friend.

The morning next, he made a decision. He called the office and told everyone he would arrive late. He asked the driver to send the twins to kindergarten. Then, he made his special pancakes for breakfast and waited for Deveraux. The man woke up at 8h30.

"Why are you still here?", Dev asked as he saw Thierry waiting for him in the kitchen.

"I made you breakfast". Thierry told with a smile.

"Okay", Dev answered, confused.

"I thought it was better to eat before we talk".

Deveraux raised an eyebrow and looked at Thierry.

"Okay".

After breakfast, Dev and Thierry sat in the living room, two cups of tea in front of them. They stayed in silence for a time, until Thierry opened his mouth. And told his story. All of it. The story of how a thirty-year-old Aidan, from another world, became Thierry Bélanger, the omega son of a rich family, who became Antoine Rayne, a tech business tycoon. He told him all about the original story and how Cael was the toxic male lead, and him a minor villain with a tragic ending. He disclosed how he used his knowledge about a future society from a parallel world and about the story of the book to prosper in business. Deveraux listened to everything in silence. When Thierry finished his tale, Deveraux looked at him with an intrigued expression.

"It's strange, but that actually makes sense".

"It does?", Thierry asked.

"Yes". Dev answer. "It also explains why you're so scared of talking with your babies' father".

"Now you understand me!" Thierry smiled.

"I understand you, but that doesn't mean I think you are right".

"What?", Thierry exclaimed, flabbergasted. "How? Did you really listen to me?"

"Yes. But a lot has changed since you came to this world, right? For starters, Collin and Killian originally never existed. So many things have to change in order for them to exist; still, here they are. And the original Cael never worked for his uncle, and his uncle never had an animation company. For what I know, this Cael was raised by his uncle; while the original Cael was raised by his father in a toxic environment. In conclusion, there is no way they are the same person. I can't attest to how much different those two Caels are, but we know a little about this Cael and for all that I've seen until now he is a good person and deserves a chance. Even if the other Cael didn't".

Thierry tried to protest, but he knew his best friend was right. Thierry bit his underlip, trying to contain his feelings. Our life is good as it is. The twins are happy. Why do we need to add someone else in our lives?, Thierry thought. Deep down he knew it was his own selfishness talking, and that Dev's argument was the rational way. But for the last twenty-five years he planned everything so that he wouldn't have to deal with Cael and the Delaneys. The Delaneys, Thierry thought, Even if Cael changed, the Delaney family is still the toxic waste they were in the original.

"I can't tell him", Thierry concluded.

"Why?", Dev asked, thinking he had already convinced him.

"His family. If they are even half of what they were in the original, the kids are in danger". Thierry answered. "It would be good if they just don't recognize them for being illegitimate children. But they might use them to control Cael or me, or to have a grasp on Ant. Or whatever their deranged minds scheme.

"Hm", Dev exclaimed. "Then maybe telling him is the best way to prepare for whatever they might do. You have the novel information about them. He has the actual information about them".

Thierry clenched his fists. Dev was right, again. That's the problem of having friends as smart as you, especially when you have a high IQ and he has a high EQ. Thierry stayed in silence for a long time, Dev sat beside him, holding him.

"I know it's hard, and it will cause a great disruption in your life. And you don't know how the twins will react to all this. It's okay to establish some limits when talking to him. But you still have to talk".

"I know. I'll. I just need some time to think".

"Just think of it wisely. Anyway, he already knows. Now, you need to guide him in what he would do with that information".

***

Thierry took a week to think. And to establish some rules. Then he freed his schedule on a Thursday and called him there. There he had at least a reason to call him. Cael came with a paste of documents and a dubious look in his eyes. Thierry didn't tell him anything in advance.

"Sit down", Thierry said.

"Yes, sir", Cael answered.

Thierry closed the curtains and locked the door. Cael just observed, sitting in his chair trembling a little. As Thierry sat down, he sighed. He grabbed a bottle of water and emptied it in one go. Cael was already white thinking about the thousand of reasons he could be there, none of them the real one.

"You know about the twins, don't you?"

"Who?", Cael lied.

"Don't pretend. Dev said you saw them some weeks ago. And you probably guessed everything from there".

"Yes", Cael answered, his eyes lowered.

"You don't need to look down like that. I'm not going to scold you for finding it out. If there is someone I should scold it's myself". Thierry sighed again. "I'm sorry for hiding it from you, but I had my reasons for doing it. Our situation for example. But also because I know there are people who would want to use them against me, or to manipulate me or something worse. I don't want them to be put in that position of being a tool of someone else's greed. I believe you can think of people that would try to hurt our children like that".

"I do", Cael agreed.

"For that reason, also, I think that some rules can be put in order".

"I understand". Cael said, holding the arms of the chair with his hands, his nails deepening in the leather.

"I won't introduce you to them as their father, but as a friend. You're not allowed to take pictures with them or to post about them or your social media. You won't be allowed to stay with them unsupervised, and you can't take them anywhere without my previous authorization. You can't talk to them if you see them in the company, or in anything related to it. You can't visit them without my authorization".

Cael bit his lip, but in the end he agreed to everything.

"But I'll be able to meet them?", he asked.

"Yes. If you are available this Saturday, we're going to the lake. I'll introduce you there".

"Thank you", he smiled.

"I'll give you the details later". Thierry answered.