Aoto

“Kyaaa. He’s so freaking cute, I think I’m going to die,” Marina exclaims, scooping Gaku into her arms and cuddling him. “Which one is this, Ao? Is he Gaku or Genkei?”

Before I can respond, Gaku babbles, “Gaaa! Gaaa!” He points at himself and giggles again. “Gaaa!”

Like the super proud mama I am, I beam the brightest smile ever and say, “Like he said, he’s Gaku, and the one on my lap is Genkei.”

With Gaku settled on her thighs, Marina continues, “As I was saying, yesterday, I received several calls from Mr. Yoon himself. He insists that you be in the music video at all costs. I don’t know why he’s gotten involved in something like this, especially when he’s the chairman of the Yoon Group and must be busier than anyone else, but—”

Desperation and nervousness bubble up inside me at the mention of Yu-jun’s father’s name. Before I know it, my hand is raised in front of her face, and I interrupt her with a trembling voice. “You can stop now. I don’t care why Mr. Yoon himself wants me in that cursed music video, but as I’ve said many times before, I’m not interested and I don’t want anything to do with those people. That will never change,” I assert, freaking out.

“But, Ao, think about it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a nameless streamer like you. Besides, don’t you know that Mr. Yoon’s son and daughter are the famous, super handsome Dominant Alpha Yu-jun Yoon and the world-renowned Alpha idol Ji-yeon Yoon? Have you seen a photo of Yu-jun? He’s the most handsome, hottest man in—” She stops abruptly, glancing at Gaku and Genkei. The broad smile on her face disappears, and her eyes grow wide, filling with what I assume is disbelief. “Did you know your angels are the spitting image of Yu-jun Yoon? I’d almost say they’re his offspring if…” She trails off, blinking rapidly. “If… If… If…” she repeats, her entire body trembling as she looks at me.

“Are you broken?” I smirk, rolling my eyes. “Why are you looking at me like that? What do you want to ask me this time?”

She swallows dramatically. “A-Aoto-kun, I know it’s absurd for me to even ask you this, but… Is the twins’ father the famous Dominant Alpha Yu-jun Yoon?”

Shrugging, I reply, “What do you think?”

She mutters, “No way. I can’t believe it.” She slams her cell phone onto the carpet and curls her hand into a fist, her voice rising as she snaps, “I can’t believe Yu-jun Yoon is the bastard who knocked you up and abandoned you and these precious angels. I’m going to expose him to the media and ruin his life and—”

“Marina, stop,” I yell, the growing anxiety in my chest getting the best of me. “Don’t talk like that in front of my twins, and don’t make assumptions about my private life. Yes, Yu-jun Yoon is their father, but he isn’t in the picture because he doesn’t know about them and never will. Moreover, he’s my brother’s boyfriend, so… I guess that explains everything for itself.”

Rubbing a finger against her forehead, Marina cringes and closes her eyes for a brief moment before asking, “Yu-jun is your brother’s boyfriend? But isn’t he engaged to that model and actress, Ai Sato?”

“Yes, to both of your questions.”

“And you haven’t told Yu-jun about the twins because you don’t want to ruin his relationship with your brother and his engagement to Ai Sato?”

“I haven’t told him about the twins because he doesn’t even remember being with me,” I confess, the fact that Yu-jun doesn’t remember spending his rut with me and mistaking me for my brother being the sorest spot in my heart.

“What? How come?”

“I was in heat, and he was in rut, and he thought I was my brother.” I close my eyes and force myself to swallow the lump forming in my throat. “But that doesn’t matter because I love my twins unconditionally, and I’m enough to raise them the way they deserve to be loved.”

“Wow, what a freaking mess. Now I get why you don’t want to be involved with the Yoon Group. Are you afraid of exposing the angels’ existence to Mr. Yoon and having them taken away by him?” she pries, gently patting Gaku on the head.

“No. I’m sure Mr. Yoon would kill my twins and me if he ever found out about us because he would do anything to preserve his pristine family’s name. Can you imagine the shame it would bring the Yoons if it came out that Yu-jun has children out of wedlock? I’m hiding my buns’ existence to protect them first and foremost,” I explain, slightly tightening my grip around Genkei and pursing my lips. “I’ll never let the Yoons get close to my buns.”

“Yeah, you’re right, and we definitely can’t let those bastar—I mean, those bad people harm our precious angels.” Marina looks at me with determination shining in her eyes. “I swear I’ll help you protect Genkei and Gaku from everything and everyone. I’ll be the best crazy aunt ever.” She lets out a loud, scary laugh that startles Gaku, who recoils and extends his arms toward me, letting me know he wants me to take him.

“Come here, Gaku. Crazy Aunt Marina is scary, isn’t she?” I joke, lifting Gaku into my arms and settling him on my left thigh, with Genkei on my right one. “Mama is here to protect you from her.”

Waving her fist in the air, she growls at me, “Hey, I might be the crazy aunt, but I’d never scare them on purpose. You don’t have to go as far as telling them you’ll protect them from me.”

I laugh, feeling relieved after talking to her about the twins and Yu-jun.

“So, when was the last time you spoke with Yu-jun?” she asks, still on the annoying topic.

“At the welcoming party I attended on Friday night, but he left early with my brother, who went into rut.” I bite my lower lip, hesitating to add, “They didn’t come back, and I haven’t heard from my brother yet. I think they must be at a hotel together.”

Holding my ankle and squeezing it lightly, Marina smiles and says, “I understand. I’m sorry for questioning you about the one whose name we shall not say, and forcing you to recall what must be painful memories. Thank you for trusting me and telling me the truth. I swear on my life, I’ll never spill a word about the little angels to anyone.” She presses her index finger against her lips, her smile widening.

Glad to have one more person to brag about my buns to, I nod in response and chuckle.

“Don’t worry about the music video. I’ll make sure to reject their offer once and for all tomorrow and—”

Suddenly, the doorbell rings twice.

“Eh? Who is it this time?” I motion to rise to my feet with the twins in my arms, but Marina beats me to it, pushing me back onto the couch.

“I’ll get the door, Ao. I’ll be right back.” She heads toward the front door before I can retort, which I’m honestly thankful for.

As I entertain the twins while waiting for her to return, two unfamiliar voices—a man’s and a woman’s—catch my attention, mostly because they’re growing louder and closer.

“Marina, what’s happening? Who is it?” I call out, worried.

I hear my agent yell, “No,” just before a handsome, well-dressed middle-aged man and a stunning, well-dressed middle-aged woman appear in the living room entrance.

It takes me a couple of seconds to register their presence. The man has dark brown hair and hazel eyes, while the woman has golden hair and green eyes. Both of them gawk at Gaku and Genkei, frozen in place, their faces growing paler by the second.

Adopting mama-bear mode, I immediately shield my buns and bark, “Who are you? What are you doing in my apartment? What do you want?”

Marina appears behind them, looking panicked as hell, and urges, “Ao, please, don’t yell at them and don’t threaten them. I’m sorry for not stopping them from coming inside.” Tears fill her eyes as she shoots me a concerned look before turning around to shield me and the twins from the strangers’ view. “Mr. Yoon, Mrs. Yoon, I’ll have to politely ask you to leave. This is Aoto’s private space, and you have no right to be here without his and his family’s permission.”

I murmur, “Mr. and Mrs. Yoon?” I gape at the visibly wealthy and elite Alphas, recognition dawning on me. “Yu-jun’s parents?” I gasp, horrified.

Pushing Marina aside and stepping closer to me and the twins, Mr. Yoon grabs Genkei by the arm and exclaims, “These toddlers are the spitting image of Yu-jun.”

Mrs. Yoon covers her mouth with her hand and stumbles back. “Are they Yu-jun’s sons?”

Realizing that the twins’ identities and existence have been exposed to the people who are the most dangerous threat, I can’t help but remove Mr. Yoon’s hand from Genkei’s arm harshly and growl, “They are my sons, and mine only. Don’t you dare touch them again, or I swear to God, I won’t be responsible for what I might do to protect them. Now get out of my apartment before I call the cops.”

The air in the room becomes heavy as silence falls upon us. However, when the intruders neither move nor say anything, their eyes still fixed on the twins, Genkei suddenly reaches for Mr. Yoon’s hand and holds his fingers, smiling and giggling as he says, “Gapa!”

Eh? How the hell does Genkei know that Mr. Yoon is his grandpa? No, why is he so friendly with him when he normally despises strangers? Why are Yu-jun’s parents here?

The sound of the clock on the wall ticking slowly contrasts with the disconcerted beat of my heart in my chest as I fear what might happen next.

* * *