CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Jaden ran into the residence, looking for his grandma. Scarlet followed, holding Nate's hand. She was especially calm that day, and Nate had no intention of inquiring why.

«So, you will come to get us back, right?» Scarlet asked for the third time in a row.

«Yes, I will.»

«Sure, sure?»

«Yes, Scarlet. How would Lara react if I didn't? She would be angry at me, and I don't want that. Also, I want you back too.»

«You, too?»

«Yes. Of course, Scarlet.»

«Okay, daddy. We will be good, then, and grandma won't complain about us.»

«I'm sure she won't.»

«Then, come back for us early, okay?»

«Will you be able to wake up early?»

«Yes, of course! I'll be awake when daddy comes.»

That said, she waved at him and let go of his hand. She ran after her brother and walked inside.

Melanie reached the door and saw her son.

«Are you coming in?» she asked.

«I'm in a hurry,» Nate said. «We can talk tomorrow.»

«Sure,» Melanie chuckled. «We can have breakfast all four together. Bring Lara as well, there's someone you two might want to meet.»

«Okay,» he said, nodding. Then, he turned and forgot about the pups: he was going on a date with his mate!

Melanie followed behind Scarlet and found a scene she wasn't expecting. Why were the pups already accepting her guest? Not even a glare or two? No growling?

She sighed when the words he said reached her ears.

«You can call me grandpa,» he was saying.

«He's not your grandpa!» she shouted. «Your grandpa is not with us anymore.»

«Oh, Melanie... Great uncle is so long, and these kids are small.»

«Grandpa Luther?» Jaden murmured, tilting his head.

Luther laughed out loud.

«Do you remember my name?»

Jaden nodded, and Melanie frowned. Remember?

«We met in front of an ice cream shop,» the man replied. «I was surprised to see your son had two children this old. The tabloids said they just started dating.»

«Tabloids aren't as informed,» she said. «It's better they know nothing, believe me. By the way, you haven't finished your story: when did you come out? You could have called me, and I'd have sent someone to pick you up.»

«Call you after five years?» he chuckled. «I couldn't bother you, Melanie. I have heard from no one for so long... I didn't think about it.»

«After Robert died, it was a difficult time. I forgot about you, to be honest.»

«You always take the chance to break my heart, don't you? Some things never change. But now, you are free... And I am free, as well,» he said, smiling charmingly at Mrs Woods.

She glared back, glacial. Yet, her eyes betrayed part of her surprise. She had never seen him so... shameless? He was proper, once! Was that what prison does to people?

«Come on, don't be like that,» he chuckled. «Your husband was my best friend. I couldn't be this open while he was alive. But now... We don't have obligations. Neither of us.

We can remember him together, right? Wouldn't that be romantic?»

«Luther, please...»

«Yes, Melanie?»

She winced when she heard her name on his lips. It didn't sound like he was joking. But they hadn't seen each other for twenty years... So much time must have forced him crazy.

«Tell me more. How have you been? Has the tribunal unfrozen your money? Do you have everything you need? I can lend you some if you need...»

«No, it's okay. I have my money back. Well, not all of it. But I will need a little more time to get that back. As for now, I can survive just fine.»

Now, suddenly, his eyes weren't warm and charming. He was staring at her coldly, lost in his memories and past regrets.

They remembered they weren't alone and turned to the kids.

«So, grandpa Luther owes you an ice cream!» he said. The chilly gaze was gone, and his face was distended. Something about those kids made him relax.

He knew well enough not to lower his guard. He had paid the price once. But... Twins! A boy and a girl!

No one had told him, which meant no one knew. Or they didn't care enough to spread the word.

He couldn't understand how Gracelyn wasn't anywhere around. Her daughter had two children with Nate Woods. How did they even meet? Was it really something Gracelyn hadn't planned for her own benefit?

She was good with that kind of trick. How come she wasn't leeching on the Woods? Talking with Melanie, he couldn't collect anything about the Claytons.

It was as if she didn't know them. She had told him a few good words about Lara, but that was all.

He still had to meet her. After twenty years, he wouldn't have recognised her if he saw her. Maybe she had forgotten.

«Kids are ungrateful and forget easily,» he murmured. Even those two small things curiously staring would one day forget him.

No matter how interesting he might have been, one day, they wouldn't know his name.

He chuckled at their expressions.

«Do they do this with every stranger? They're so friendly!» he said.

They have been observing him for a long while, considering they were about five. How could their attention stay so long on something as uninteresting as an old grandpa talking adult things with their grandmother?

«No, usually not,» Melanie said.

«It's as if they know who I am,» he continued. «I feel like... As if they smelt me. Your grandchildren are weird, Melanie. They remind me of Robert.»

The woman shrugged. How could she say they did smell him? They could feel by his scent that he was familiar. Familiar in a different way than Nate and Melanie - because they didn't growl at him. Maybe they felt he was close to their mommy.

«Children are intuitive,» she said instead.

She couldn't reveal too much. After all, she didn't know what had happened to Luther those last few years. People change, after all.

Knowing everything she knew, she couldn't risk revealing their secret to that man. Once, he had been a good person and her husband's best friend. But, she remembered, Robert wasn't with them anymore.