NovelAppKane sneaked a glance at his dad, a mischievous twinkle briefly crossing his features, almost too quick to catch.
Aurelia told Leopold that William was Liam's reincarnation. Leopold was probably a skeptic, but if Kane laid it on just a bit thicker and made it sound more mystical, Leopold might just buy it.
Once Leopold believed it, he would treat William like he did Liam with love. That way, William would be more inclined to stick around.
"Dad," Kane began, with an air of casual intrigue, "I've heard that identical twins have this kind of telepathy, you know? William isn't Liam but my half-brother from another mother. | swear it's like we've got that twin connection. We're always on the swavelength." Leopold's shoulders gave a slight shudder at the words.
Just then, William scrambled up from the sandy shore, barreling toward them, eager for a drink, but he stumbled and tumbled to the ground.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtLeopold sprang into action like a gust of wind, swooping William up in his arms in an instant.
"Easy there, kiddo," Leopold said, setting William down on a nearby chair.
Aurelia hurried over to make sure William was okay, sighing in relief that he wasn't hurt.
"Be more careful next time, don't run so fast," she cautioned.
"Okay," William nodded, his throat parched. "Mommy, I'm thirsty." Leopold cracked open a chilled coconut and handed it to him, his guilt over Liam making him instinctively more tender toward William.
Leopold might not believe in the whole reincarnation spiel, but a part of him held onto the hope that William was Liam reborn. That way, Liam would be back in his life.
William eyed Leopold curiously. Uncle Leopold was acting super nice today. Maybe he had skind of epiphany the night before? William took several long gulps of the coconut water. "This is quite refreshing and sweet." Skyler, Nina and Mira crunning back from their play.
"William, you alright?" Skyler asked.
William pulled a face. "Yeah, no sweat. Luckily, it's winter. If this were summer, I'd have sandpaper knees for sure." He remembered falling at the beach during a summer visit with Aurelia and Arnold, scraping his knees raw, and being benched on a chair to dry out in the sea breeze.
Suddenly, a few figures appeared in the distance.
It was Arnold, Fredric, and Jelena.
"Daddy!" William set down his drink and leaped from the chair, racing toward Arnold.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmArnold caught him mid-stride, planting a kiss on his rosy cheek.
"Daddy, | took a spill just now," William said in his sweet and childish lilt.
Arnold examined his little hands. "Did you hurt yourself anywhere?" "Nope, lucky | had my pants on, or my knees would've been toast," William said with a pout.
Arnold gently rubbed his son's knees. "Be more careful next time." "Will do," William nodded earnestly.
Leopold felt a twinge of irritation, as if his son had been snatched away from him.
But he couldn't deny the truth. William was now Arnold's son, not his Liam.
Nina and Mira called out "Daddy" when they saw Fredric, but the sight of the unfamiliar woman by his side gave them an uneasy hunch.
"Aunt Aurelia, that lady isn't your cousin, is she?" Nina asked with a frown.
Aurelia facepalmed and shot Leopold a look. "I thought it was just us and the kids on this getaway. | didn't expect you to invite Fredric and Arnold too." Leopold furrowed his brow slightly. "I didn't invite them." Why would he ever ask Fredric and Arnold to join? He wanted to avoid any interruptions, especially from Arnold. That guy had taken his wife and now his son! Nina puffed her cheeks, recalling her call to Dad the previous day, telling him Uncle Leopold was taking them to Silver Surf Beach for a vacation. She hinted that he should join but she didn't expect him to bring the wicked woman along.
Jelena had been reluctant at first, but the thought of being near Aurelia swayed her decision in the end.
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