Page 80 of The Bratva's Secret Twins

I put my foot down and pressed on.

When we arrived at the mall, I helped the twins out of their car seats and took their hands, leading them into the bustling shopping center. Vivian walked beside me, smiling at the sight of our little family.

She looked really lovely in that pair of blue jeans with a flowered blouse on top of it. She had a pair of sunglasses on, and her heels clicked against the floor as we walked inside.

“Alright, guys, what’s the first store we’re going to hit?” I asked, looking down at Sophia and Leo.

“Toys! Toys!” they shouted in unison.

Vivian leaned closer, softly saying, “That really shouldn’t have been a question.”

“Right,” I concurred and faced the kids. “Ah, I think we can handle that.” A grin played on my lips.

Inside the toy store, Sophia’s eyes landed on a shelf filled with stuffed animals.

“Daddy, Daddy, look!” she exclaimed, tugging on my hand.

“Wow, that’s a lot of cute animals,” I said, lifting her up to see better. “Which one do you like best?”

She thought for a moment, her hand beneath her jaw.

“The pink rabbit!” she squealed.

“The pink rabbit. Okay, great choice,” I said, plucking the rabbit from the shelf. “You can name her Mrs. Fluffers.” I bent to her level and handed her the stuffed animal.

Leo, meanwhile, was fascinated by a remote-control car. “Daddy, can I get this?” he asked, his eyes shining with excitement. “I want to drive like you.”

“Really?” My brows rose.

“Yes, you’re the best driver that I know,” he replied.

Vivian scoffed and rolled her eyes. “That’s debatable.”

“Is that a challenge?” I asked her.

She shrugged with a smile and picked Sophia up.

“Alright, buddy. Let’s take it for a spin,” I said, handing Leo the controller. “Vroom!”

We spent about an hour at the mall, playing games together and having fun. When the kids were tired, we bought some stuff and decided to wrap it up for the day.

As we left the store, arms loaded with bags, I scooped up both twins and swung them around, making them giggle. “Best shopping trip ever, right?” I asked, grinning at Vivian.

She smiled, her eyes shining with love. “Definitely.”

The way she looked at me recently was completely different, and I loved it. There was always a hint of love and a mix of admiration whenever those blue eyes landed on me.

We got into the car, and I drove away.

“Can we get ice cream now?” Sophia asked, her voice lifting on a hopeful note.

Vivian glanced at me, unsure. We’d spent so much time outside already. “I don’t know, honey….”

“Please…?” She put on a cute little pout as she pleaded.

“No.” Vivian shook her head, peering at the backseat, her index finger shaking in the air. “No, don’t do that. Don’t gimme that look.”

“Please…?” Leo joined in.

---