Page 51 of Secret Bratva Twins

Alyssa beams. “We will, Grandma!”

Leo nods solemnly, still chewing a bite of his French toast.

Katya rises, smoothing her blouse, and presses a kiss to each child’s head. “Enjoy your day,” she says before turning to me. “Serge, I trust you’ll handle everything.”

I nod, my expression neutral. “Of course.”

With that, she leaves, her heels clicking against the marble as she exits the room.

For a moment, the table is silent except for the soft clinking of silverware. Alyssa is the first to break it, launching into another story about her favorite book, and I listen, amused, as she details every character with dramatic flair.

Chiara remains quiet, her gaze occasionally flicking to the children, her expression thoughtful.

“You’re quiet,” I say, leaning back slightly and letting my eyes settle on her.

She looks up, startled, as if caught in a thought. “Just tired,” she replies quickly, her tone even. “It was a long night.”

My lips curve into a faint smirk. “I’m sure it was.”

Her cheeks flush, and she looks away, focusing on cutting Leo’s next bite into smaller pieces.

The kids finish eating soon after, Alyssa bouncing in her seat as she finishes the last of her juice. “Mommy, can we go play now?”

Chiara smiles at her, though there’s still a hint of weariness in her eyes. “Yes, but first you need to get dressed.”

Alyssa hops down from her chair, grabbing Leo’s hand. “Come on, Leo!”

Chiara starts to rise, but I hold up a hand, stopping her. “No need,” I say. “They’ll be taken care of.”

She pauses, frowning slightly. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve hired a nanny,” I reply, my tone calm. “She’ll handle things like this from now on.”

The frown deepens, and she crosses her arms, leaning back in her chair. “A nanny, for what? I’m perfectly capable of taking care of my children.”

“Your children,” I repeat, my voice steady as I meet her gaze. “This isn’t about capability. It’s about convenience.”

“They don’t need convenience,” she snaps. “They need me.”

“They need stability,” I counter, my tone firm. “With everything else happening, you can’t do it all alone.”

Her jaw tightens, her eyes flashing with defiance. “I’ve been doing it alone for years, Serge. Don’t act like you know what they need better than I do.”

“They’re in my house now,” I reply coolly. “As long as they are, they’ll have everything they need, including help.”

Chiara glares at me, her hands gripping the edge of the table. “Help, or control? Because it feels like the latter.”

I lean forward slightly, my voice dropping. “You can call it whatever you like, but the nanny stays.”

The tension between us is thick, and for a moment, I expect her to push back harder, to keep arguing. But then she exhales sharply, shaking her head. “Fine,” she says, her tone clipped. “Don’t expect me to sit back and let someone else raise my children.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I reply, my smirk returning.

She rolls her eyes and rises from the table, muttering something under her breath as she moves to check on the kids.

Alyssa and Leo, oblivious to the tension, dart toward the stairs, their laughter echoing through the hall. I watch them go, a faint pang of something unfamiliar twisting in my chest.

Alyssa is so full of life, so eager to explore and experience everything. I want to give her the world, to protect that spark of innocence for as long as I can.

---