Derek and Cayden sat in the CEO's office at Russell Automobile Industry, deep in conversation. The atmosphere was heavy, their voices low and deliberate. Just then, Xander Campbell walked in briskly.
"Mr. Kimberly called," Xander announced.
Both Derek and Cayden turned to look at him simultaneously, waiting for him to continue. Xander nodded and said simply, "He is in."
The twins showed no expression, as if they had already expected the answer. Still, they looked at Xander curiously, sensing he had more to say. Xander sighed inwardly. Do these two really have to do everything exactly the same? he thought.
Finally, he added, "The Kimberly family's granddaughter has been found."
---
Cayden raised his brow questioningly, glancing at Derek, who mirrored the gesture. It was their silent way of saying, I just heard about this now.
Both turned their questioning gazes back to Xander, who recounted everything that had happened at the City Life Saving Hospital. When he finished, the office fell into deathly silence. For more than two minutes, no one spoke. Each man was lost in his own thoughts.
At last, Derek broke the silence. "What a coincidence?"
Cayden shrugged. "That means we're not helping the Kimberly family for nothing. If little mate is truly a Kimberly young miss, then it can be considered that we're doing it for her."
Derek looked at Cayden with frustration. "It seems you don't understand the seriousness of this matter, Cayd. This means Lily will have the support and protection of the Kimberly family. She wouldn't need us anymore."
They sat quietly, the weight of the revelation pressing down on them.
Cayden finally said, "In that case, we need to make that fake continue impersonating little mate."
Derek nodded in agreement, though both hated the idea. The thought of another woman carrying their mate's face was unbearable, but now they were strangely thankful for it.
---
Derek turned to Xander, his tone sharp. "Let Perry Jerome believe that the fake Lilian committed suicide. But make sure Lilian never hears the news about the Kimberly granddaughter."
Xander nodded but hesitated. Derek raised his brow, while Cayden asked, "What's the matter?"
Xander replied, "Mr. Kimberly is preparing to hold a banquet for her and acknowledge her as the young miss of the Kimberly family on Saturday."
The twins looked stupefied. Almost at the same time, they exclaimed, "No way! Find a way to stop it."
Derek was the most flustered, his agitation clear.
Cayden, ever calculative and shrewd, remained calmer. He looked at Xander and said, "I'm certain if we can keep the Kimberly family busy, they'll forget about the idea of throwing a welcoming party for a fake. And while they're distracted, we'll come up with a solution to make them completely forget about it."
Derek didn't show agreement or disagreement. He simply looked at Xander and said directly, "Get him busy now."
Xander nodded. "If there's nothing else, I'll head out."
The twins nodded, watching him leave.
---
Derek sighed heavily, letting his back fall against the chair's backrest. He closed his eyes, exhaustion etched across his face. Cayden mirrored him, leaning back for a few moments before suddenly sitting upright.
He looked at Derek, agitation in his eyes. Derek slowly opened his deep, dark gaze, meeting his twin's stare silently.
Cayden asked, "Derek, when are we going to tell little mate our real identity?"
Derek jolted upright, his eyes wide with anxiety. "Don't dare it! Lily must never find out."
Cayden realized it wasn't going to be as easy as he thought. He looked at his twin questioningly. "Did you try talking to her about it?"
Derek nodded truthfully. "She doesn't like our species."
Cayden trembled, sitting quietly and dispirited as Derek recounted his conversation with Lilian.
---
Derek had asked her expectantly, "Have you heard about wolf shifters before?"
Lilian had squeezed her beautiful eyes tightly, sneering disdainfully. "Wolf shifters? Those only exist in movies or novels. They can't be real."
Derek sniffed a chuckle, deepening his gaze on her. "And what if I tell you they are real? I've even met some of them."
Lilian had looked stupefied, adjusting her posture. "You don't mean it!" she asked curiously.
Derek nodded seriously. "I do."
They had sat quietly, neither speaking. Lilian's mind raced with thoughts before she sniffed a laugh.
Derek asked, "Are you surprised?"
Lilian nodded seriously. "Hmm."
Then Derek asked expectantly, "But can you date a werewolf?"
Lilian jolted in fright, shaking vigorously. Her irritation was clear. "Hell no! If all those things said about werewolves in films and novels are true, I can't imagine turning into a dog!" She trembled instinctively, showing her dislike and disgust for the idea.
---
The twins had sat quietly, dispirited. Derek took a deep breath. "No matter how hard we try, we can't change her perspective about us. She'll always see us as dogs."
Cayden looked at him worriedly. "But how long can we hide the truth from her?"
Derek sat in deep thought. "Let's just hope she'll be willing to marry us sooner."
Cayden frowned, clearly disagreeing. He sneered. "Talking about marriage, we have to wait until that asshole agrees to divorce her. Why don't we just try to make her have our pup?"
Derek looked at Cayden and nodded. "That's great then."
---
They thought that since Lilian had agreed to move in with them and live together, there was hope. She was even interacting well with their two‑year‑old nephew, Noel Dakola. In fact, Noel regarded Lilian Asienwegher as his mother. He was so attached to her that he cried each time she left for work. He had even developed the habit of waiting for her to return, no matter how late, before she coaxed him to sleep.
The two adults grew frustrated. They had yet to rid themselves of one love rival, and now another had arrived. This rival was more powerful than anyone else, because Lilian always supported and protected him. They had no choice but to patiently wait for her to attend to this small but mighty rival.
Each time Cayden called Noel Dakola "small but mighty rival," Lilian burst out laughing. Noel laughed too, delighted whenever he saw her laugh. The sight was funny, and the two of them would laugh their hearts out together.
Cayden watched them amusingly, chuckling softly.