CHAPTER 59: NO TIME TO RUN

"Okay, okay... just like I said—your son’s location is in the back city, just a few kilometers from where you are now."

Back city? Rome’s breath hitched.

How the hell did Gabriel end up in that kind of place?

Was he kidnapped? Is someone holding him there?

"And," the caller added with a mocking laugh. "that’s not even the juicy part yet."

Rome gritted his teeth. "What are you talking about?"

"Well... I think I finally understand why your friends are keeping his location from you."

The voice on the line sounded amused—like he was enjoying dangling the truth right in front of him.

Rome stayed silent, his pulse spiking.

"The reason is simple, really. The area where your son is right now? It’s the exact same neighborhood where your lovely ex lives. What’s her name again? Ah, it’s Sylvia... Sylvia Lincolm. Hahaha."

Rome’s heart dropped.

"So good luck getting your precious little boy from your ex, dear VIP! Byeee!"

And with that, the line went dead.

He stared at the screen.

His grip on the phone slowly loosened, but the shock didn’t fade. For a moment, everything around him seemed to blur as his mind raced.

Did I just hear that right? Gabriel and Sylvia... in the same place?

How? Why? What the hell was going on?

Why would Gabriel be anywhere near her?

How did Gabriel even end up there? Did Sylvia take him? Or was it all just some insane coincidence? His thoughts spiraled.

But more than the confusion swirling in his head, one emotion rang louder than the rest, the need to see his son.

He needed to get to Gabriel. Now.

Rome slammed the phone down onto the passenger seat and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. His knuckles turned white.

He still remembered exactly where Sylvia lived.

So his friends had been keeping this from him... Were they trying to stop him from seeing Sylvia again?

Rome scoffed under his breath. What a pathetic reason to lie.

It’s not like he’d go crawling back to her, begging for love. He wasn’t that man anymore. In fact, all these weeks—even knowing where she lived—he’d never once gone looking for her.

So why were his friends so afraid of him running into her?

Was Sylvia hiding something?

Or worse... were all of them hiding something together?

Without even realizing it, Rome had already driven to where he knew Sylvia lived.

It was as if his mind had been floating, while his hands automatically guided the wheel toward her neighborhood.

Now that he thought about it, Sylvia seemed to be living in worse conditions than he remembered.

He still remembered how she used to live in luxury, with him providing everything she needed. He couldn’t believe she had fallen so low—so much so that he almost didn’t recognize her anymore after she left him.

When he finally reached the street where just a few more steps would bring him to Sylvia’s front door, he suddenly froze.

His car sat idle at the curb, unmoving, while he remained locked in place behind the wheel.

His hands rested on the steering wheel, his knuckles pale from how tightly he had been gripping it earlier.

It felt like all the determination he had built up to see Gabriel had suddenly drained from him.

What the hell was happening to him?

Was it fear? Was he afraid of seeing Sylvia again?

Or... had he simply lost the strength to face her?

Brrttt...brrttt...

He glanced at the phone vibrating on the seat beside him. Alpheus calling.

Tsk... What now? Did they already figure out where I am?

He ignored the call, letting the phone vibrate until it went silent. A faint smirk played on his lips.

So they really don’t want me here, huh...

It wasn’t just Gabriel they were trying to hide from him.

There was something else in that house—something his friends didn’t want him to find out.

On the other hand.....

"Shit... did Rome figure out we’re hiding something from him?" Alfonso asked nervously.

He had just received a call from the head of his team assigned to monitor the area where Gabriel was.

Apparently, one of his subordinates had spotted Rome’s car heading in the same direction—straight toward the back city, to Sylvia’s neighborhood.

"Damn it, bro! Sylvia’s not even answering her phone right now! What the hell are we supposed to do?" Alpheus exclaimed, his voice rising in panic as he continued pacing restlessly.

"What else can we do? It’s already happening—we can’t stop it unless we act now."

Dave stood up from his seat, grabbed his jacket, and headed toward the door.

"Where are you going, Dave?" Calyx asked, only just now piecing together the situation after the three finally explained what was going on.

Dave turned. "What else do you think we should do in a situation like this? Of course we need to get to Sylvia’s house before Rome does—before he discovers not only that Gabriel is there, but that his secret twins are there too."

Alpheus and Alfonso exchanged wide-eyed looks at the mention of the twins. Without another word, they both stood up and pulled Calyx to his feet.

"Alright, we’re going with you." Alpheus said decisively.

"W-wait—who said I’m going too?" Calyx protested.

Alpheus turned to him with a piercing look. "So you don’t want to help save the twins from their jerk of a father?"

That made Calyx pause.

"...Okay, I’ll go—"

Before he could even finish his sentence, the two had already yanked him forward, nearly making him stumble.

"What the heck—! Hey! "

Calyx shouted in protest as he tried to regain his balance, but his friends were already dragging him out the door.

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Sylvia’s POV

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After I finished washing the dishes and cleaning up the mess, I headed straight to the kids’ room.

The three of them must have been completely worn out from playing. Once the initial awkwardness between them faded, they quickly warmed up to each other—as if they’d been friends for years.

I couldn’t help but smile the moment I walked into the room. My gaze lingered on the three children, sleeping peacefully on the same bed.

They looked so close and comfortable with each other, you wouldn’t think they had only met today. Egypt and Paris both had their legs draped over Gabriel, who lay snugly between them.

I noticed my phone lying beside them. It was completely dead.

Egypt must have been playing online games again—probably forgot to stop, like usual. I plugged it in and waited a few minutes for it to turn back on.

The moment it lit up, a flood of missed calls greeted me—all from a familiar number.

It was Alpheus.

Why would he be calling so late?

Before I could even gather my thoughts, his name flashed on the screen again. He was calling me—right now.

I picked up immediately.

"Hello? Sylvia! Finally, you answered! Are you still there?"

"What do you mean? Of course I’m here, at home. Why? Is something wrong?"

Knock. Knock.

I pause

Who would be knocking at this hour?

"Yes, this is really urgent," Alpheus said, his voice tense. "Listen carefully... can you and the kids get out of there—right now?"

"What? Why would we leave? What’s going on?"

I couldn’t help but feel confused by what he was saying all of a sudden.

"Listen, S-Sylvia... t-this is really... sud-den b-but... R-Ro—... h-hello? Sylvia, can you hear me properly?"

"Sorry, your signal’s cutting in and out. What did you say again?" I asked, already walking toward the door.

Maybe it’s just one of our neighbors knocking at this hour.

The knocking grew louder and more urgent, so I had no choice but to check who it was. Maybe it’s something important.

As I reached for the doorknob and slowly began to open the door, I froze.

Alpheus next words sent a jolt through my body.

"Sylvia, I want you and the kids to leave the house right now. Rome is unexpectedly on his way there—this very moment!"

R-Rome?

It felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured all over me.

D-Did I hear him right?

I stood motionless, staring at the door as it creaked open.

My hand trembled on the doorknob. My entire body went cold the moment my eyes locked onto the figure standing outside.

Rome.

He stood there in complete silence, staring straight at me with a cold, unreadable expression. His presence alone sent a chill crawling up my spine.

He looked at me as if I had done something terribly wrong.

"Hello? Sylvia?" Alpheus voice crackled again through the phone, still pressed weakly against my ear.

"Did you hear what I said? You and the kids need to get out now! We’re almost there—we’ll buy you time. I’m sorry this is all so sudden—"

Before he could finish, the phone slipped from my shaking hand and hit the floor with a dull thud.

I took a step back, trembling. Rome still hadn’t said a word. He just stood there—staring at me with those intense, unreadable eyes.

Why is he here? Is he trying to take my kids from me?

My thoughts spiraled out of control.

Panic rose in my chest. Seeing him this close again—I didn’t know what to do.

I instinctively tried to shut the door, my hand moving in haste, but his arm shot out fast, blocking it before it could fully close.

"...I didn’t come here for you," he said coldly. "I came here to get my son."

And just like that, he shoved the door open.

My hands were still trembling, so it didn’t take much effort.

I stumbled back, nearly losing my balance, but he reached out—grabbing my wrist and steadying me by the waist.

"Sorry for coming this late... but can I come inside?"