CHAPTER 79: I CAME BECAUSE OF THE TWINS

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"Mom... I’m okay now, you don’t have to worry about me~"

Egypt pouted as I spoon-fed her.

It’s been two days since we brought her to the hospital, and thankfully, she’s starting to get better.

The fever is gone, though the doctor advised that it’s best for her to stay at least one more day before being discharged.

"Mommy, when can I leave the hospital? I want to go back to school already~ I miss school... and Mr. Bear..."

Her little lips formed another pout as she whined.

I pinched her nose lightly when her pout grew longer.

"Mr. Bear? Why would you miss him?"

I paused a little at my own words. Ever since she started feeling better, Egypt wouldn’t stop talking about Mr. Bear. She mentioned him so often that even Paris seemed to like him too.

Now, I can’t help but grow curious—just who is behind that bear mask that my daughter likes so much?

"Well, Mr. Bear is a kind bear. That’s why I want to see him." she replied innocently.

"I’m jealous, Egypt~~"

Both Egypt and I turned toward the door when a familiar voice came from behind us.

Alpheus had just entered, carrying flowers, fruits, and food, with Paris trailing behind him in her school uniform.

"Uhm..H-hi Sylvia. Amie is busy at school today, so she asked me to look after Paris and bring her here instead."

"It’s okay. I understand Amie."

"Uncle Alpheus! Paris, I’m glad you came!" Egypt cheered happily, her little face lighting up.

Alpheus smiled, then placed a hand on his chest and pretended to be hurt. "But you said you missed Mr. Bear? I’m hurt now that you seem to miss him more—more than me." He then pulled a chair beside me and sat down close to Egypt.

That made Egypt giggle. "Hehe, don’t be jealous of him, Uncle. Mr. Bear is Mr. Bear—he’s cute and kind. But you’ll always be my most favorite uncle out of all my uncles."

I noticed Alpheus pause for a moment before his ears slowly turned red.

"Really? I’m your absolute favorite out of everyone? More than Alfonso and your other uncles?" Alpheus asked, deliberately raising his voice as if he wanted others outside the door to hear him.

"Yes! But we have to keep it a secret from Uncle Alfonso and the others—"

"Ouch... I’m hurt now, Egypt~"

Another voice suddenly spoke from the door as it slowly opened.

Alfonso walked in, followed closely by Calyx. Both of them had their hands over their chests as if they were really in pain.

"U-Uncle Calyx... and Uncle Alfonso!?" Egypt stammered in disbelief.

"Yes, your one and only," Calyx replied with a teasing smile. "I didn’t know you already had a favorite uncle."

"Uh... t-that’s not true... I m-mean, I also like y-you..."

Egypt stammered, glancing back and forth between him and Alpheus, who was already pouting.

"But you just said I’m your favorite, so no take-backs."

"Uh... n-no... I mean, I’m taking it back now. You’re all my favorites... so you don’t have to be jealous anymore..."

Egypt said innocently, making the three of them burst into laughter.

"Ahem...!"

Calyx’s and Alfonso’s smiles quickly faded the moment their eyes landed on me. They scratched the backs of their heads awkwardly, as if only now realizing that I had been in the room the whole time.

"S-Sylvia... uhm, is it okay if we visit Egypt?" Alfonso asked carefully.

I held his gaze for a long moment before exhaling a quiet sigh and briefly glancing at Alpheus, who quickly avoided my eyes.

Maybe he was the one who told them about Egypt being in the hospital—that’s probably why they both came today. It wasn’t like I could simply send them away when their reason for coming was clear.

I gave Alfonso a small nod. His eyes widened in surprise at my approval, and he immediately exchanged a quick look with Calyx.

"Thank you, Sylvia. By the way, this is for Egypt and Paris."

He placed the bouquet of flowers and several stuffed toys gently on the side table.

After that, the three of them looked at each other again, as though they were waiting for each other to speak first.

"Uhm, actually..."

Alfonso scratched the back of his head before nudging Calyx. "Hey... why don’t you be the one to say it?"

"Why me?"

"Hey, Alpheus, it should be you who says it."

"Why me?"

I frowned, watching the three of them whisper to each other.

"Uhm, actually, Sylvia..."

Calyx muttered, unable to meet my eyes as he awkwardly scratched his head again.

"What?"

My eyebrow shot up. I couldn’t help but feel impatient. What exactly were they trying to say—and why did they look so afraid of my reaction?

"Actually, Mommy..." Paris finally broke the silence after getting bored of watching the three of them stumble.

"It wasn’t just Uncle Alpheus, Uncle Alfonso, and Uncle Calyx who came to visit Egypt. Mr. Bear Man is actually waiting outside the door... and Uncle Dave is already on his way here."

The three immediately averted their gazes when I looked at them.

Mr. Bear Man, huh? Why does it feel like this ’Mr. Bear Man’ is someone they actually know?

"Mr. Bear Man!? Wow, I want to see him!" Egypt exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Everyone’s gaze turned to me then, as though they were all waiting for my approval. But the moment I raised an eyebrow at them, the three quickly looked away again.

"Why don’t you invite him in?"

The three of them whipped their heads toward me at once, their eyes wide with surprise.

"R-really? H-he can come in?"

I narrowed my eyes slightly. "Why wouldn’t he? You all seem to know him. So why don’t you just invite him inside?"

I crossed my arms, curiosity now itching at me. I’ve been wanting to see this Mr. Bear Man without his mask—the same animal Egypt constantly talks about. Something in my gut tells me Alpheus’ friends are hiding something from me... about Mr. Bear Man’s real identity without the mask.

Alpheus walked over to the door and slowly pulled it open. A moment later, "Mr. Bear" appeared, as if he had been waiting outside all along.

Alpheus leaned in and whispered something to him. I noticed the man give a small nod before his gaze flickered toward me.

Then, carrying as many flowers and fruits as he could manage despite his oversized bear costume hands, he stepped inside.

"Mr. Bear! You’re here!" Egypt squealed with excitement.

Mr. Bear was about to rush over to her, but I quickly moved in front of Egypt, blocking the way.

There’s something about this "Mr. Bear" that makes me uneasy. I don’t know why. It isn’t even the first time I’ve seen him, and yet... this time feels different.

The air around him is unsettlingly familiar, almost strange. A sharp instinct flared within me—warning me not to let him get too close to the twins.

"Mr. Bear, we haven’t actually met face-to-face before." My tone came out colder than I intended.

"I’m glad you’re here and that you care about Egypt. But the truth is, I don’t know who you are without that mask. Aren’t you uncomfortable wearing such a heavy costume?"

He didn’t move. Not a single step. It was as if he had turned to stone.

Alpheus and Alfonso exchanged quick, nervous glances.

"Ah-ha... well, Sylvia, you see—Mr. Bear is just a shy man. He’s not very comfortable—"

Alfonso began, trying to smooth things over, but stopped short when the Bear Man raised his hand. Even with the costume on, I could feel the coldness radiating from him—something I couldn’t simply overlook.

His eyes—hidden deep within the shadows of the costume—met mine. I couldn’t explain it, but the weight of his stare cut right through me. That same strange familiarity pressed harder against my chest.

He can’t be...

Slowly, he lifted both hands to his oversized bear head. Then he began to raise the costume’s headpiece.

I froze the moment I saw the man who appeared before me.

Despite the cheerful smile of the bear costume, the person behind it was the complete opposite.

A chill immediately ran down my spine, though I quickly forced myself to remain calm.

How is he here? Don’t tell me his friends said something to him again...

Slowly, I shifted my gaze toward each of his friends, noticing how they all began to sweat at the same time.

And now, standing right in front of me, was Rome—the very Bear Man Egypt and Paris had been so fond of.

Did he find out something about the twins?

Did his friends tell him that they’re his children? Or did he figure it out on his own?

On the outside, I tried to stay composed in the face of his cold stare, but inside, my emotions were a storm.

Fear, anger, confusion—they were all colliding in a mess I could barely hold together. I wanted to ask so many things—why he came here, what exactly he knew—but only one question slipped past my lips.

"Why are you here?"

My voice came out colder than I intended, sharp and controlled, yet trembling with everything I was holding back.

Slowly, a chilling smirk curved across his face.

"Do I even need to explain that?" His tone was low, almost mocking. "I came here... because of the twins."

Then his eyes shifted toward them.