Babies' Secret: My Ex Wants Me Back!
Chapter 26: His family

Chapter 26: His family

Chapter 26

Aaron was feeling giddy with excitement and nervousness. He had been planning the first weekend family bonding meticulously. He didn’t want to make any mistakes and had ordered his personal assistant to oversee the venue to ensure it was okay for children.

He received a response from his PA, informing him that everything was perfect—no harmful objects nor dangerous insects to disrupt the perfect bonding.

He smiled, pulling up in front of Katherine’s apartment. He glanced up at the windows, his eyes lingering on the top floor and sighed. Removing his sunshade glasses, he scanned around the neighborhood and nodded in approval, making a mental note to tell his PA to scout for a new apartment around this area for him. It looked peaceful and serene.

He took the elevator to his destination. Stopping at Katherine’s door, he felt his hands getting clammy with nervousness. He really prayed there wouldn’t be any mistakes today.

Aaron had taken his time to search on Giigle on how to create a good memory with a shy child, and he got the perfect answers.

He wiped his hand on his jeans and pressed the bell once, and in a moment, the door was yanked open. A ready Jasmine grinned at him.

"Uncle Piano!" A happy smile automatically found its way to his mouth as he picked her up and twirled her around.

"That’s my girl." He quickly looked at Katherine and felt his breath get taken away. He always knew Katherine was beautiful. Since he arrived in this town, he had only seen Katherine in her work uniform, but today she was wearing casuals—a long, flowery palazzo with a shirt.

It was beautiful. Her hair wasn’t in a bun, which contrasted the ponytail she always wore. Aaron could feel his mouth watering as he stared at her, especially her rosy lips, and blinked continuously to caution himself.

He cleared his throat and looked behind her legs to see Hanith, hiding again.

He felt his heart sting but quickly brushed it off because today, he was going to make Hanith talk and engage with him.

He was well prepared for it.

Aaron smirked internally, happy with his fully armed answers from Giigle.

"Where to?" Jasmine asked. She couldn’t keep the excitement from her voice.

Aaron smiled, tapping her nose adorably. "We are going fishing," he said, matching her tone, only to see her scrunching her face in displeasure.

"Fishing?" she asked in a disinterested tone.

"Yes." Aaron had found out that men—boys—tend to come around during fishing, and he was excited for it.

Jasmine grumbled about thinking they were going somewhere else before she suddenly jumped and clapped her hands excitedly. Talk about a kid with mood swings.

"That makes sense!"

After driving for over an hour, they got to the lake. Aaron placed the mat on the cleared grass, setting down picnic baskets, camping gear, and fishing rods as he began setting up.

"Why fishing?" Katherine asked—the first words she had said to him today.

"Well," he smiled sheepishly, "I did a little research." His eyes flickered to Hanith, then back to Katherine.

"Okay. I wish you luck," Katherine stated and brought out her laptop.

"Uncle Piano, I love this place," Jasmine grinned as Aaron unpacked the bug spray and the worms.

Aaron walked to where Hanith sat quietly. "Do you want to try?" he asked softly, trying to start a conversation. Hanith blinked, twiddling with his fingers as Aaron waited for him. Hanith’s eyes zeroed in on the wiggling worm, then up at Aaron.

"They aren’t harmful," he said, reassuring the boy.

Jasmine giggled. "The worm is wiggling!"

Hanith frowned at her statement, then turned back to Aaron shyly. "Do I have to touch it?" he asked in a small yet curious voice, and Aaron nearly wanted to shout that he did it. Hanith didn’t turn away from him.

God bless the creator of Giigle.

"Nope," Aaron responded, trying to contain his happiness, straightening the rod. "The gross part has been done. We just have to cast it."

Aaron and Hanith walked toward the edge of the lake. Aaron crouched behind Hanith, showing him how to hold the rod and how to flick his wrist. He explained and demonstrated slowly to the little boy, and the boy nodded in response. The first time, the line plopped in barely a foot from the dock, and Hanith looked disappointed.

"Let’s try again," Aaron encouraged, patting his back.

Katherine, who was sitting under a shady tree with her arms crossed, watched the scene between Aaron and Hanith and felt her heart pull. The gentleness and patience of Aaron—how he explained with a soft gaze, gentle voice—made her heart flutter.

Was this what it felt like for a child to have a father? Hanith looked so engrossed in whatever Aaron was saying. His eyes twinkled at every hook. Her boy looked so different.

"I did it," Hanith whispered.

Aaron lifted a hand for a high-five. "That’s my boy."

Jasmine, watching the scene, huffed. She hadn’t been called to the fishing. She plopped down beside Katherine as she munched on a granola bar while swinging her feet.

"Mommy, do you think Uncle Piano likes Hanith more than me?" she asked suddenly.

"What? No."

Jasmine pouted. "He’s been with Hanith since."

Katherine smiled softly at her cute jealousy, brushing hair out of her daughter’s eyes. "He’s just trying to get to know him. Hanith takes a little longer to open up. You? You’ve already stolen half his heart."

"Really?" Jasmine beamed, grinning cheerfully.

A loud splash pulled their attention to the lake.

"I got one!" Hanith’s voice rang out—louder than normal and bright, laced in disbelief—as he showed Aaron what he caught. A small blush coated his ears.

Aaron whooped, jumping to his feet. "He got one! Hanith caught a fish!"

The rod curved with the weight of it, and Aaron carefully helped Hanith reel it in. When the small fish wriggled free into the net, Hanith’s eyes widened in wonder. His cheeks flushed pink, and his lips parted like he couldn’t quite believe the fish was real—that this wasn’t a dream.

"Well done," Aaron complimented, ruffling Hanith’s hair adorably. Yet the little boy didn’t pull away.

Katherine tugged her lips into a tight smile, seeing Aaron’s natural fatherly love as she turned her gaze up to stop the tears that wanted to be shed.

As dusk fell, Aaron built a small campfire near the tent. The sky turned orange and gold before it slowly changed into a beautiful twilight. Fireflies danced around the lake.

Unpacking the meal from the warmer, Aaron chuckled, "Hold still," and gently wiped melted chocolate from Hanith’s cheek with a napkin, which made him giggle.

The sound felt so unreal. And Katherine... she didn’t know how to feel.

Katherine sat on the edge of the blanket, half-listening to the twins chattering about constellations while Aaron hummed softly. Jasmine leaned her head on his arm, her voice small.

"You’re singing your song."

"You heard it?" he asked.

"Mhm," she smiled sleepily.

Katherine watched Hanith scoot closer to her, curling against her side like he always did. She kissed his forehead before releasing a breath. Today had been eventful. She saw another lovely side of her son she never knew.

She never knew Hanith would love fishing. Well... maybe because she never really listened to what he wanted, except agreeing to whatever Jasmine said.

Katherine looked at the sky. The stars really shone bright tonight. "Thank you," she whispered, not looking at Aaron.

Aaron whipped his head slowly, his gaze tracing her silhouette, the cold night breeze brushing strands of hair across her cheek beautifully. Her eyes were half-lidded, her body sinking into stillness, her gaze softening under the stars.

His voice didn’t rise above the night. "You’re welcome."

After a moment, Aaron looked at Katherine to see her already drifted into sleep, her head tipping slightly as Hanith burrowed closer. His heart skipped a beat. She looked so peaceful and relaxed.

Aaron brought out his phone to capture the made memory and the moment. And then, he laid back on the grass, staring at the sky, one hand resting lightly beside Jasmine’s.

The second chance fate gave him—he promised he wouldn’t let it slip away again.

His family.

Katherine.

Hanith.

Jasmine.

God bless any motherfucker who thinks otherwise.

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