Divorced and Chased by My Alpha Billionaire Ex-Husband
Chapter 121: Games And Connection

Chapter 121: Games And Connection

The sun cast a warm glow through the large windows of Aurora’s mansion as Lucas sat comfortably on the living room couch, a soft blanket covering his legs.

He was unable to walk, but today he wasn’t about to let that stop him from connecting with the children.

It was something he had been meaning to do—to bridge the gap between himself and Aria and Leo, Aurora’s lively twins.

Aria and Leo stood in front of him, watching curiously as he fiddled with a deck of cards, trying to recall the rules to a game he’d learned long ago.

"Are we gonna play?" Leo asked, eyes wide and full of excitement.

Lucas smiled, nodding. "Absolutely. I need your help, though—I’m a little rusty," he admitted with a chuckle.

Aria rolled her eyes playfully, taking a seat on the carpet in front of him. "Don’t worry, we’re experts. Right, Leo?"

Leo grinned, nodding vigorously. "Yep! We know every card game!"

Aurora, leaning against the doorway, watched the three of them with a soft smile. She hadn’t seen Lucas so at ease with her children before, and it filled her heart with warmth. She stayed in the background, letting them have their moment.

"Alright, experts," Lucas said, shuffling the deck with a little flourish that made Aria giggle. "Tell me how we play this one."

"War!" Leo exclaimed, jumping a bit. "You just flip a card, and whoever has the higher card wins."

Aria’s eyes sparkled as she explained further, "If you both get the same card, you go to war. That’s the best part!"

Lucas raised an eyebrow, feigning shock. "War? That sounds intense. Alright, I’m ready."

They began flipping cards, and soon enough, the room was filled with laughter and gasps as they played, each win or loss bringing more joy than the last.

When Leo won a round, he’d punch the air with triumph, and when Aria did, she’d clap her hands with excitement.

In one round, Lucas and Aria each flipped a king.

"It’s a tie!" Leo yelled, grinning. "War! War!"

Lucas chuckled, looking at Aria with a playful glint in his eye. "Are you ready for this, Aria? I have a feeling I might just win this war."

Aria smirked, mimicking his confidence. "We’ll see about that!"

They each flipped another card, and Lucas revealed an ace while Aria had a queen.

"Oh no!" she said, pouting in mock dismay. "You won!"

Lucas gave a little cheer, pumping his fist. "That’s right! But hey, don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll win the next one."

Leo leaned in, peering closely at the cards. "You’re really good at this, Daddy. Did you play a lot when you were a kid?"

Lucas paused, a softness creeping into his smile. "You know, I didn’t get to play many games like this when I was little. But I think I’m making up for it now." He glanced at Aurora, catching her gaze as she listened quietly, and warmth filled his chest.

Aria studied him thoughtfully, tilting her head. "You mean you didn’t have fun like this?"

"Not often," Lucas replied gently, wanting to be honest without bringing too much sadness into the room. "But that’s why I’m enjoying this so much with you two."

Leo beamed, and without hesitation, scooted closer to him. "You can play with us anytime!"

Lucas felt his heart swell, and he gave Leo’s shoulder a little squeeze. "I’d like that, Leo. A lot."

Aria moved beside him as well, leaning her head on his shoulder for a moment before looking up at him. "So... does that make you our full-time dad now?" she asked, her voice so soft it was almost a whisper.

The question hung in the air, and Lucas felt a rush of emotions as he looked down at her innocent face.

He wanted to choose his words carefully, not wanting to assume anything but also not wanting to deny how much he cared.

"Well," he began, his voice gentle, "if it’s alright with you, I’d love to be here for you both, like a dad, a full-time dad. If that’s something you’d like too."

Leo looked at Aria, his face lighting up. "Yeah! I think that’d be cool."

Aria gave a shy nod, her hand reaching up to touch his arm. "I think I’d like that," she murmured, her cheeks pink.

Lucas’s chest felt full, like he’d found a place he’d never thought he’d have. He glanced at Aurora, who had stepped forward, her expression soft and full of love.

"We’re a little team now," Aurora said, smiling as she moved to sit on the arm of the couch beside Lucas. "I think we make a pretty good one."

Lucas looked up at her, his eyes warm. "I couldn’t agree more."

They continued to play for a while, the kids teaching him different games with an enthusiasm that was contagious.

Each time Leo laughed or Aria glanced at him with that shy, adoring smile, Lucas felt himself drawn further into their world.

After another round, Leo, leaning his chin on his hands, looked up at Lucas with big, curious eyes. "Can you tell us a story, Daddy? One from when you were little?"

Aurora chuckled, reaching over to ruffle his hair. "Lucas has plenty of stories. Why don’t you tell them the one about the kite, Lucas?"

Lucas grinned, recalling the memory she mentioned. "Ah, the kite story. Alright."

The children settled in, listening with wide eyes as Lucas began. "When I was your age, I tried to make my own kite out of an old newspaper and some sticks. I thought I was a genius, convinced it would fly like a bird. But the moment I let it go..."

"It flew really high?" Leo guessed, his eyes shining.

Lucas laughed, shaking his head. "It crashed straight to the ground. It didn’t even get off the ground! I was so disappointed that I sat on the hill and sulked for hours."

Aria giggled, covering her mouth. "What did you do then?"

Lucas shrugged, a nostalgic smile on his face. "I kept trying, but let’s just say... I wasn’t very good at making kites. I think I went through five of them before I got one that could actually stay in the air."

Leo’s face brightened, and he leaned closer. "Maybe we could make a kite together, Lucas! We’ll help, right, Aria?"

Aria nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! We could make the best kite ever."

Lucas’s smile softened as he nodded. "I’d love that. Let’s do it sometime soon."

After a while, Aurora suggested they head outside for some fresh air, and Lucas agreed, eager to continue spending time with them.

She helped him into his wheelchair, and together, they made their way out into the garden.

The children ran ahead, laughing as they played tag, their laughter filling the crisp air.

Lucas watched them, a quiet joy filling his heart. Aurora moved beside him, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"They’ve taken to you," she said softly, her voice warm with affection.

He looked up at her, his gaze full of gratitude. "They’re incredible, Aurora. I never thought... I didn’t know this was possible, feeling like this."

She squeezed his shoulder, her eyes shining with love. "You’re giving them something precious, Lucas. A father they can count on, someone who truly cares."

He reached for her hand, holding it gently. "And I’m grateful for you. You’ve given me a family I never knew I could have."

Aurora smiled, her cheeks rosy as she squeezed his hand in return.

They sat there together, side by side, watching the children play, the future stretching before them like an open field.

In that moment, Lucas felt as though he’d finally found his place—a family he could cherish and a love he knew he would hold onto with all his heart.

As they watched the kids play, Aurora found herself glancing at Lucas, the question she’d been holding back finally rising to the surface.

"What about... Julia and Caleb?" she asked, her voice gentle. She didn’t want to intrude, but she needed to understand where things stood.

Lucas nodded slowly, as though he’d been expecting the question. His gaze remained on Aria and Leo, a softness in his eyes that wasn’t there before. "Caleb went to the park with Julia this morning," he said. "I wanted them to have a little time alone. Caleb’s young, and he’s still adjusting to everything." He paused, his voice growing more reflective. "I don’t want to rush him into accepting Aria and Leo as his siblings. He deserves time to process this—at his own pace."

Lucas turned to her, a new resolve in his expression. "And... I’m also divorcing Julia. It’s final. I want to move forward—without the past holding me back."

Her eyes softened, and she gave his hand a comforting squeeze. "I’m here with you, Lucas. For all of it."

He looked at her with gratitude, his heart swelling with a new kind of hope, as they both turned their gaze back to Aria and Leo.