𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝟏: 𝐌𝐫𝐬. 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐚𝐫 ✔

CHAPTER 48

"What the hell?!"

The voice behind her pierced the air that caused Evangeline to freeze in place while her hands still clutched on the stroller tightly.

She desperately wished she could remain rooted to the spot and avoid any confrontation, but it was too late. The father of her triplets now stood before her.

Klein's presence sent a shiver down her spine. She could sense the tension in the air but it was different from what she thought. He had been aware of her surveillance ever since he had found her note.

Despite his seemingly nonchalant demeanor, Klein had just sprinted toward Evangeline as fast as he could. His breaths were coming in rapid bursts. He had planned to never let Evangeline go and so he feigned indifference when he was reading the letter. He wanted to coax her out of hiding while ensuring he could locate her easily.

In truth, when he had discovered baby Xander at the gate, he had felt a pang of recognition deep within him. He didn't need to read the letter to know it was Evangeline. The sound of a baby's cry had confirmed his suspicions long before.

"Klein!" she exclaimed in shock and fear.

Klein's gaze bore into Evangeline with overwhelming emotions swirling in his eyes as they met hers.

"Evangeline... It really is you..." His voice was almost a whisper out of disbelief that he had finally seen the woman he had been looking for and longing for.

Evangeline's heart raced as she struggled to find the right words to say. "Klein, I..." Her voice faltered as her words choked in her throat. She couldn't dare look him in the eyes.

"Please, let go." She begged and tried to pull her arm away but instead, Klein tightened his grip on her.

"What happened to you? Where have you been?" Klein's voice trembled with a blend of hurt and frustration, tinged with a deep-seated longing.

Tears welled up in Evangeline's eyes as she met his gaze and saw the pain within him. "I..." She paused as memories of when Jeremy kidnapped her and hid her away, abused her, came rushing back.

"I don't want to talk about it. Just please, let me go." She answered and looked down, avoiding his gaze, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Let you go? You think I'd let you off after leaving me like that and then leaving me with our son?!" Klein's voice rose. His anger momentarily overrode his worry and longing. "You just left him on my doorstep without a word? Without even giving me a chance to understand?"

Evangeline's shoulders slumped as she fought to hold back her tears, feeling the weight of his words. "I have an obligation to give you a son. That's the only thing I could offer after everything I've put you through," she admitted as her voice trembled with vulnerability.

"Don't give me that bullshit! Don't use our son like a payment! I need you too! If you wanted to repay me, then include yourself!" Klein shouted at her, making her flinch. His voice echoed through the empty street, waking the little babies sleeping in their strollers.

Baby Maxine immediately started crying, startling Klein. He did not have any idea there were still other babies.

Evangeline fumbled to carry Maxine in her arms, her movements shaky as she tried to soothe the crying baby. Klein's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the second baby, his heart skipping a beat at the realization that there were twins. So out of curiosity, he walked closer to Evangeline only to see another baby boy whose eyes clearly looked the same as him.

"Triplets... You gave birth to three?" Klein's voice held both of shock and wonder as he approached the stroller, his eyes darting between the babies in disbelief.

Evangeline nodded as her nervousness was mirrored in her expression. "Yes, I... I didn't plan for this," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper as she adjusted Maxine in her arms, offering her breast to the hungry baby.

Klein couldn't tear his gaze away from the scene before him. It was the first time he had felt overwhelmed with happiness in a long time. His heart swelled with a sense of awe and wonder at the sight of his children. He stood there mesmerized, unable to find the words to express the flood of emotions coursing through him.

He gently reached out for Evangeline, who was still breastfeeding Maxine, and with the stroller in his other hand, he guided them inside.

As they entered the living room, Evangeline felt a sense of unease. But she knew escaping the situation would only complicate things further, especially with Klein appearing upset. She watched as Klein settled Kael beside Xander, who was peacefully asleep on the convertible couch.
 
Klein then motioned for Maxine, his demeanor firm yet gentle. "Give her to me," he requested, reaching out to take Maxine from Evangeline's arms.

Reluctantly, Evangeline relinquished Maxine, feeling a pang of discomfort as she watched Klein cradle their daughter. She sank into a nearby chair, avoiding Klein's gaze as she waited for his next move.

"Evangeline," Klein's voice broke the silence, drawing her attention back to him.

"Yes," Evangeline replied softly, her voice barely audible as she kept her gaze fixed on the floor, feeling like a scolded child.

Klein's weary sigh echoed in the room. "It's been a long day. Let's rest. And by rest, I mean you're staying here."

"But—" Evangeline attempted to protest, only to be swiftly cut off by Klein.

"No. Don't push me further," he interjected firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. Placing Maxine gently on the bed, now asleep, he paused for a moment before issuing his next command.

"Go and take a bath," he ordered, his stance unwavering as he stood tall before her.

Evangeline's embarrassment deepened as she murmured her reply. "I... I didn't bring any clothes with me."

Klein raised an eyebrow as his expression was that of a mild surprise. "What do you mean? The closet is stocked with your clothes," he remarked, his words catching Evangeline off guard.

A flicker of confusion crossed her features as she processed his statement. "But I thought..." she trailed off, her thoughts drifting to what she had assumed he would do with her belongings in her absence.

"I didn't dispose of your clothes, if that's what you're thinking," Klein interjected, his interruption cutting through her thoughts with precision.

Evangeline felt relieved and confused at the dame time with Klein's words. She had assumed he would have discarded everything related to her after she disappeared. And so with a hesitant nod, she stood up and made her way to the roon that was once hers.

As she opened the closet door, she was greeted by the sight of her familiar clothes neatly hung or folded inside. It was as if a piece of her past had been preserved, untouched by time. She couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia wash over her.

With trembling hands, Evangeline selected her usual nightgown wear and headed towards the bathroom. As she stepped into the warmth of the shower, her thoughts had been racing with different plans on how to leave the place after tonight without Klein noticing her.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Klein's voice woke her out of her reverie as she instinctively covered her naked body and turned to see him.

"Maximilian Klein?! What do you think you're doing?!" She nervously exclaimed and fumbled to cover her body and eyes both at the same time after seeing him naked in her bath as well.