Chapter 50 – The New Family Members
They reached a high building, and Grim stood outside with the two little girls, Layla and Grace, behind him. The towering structure loomed above them, sleek and modern, its presence commanding the skyline. Grim's eyes landed on the building's sign — LUNAR — a name that glowed in elegant silver across the glass exterior. It was Aurelia's company.
"It's my first time coming to my wife's company," he smirked.
Without another word, he stepped forward, the girls trailing closely behind.
As they entered the grand lobby, a hush fell over the space. Conversations died mid-sentence. Heads turned. Everyone stopped and stared, their eyes wide with curiosity and confusion. No one knew who Grim was, but his dark, oppressive aura silenced any potential challenge.
Grim approached the reception desk, his expression cold and unreadable.
"Take us to Aurelia's office," he ordered, his voice like a blade through the still air.
The receptionist, a young woman with trembling hands, looked up at him with wide eyes. One glance at him was enough — refusal wasn't an option.
"O-Of course, sir," she stammered, rising quickly from her seat. "Please, follow me."
She led them swiftly to the elevator, her steps hurried and nervous. They rode to the top floor in silence, the weight of Grim's presence lingering like a shadow.
In her office, Aurelia stood tall, her crimson hair tied back loosely, golden eyes scanning a stack of documents on the polished table. The final paperwork for her new ranker management company was complete, and a satisfied smile played on her lips. A quiet fire shimmered in her gaze — sharp, focused, unstoppable.
The office door opened without a knock.
Grim stepped inside, his white hair catching the light, his black eyes holding that quiet, dark intensity. He carried two small bags in his hands.
Layla and Grace followed behind him hesitantly, their small frames hidden slightly behind his legs.
A sharp wave of freezing energy pulsed across the room — Aurelia's reaction to someone entering without announcement. Her aura, instinctive and commanding, lashed out with a biting chill. The girls froze behind Grim, clearly startled.
But the moment Aurelia saw Grim, she drew back her power instantly.
She rose from her seat and began walking toward him.
"So… you brought her," Aurelia said, her voice calm but curious as she approached.
From behind Grim's legs, two little girls peeked out. They were clearly hiding, their small hands clutching the fabric of his pants, their eyes wide from the momentary shock of Aurelia's presence.
Aurelia's gaze settled on them. She stopped in her tracks, confusion flickering in her eyes — not because there were two of them, but because one of them looked exactly like her.
The crimson-haired girl had golden eyes, a perfect mirror of Aurelia's own. The resemblance was so uncanny it left her momentarily speechless.
The other girl had black hair and deep black eyes, her face bearing the same quiet sharpness as Grim's. Aurelia understood at once — she was Grim's half-sister.
Aurelia stepped forward slowly, her voice softening.
"Come here," she said gently.
The two girls looked up at Grim, then stepped forward hesitantly, standing before Aurelia with trembling hands.
"What are your names?" she asked, crouching down to meet their gaze.
"Layla," whispered the black-haired girl.
"Grace," the crimson-haired girl said softly.
Aurelia smiled, a rare warmth glimmering in her eyes. She reached out and gently hugged Layla first.
"Welcome," she said softly.
Then she turned to Grace. As she embraced her, the emotion welled up in her chest — tears threatened to fall, but she held them back with silent strength. She hugged Grace tightly, her hands trembling just a little.
"Nice to meet you both," she said, her voice thick with feeling. "I'm Aurelia Cross. And I believe that man didn't introduce himself."
She glanced at Grim with a knowing smirk. "He's Grim Cross."
The girls looked back at Grim, and for a moment, the room felt softer — gentler.
Aurelia turned toward her desk and pressed a button.
"Ella," she called into the intercom. "Come to my office."
Within minutes, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," Aurelia replied.
Ella stepped inside and instantly froze.
The sight of the man standing beside her boss and two children was unexpected, to say the least. Her eyes widened, but she said nothing.
"Ella," Aurelia said, her tone quieter now. "Can you take Layla and Grace to the children's room?"
Ella glanced at Aurelia, seeing the emotion in her usually composed eyes. She didn't ask any questions.
"Of course," she nodded.
She turned to the girls, her voice gentle. "Come here, Layla, Grace."
The girls looked back at Aurelia, who gave them a small nod.
With that, they took Ella's hands, and she guided them out of the office.
___
The office was now left in silence, only Grim and Aurelia remained.
Aurelia stood frozen, her eyes downcast, unsure of how to face him.Grim stood still, his gaze locked on her, unwavering and intense.
"Who was she?" Aurelia finally asked, her voice trembling with emotion.
"You know who she is," Grim replied, his tone steady. "She's your sister. Elysia Ashfall. Your mother's daughter. Your sister."
Tears welled up in Aurelia's eyes, spilling down her beautiful face.
"How could I know nothing about her existence?" she whispered, pain cracking her voice.
"How… how could I know nothing till now?"
The tears didn't stop—they kept falling, silent yet loud in the heavy air of the office.
"Your mother didn't let anyone know," Grim said. "She told everyone her third child was a boy. But when the child was born—a girl—your family was going to harm her. So your mother hid her. She gave her to someone she trusted, and that person took her to an orphanage."
Aurelia's tears flowed even more. Her body moved on its own—she stepped forward and embraced Grim tightly, her hands clutching the back of his shirt.
Her cries became audible now, raw and broken, echoing off the walls.
Grim allowed her a few moments of release. Then, his voice cut through her sobs.
"Stop crying, you bitch. It's annoying."
Before she could react, he lifted her effortlessly and sat her down on the office table.
He leaned in and kissed her—deep, rough, unyielding.His lips captured hers, his tongue invading her mouth, claiming her fully.
Their emotions poured into that kiss—the pain, the anger, the love, the bond.They held each other, wrapped in a chaotic, passionate embrace.
Aurelia finally calmed down, her breathing settling, her arms still looped around his neck.
"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for bringing her to me. I'm… I'm grateful to you. If you hadn't come into my life… I think it would've already been over."
Grim said nothing, but the way he held her—firm, steady—said enough.
"Let's go home," Aurelia murmured. "I don't want to work today. I already picked one building near your gym for us… the paperwork's done. I just want to go home. And I want to spend more time with them."
"Alright," Grim said, wiping the last of her tears from her cheeks.
"Let's go."
He picked her up in his arms once again, took her bags, and stepped out of the office.
The staff in the hallway froze, their eyes wide with disbelief as they saw their powerful, untouchable boss resting peacefully in a man's arms.
There was something magnetic, commanding, about the man—something that made them all too stunned to speak.
Ella was also standing there, stunned.
"Bring the two girls and their belongings outside," Grim ordered.
Ella looked from Grim to Aurelia, then back again.
The woman she served loyally for years was resting in this man's arms… and at peace.
Without asking anything, Ella simply nodded. "Okay, I'll bring them."
Grim walked towards the elevator, calm and unfazed, and descended straight to the ground floor and out of the building.
Minutes later, Ella brought Layla and Grace outside.
She spotted the sleek black car and the man inside it.She gently escorted the girls to the car.
Layla and Grace climbed in, sitting quietly.Grim sat on one side, with Aurelia still curled up in his lap, her head resting against his chest, asleep and peaceful in his embrace.
The two girls sat silently, stealing glances at them.
"What happened to her?" Grace asked softly.
"Nothing," Grim replied. "She's just tired. And now we're going home."
He turned his head slightly and addressed the woman in the driver's seat—Rhea, his loyal ally.
"Buy a big cake from the bakery before we get home."
"All right," Rhea replied, without turning, already starting the engine.
___
The afternoon sun had begun its slow descent, casting golden hues across the city as Raven, Lyra, Seraphine, and their mother finally returned to the Luxe Haven building. The day had been long, filled with laughter, endless walking, and the quiet joy of shared moments. Shopping bags were carried in their hands—symbols of choices made not just with practicality, but affection. They had bought everything they needed… and much more.
The group moved through the polished corridors of Luxe Haven with a quiet familiarity, heading straight toward Apartment 102—the place they had called home for the past month.
Lyra and Seraphine walked ahead, chatting excitedly about the dresses and accessories they had picked, their voices light and full of energy. Their mother followed beside them with a gentle smile on her lips, content to see her children in such high spirits.
A few steps behind walked Raven, quiet and thoughtful, yet not troubled. His expression calm, eyes steady—he had seen this day long before it arrived.
Thanks to his ability, the fragments of today's future had already revealed themselves to him. The arrival of two new family members… the shift in their lives. He had prepared in silence, folding it all into his plans like pieces on a board. During the shopping trip, without a word, he had selected clothes, shoes, and toys meant not for Lyra or Seraphine—but for two little girls who would soon become a part of their world.
He was ready.
---
Meanwhile, in Apartment 101…
Grim and Aurelia had arrived a little while ago. The golden glow of afternoon light poured through the large windows of the luxurious apartment, bathing everything in a soft, serene hue.
Grim, carrying Aurelia gently in his arms, had made his way straight to the room upstairs, leaving the two little girls downstairs in the grand hallway.
Layla held Grace's hand tightly, her eyes wide as she scanned the golden lights, the elegant furniture, the soft velvet rug beneath her feet, and the way everything sparkled like a dream. It felt unreal.
"Is this really where we're going to stay?" Grace whispered, her voice trembling with awe.
"I... I don't know," Layla replied softly. "But maybe."
For the two of them, this was like a fairytale coming to life. Back at the orphanage, they had always wished—prayed—that if they were ever adopted, it would be together. They couldn't imagine a life apart. Their friendship ran deeper than most could understand.
Grim came down the stairs quietly, his expression unreadable. Aurelia remained upstairs, still resting.
The moment the girls saw him, they rushed over, eyes shining with hope.
"Are you our father now?" they asked in unison, small voices laced with disbelief and fragile excitement.
Grim paused, his gaze meeting theirs.
"Yes," he replied simply.
Silence followed—just for a heartbeat—before their eyes welled with tears. They began crying, overwhelmed by the very dream they had clung to for so long finally becoming real.
Their sobs echoed softly through the apartment.
Grim walked over, scooping both girls up in his arms with ease and placing them on the soft sofa in the living room.
"I don't like girls who cry or who don't listen," he said coolly, his voice firm and emotionless. "So you'd better stop crying."
Startled, they tried their best to wipe their tears, their small hands shaking. They couldn't stop the sobs completely, but they did their best to hold back.
From upstairs, Aurelia stirred at the sound. She walked down, still a little tired but drawn by the voices.
She saw them in the living room—two tiny girls with flushed faces, eyes red from crying, sitting quietly on the sofa beside Grim. Her gaze softened as she stepped closer.
The moment the girls saw her, they looked up with wide, glistening eyes.
"Are you our mother?" they asked hesitantly.
Aurelia's heart clenched. She nodded gently, her expression warm. "Yes."
She knelt and wrapped them both in her arms.
The moment they felt her embrace, their tears returned—louder, messier, rawer than before. But this time, Aurelia didn't hold back either. She didn't cry—she had already let her emotions flow in front of Grim earlier—but she held them tightly, her voice soft and comforting as she stroked their backs.
"It's okay," she whispered. "You're okay now."
Grim stood watching for a moment, then turned and quietly walked out of the apartment, heading toward Apartment 102.
Now it was just Aurelia and the girls. She brought them water, wiping their cheeks gently.
"There are more family members you have to meet," she said with a warm smile. "You can look forward to them."
The girls looked at her with tear-filled eyes but nodded slowly, still sniffling.
"And don't cry too much, alright? You know your father won't like that," she added, teasing just a little to lighten the mood.
They managed small smiles.
Hand in hand with Aurelia, still holding tightly onto her sides, the two girls walked out of Apartment 101 with her, on their way to meet the rest of the family who had no idea how much was about to change.
___
Aurelia opened the door to Apartment 102 and stepped inside quietly.
Everyone was gathered in the living room. Grim's mother sat on the sofa, silent and thoughtful, her hands folded gently in her lap. Grim was sitting nearby, his head resting back, eyes closed. Lyra, Seraphine, and Raven were deep in conversation , but they all turned the moment Aurelia entered.
Their eyes widened, not just because of her arrival, but because of the two little girls standing behind her.
One had striking black hair and piercing black eyes.
The other had a cascade of crimson hair and glowing golden eyes , so familiar that it made both Lyra and Seraphine freeze.
For a few seconds, no one spoke. The resemblance was uncanny. The girl with black hair was the mirror of Grim. The one with golden eyes could have easily passed for a younger Aurelia.
Their hearts raced with confusion.
How? Whose children are they? Could they really… be Grim and Aurelia's?
Seraphine, especially, struggled to process the moment. The idea of her sister having a child was already hard to digest—but this? This didn't make sense. And yet, the proof stood before her, breathing, living, looking back at them with wide eyes.
Aurelia gently nudged the two girls forward. "Come on, Layla. Grace," she said softly. "I want you to meet your family."
Raven stepped forward first, a gentle smile on his face. He had seen it all coming. He understood more than anyone else in the room.
"Hello, little ones," he said, crouching down to meet their gaze. "My name is Raven. You can call me brother."
The black-haired girl stepped closer. "Layla," she said, her voice shy but steady.
Beside her, the crimson-haired girl whispered, "Grace."
Lyra shook off her confusion and smiled warmly, walking over to them. "I'm Lyra," she said gently. "It's… a surprise, but it's okay. Welcome."
Seraphine followed, her mind still spinning, but her heart softening at the sight of the two innocent girls. "I'm Seraphine," she said with a kind smile.
The room began to fill with warmth as Raven, Lyra, and Seraphine circled the girls, asking simple questions—nothing too deep, just curious about their favorite colors, what they liked to eat, and whether they liked dolls or books.
But across the room, a pair of eyes watched silently from the hallway entrance.
Grim's mother had been standing there the entire time, frozen in place. Her gaze locked onto Layla first , and her breath caught in her throat.
She didn't need to ask.
She knew. She recognized those eyes.
She turned without a word, walked away quietly, and closed the door to her bedroom behind her. Once inside, she sat on the bed, her hands trembling, her heart heavy.
Grim saw it. He stood from the sofa, walked over, and opened the door to her room without knocking.
His mother sat on the edge of the bed, unable to look up.
"You know who they are, don't you?" Grim asked coldly.
She nodded slowly.
"That's why I asked you," he continued. "I asked if we should take care of my father's child with another woman. You said yes. You said that I should care. So I did exactly that."
His voice was calm, but it held no softness. "Is it too hard to see the truth now? Is it painful, realizing he had someone else?"
She didn't reply. Her lips quivered, and her eyes filled with tears.
"That's why I told you to stop loving him," Grim said flatly. "He wasn't worthy of it. And now he's gone. The woman who gave birth to Layla is dead. I adopted her. She's mine now. That makes you her grandmother."
He paused.
"As for Grace… she's the daughter of your best friend , 'Elysia Ashfall'."
Her head snapped up at the name. Her eyes filled again, with sorrow and old memories.
"Don't tell them. Just love them. Just act like their grandmother."
With that, Grim turned and left, slamming the door behind him.
His mother sat in silence, the room echoing with the sound of the door closing. Tears streamed down her cheeks , silent and endless. She loved her husband, despite everything. She loved him so much, and this , this was too much to bear. Another child. A piece of him, left behind. A reminder of betrayal… but also a final gift.
A while later, Aurelia entered the room quietly. She saw her sitting there, eyes red, body trembling.
"Mother-in-law," Aurelia whispered, stepping forward.
She didn't respond.
Aurelia walked straight to her and wrapped her arms around her. A soft, warm embrace.
"I know it hurts," Aurelia whispered. "But I think you should let it go now. Life… it's still beautiful. And you deserve peace."
Her voice trembled with emotion.
"If Grim ever brought home a child that wasn't mine," she said, her voice breaking slightly, "I would feel the same. I would be broken. But your husband is gone. And I believe… this is his final gift. One he couldn't speak of… but tried to."
She held her tighter.
"You loved him deeply. And that love still lives in this home. It lives in Raven… in Lyra… in all of us. So don't push it away. Don't make it heavier on yourself."
The old woman said nothing—but her arms rose slowly, hugging Aurelia back.
They stayed like that for a while, two women with heavy hearts, holding on to one another in quiet understanding.
After a long silence, Aurelia whispered, "Let's not talk anymore. Just sleep and rest. I'll stay with you."
The older woman nodded faintly, too tired to speak.
Aurelia laid down beside her, wrapping an arm around her like a daughter. In the silence of the room, the pain slowly began to settle.
The tears stopped.
And in the quiet warmth of each other's presence, they both drifted into sleep—finally, peacefully.
___