{Lily}
The school bootcamp stretched across acres of woodland just outside the city. Cabins sat between tall trees, ropes courses hung overhead, and children ran around screaming like tiny monsters.
Usually, father-to-kids camp events annoyed me.
This one especially.
I still remembered begging the school administration to let me attend in place of their father.
“Ms. Lily,” the principal had said awkwardly, “the event theme is specifically father bonding.”
“And my children specifically don’t have one available,” I replied.
Sad as it sounded, in the end, they allowed it.
Because apparently nobody enjoyed arguing with determined single mothers.
‘Anyhooo.’ I thought.
Ethan pointed toward the archery range excitedly. “Can we go there after lunch?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because last time you held a bow, you almost shot someone, Ethan.”
Emma nodded, supporting her brother.
I rubbed my forehead.
The camp whistle suddenly blew loudly.
Parents and children gathered near the central field while instructors shouted directions.
The twins immediately dragged me toward the activities.
For the next few hours, chaos ruled my existence.
Sack races. Obstacle courses. Painting. Cooking games.
At one point Emma somehow convinced another child to forfeit their spot to Ethan, so they could participate together.
‘Cuteeee.’
What warmed my heart the most was how easily they made friends. Every year, there was some new kid they bonded with.
This time was no different. Emma poked me. “Mommm, that boy keeps staring at us.”
I glanced toward a small blond child sitting alone nearby.
The moment our eyes met, he waved enthusiastically.
Ethan waved back with equal intensity like they were long lost friends.
Soon enough, the blond boy joined us.
“I’m Noah,” he announced proudly.
“Ethan.”
“Emma.”
Noah looked at me politely. “Hello, Ethan and Emma’s mom.”
“Hello.”
“He talks a lot,” another voice said nearby.
I looked up.
A tall man approached calmly, dressed casually but expensively enough to scream money.
Noah pointed immediately. “That’s my dad.”
The man smiled faintly. “Unfortunately.”
I almost laughed.
“Noah’s a delight,” I said politely.
Noah gasped. “Did you hear that, Dad? A witness.”
The man held out his hand. “Cole Manson.”
Something about the name sounded familiar, but before I could think harder about it, Noah grabbed the twins again.
“Come see the climbing wall!”
The three children ran off instantly.
I sighed. “Those three together already concern me.”
Cole watched them quietly. “My son hasn’t smiled this much in a while.”
We engaged in conversation for less than five minutes and before I could process it, screaming erupted somewhere near the cabins.
Then smoke.
Parents shot to their feet. Camp instructors began shouting directions. Children cried while counselors rushed around frantically.
“Fire! Fire!” somebody screamed.
My heart nearly stopped.
“Emma! Ethan!”
“I’m here!” Ethan shouted from nearby.
I spotted them immediately near the activity cabins.
‘Thank God.’
Then another scream tore through the chaos.
“There’s still a child inside!”
Every adult froze.
Smoke poured violently from one of the cabins now.
The instructors tried getting closer, but flames burst across the entrance suddenly.
People panicked instantly.
And somehow, in the middle of all that chaos, I lost sight of my children.
My stomach dropped.
“Emma?”
No answer.
“Ethan!”
Still nothing.
Fear clawed up my throat violently.
Then I saw them.
Running straight toward the burning cabin.
“No!”
I sprinted after them immediately.
“Emma! Ethan, stop!”
But my children had inherited the worst parts of me.
Which meant they ignored logic during emergencies.
By the time adults realized what was happening, the twins had already disappeared inside.
The entire camp fell silent.
I could barely breathe.
Seconds stretched endlessly.
Then finally movement appeared through the smoke.
Ethan burst out first, coughing hard.
Emma followed beside him.
And between them was Noah.
The camp exploded into noise again.
People rushed toward the children immediately.
I grabbed both twins so fast they squeaked.
“What were you thinking?!” My voice shook badly. “You could’ve died!”
“But Noah was inside,” Emma replied breathlessly.
“And everybody was panicking,” Ethan added.
Noah clung tightly to his father now while Cole stared at the twins with something close to disbelief.
I almost fainted on the spot.
Later, after the fire was controlled and everyone safely gathered near the open grounds, Cole approached us again.
“I owe your children my son’s life,” Cole said quietly.
“You don’t owe them anything,” I replied immediately. “They were reckless.”
“We were heroic,” Ethan corrected.
Adrian actually smiled at that.
Then he handed me a card.
“Please join us for dinner tonight.”
“Oh, that’s unnecessary.”
“It isn’t.”
“Really, Mr. Cole, they’re fine.”
“I’m not inviting you out of politeness.”
His tone stayed calm, but firm enough to end the argument immediately.
Noah tugged excitedly on my sleeve. “Please come.”
Emma and Ethan joined instantly.
“Please?”
“Pleaaaase?”
I narrowed my eyes at them.
“We'll be there.”
▪︎▪︎▪︎
A few hours later, Silver nearly exploded after hearing the story.
“He invited them to dinner?” she repeated loudly.
“Yes.”
“That’s it?”
I blinked. “Silver…”
“They saved his child from a burning building!”
“They helped somebody because it was right.”
Silver crossed her arms. “Morality is beautiful. Compensation is also beautiful.”
Joshua nodded thoughtfully from the couch. “Fair point.”
I pointed at both of them. “You two are terrible influences.”
“We’re realistic influences,” Silver corrected.
Meanwhile the twins bounced excitedly around the living room preparing for dinner.
By evening, the twins were practically vibrating with excitement.
I still felt awkward the entire drive there.
Mostly because I expected a wife somewhere in that mansion.
Some elegant woman silently judging me for existing near her husband.
Instead, when Cole opened the door himself, the house felt strangely empty.
Noah practically tackled the twins the second they entered.
“You came!”
“We brought appetisers too!” Ethan announced.
That earned a laugh from Cole.
Dinner somehow became loud within minutes as the kids debated with energy.
But that wasn't the end of it. Cole placed three envelopes beside the twins calmly.
“What’s this?” Emma asked.
“A thank you.”
The twins opened them simultaneously.
Then both gasped.
“Mom,” Ethan whispered. “There’s so many zeros.”
I took one cheque.
And nearly stopped breathing.
Millions.
Each.
“No,” I said immediately, pushing them back toward Adrian. “Absolutely not.”
“It’s appreciation.”
“It’s too much appreciation.”
“You saved my son.”
“They’re children.”
“They’re heroes.”
I shook my head firmly. “Mr. Cole, this amount is insane.”
Adrian studied me quietly for a moment.
Then he asked softly, “How much would you do for your children?”
I answered immediately.
“Everything.”
His gaze lowered briefly toward Noah.
“I would have died if anything happened to my son.” His voice stayed calm, but filled with emotion. “Your children saved him before that became my reality. So honestly, I owe them everything.”
The table went quiet.
I could no longer argue after that.
The rain started during dessert and I couldn't argue when the kids demanded we sleep over!”
Cole looked outside briefly. “Yeah, that looks bad… You should stay tonight.”
I hesitated.
“…Fine.”
Victory cheers erupted instantly.
Much later, after the children finally fell asleep upstairs, I stepped onto the balcony quietly.
Rain had softened into a gentle drizzle now.
The night air felt cool against my skin.
For now, everything was peaceful.
The balcony door slid open behind me.
Cole walked out holding two mugs.
“You looked like somebody who needed tea.”
I accepted one carefully. “Thank you.”
For a while, silence settled comfortably between us.
Then he asked quietly, “Their father. Is he gone?”
I stared into my tea.
“No,” I admitted honestly. “But, he's not a part of us.”
Adrian nodded once, not a hint of pity in his eyes.
Strangely, I appreciated that.
“My son really likes your children,” he said after a moment. “I haven’t seen him this excited in years.”
“They like him too.”
Without pausing, he asked. “Would you take care of my son for me?”
I blinked.
“Oh.” I straightened awkwardly. “I’m sorry, I’ve never worked as a nanny before.”
Adrian stared at me.
Then unexpectedly laughed under his breath.
“I’m not asking you to become his nanny.”
Confusion settled in my chest.
“Then what are you asking?”
He looked directly at me.
“I’m asking you to marry me.”