Not Twins (Natasha and Kenneth)

Benjamin and Denise continued playing in the living room until it was late before going to their rooms. Kenneth knocked on Denise's room door moments later.

• "The door isn't locked, so you can come right in." Denise called out to him in her childish voice.

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"Why aren't you asleep yet?" Kenneth asked when he entered her room and saw her sitting on the bed.

• Denise pouted and let out a sigh as she replied, "I'm a little worried about Mommy. She's all alone in the hospital right now, and I'm not sure if the doctors are able to take good care of her." "She's all by herself in the hospital?"

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Denise nodded. "Yeah. Gramps told me about it over the phone earlier."

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Kenneth pursed his lips and said, "Get some rest, Denise. I'll go check on your mommy at the hospital."

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Denise's eyes lit up when she heard that. "Really?"

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Kenneth nodded in response.

He was planning on heading over, to begin with, so Denise being worried about Natasha provided him with the perfect reason to do so.

"Thank you, Mr. Handsome! You're such a nice guy!" Denise exclaimed happily.

Again with the "Mr. Handsome..."

• I've always felt this inexplicable sense of closeness toward Denise whenever I saw her. Never have I ever expected for her to be related to me by blood. Now that I think about it, I really have missed out on a lot...

• With that in mind, Kenneth reached out to pat her on the head. "Denise..."

• "Hmm?"

• Kenneth was about to say something but found the words to be stuck in his throat.

• As Natasha had yet to tell them the truth, Kenneth feared he would end up scaring them off.

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"I just wanted to tell you that I'll be very nice to you for the rest of my life. Just let me know if you ever need anything, okay?" he said with a smile.

Denise was so delighted that it took every ounce of willpower she had just to keep her excitement under control.

• Oh, my... Is this Daddy's way of promising to look after me? I bet he already knows about me being his daughter! He just doesn't have the courage to say it to my face yet! I really want to just tell him everything, but I have to keep it a secret or Mommy will get mad at me...

•

After giving it some thought, Denise nodded profusely and said, "I believe you, Mr. Handsome! I like you very much too!"

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Kenneth was tempted to just hug her tightly and shower her with affection but held himself back in the end. "I like you very much too!"

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Denise was smiling like a child that had just been given candy. She wanted nothing more than to throw herself into Kenneth's arms and enjoy the feeling of being loved.

• "All right, hurry up and get some rest. I'll go visit your mommy at the hospital now," Kenneth said as he got up and made his way toward the door.

• "Nat has got a hot temper, so make sure to be tolerant toward her, Mr. Handsome. Don't get mad at her, okay?" Denise reminded him all of a sudden.

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Kenneth turned around and flashed her a smile. "Okay, I won't. Good night."

"Good night!"

Denise slumped against her bed the moment Kenneth closed the door behind him.

Ahhhhh! I can't believe I'm sleeping in Daddy's room right now! On top of that, Daddy said he likes me a lot and will be very nice to me from now on! I'm so excited that I can't sleep!

• A smile formed on Kenneth's lips when he heard the girl giggling from outside the door.

• He was a little hesitant when he glanced at Benjamin's room door but made his way over anyway.

• Right when he was about to knock on the door, Benjamin opened it from the inside.

• As their gazes met, Kenneth realized he was unable to shower him with love and affection as he did with Denise.

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"Are you heading out?" he asked awkwardly.

• "Nat's all alone in the hospital, so I'm a little worried about her."

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"And you're planning on going there by yourself?"

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Benjamin made no attempt to deny it.

Kenneth wasn't sure how life was for them when Natasha raised them on her own, but it pained him to see them worry about her like that.

• "That's exactly what I came to talk to you about. I'm going to visit your mommy at the hospital, so I need you to stay home and look after your sister."

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Benjamin simply looked up at him without saying a word.

• "Your great-grandpa likes you two a lot, so you two should stay and keep him company," Kenneth added.

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"Got it," Benjamin replied with a nod.

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Kenneth hesitated for a bit but reached out to pat him on the head anyway. "It's late. So hurry up and get some rest."

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Since Benjamin hadn't received such affection from men other than Terence, he found himself getting goosebumps as a result.

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Even so, he still felt a little excited at having his head patted.

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Kenneth then went downstairs while Benjamin watched with an eyebrow raised.

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Liam had just gotten off the phone when he turned around and saw Kenneth coming down the stairs. "Are you going to the hospital?"

• Kenneth nodded in response.

"That's more like it! This is your time to make a move, so make sure to give it your best! Who knows, Nat might just soften up to you," Liam said with a chuckle.

• "I have nothing to give my best to. I'm only going because Denise is worried sick about her," Kenneth replied awkwardly.

• Liam flashed him a look of disdain as he mumbled, "Look at you and that stubbornness of yours... Well, whatever. Given how excellent Nat is, I'm sure you'll come to regret it later on."

• Kenneth pursed his lips and hesitated for a bit before asking, "What did Old Mr. Watson tell you when you two went out today?"

• Liam arched an eyebrow at him upon hearing that. "Nothing much. He just told me how pitiful the kids are. It really hurt me to hear that."

. "That's it?"

Liam nodded. "Yeah."

•

"If that's the case, aren't you being a little overboard with your acts of affection?" Kenneth asked.

"How is that overboard? What, I can't show those kids some love? Don't tell me you think they're your children?" Liam snapped back at him.

• "No, I know they are," Kenneth replied decisively.

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Liam burst out laughing. "Have you gone crazy from your desire to have kids or something? Anyway, that's not true. They're not related to you, so don't you go overthinking things now!"

However, Kenneth stood firm on his beliefs. "I don't know what deal you've made with Old Mr. Watson, but I know with absolute certainty that they are my children. Your attitude toward them further confirms my statement."

Unsure of what to say, Liam went silent for a while before protesting, "I'm just showering them with affection because I sympathize with them, that's all. You're reading too much into it."

• "Sure, you keep telling yourself that. The kids are heading back tomorrow anyway," Kenneth said with a sneer and walked off.

·

Liam was so mad that he grumbled under his breath, "Hmph! This is what you get for not appreciating her back then! It's about time you get taught a lesson for your mistakes! Let's see you go through hell as you try to win her back, you arrogant little sh*t!"