The Mistress Who Ran Away With The Twins-Chapter 174: New Neighbor

Sylvia

*****************.

The next morning...

After a night filled with restless sleep, I didn’t expect the world to feel different when I woke up. I already knew it wouldn’t. I knew I would have to pretend I was okay again in front of my kids, just like I always did.

Life didn’t pause just because my past had found me again.

I sat on the edge of my bed for a long moment, staring down at my hands. They were steady now. The trembling from the night before had faded, but it had been replaced by a dull, lingering ache in my chest that refused to disappear. It was the kind of pain that didn’t scream. It didn’t demand attention.

It just stayed, heavy and constant—reminding me that something was wrong even when everything looked normal.

I took a slow breath.

Today was just another day.

At least, that was what I told myself.

I stood up, washed my face, and tied my hair back, my movements automatic. I moved quietly through the small house, careful not to wake the kids too early.

But I didn’t need to be careful at all.

They were already awake.

I heard whispering from their room. Soft giggles followed by muffled laughter. The sound of feet shifting excitedly against the floor.

Then—

"Mom!"

Egypt burst out of the room first, her hair messy and sticking out in all directions, her eyes bright with excitement. Cairo followed right behind her, already talking, his words tumbling over each other without pause. Paris trailed last, quieter as always, but her curious eyes were just as lively as her siblings’.

"There’s noise outside," Cairo said breathlessly. "Like hammering!"

"And the old house near Mrs. Tess is being fixed!" Egypt added excitedly. "We’re going to have a new neighbor soon!"

Paris tilted her head thoughtfully. "It’s been so long since someone lived there. I heard from some of the neighbors that the house even has a ghost at night."

"Like mooo?!" Cairo said, widening his eyes before mimicking a zombie walk, his arms stretched out in front of him.

"Yes!" Egypt said solemnly, shaking her head dramatically. "That’s why I pity our new neighbor already. They don’t know there’s a ghost in that house."

I froze for half a second.

A new neighbor? All of a sudden?

I stepped closer to the window and glanced toward the house not far from ours. I didn’t remember anyone ever living there since we moved in. Just like the kids said, the house was old. Maybe that was why people avoided it.

Still, compared to some of the houses nearby, it wasn’t actually that bad. It even had a second floor. It was strange that someone would suddenly buy it after all these years.

"Maybe someone moved in without knowing the house has been empty for a long time," I said casually. "That happens."

"But that house was abandoned," Egypt insisted, crossing her arms. "It’s a ghost house!"

I couldn’t help but smile at her exaggerated pout, reaching out to gently mess up her hair.

"A house that hasn’t been lived in for a long time doesn’t automatically mean it has ghosts," I said lightly. "That house is actually more expensive than most of the houses here. Maybe the new owner has money, so they bought it."

"But it’s still creepy!" Egypt muttered.

"Well," I replied, guiding them back inside, "the new owner probably likes the house. It just needs some repairs and renovation."

They didn’t look convinced.

"But still, that house doesn’t even look worth a penny! I even heard one of our neighbors saw a white lady there—"

"Okay, kids, stop," I said gently but firmly, clapping my hands lightly. "You know it’s not good to talk like that. You’re just scaring yourselves. Remember what I always tell you—especially you, Egypt—to be kind to others and extra careful with your words."

Egypt pouted but nodded. "I remember, Mom. I’m sorry."

I smiled softly. "Okay. Enough ghost stories. Who wants pancakes for breakfast?"

All three of them raised their hands at the same time.

"Me!"

"Alright," I laughed. "Breakfast coming right up."

Breakfast was louder than usual. The kids talked over one another, clearly excited about the idea of a new neighbor.

I listened with half an ear while frying hotdogs and eggs for their school lunch, my thoughts drifting back to the night before.

Rome.

Why did his name suddenly keep slipping into my mind when I didn’t want it there?

I pushed the thought away.

------

After breakfast, while the kids were getting dressed for school, I stepped outside to hang a few clothes I’d forgotten the night before. That was when I heard it clearly.

Voices.

Hammering.

Then I saw men wearing black suits, moving furniture that looked far too luxurious for our quiet street. They handled everything carefully, like bodyguards more than movers.

What the hell? Was the new owner rich?

I turned my head slowly.

The old house—the one that had stood empty for as long as we’d lived here was suddenly alive. A small truck was parked in front. Expensive furniture was being unloaded one by one. Someone was repairing the broken fence.

And then, a man stepped out of a car parked not far away.

He wore a cap pulled low over his face. Glasses hid his eyes. Long sleeves covered his arms despite the heat.

My chest tightened.

The man looked familiar.

No. It couldn’t be him.

I knew that posture. That build. That presence.

My body recognized it before my mind could catch up.

It always did.

Before I could get a clearer look, the man turned away, talking on his phone. A moment later, he got back into the car.

Another man stepped out instead, carrying a large bag. They exchanged a few words before the car drove off.

I didn’t recognize the second man.

Still, my heart was racing.

I turned away quickly and went back inside before anyone could notice me. My palms were damp, my breathing uneven.

What was wrong with me?

Did I really think, even for a second, that the man was Rome?

----

Later that morning, after the kids had left for school, Tess came over.

She didn’t knock. She never did. She simply leaned over the fence, her voice cheerful as always.

"Sylvia!" she called. "Did you see? We have a new neighbor!"

I stiffened.

"Yes," I replied carefully. "I noticed."

Tess grinned. "About time someone fixed that place. I thought it would collapse one day. He seems quiet though. Came early this morning and started working right away."

"Oh... he’s living alone?" I asked.

"Yes," Tess said. "Just one man. No family, from what I can tell. Polite too. He greeted me earlier."

I forced a smile. "That’s good."

She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "He seems decent. Keeps to himself. The kind you barely notice."

"That’s usually a good thing," I said.

"Exactly," Tess agreed. "With kids around, it’s better to have neighbors like that."

Kids.

The word made my heart tighten.

"I should get back inside," I said. "Thanks for telling me."

When Tess left, I closed the door immediately, even though she had said the neighbor already went out. My hands were shaking again, and I didn’t even know why.

The rest of the day passed in careful, quiet moments.

I cleaned the house. Sorted laundry. Tried to focus on tasks that didn’t require much thought. I tried to forget my meeting with Rome at his condo, and for a moment, I almost succeeded.

But my eyes kept drifting toward the window.

Toward the house across the street.

Sometimes I heard footsteps. Sometimes I felt like someone was watching me.

But whenever I looked, there was nothing.

By the time the kids came home from school, I was exhausted.

"Mom!" Egypt said excitedly. "We saw the new neighbor!"

"He was fixing the gate!" Cairo added.

"He said hello.." Paris said softly.

I froze.

"What did he look like?" I asked.

"Tall," Egypt shrugged. "Wore a cap and a face mask."

"And glasses," Cairo added. "Like a movie character who’s sick and contagious."

"Maybe he really is sick," Paris said seriously. "So it’s better if we don’t go near him for now."

I scratched my head at Paris’s logic before gently ruffling her hair.

"That’s good," I said quickly. "You don’t need to talk to strangers."

That night, as I watched them do their homework, my eyes drifted toward the window.

The light across the street was on.

Our neighbor’s house.

I went to bed early, but sleep didn’t come easily.

Later that night, long after the kids were asleep, the house felt too quiet.

The air felt heavy.

I tried to ignore the restlessness crawling under my skin, but eventually, I gave in. I stepped outside for a moment, telling myself I just needed fresh air.

The night was dark, the streetlamps casting long shadows along the road. I hugged my arms around myself as a cool breeze brushed against my skin.

That was when I noticed it.

The balcony.

The second floor of the neighbor’s house.

The balcony doors were open.

And someone was standing there looking at me.