The Alpha's Four Hidden Heirs (Natalie and Samuel) novel Chapter 81

**The City That Drowned in the Sound of Its Own Heartbeat by Erynd Cal DusK**

**Chapter 81**

**Alpha Samuel Bowers.**

“I know today was parents’ visiting day at Sophia and Franklin’s school,” Yara began, her voice steady yet tinged with a hint of desperation. “I took the liberty of asking the film crew for a day off to be with you all. But when I finally arrived, it seemed the event had already wrapped up.” She looked at me, her eyes searching for some flicker of understanding.

I merely hummed in acknowledgment, a noncommittal sound that I could tell only deepened her frustration. What did she expect me to say? Should I congratulate her on her role as a mother? I was painfully aware that her visit had little to do with the twins and everything to do with her own needs.

“Samuel, can you please stop treating me like this?” Her voice quivered, and I could see the glimmer of tears threatening to spill over. Yet, I remained unmoved; I had seen her act before, and I knew those tears were nothing but a performance meant to tug at my heartstrings.

“I carried Sophia and Franklin before we were married,” she continued, inching closer to me, her tears tracing a path down her cheeks. “I am their mother, yet I can’t be with them every day. They don’t even want to be around me. Even you… You’ve grown so distant. Samuel, we used to share everything. Why can’t you be kinder to me?”

The urge to unleash a torrent of anger, to call her out on her deceit, surged within me, but I swallowed it down. She had no inkling that I was privy to the truth, and I wouldn’t risk exposing anything until Natalie came to me with her own revelations.

In the face of Yara’s slender form and her tear-streaked visage, any other man might have instinctively drawn her into an embrace, driven by compassion. But not me. Not now, especially not when I understood the depths of her betrayal.

I stood there, an unmoving statue, my heart encased in ice.

“I made my position clear when you brought Sophia and Franklin home,” I said, my voice cold and unyielding.

“I…” she started, but I cut her off.

“I never gave you any promises,” I snapped, irritation creeping into my tone. “Not back then, and certainly not now.”

“But I am still their mother!” she exclaimed, her voice rising in a mix of anger and indignation.

That was her ace in the hole. She knew I could dismiss her, but the twins were bound to her by blood. No matter how much I wanted to sever ties, she would always hold the title of mother to the heirs of the Bowers legacy.

“Oh, is that so?” I replied, my tone dripping with casual disdain. She was so caught up in her own web of lies and emotions that she failed to notice the shift in my demeanor, continuing her lament without a hint of awareness.

“I… I’m not asking for much,” she pleaded, her voice softening as if she were trying to find a way back into my good graces. “I just want to be by your side and watch Sophia and Franklin grow up healthy and happy.”

I pressed my lips together, choosing silence over words. I gazed at her, contemplating how two individuals who shared such striking similarities could be so fundamentally different. Although I didn’t know the entirety of their story, the snippets I had gathered convinced me that Yara had hurt Natalie deeply. How could she betray her own sister? They were two halves of the same whole, yet she had inflicted pain upon her.

For now, I would maintain the facade, but that didn’t mean I would allow her near the children. Thankfully, the twins seemed to share my sentiments, which would make things a bit easier.

She was just like her sister… Their eyes, the same shape and color, were eerily reminiscent of one another. Yet, the brightness that I cherished in Natalie’s gaze was absent from Yara’s. What was the point of such resemblance if it wasn’t the one I longed for?

“Samuel, you…” she began again, but I cut her off.

“I’ll have Gavin arrange for a driver to take you home,” I stated flatly.

With that, I turned my back on Yara, not bothering to offer her another glance as I made my way to the back seat of the car. I scooped up the kids and headed upstairs, my mind swirling with thoughts.

**NATALIE.**

Jeanne’s face brightened, her tears still shimmering as she nodded in gratitude.

“Ms. Yara isn’t here. We’ll need to head to the office headquarters, Ms. Edmund,” she informed me.

“Okay,” I replied, steeling myself for whatever awaited me.

Before I left, I assigned Effie a few tasks, ensuring that my absence wouldn’t disrupt our progress, then slipped on my coat. I followed Jeanne out of the office, my mind racing.

As we approached a sleek black minivan, I felt a flicker of annoyance at the situation.

“Here—”

Jeanne turned to me, surprised as I offered her a tissue.

“Take it,” I insisted, looking away to mask my own discomfort. “Your tears deserve to be shed for someone who truly understands you. Those who don’t will only see you as a weak pushover.”

She looked taken aback, as though kindness was a rare occurrence in her life.

“Thank you,” she murmured, her surprise evident.

“Not a problem. Now, let’s get going,” I said, my voice firm as we climbed into the vehicle, the tension thick between us.