The Mistress Who Ran Away With The Twins

Chapter 198: A Gamble For Another Chance

"If abandoning everything is what it takes to protect Sylvia and the children from public humiliation..." Rome said quietly. "...then yes."

No one answered immediately.

Even Stephenson looked momentarily thrown off by how serious Rome sounded.

Bern narrowed his eyes slightly, studying him carefully as if searching for even the smallest sign of hesitation. But Rome didn’t look away. He stood there calmly despite the pressure surrounding him, despite the coldness directed at him from every side.

Sylvia’s father remained expressionless.

Stephenson crossed his arms tighter over his chest, clearly unconvinced.

Then Sylvester suddenly laughed. Not loudly, just enough to cut through the heavy atmosphere.

Everyone looked at him.

Sylvester’s smirk slowly widened as he stared at Rome with clear amusement in his eyes.

"Well..." he drawled lazily, "if you’re truly serious about all this, then why not prove it properly?"

Stephenson frowned at his brother.

"What are you talking about now?"

Sylvester ignored him and kept his eyes on Rome.

"Why not sign a contract?" he suggested casually. "Put every single thing you just said into writing."

Bern’s brows furrowed slightly.

Even Sylvia’s father glanced toward Sylvester now.

But Sylvester only looked more entertained the longer the silence stretched.

"You said you’re willing to risk everything, right?" Sylvester continued smoothly. "Your company. Your wealth. Your reputation. Even your family name."

His smirk sharpened.

"So prove it."

Stephenson stared at him in disbelief.

"...Sylvester."

"What?" Sylvester asked innocently.

"You’re insane too now?" Stephenson snapped. "Why are you encouraging this man?"

Sylvester only laughed lightly at his expression.

"Come on, there’s literally nothing for us to lose here.." he said simply.

Stephenson looked even more irritated.

"Oh really? Is that why instead of stopping him from getting close to our sister, you’re secretly encouraging him?" Stephenson said sarcastically. "You think I didn’t notice that you never really stopped him at all even though you knew he’s been hanging around Sylvia like a fly? Was this your plan all along?"

"W-Wait, what?" Sylvester looked offended for a second before scoffing. "What the hell, Stephenson. Is that really how you see me?"

He straightened slightly before gesturing toward Rome.

"I have more money than the Haristons. I’m not greedy enough to care about what he owns," he said flatly. "Isn’t it obvious he’s the one offering everything, not us?"

Sylvester continued calmly. "If Rome loses this little bet, then good for us. He loses everything. His company, his reputation, his pride. He suffers public humiliation and never gets close to Sylvia or the children again."

Bern’s gaze darkened thoughtfully.

Stephenson opened his mouth to argue again, but Sylvester continued before he could interrupt.

"And if..." Sylvester paused meaningfully, eyes flickering toward Rome, "...if he actually proves he changed, then the kids get their father."

The hallway fell quiet again.

Sylvester tilted his head slightly.

"And isn’t it good no matter what the result is, it’ll still benefit Sylvia somehow?"

Stephenson scoffed harshly.

"You’re making this sound like some game, Sylvester. Our sister is the one who suffered here."

"Hey," Sylvester said, raising a brow. "Don’t make it sound like I’m some heartless brother. If anyone has the right to be angry here, it’s Sylvia."

His expression softened slightly. "In the end, Sylvia’s decision is what matters the most."

Then he sighed dramatically before continuing. "So no, I’m not treating this like a game. I’m just making everything practical for our sister."

Stephenson glared at him.

"You seriously think we should trust him after everything?"

"I didn’t say trust him." Sylvester shrugged. "I said give him conditions."

His gaze shifted briefly toward Rome again. "And honestly? If he’s stupid enough to willingly sign away everything he owns, why should we stop him?"

A smirk slowly appeared on Sylvester’s lips as he looked at Rome.

Rome, however, didn’t even flinch. He simply accepted every word thrown at him without protest. He didn’t want things to become even more complicated than they already were.

Bern’s expression gradually darkened the longer the conversation between the Lincolm brothers continued. He didn’t like where this was heading at all.

Most people would’ve hesitated by now and would’ve tried defending themselves, or at least argued back after being cornered like this.

But Rome didn’t.

This wasn’t the Rome Hariston Bern knew from the business world—the cold, untouchable man who never allowed anyone to speak over him. The man known for destroying competitors without mercy and walking away from negotiations only after getting exactly what he wanted.

That Rome would’ve never stood quietly while being insulted like this.

But the man standing in front of him now felt completely different from the rumors surrounding his name.

Rome simply remained there in silence, accepting every insult and every condition thrown at him without trying to defend himself even once.

And somehow...

That irritated Bern even more.

His jaw tightened slightly as he continued staring at Rome, searching carefully for even the smallest crack in his composure.

Because if Rome was just pretending, then he was doing it frighteningly well.

And Bern hated that part of him was beginning to notice the sincerity behind Rome’s silence.

Stephenson ran a rough hand through his hair.

"This is ridiculous," he muttered. "You’re talking about this like it’s some business arrangement, Sylvester."

Sylvester tilted his head.

"And what do you want to do instead?" he asked calmly. "Keep him away forever?"

"Yes."

Stephenson answer echoed heavily through the hallway.

Rome’s jaw tightened slightly at the bluntness of it.

Sylvester sighed dramatically.

"You’re being emotional."

Stephenson immediately glared at him.

"And you’re not emotional enough."

"Oh, I’m emotional," Sylvester replied with a grin. "I’m just not stupid."

Stephenson looked ready to punch him.

Bern pinched the bridge of his nose briefly. He had been friends with the Lincolm brothers since they were young, and seeing them like this was exhausting.

They knew very well that he liked Sylvia, yet none of them ever said anything about it. And now Sylvester was annoyingly siding with the very man who hurt her the most.

"Can the two of you stop acting like children for one minute?" Bern muttered coldly.

Neither of them listened.

"No. This guy needs to understand too, Bern, so stay quiet for a moment."

Stephenson turned back toward Sylvester as if Bern hadn’t spoken at all.

Bern could only stare blankly at Stephenson’s attitude. But honestly, what did he expect? The Lincolm brothers had always been like this.

And being around them for years made Bern realize one painful thing, he was never worthy enough of Sylvia’s love in their eyes. They were far too protective of her. Even him, someone who stayed beside Sylvia for years, wasn’t fully accepted by them.

"You saw what Sylvia went through," Stephenson snapped. "You know what that bastard did."

Rome remained silent.

"And you think I’m just supposed to sit back while he suddenly decides he wants to play family again?"

Sylvester’s expression softened slightly this time.

"No," he said more quietly. "But this isn’t our decision."

Stephenson frowned.

Sylvester continued. "The most important opinion here is Sylvia’s."

That immediately silenced him.

"She’s the one who suffered the most," Sylvester added. "Not us."

Stephenson looked away irritably. "We’re her family." he muttered.

"And because we’re her family," Sylvester replied calmly, "our job is to support her. Not make decisions for her."

"And what if Sylvia gets hurt again?" Bern spoke again.

Sylvester’s playful expression faded slightly.

"Then we’ll deal with it."

His voice turned colder. "If Rome fails to keep his promises, I’ll personally make sure he regrets it."

The air shifted slightly after those words. Because unlike Stephenson’s emotional anger, Sylvester’s calmness somehow sounded far more dangerous.

Rome noticed it too. But instead of reacting defensively, he simply nodded once.

"That’s fair," he said quietly. "I’ll accept whatever punishment all of you think is appropriate if I fail to keep my word."

Stephenson stared at him sharply.

"You’re really agreeing to this?"

"Yes."

"No hesitation?" Bern finally asked.

Rome turned toward him.

"No hesitation."

"Unbelievable..." Bern muttered before studying him carefully again.

"...Why?"

That single question made the hallway quiet again.

Rome lowered his gaze briefly. Then slowly, he answered honestly.

"Because they’re worth more than everything I own."

Silence.

For the first time since the conversation started, nobody interrupted him.

Rome continued quietly. "If losing my company is the price for earning another chance with Sylvia and the children..." his jaw tightened slightly, "...then it’s not a loss."

Stephenson scoffed again, though weaker this time.

"You say that now as if you’ll really keep your word. Remember this—we’ll be watching your every move. One mistake could destroy you."

His eyes darkened dangerously.

"We won’t hesitate to ruin everything you have. Even your family."

"I mean it," Rome answered firmly. "Because I’m confident I won’t lose."

The certainty in Rome’s voice made Stephenson frown.

Bern narrowed his eyes again.

Sylvia’s father finally spoke after remaining silent for so long.

"And what exactly do you think this contract should contain?"

Sylvester’s grin immediately returned.

"Simple," he said smoothly. "Everything Rome just promised."

Stephenson groaned softly.

"You really are insane."

Sylvester ignored him completely.

"He publicly acknowledges the children once the time is right. He protects Sylvia and the kids from public backlash. He doesn’t force himself into their lives against Sylvia’s wishes."

His eyes sharpened slightly.

"And if he fails..."

Rome answered before he could finish.

"I won’t just lose everything," he said quietly. "I’ll also walk away from Sylvia’s life."

That caught all of them off guard again.

Rome slowly lifted his gaze toward them.

"If Sylvia tells me to leave..." he said quietly, "...I will."

Stephenson stared at him suspiciously.

"You expect us to believe that?"

"No," Rome admitted honestly. "But I’ll still do it."

Sylvester hummed thoughtfully.

"And the company?"

"If I break my word," Rome said calmly, "I’ll transfer ownership rights exactly as written in the contract."

Stephenson blinked.

"...You’re really serious."

"Yes."

Bern finally crossed his arms.

For the first time since the conversation started, some of the hostility in his expression eased slightly. Not completely gone but shaken.

Because Rome truly sounded prepared to lose everything.

And men like Rome Hariston didn’t gamble their empires lightly.

Sylvia’s father exhaled slowly.

"This doesn’t mean we accept you."

"I know."

"It doesn’t mean we forgive you either."

Rome lowered his gaze slightly.

"I know that too."

Stephenson clicked his tongue irritably.

"This whole thing still sounds insane."

Sylvester smirked.

"But you’re not rejecting it anymore."

Stephenson glared at him.

"...Shut up."

Sylvester laughed openly this time.

Bern shook his head quietly before finally speaking toward Rome again.

"One mistake," he said coldly. "One thing that hurts Sylvia or the children..."

His gaze sharpened.

"I’ll help the Lincolms destroy you. Mark my words. They’re special to me—especially Cairo. I treated him like my own son. And Sylvia..." his jaw tightened slightly, "...Sylvia is more than just a friend to me. So if you hurt her again, you’ll never get close to her ever again."

Rome met Bern’s gaze directly.

He already knew Bern had once been Sylvia’s fiancé based on the information he gathered which made Bern far more dangerous than the Lincolm brothers.

"...I understand."

The hallway fell quiet once more but this time, the tension felt different. Not gone, Just... less suffocating.

Sylvia’s father finally turned toward the room again.

"We’ll discuss the details later. However, don’t get comfortable. We will never accept you."

Rome nodded immediately.

"I understand. But still... thank you for giving me a chance."

"We’re not giving you a chance," Sylvester corrected with a grin. "Remember that this is a bet. One wrong move and you’ll lose everything."

Stephenson muttered under his breath,

"I still hate this."

Sylvester patted his shoulder mockingly.

"You’ll survive. Good luck."

"I might kill you first."

"You say that every time you lose an argument against me."

Bern sighed tiredly.

Rome watched them quietly.

And strangely enough...For the first time despite everything, he genuinely wanted to make things right. To make up for everything he failed to do for Sylvia. Even if it meant earning her family’s trust first. Because despite everything, they were still giving him a small chance.

Then the door finally opened again.

The five of them stepped back inside the room.

Sylvia immediately looked up from beside Cairo’s bed and instantly froze.

The atmosphere had changed. Different and less explosive than earlier.

Her eyes moved between her father, Stephenson, Bern, and Sylvester before finally landing on Rome.

Rome’s expression remained calm, though exhaustion lingered faintly beneath it.

Sylvia slowly stood.

"...What happened?"

Nobody answered her.

Stephenson looked away first.

Bern stayed quiet.

Sylvester looked far too amused.

Which honestly worried Sylvia more.

Her gaze returned to Rome.

Rome stared at her for a brief moment before answering quietly.

"...Your family agreed to give me a chance to make things right."

"What?" Sylvia asked in confusion, unable to hear him clearly because he spoke too fast.

Rome blinked before the corners of his lips lifted slightly.

"Nothing." he said gently, then he smiled.

A gentle smile. One that looked strangely relieved.

"I said you’re too pretty," he added casually. "You should rest too. I’ll watch over Cairo for now."