Chapter 115: Breaking the news

"Come when your business is finished, Newton, not before", Selen sighed, looking down at the school registration files spread across her desk. "I need you here focused on us, not picking a fight with the Avelinos the moment you step off the plane". She said to him, And they both chuckled at the last part.

"I will see you soon, Selen. Sleep well", Newton said before hanging up the phone.

She went through everything the kids needed to make their resumption as smooth as can be. The school bags were packed for Monday, and her new relationship was already fracturing under the weight of the old rivalry.

She looked out the window, realizing that having both Clancy and Newton operating in the same country was going to turn her sanctuary into a complete battlefield before the month was even over and she was not going to have that.

"Maybe it is time to tell Clancy about Newton and me" she said to herself as she walked to her bed.

****Few days later**

On Monday afternoon, the gates of the estate slid open right on time as the school bus arrived, bringing the triplets back from their very first day at their new school.

David and Daniel scrambled out of the vehicle first, their voices instantly filling the quiet driveway as they shouted about their new playground, while Sarah carefully guided Diana down the stairs of the bus.

Selen stood on the patio, checking her daughter’s temperature with a gentle touch the moment she stepped inside, relieved to find her skin cool and her breathing perfectly stable.

Before the children could even finish unpacking their new school bags in the hallway, another car pulled up the long driveway.

Clancy stepped out from the back seat of the car, his expression focused and alert as he walked straight toward the patio.

He had promised to check in the moment their first day concluded, keeping up the exact same daily presence he had established back in Spain.

"How did it go?" Clancy asked, bypassing any greeting as his eyes scanned the triplets, who were already rushing toward him to report on their classrooms.

"I scored two goals!" Daniel announced, tugging at Clancy’s jacket. "And the football pitch is huge!" David added.

"Diana had the best seat by the window for her painting class", Daniel chimed in, crowding around his father’s legs.

Clancy knelt down, listening to the boys with a relaxed smile before looking up at Diana, who was holding a small drawing her brother had made for her during recess.

He praised Daniel’s work, and ensured that Diana’s coat was unzipped now that she was indoors, before standing back up to face Selen.

As the children ran upstairs with Sarah to change out of their uniforms, Clancy stepped into the foyer with Selen before she turned her gaze back to him.

The silence of the house settled between them, and she knew she could not delay the conversation any longer. "Clancy, before you head back to the city, there is something important we need to discuss. It concerns my personal life" she said to him.

Clancy paused, his dark eyes narrowing slightly as he locked his gaze onto hers, "go ahead", he said quietly.

Selen took a measured breath, keeping her posture perfectly rigid. "Newton and I are now together. As in, a relationship" she stated directly.

"We are in a committed relationship. He is currently finalizing his business contracts in Madrid, but he will be coming down to visit us here by the end of the new month" she said.

Clancy did not move, his expression instantly turning guarded as her words settled in the space between them.

Selen watched him closely, her heart beating steadily against her ribs, but she stood her ground, refusing to let the personal tension dictate her tone.

"I am telling you this now because I refuse to have any friction or hidden agendas under this roof", Selen continued smoothly, her voice carrying a firm, authoritative weight.

"You visit the children every day, and that routine is important for their emotional stability, but Newton is part of my life now. When he arrives in Kent for his visit, he will be spending time at this estate.

I expect both of you to maintain total professionalism and respect the boundaries of this household. I am not going to allow your personal competition to turn my children’s sanctuary into a battlefield" she said.

Clancy looked down at the floor for a long moment, his jaw tightening before he met her eyes again. The confidence in his posture did not entirely vanish, but he was clearly taken back by the news. "When?" He asked.

"I chose to be with him before I even left Madrid. I am setting the parameters now so that everyone knows exactly where they stand before he steps off the plane for his visit. The kids love you, and they love him too. Their peace comes first," She said.

Clancy stared at her for a significantly long period of time, as if analyzing her expression. Finally, he gave a slow, deliberate nod, his tone returning to a calculated calm one.

"The triplets are my priority, Selen. As long as their routine is undisturbed, I have no interest in starting a dispute in your home. But Newton needs to understand that my access to my children is non-negotiable" he said.

"He understands perfectly", Selen said evenly. "Thank you for understanding, Clancy," she said.

He gave one final look toward the stairs where the children’s laughter was echoing, before turning on his heel and walking back to his car.

Selen watched the vehicle pull away down the long driveway, letting out a slow, deep breath as the heavy weight finally lifted from her shoulders. The truth was out, the lines were drawn, and she had successfully taken complete control of her own household before the storm could even begin.

So why was she feeling like she just made a wrong decision? And why was her heart aching at the sight of Clancy’s broken expression?