CHAPTER 264

At night, the family gathered around the campfire for dinner.

It was Aldo's and Buddy's first time staying outside at night, and they were especially excited. Even Aldo, who was usually composed, got so excited that his eyes glittered.

Sebastian, Madeline, Leigh, Luke, and a number of assistants and bodyguards had pitched about seven tents on the mountaintop, making it look like a mini campsite.

Buddy asked for his phone from Madeline. Then, he proceeded to take several photos and videos with it. He ran here and there, capturing breathtaking records of the place.

Aldo and Buddy were supposed to go to sleep at 9.00PM, but they stayed up past 11.00PM before getting into the tent under Madeline's urging.

Even when they were lying on the rugs, the children didn't have the slightest bit of sleepiness.

In particular, Buddy chattered away to Sebastian, Madeline, and Aldo. holds © this.

Seeing his joy and excitement, Madeline wasn't too insistent when she urged him to go to sleep.

In the end, Buddy finally fell into a deep slumber in Sebastian's arms, unable to hold out any longer.

Aldo accompanied Buddy the entire time, and when he saw that his brother had drifted off, he closed his eyes and immediately went to sleep as well.

Sebastian couldn't help but chuckle as he rubbed Aldo's hair. "Aldo is such a good child. Even though

he keeps complaining about his brother, he's also the one who takes care of his brother the most."

"Yes." Madeline smiled as she nodded. "Even though they're twins, Aldo weighed about six pounds, but Buddy was only five pounds. Aldo has a good physique, but Buddy is weak and sickly. Someone jokingly said to Aldo that he absorbed too many nutrients in my tummy, and Buddy didn't get enough, so that's why Buddy was shorter than him and kept getting sick. Aldo remembered that, and he kept trying to protect his brother."

When Sebastian looked at his beautiful and adorable sons who resembled angels, he caressed their heads and said again, "You've taught them very well. They're intelligent, understanding, polite, and they have the best personalities and character among their peers. They don't have any bad habits at all. You brought them up alone in the past, and I don't need to hear from you to know that you've had a difficult past. You spent so much effort on them, but I got myself a deal of a lifetime!"

"It's not exactly like that." As Madeline looked at her sons' youthful faces, her gaze was as gentle as the moonlight outside the tent. "There is an incomparable joy and happiness in raising children. To me, they have provided me so much more than what I've given them."

Before she knew her real identity, the two children were her only family.

It was because of these two children that she could find a place to call home in this world, and she could feel needed.

With her children by her side, she didn't have even the slightest bit of loneliness.

She was her children's everything, and the children were everything to her as well.

After birthing Aldo and Buddy, she had spent every day in joy, fulfillment, and happiness.

Being blessed with the pair was the best thing that happened to her.

"No matter what, I have to thank you." Sebastian rubbed the children lovingly. "The more time I spend with them, the more wonderful I find them, which makes me love them even more. Thank you for bringing them to me. I remember every effort you put in, and I'll definitely repay you!"

"Don't say it like that." Madeline cocked her head to the side as she looked at him. "I raised Aldo and Buddy willingly, and it's not because of you. You don't have to thank me, but I have to thank you instead. If it weren't for you, I'd still be labeled an illegitimate daughter, and because I couldn't realize the truth otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to see my own parents. Technically speaking, I actually owe you…"

Sebastian cocked his head as he looked into her eyes. "Is that what you think?"

Madeline nodded earnestly. "Yes."

Sebastian lowered his head and chuckled. He suddenly moved Aldo and Buddy, who were sleeping between them, to one side.

Without the two children in the middle, he and Madeline were lying together now.

The woman instantly felt uneasy, and she couldn't help but edge away. "You—"

Sebastian moved and pinned her below him, his voice alluring as he said, "Since you're so grateful to

me, why don't you surrender to me?"

Madeline was speechless.

As she felt the firm and powerful body on top of her, she froze. Meanwhile, the heat on her face rose steadily.

She pressed against Sebastian's chest as she said shakily, "D-Don't fool around… The children are still here…"

Sebastian raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Are you saying that I can do whatever I want if Aldo and Buddy aren't here?"

Madeline gave no response as her heartbeat quickened, and her face was so hot that it would burst into flames.

Save for that time she got drugged by Luke and had no choice but to do it with Sebastian, this was her first time being so close to this man.

Due to the drug last time, her mind wasn't entirely clear and her brain was fuzzy. Hence, she couldn't remember much of the incident.

But now, her mind was completely clear.

She could smell the nice minty fragrance on Sebastian's body.

This man loved cleanliness, and if one went near him, one could smell the refreshing mint fragrance on

his body.

Madeline was already very familiar with this smell, for she would feel peace and calm whenever she caught the scent of him.

She wasn't sure when it started, but deep inside her, she had recognized Sebastian as a strong guardian. With him around, she and her children would be safe.

As he loomed over her, she didn't feel humiliated. Instead, she felt rather bashful.

She trusted him, and she knew what he was like.

His actions toward her were definitely not because he looked down on her; neither was it because he was toying with the woman. It was because…

What is it?

A natural need?

She had read about men being more passionate about these things compared to women.

However, Sebastian kept himself pure. His bodyguards were all men, and Madeline also heard that the employees on his office floor were all men; there wasn't a single female employee to be found.

He lived a life free from lust as if he were a monk.

Any normal man would have this sort of need.

Perhaps he needed it at this moment, and she happened to be the wife he had legally married.

Even though she previously said that she hoped they could only be husband and wife in name without carrying out any duties, they were more than that due to the incident last time.

If so, then the agreement she spoke of between them, which was to only be husband and wife on paper, would be void already.

She was the one who dragged Sebastian into this first. Moreover, not only did they have a marriage certificate, Sebastian even said that he would hold a wedding for her. If so, they weren't any different from a normal couple.

In that case, it would be natural for them to engage in such acts, right?

However, it wasn't the right place.

With her face flushed red, she pushed against Sebastian's chest as she said shakily, "Anyway, we can't do that with the children around…"