Chapter 185 Real Joseph!

Chapter 185: Chapter 185 Real Joseph!

Joseph adjusted his bag and continued down the narrow corridor beyond the hidden entrance.

The passage eventually opened into an enormous private living area.

A spacious sitting room stretched before him, its furnishings arranged neatly around the center. To the left stood a large bedroom, while another corridor led toward the kitchen.

The place was surprisingly comfortable, almost like a private mansion hidden inside the larger facility.

Joseph paused at the entrance and released a breath.

For the first time that day, the tension in his shoulders began to ease.

He was home.

Or at least, he was in the one place where he could pretend that the world outside didn’t exist.

Before he could call out, two figures emerged from the kitchen.

The moment they saw him, their eyes widened.

"Daddy!"

Their cries rang through the sitting room.

The twins immediately rushed toward him, their feet pattering across the floor as they threw themselves into his arms.

Joseph barely had time to put down his bag before they embraced him.

He laughed softly and wrapped his arms around them, holding them close.

"My babies!"

The boy looked remarkably handsome, with features that reminded Joseph of his wife. His strawberry-blond hair framed a calm, gentle face, and there was a serene quality about him that made him appear older than his ten years.

The girl, on the other hand, had blond hair and a mischievous expression that reminded Joseph far too much of himself.

She was stubborn, rebellious, and never hesitated to argue when she believed she was right.

Even now, she was squeezing him so tightly that he could barely breathe.

Not that he minded.

They were his angels.

The people he had sacrificed so much to protect.

For a few precious seconds, Joseph forgot about the experiments, the political arrangements, and the increasingly dangerous world beyond their hidden home.

He was simply a father embracing his children.

And that was enough.

"Landon," he said, looking at his son with an affectionate smile, "I hope your sister hasn’t been giving you too much trouble."

Before the boy could answer, Erica immediately frowned.

"Daddy! That’s not fair!"

Joseph raised his eyebrows innocently.

"What isn’t fair, sweetheart?"

"He’s the one who keeps disturbing me!"

Landon looked at his sister, then at their father.

"I didn’t do anything!"

"You did!"

"Didn’t!"

"Did!"

Joseph watched them argue for another moment before laughing.

Some things never changed.

He shook his head fondly and kissed the tops of their heads.

"All right, all right. Daddy’s home now, so nobody is allowed to fight."

Erica pouted, while Landon gave his father a small, satisfied smile.

Joseph chuckled.

"Now, how about I make your favorite pasta for dinner? Who wants some?"

The twins immediately brightened.

"Me!"

They answered at the same time, their excitement making Joseph laugh again.

He looked at their happy faces and felt something tighten in his chest.

They were only ten years old.

They should have been worrying about school, friends, and the ordinary problems children their age faced. Instead, they were growing up in a world where the ground could become unsafe overnight and monsters could appear where people once lived peacefully.

He hadn’t allowed them to leave this hidden residence since the situation outside had deteriorated.

He knew people would come for them if they discovered their identities.

The president had many enemies, and the world was becoming increasingly desperate. If anyone learned that Catherine and the twins were his greatest weaknesses, they would become targets.

He couldn’t allow that to happen.

He would rather have them resent him for keeping them hidden than expose them to danger.

At least, that was what he kept telling himself.

A few moments later, Joseph glanced around the sitting room.

"By the way, where’s your mother? She hasn’t even come to welcome me with a kiss."

A familiar voice answered from the other side of the room.

"Speak of the devil."

Joseph turned.

Catherine had just emerged from the corridor, and the moment their eyes met, her expression softened.

She was as beautiful as ever.

Her red hair fell around her shoulders, complementing her stunning features. Even after the long days they had spent apart, her presence still had the power to make Joseph forget everything else for a moment.

She hurried toward him.

Before he could say another word, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.

Joseph smiled against her lips, returning the kiss as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

For several seconds, neither seemed interested in letting go.

Unfortunately, they had two very observant children.

"Look, Landon!" Erica shouted. "Mommy and Daddy are doing the mouth-to-mouth thing!"

Landon immediately covered his face with one hand.

"Oh, my God. This is embarrassing."

He grabbed his sister’s wrist.

"Come on. We need to leave before they notice us watching."

"But I want to see!"

"No!"

Landon dragged the protesting Erica away, disappearing down the corridor while their parents remained wrapped in each other’s arms.

Joseph finally broke the kiss and rested his forehead against Catherine’s.

"Oh, Cathy," he murmured. "You look as gorgeous as ever."

Her cheeks flushed slightly.

"I’ve missed holding you. And your hair is still as soft as I remember."

Catherine smiled, her white teeth flashing as she brushed her fingers through his hair.

"I’ve missed you more, Joseph."

For a moment, the happiness on her face seemed complete.

Then her expression changed.

She studied him carefully, taking in the tiredness around his eyes and the tension he hadn’t entirely managed to hide.

"You don’t come home as often anymore," she said quietly. "Is everything all right?"

Joseph’s smile faded.

"No, Cathy."

He looked away briefly before returning his attention to her.

"Everything is getting worse out there. The world is falling apart, and I know that. But I have to finish what I’ve started. I have to create a better world for our children."

His voice grew more determined.

"I have to do this, baby."

Catherine’s smile slowly faltered.

She understood that the world was dangerous. She knew Joseph was carrying responsibilities that most people couldn’t imagine.

But understanding his reasons didn’t make the loneliness any easier to bear.

"What about us, Joseph?"

He fell silent.

"You keep coming and going. Every time I think you’ll stay a little longer, something happens and you’re gone again."

Her voice trembled despite her efforts to remain composed.

"Why can’t you let us stay with you instead of hiding us away? Why can’t we face this together as a family?"

Joseph looked at her, but she continued before he could respond.

"The twins are growing up, Joe. They’re asking questions all the time, especially about why their father is never around. I have to lie to them because I don’t know what else to say."

She swallowed, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

"It’s not good for them. And tomorrow is their birthday."

Joseph’s expression changed.

"Their birthday?"

"Yes, Joseph. Their birthday."

Catherine gave him a sad smile.

"At least stay with us this time. You’ve missed so many of their birthdays already, even before the world ended. I don’t want them to grow up remembering their father as someone who was always too busy to be there."

Her words struck deeper than she intended.

Joseph instinctively took a step back.

For a moment, he looked almost as though she had physically pushed him away.

He knew she was right.

He had missed too much.

Too many birthdays, too many ordinary family moments, too many opportunities to watch his children grow.

But how could he explain what he was doing?

How could he tell her that the things happening outside were connected to plans she knew nothing about? That the experiments he was pursuing might determine whether their family would have a future at all?

And what would happen if she learned the full truth?

Would she still look at him the same way?

Joseph shook his head.

"You won’t understand, Cathy. You just won’t."

Catherine’s heart sank.

"Then make me understand, love."

She stepped closer, gently taking his hands in hers.

"I want to know what’s happening. That’s why we’re married, isn’t it? We’re supposed to face things together. You don’t have to carry everything alone."

For a moment, Joseph couldn’t meet her eyes.

Catherine squeezed his hands.

"Please, Joe. Whatever it is, tell me."

He stared at her for several seconds before slowly shaking his head.

"I will."

She searched his face.

"Promise?"

"I promise, baby. But not now."

He forced a smile and leaned forward to kiss her forehead.

"First, I’m going to the kitchen to make us a delicious family dinner. We’ll eat together, laugh, and enjoy ourselves. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll tell you everything afterward."

He gave her a quick kiss before turning toward the kitchen.

Catherine remained where she was, watching him walk away.

She wanted to believe him.

She wanted to believe that he was simply exhausted, that the secrets he kept were necessary, and that the man she loved was still the same Joseph she had married.

But something felt wrong.

She couldn’t explain it.

Perhaps it was the way he avoided her questions, or the strange tension that appeared whenever she asked about his work. Perhaps it was the fact that he had become increasingly distant, even when he was standing right in front of her.

Whatever it was, she couldn’t ignore it anymore.

Her gaze followed him until he disappeared into the kitchen.

Then she lowered her eyes, wrapping her arms around herself as an uncomfortable feeling settled in her chest.

He feels so different.

Catherine pressed her lips together.

I don’t know what it is, but something about him has changed.

And for the first time in a long while, she found herself wondering whether the husband she had been waiting for was still the man she truly knew.