Fated Escape

Chapter Three

Sailub carefully settled the three triplets in their room, their usual shared space filled with the faint scent of lavender and the soft hum of a nightlight glowing in the corner. Silas was curled up in his father's lap, his small body still trembling from the earlier outburst. Even though the tantrum had subsided, the weight of the unspoken words still hung in the air, and Sailub knew that Silas couldn't convey his distress in the usual way. His son, so quiet, so reserved, often preferred actions over words, and tonight, he had chosen to remain silent, his expression tired and far too serious for his age.

Sailub sighed, running a hand through Silas's hair, his fingers gentle. "Silver, can you get Silas's iPad, please?" he asked, his voice calm but tired. He turned his attention to Silas, his tone softer. "Silas, buddy, can you tell me what's wrong?"

Normally, Silas would have grabbed the tablet and written down his feelings, the iPad his tool for communication when words failed him. But tonight, Silas only nudged it slightly, not reaching for it, his eyes dull and unresponsive. His refusal was a silent statement, one Sailub had learned to read over time: Silas didn't want to say anything, not tonight.

Silver and Sage exchanged a knowing look, their usual cold demeanor softening just a little as they looked at their brother. They understood Silas better than anyone. While they were more vocal, they knew Silas had his own ways of dealing with things, and tonight, he seemed unwilling—or perhaps unable—to express whatever was bothering him.

Sailub rubbed his son's head gently, soothing him, though his heart ached at seeing Silas so drained. It was clear that the tantrum, the noise, the chaos of the day had taken its toll on the little boy. Sailub leaned back slightly, adjusting his position to make Silas more comfortable. The silence between them was heavy, but soothing in its own way.

"Hey, buddy," Sailub murmured, his voice low, "It's okay to be upset. You don't have to say anything if you're not ready."

Just as he settled, a soft chime sounded from Sailub's pocket. His phone. He reached for it instinctively, glancing at the screen, and saw that it was an important work call. Silver and Sage both gave a small nod, acknowledging that they knew the call was part of their father's responsibilities. Sailub didn't need to explain; they were accustomed to his work-life balance, even if it meant their time together was often interrupted.

"Go ahead," Sage murmured, as he tucked the blanket around Silas. "We've got it covered."

Silver also nodded, his eyes glinting with mischief. "We'll make sure Silas gets some sleep."

Sailub gave a small, grateful smile, though his mind was still with Silas. He stood and took the call in the other room, knowing his sons had things well in hand.

Meanwhile, back in the room, Sage and Silver, despite their usual coldness, worked in tandem to care for their younger brother. They didn't speak much, but their actions were deliberate—Sage adjusting the pillows behind Silas, Silver smoothing the blanket over his form, making sure he felt safe and secure. Silas's eyelids fluttered, his breath slowing as he finally began to drift into sleep.

As the room settled into a quiet calm, Silver leaned over to Sage, a gleam in his eye. "You think it's time for the prank?"

Sage raised an eyebrow, a rare smirk crossing his face. "Definitely. Jane and Mina won't know what hit them."

The two of them exchanged a silent agreement, knowing their next prank would be the perfect distraction from the tension of the day. They had learned to manage their father's work demands and still find time for their antics. Tonight, though, they'd let their brother sleep, and later, they would unleash their mischief upon the household staff. Jane and Mina would have to brace themselves for the playful chaos that only the triplets could bring.