Tom's past was undoubtedly more public than he had planned, but he accepted this reality calmly, because he knew that he had Kim and her children by his side, whom he was beginning to see as part of his own family.
Their relationship had become his true focus. After the initial frenzy of revelations, he chose to focus on the moments with Kim and the well-being of the children. That was what made him happy.
One afternoon, Tom decided to take the children for a walk in the park. Kim had work commitments, so he offered to look after them for a few hours. They planned a quiet afternoon, with a picnic and games. The little ones loved Tom's company, who always kept them entertained with fun stories and games that he made up on the spot.
When they arrived at the park, Tom spread a blanket on the grass and took out of his backpack some sandwiches, juices and snacks that he had prepared. They sat down and began to snack, laughing at the stories and jokes that Tom told.
— Uncle Tom, have you ever seen a real bear? — Saint asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.
Tom smiled, pretending to be mysterious.
— Oh, yes, I've met some around... On some missions, of course. — He winked, making the children laugh. — But we always managed to understand each other. They knew I was a friend.
The children laughed, delighted with the idea of Tom facing a bear. Tom was completely focused on them, observing how happy and relaxed they were. But, little by little, he noticed that some cameras were starting to get closer.
At first, he ignored them. He knew that the paparazzi used to follow the Kardashian family and he was used to that kind of attention. However, as more photographers and curious people began to gather, he became more attentive. A group of paparazzi began to approach, trying to capture every detail of his moment with the children.
Tom remained calm, but the children were getting uncomfortable. Chicago held Tom's hand, looking around nervously. He bent down and spoke to her softly.
"Hey, it's okay, Chi. I'm here with you."
She nodded confidently, but still eyed the photographers warily.
One of the paparazzi, apparently more daring, got a little too close and tried to touch Saint's shoulder, as if to get his attention and get a closer shot. Tom noticed the movement and stood up immediately, keeping Saint behind him.
"Hey, don't touch him," Tom said, his voice firm but controlled.
The paparazzi hesitated for a moment, but when he saw that Tom was not about to back down, he tried to intimidate him with a cynical smile.
"Oh, come on, we just want some pictures! That's what everyone wants to see. Besides, they're used to cameras, aren't they?"
Tom gave him an icy look. Slowly, he lifted the hem of his shirt, revealing the handle of his discreetly holstered gun. He looked the paparazzo straight in the eye and spoke in a low, controlled tone.
"Stay back. Don't touch the children."
The man immediately backed away, as did the other paparazzi around him, who realized the gravity of the situation. Tom's gaze left no doubt that he was serious, and his expression showed a menacing calm, the result of years of training and experience.
The group hesitated, exchanging glances with each other, but soon decided it was best to keep their distance. After all, Tom was no ordinary celebrity; he was a man with a serious past and clearly knew how to deal with risky situations.
The paparazzi began to back away, and Tom lowered his shirt, turning his attention to the children, who were a little scared, but confident in his presence.
