AUTHOR'S POV

Jane's cafe,
05:09 pm

Xaden felt himself getting dragged outside the cafe by his brothers.

" What the f*ck is she high on in broad daylight?" Xaden growled shooting a glare at the cafe from outside. " Can't she see?" He gritted his teeth looking down at his ruined new shirt.

" No. She can't." Reed replied. " She's blind." He added sounding so done.

Xaden's head snapped up. He looked at Reed and then at Edwin to wish he heard something wrong only to run his fingers through his hair. " No, God no please...not me again. Why is the whole universe against me? Xaden made a crying face.

" You shouldn't have said that in the first place." Edwin scolded.

" I didn't say that intentionally, okay?" Xaden got frustrated. " I didn't know out of all the people in the world she would be blind."

" Enough." Reed interrupted as he saw others coming to them except for Alice. As she was sent upstairs with Jane's aunt.

" I apologized on behalf of Alice. I'll pay the cost of your clothes." Jane slightly bowed before Xaden but her voice wasn't soft as usual.

" N-No...no...no...no... Actually, I-I am sorry." Xaden stuttered because of being unfamiliar with the words. " You don't need to pay for anything. It's alright." He smiled nervously and took a quick glance at others' faces from the corner of his eyes to see if he was doing right.

The poor soul was frightened.

" No, Sir, I've learned this from someone... to pay the cost for your fault." She sounded polite to others but Reed realised her words pointing at him because him giving the mobile to Alice.

Not knowing what to reply Xaden just nodded.

" I think it's all clear between all of us. Am I right?" Ian asked trying to clean the air.

" You are forgetting one thing." Jane said pulling everyone's attention back to her. " The reason we gathered here for. Do you all still think Xaden sir can take care of Alice when we'll be out for the meeting?" Jane asked more like taunted but no one replied.

" Wait... fill me. Who is Alice? What am I missing?" Xaden asked with crashed eyebrows.

" The girl you just bumped is Alice. She is Jane's cousin sister. Jane's aunt is going to attend a funeral. As now you are aware of her condition we can't leave her alone here, so we are planning to take Alice with us on the trip but we need someone to accompany her there when we'll be out for the meeting." Hazel explained.

" And you guys selected me for that?" Xaden asked.

" She said we were planning to." Ian emphasized the second last word.

" Because I'm the least important person to attend the meeting, am I right?" He asked looking at them with a tilted head.

" We haven't finalized it yet-"

" I'll take the responsibility." Jane began but got cut by Xaden as he thought this will be his time to shine. He'll be proven responsible if he'll takes good care of Alice as well as he wouldn't have to attend another boring meeting.

He glanced at Jane only to see her blank eyes looking at him emotionlessly as Xaden was fast to make the decision. He noticed her expression and it didn't take a moment to burn up from inside. " Don't give me that look." Xaden glared.

Edwin clinched Xaden's jacket from behind signaling him to control it or it'll get worse. Because since the first time he met Jane, he knew that putting this due together is the greatest mistake anyone can make.

Xaden glanced at Edwin who kept his face straight but Xaden got the signal.

He immediately began. " I mean... I can take care of her. It's not a big of   a deal. Come on... You just said we should give you a chance to pay back, didn't you? Let me pay back too." His tone got softer and cuter with each word he spoke.

Jane remained silent.

Reed notices Jane's cold behavior all the time. He didn't like her being all stern towards Xaden while he was literally pleading to reimburse him for his mistake. She must be unsure because after all it's Xaden they had to put a big responsibility on but that doesn't mean she'll look down at him.

" Let us know your decision by tomorrow. We'll be waiting. No one's forcing you or Alice. I'll manage." Edwin's tone said he was disappointed too. Spending a few weeks with Jane he experienced that she's not a friendly person neither does she like taking favors but she could have just declined Xaden politely.

Edwin and Reed both felt the same way because both of them were trying their best to not push Xaden into a situation where he'll think his life's getting hard in this way. He's finally trying and they are supporting him by not controlling him too much but there came Jane.

Jane nodded in agreement. Everyone bid goodbye to her except for Reed as he excused himself that he has forgotten his keys and followed Jane behind inside the cafe.

" Miss. Jane?" Reed called. Jane turned to see his keys already in his hand. She lifted her gaze to see his cold expressions which are rare. " Xaden is my brother. I care for him just like you do for Alice or maybe I'm a bit more protective than you are for her. And maybe sounding a little rude too right now." He paused roaming his eyes over her face. "My brother ain't perfect but don't ever speak down on him again. I accept he is irresponsible but he isn't untrustworthy. If I'll ever catch you talking to him like this... that'll be your last day in EXR." Reed showed his bossy side before turning to face his way.

Jane's gaze dropped.

" One more thing." Reed turned but Jane didn't dare to make eye contact. " Not everyone out there being good to you is supposed to be fake or trying to get something from you in return. I like spending time with Alice so does she I believe. So don't worry about it I won't harm her in any way." Reed added before going towards his car.

Upset Xaden's high pitch was audible from afar and the others were looking at him furiously cursing Jane.

"...She's so goddamn stubborn. Only I know how I controlled myself from punching that sexy b*tch. I felt like she was the boss and I was the f*cking employee. I would have ejected her if only she wasn't hired by Dad..." He paused as his eyes caught his secratary standing there watching him all the time. " And you." He glared. She flinched standing straight. " You don't need to listen to us every time like this. Let's go." He added. She immediately nodded and opened Xaden's car door for him. As he sat she got into the car and drove off.

Hazel sighed relaxing her shoulders and shaking her head in disappointment.

" He's always so loud." Ian said but immediately regretted it as all three of William's heads turned in his direction. He smiled nervously knowing they never tolerate a single word against each other.

" Let's go back home." Reed said to Hazel as they came to the cafe in Reed's car. "We gotta pack and rest today, have to travel for Eight hours tomorrow by road." He added sitting in his car.

" Yeah, I also have tons of work." Ian's voice stopped Hazel from getting in Reed's car. " Do you have some free time? I need some help." He asked nervously facing Hazel.

Hazel glanced at Reed. Kinda asking permission whose dark eyes were fixed on Ian but soon softer as they turned to meet Hazel's pleading ones. He gave her a nod.

" Okay." Hazel replied happily.

" Let's go then." Ian replied opening his car door for her. As she sat in Ian closed the door carefully and went to the driver's side. The engine started and the car disappeared from their site.

Three of the brothers got home and packed their bags. The house was empty as the elders were already gone to England to attend the wedding now it was only the triplets in the house.

After packing the luggage Reed realized that Hazel is still out. So Reed called her. " Where are you?" He asked sternly.

" I'm on my way." Hazel replied indicating Ian to speed up.

" Had dinner?" He asked.

" Yup, actually Ian insisted so... Please don't complaint to Mama." Her voice got lower and lower. She bit her bottom lip looking at Ian driving.

" Get home. It's late. We gotta wake up early tomorrow."

Hearing her muttering yes Reed hung the call.

Ian chuckled listening to her telling Reed to not say anything to her parents.

" What?" She asked Ian.

" Baby William." He laughed naming her playfully because of being pampered all the time.

Hazel glared but had nothing to say in response as Ian wasn't wrong. She indeed is the baby William. Soon they approached William's mansion and she got off the car.

Ian also stepped out and leaned his back against the car. " Thanks for your help today." Ian smiled. He looked like he had no intention to go as he was calmly standing there with a sweet smile plastered on his face and heart eyes fixed on Hazel's face.

" Meet you tomorrow." She said above a whisper as his gaze was making her nervous. He didn't reply or even blinked.

She turned but suddenly felt her fingers getting touched by Ian's cold ones. She glanced at their hands and then at Ian who stood straight and took a step closer.

Hazel's heartbeat increased. She swallowed her saliva. " I've had something to tell you for a long long time but I don't know how to say it. I don't know how you'll react." He said kept staring at Hazel's hand which was in his hands.

" What is it?" Hazel asked sensing his nervousness.

" I-" He lifted his gaze to look into Hazel's eyes. " I like you. A lot." He confessed but fast to break the eye contact.

Hazel's lips parted she felt butterflies dancing in her stomach. Her face turned red because of her blushing but Ian mistook that thinking she was angry.

" Hazel, I'm sorry." He left her hands quickly and stepped backward wiping his sweating palm. " I don't know why I even said that." He ran his fingers through his hair.

" You are dumber than I expected." Hazel giggled which froze him.

" What does that mean." He waited with a thumping heart to hear her reply.

" Good night." She chuckled stepping backward.

It took him moments to realise that she was already a good distance away from him but had her face in his direction." Wait, what does that mean, HAZEL? SHALL I TAKE THAT AS A YES OR NO?" He asked loudly to be audible.

Hazel place her index finger on her lips. " Shish." She gestured for him to be quiet and turned.

" I'll wait for your reply." Ian shouted from behind watching Hazel enter the mansion.

She hides a shy smile and blushing face from Ian. She was thrilled as she got to know her crush likes her back.

" You look stupid."

Hazel gasped hearing a sudden voice. " You triplet will be the CAUSE OF MY DEATH one day." She heaved palming her chest when she realised it was Edwin.

" We are many's". Edwin smirked.

" Your stupidities I meant " Hazel rolled her eyes.

" Our personalities I guessed ". Edwin dusted imaginary dust from his shoulder.

" Unfortunately, you guessed it wrong." Hazel scoffed.

" Your taste is shitty." Edwin referred to Ian as he witnessed the scene outside.

" EXCUSE ME?" She glared clenching her jaw.

" Of course. you are tasteless. I mean look at us-"

" Been looking since the day I was born." Hazel cut him off sarcastically.

" Still tasteless." Edwin scoffed.

" You got taste." Hazel smirked. " Jane Huh?" She teased. " Saw you drooling over her in the cafe. Keep trying boy. She's hard to get." She added patting Edwin's shoulder.

Edwin lost his words at Jane's name. He doesn't know what to feel about her.

Pity for her family background?
Sorry for her past?

The sound of Hazel clearing her throat along with his mobile ringtone brought him back to reality.

He pulled his mobile out of his pocket to see Jane written on the screen.

He slowly lifted his head to glance at Hazel who peeked and read the name only to smirk. " Need some privacy?" She asked teasingly.

" I swear to God, Hazel."

" Good night." Hazel quickly got upstairs.

Edwin sighed and picked up the call. " Yes, Miss. Jane?" He tried to sound bossy.

" Edwin Sir... I'm- we- I and Alice I mean." Jane stumbled on her words while Edwin nodded his head with each word she was speaking waiting for her to spell out what he wanted to hear and she did. " We are coming tomorrow."

• I went through my darkest times by myself... so sorry if I act like I don't need anyone.

Chapter published on: 5 February 2023.

You all thanks for waiting. I was a bit busy. Can't promise but I'll try my best to update every Sunday from now on.

I've 10+ books in my draft on which I am working simultaneously. Please trust the progress and stay hooked.

Lots of love from the author...

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