AUTHOR'S POV

Williams' Mansion,
10: 34pm.

Smoke and red balloons were covering the whole floor. The ball was filled with guests wishing Reed and Edwin.

William triplets' birthday party is the biggest birthday celebration every year but Anna's eyes could tell that a huge part was missing.

Tan caressed her arm making her look up at him. She forced a smile that lasted pretty short.

She sighed missing her youngest son. The ball felt silent even after the presence of hundreds of people.

Ezra and Won called them to get into the center. They approached their sons and all the lights turned off. A huge cake descent down from the ceiling.

Hazel was looking at the entrance again and again waiting for Xaden as he told her to go and get ready, he'll be there.

" Cutting my birthday cake without me huh?" A voice pulled everyone's attention towards the doorstep.

All the guests split as Xaden stepped inside. His usual classic walk then he stopped in front of his family.

Everyone turned silent to the point that Anna's voice above a whisper could be heard. " Xaden." She walked to him slowly. Her craving gaze stared at her son. Her eyes filled with tears when she palmed his face.

" Mom, I missed you." His lower lip trembled and he hugged her tightly.

Anna cried feeling their thumping hearts between them. Xaden could feel everyone's gaze at them along with his father's.

" You'll not go anywhere right?" She pulled back desperately waiting for him to say no.

Xaden shook his head. " I'll be here with you... always." He said noticing her shoulders visibly relaxing and a sigh of relief escaped her lips. She kissed his forehead sweeping her eyes all over his face.

Xaden glanced at his father only to find his soft gaze on him. He was scared of his reaction but noticed his eyes shimmering with tears.

Those stone-cold eyes that haven't cried in years made Xaden cry. " Dad?" He went to him and hugged him tightly.

" I thought I lost you." Tan rubbed Xaden's back.

" You never did." He closed his eyes. " I'm so sorry, Dad. I'm really very sorry." He apologized multiple times.

" One shouldn't cry on their birthday." Won came making them apart.

Xaden smiled meeting everyone. Hazel, Reed, and Edwin acted like they didn't meet Xaden before, of course, Aiden was the most terrible among them at acting.

" Let's cut the cake," Hazel said making everyone move back a little.

The triplets gathered around the cake to light up the candles but there was no matchbox.

" Xaden, give me your lighter-"

Edwin paused speaking knowing he f*cked up. He turned to face Tan who tilted his head and lifted his eyebrow.

" I'll die on my f*cking birthday." Xaden gritted stepping on Edwin's shoe. " Why would I carry a lighter with me?" Xaden let out a nervous laugh avoiding making eye contact with his father.

" Here we go." Anna came with a matchbox.

The candles finally light up and all the lights turned off. The triplets lean to blow out the candles but as always Xaden quickly blew them by himself. He laughed loudly and everyone knew only if he wasn't there the moment would have been hell because of his memories.

Soon their friends surrounded them to greet them. Jane was searching for Alice as she disappeared from the crowd. Reed was also out of sight so she guess them having a moment and waited there alone as she didn't know anyone besides William's heirs there who were also busy.

" Remember last year's birthday party when Xaden ruined a girl's dress with the cake?" One of the girls standing next to Edwin joked. Recalling those memories all of them laughed together which caught Jane's attention.

She didn't hear them talking but when she went closer she realised them making fun of something.

" Did you see that dress? It was just too cheap and ugly." Another girl joined.

Edwin chuckled but his wide smile faded when his eyes caught Jane standing behind his friends. She awkwardly looked down at herself and then around her. Everyone was wearing expensive outfits while hers was simple yet she ate everyone as always.

Suddenly she turned around and rushed outside the mansion. Edwin quickly excused himself and chased her.

" Jane?" He called. She heard him but didn't stop.

The incident in Maxwell's house hasn't left her mind yet. She hasn't forgotten the insult yet. That's the reason she avoids royal people and their invitations.

" Jane." Edwin grabbed her forearm and gently made her face himself only to see tears forming in her eyes. "We were not laughing at you."

She shook her head looking up at Edwin. " I shouldn't have come here in the first place. An outcast girl like me doesn't fit in the expensive world of yours". Saying that she released her hand from his grip and walked away.

All of a sudden it started to rain but that didn't affect her she continued to walk with the same peace.

Edwin instead of running back inside ran after her. He searched around to see her standing under a roof of a bus stand. She was busy dusting off the cold rainwater from her arms that she didn't notice Edwin's presence beside her. He took off his coat and placed that on her shoulders.

She glanced at the coat and then at him who was already shivering. " What are you doing here?" She wiped her tears holding the coat as her dress stuck to her body.

" Just want to leave the expansive world of mine and spend a day in yours. Am I allowed to?" He mocked slipping his hands in his pocket.

" You won't be able to last for an hour. Look at yourself. You are already shivering." Her tone was low but words were testing.

" Let's see if I can survive or not." He spoke in a challenging tone as he started to finally understand her, she's a female version of Xaden.

" Have you ever traveled by bus?" She asked out of the blue.

" Never. Why?" He caught a bus stopping in front of them.

There were already many passengers inside it and some got before them." The bus won't wait for you." Jane said putting her clutch over her head and getting into the bus.

He quickly followed her but got stopped by the driver for the ticket.

He pulled out his black card from his pocket and started to swipe it in the APSRTC but it wasn't accepting it.

" This won't work here. You need to have a transformation swipe card for it " Jane moved him and swept her card.

" That card is more valuable than mine?" He mumbled looking at his black card before putting it back in his wallet.

The door closed and the bus halted into motion making Edwin gasp. He immediately grabbed the pole.

" Grip it for support," Jane said showing him straphangers.

He did as she said. " Why are we standing here?" He asked bemused.

" Do you see any free seats?" She asked.

Edwin looked around to see all the seats engaged as well as people standing too.

" Why they took money from us if they are making us stand like this for the whole ride?" He questioned.

" You are learning." Jane let out a small chuckle looking at him the mutineer.

" Where are we going?" He asked.

" You'll know once we reach," Jane replied.

" I like surprises." He nodded excitedly yet hoping it was not far because he's long legs haven't stood like that before but he's pretty stubborn to show it.

The bus stopped after a few minutes of the ride. Jane got off but Edwin was stuck inside. Jane laughed placing her palm on her mouth. The last passenger was Edwin to get off the bus as all the others bumped into him while rushing out.

" How rough." He dusted his arm making faces at them.

" Let's go." Jane started to walk. He had to take two large strands to match her steps.

" Where's the restaurant?" He asked looking around.

" Three minutes of walk from here." She answered.

" Why did we get down from the bus here, you should have told the driver to directly drop us to the restaurant." He said getting irritated because the rainwater under his feet was wetting his shoes.

" Public transport doesn't work like that. They only stop at their spots. If you miss your stop then the door will be closed and you'll get no chance to get down until you reach the next station." Jane explained.

" That's scary. It sounds like they kidnapping us or something." He murmured walking weirdly to avoid a runoff.

" Same as airlines." Jane raised her eyebrows and stopped facing him.

"At least there are seats to sit." Edwin folded his hands over his chest.

" Get in fast or you won't get any seats here either." Jane turned making him follow her gaze.

He set his eyes on a mini restaurant with some wet tables and chairs outside.

She was about to open the door of the restaurant for him but he stopped him. " No special treatment for tonight. I'll manage." He stepped forward.

" Okay." She moved back only for him to push the door which was clearly written with red stickers to pull it.

" It says otherwise." Jane controlled her laugh.

Embarrassed, he cleared his throat awkwardly and pulled the door finally entering the restaurant.

He sat on a chair in front of a table while Jane took off his given coat and hung that on a chair next to her.

A waiter came with a menu. Jane ordered food for herself but Edwin kept turning pages as non of the dishes' names were familiar to his eyes.

" Could you order something suitable for me as well?" He asked not being able to do it by himself.

Jane nodding. " What about spicy noodles and a bowl of soup?" She asked and Edwin was fast to go with it.

He was chill until the food arrived. Jane began to eat while Edwin was fighting for his life to not shout as within a bite his lungs started to burn because of spiciness.

"Alice would love it." Jane licked her lips and called a waiter. " One spicy noodles parcel please."

Edwin stared at her as she brought the soup bowl to her mouth and drank it with a weird noise at the end.

He then gazed down at his food, grabbed a fork, took a deep breath, and somehow finished his food.

" Why are your eyes turning red," Jane asked.

" Mine?" He let out a fake laugh with lips that were redder than his tearful eyes. " They aren't." He sizzled shaking his head.

" Do you like the food?" Jane asked trying to read his expressions.

" It was amazing." He gave her a thumb up and drank a sixth bottle of cold water.

" Shall I order more for you?" She asked.

" I'm full." He almost shouted. He looked around then at her again.

" Let's go then?" She stood up.

" Lemme use the washroom, I'll come back real quick." He rushed towards a bathroom asking for the direction from a waiter to shout quitely, he splashed liters of water on his face, rinsed his mouth several times, roamed, and jumped.

Unaware but suspicious Jane went to the reception. " Bill please." She paused when she settled her eyes on Edwin coming back. He had undone two of his shirt buttons and the third one was fighting for his life.

" Your boyfriend is so handsome." The receptionist said pulling her attention.

Her eyes widened and she shook her head. " He isn't my-"

" What's that?" He asked looking at a man making cotton candies in a corner. " Is that sweet?" He asked craving to eat something sweet.

" Come with me." Clueless, Edwin followed her.

" Two please," Jane ordered.

" That looks fun to make," Edwin said looking at the man adding beet sugar into the machine.

The old man made two cotton candies and hand them both.

" I'll pay," Jane spoke before him.

" I'll add all the bills to your salary," Edwin said trying to lick the cotton candy that made Jane giggle internally.

He found him adorable.

They walked out of the restaurant but Edwin didn't stop. He was so busy talking thinking she was next to him.

" Edwin Sir." She called.

He turned realising she was left behind. He stared as she started to laugh loudly. " What?" He asked.

" Your-" She wasn't able to speak due to her laughter.

" What is it, Jane?" He asked looking here and there before looking at himself. As soon as he glanced at his hand he saw his cotton candy washing off because of the rain.

" Ewww..." He shook his hand several times hearing Jane's laughter getting louder which is a rarest sight to witness.

He pulled out his handkerchief from his pocket which was wet by now and immediately started to clean his hand.

" Congratulations, You survived," Jane said loudly cupping her hands on her mouth.

" Now you have to spend an hour in mine as well," Edwin said getting her nodding head with a small smile. "Tomorrow, at seven." He added saluting with two fingers. She waved mouthing goodbye.

He turned around to face his way, shaking his head. The water spun around from his hair. Jane's smile widened.

" Your world is adorable, I enjoyed being here. I'd like to visit often-"

He got cut off as a car splashed dirty water at him.

• Cold as ice but in the right hands she melts.

Chapter Published On: 03 July 2023.

Are you guys enjoying this book??? Because I am.

Apologizing once again because my schedule is so messed up.

Follow me on Instagram by simply searching "Aisha.theauthor"

1k vote soon... Let's goooo...💃🏻

🔍⍤⃝🔎 🔍⍤⃝🔎 🔍⍤⃝🔎
Vote! Vote!! Vote!!!