AUTHOR'S POV

William's mansion,
07: 33 am.

Hazel pushed the door of a gym room of their mansion only to drop her jaw as shirtless triplets were working out together. All sweaty Xaden was pushing up while Edwin and Reed were on the rowing machines.

" The holy trinity." She eyed three of them.

Xaden caught her staring so he went near her while wiping his seat and blocked her view knowing his six packs abs are a sight to see as well.

" Whatcha doing here?" He asked in a flirting tone resting his hands on the door frame.

" Came to inform that the early meal's ready. But you guys already look like a four-course meal. " She flirt back touching his tattooed arm. Xaden chuckled. " Bring them to the table." She turned flipping her hair on his face but all he did is admire his girl and watch her leave while playfully swinging her body.

He heard someone clearing their throats. He turned to see Edwin and Reed who averted their gazes and giggled.

They took a shower, got ready for the office, and joined others for breakfast. On the table, Xaden and Hazel sat in front of each other.

Hazel was busy chewing a mouthful of sandwiches not sensing Xaden's gaze on herself who took off his shoe and moved his foot up. He felt her leg from under the table and continued to touch it with his toe but she wasn't reacting.

"That's mine," Reed said with a straight face.

Everyone turned their heads to see what they were talking about including clueless Hazel.

" The Leg." Reed hinted wiggling it.

Xaden immediately dropped his leg and pulled his shoe back.

" What leg?" Ezra asked.

" The leg piece." Edwin smartly grabbed a leg piece from Xaden's plate and put that into Reed's mouth.

" When you guys gonna grow up?" Anna shook his head.

" We are running late," Hazel said wiping the sides of her lips. " Meet you all in the evening." She added grabbing her purse and stuff.

" Take care," Ezra said getting her flying kiss in response not noticing that Xaden is right behind her winking at her daughter.

This is what a week changed. Everything went back to normal. Xaden and Hazel's relationship is still a secret. Xaden rejoined the office. Edwin and Jane got closer but Reed and Alice weren't getting to spend much time together so Alice decided to go to EXR as her last class was canceled.

She grabbed burgers for everyone and approached the company but a guard stopped her at the gate. Luckily Stella recognised her and allowed her in.

Alice happily gave her a burger and got sent to Reed's cabin's floor through an elevator.

Reaching there she stopped outside his cabin and fixed her hair. She was about to knock but overheard Jane's voice from inside. " This is for this month."

" I told you this before and I'm telling you again that you don't need to. I can at least do this for her." Reed pleaded but the stubborn girl facing him shook her head.

" I'm so thankful to you but I can't take any more favor from you. I'll try to pay the next installment soon." Jane politely declined.

" For what?" Alice asked with crashed eyebrows entering his cabin.

Their heads snapped towards her. She glanced at the white envelope on the table in front of Reed and then at his face. She placed the carry bags on the table and waited for them to speak but they didn't.

" Was that for my surgery?" She guessed right turning her gaze at Jane.

" We'll talk about it at home." Jane tried to grab Alice's arm and take her out with her but she shrugged her hand and faced Reed with wide eyes.

" We are in a relationship, Reed. You should have told me." She sounded disappointed.

" Alice, it was-" Reed stepped towards her to explain but without listening to him she left his cabin.

"I'm so sorry, Sir. I'll talk to her." Jane bowed multiple times before following Alice.

Chasing her loud heels clicking sound she found her angrily punching the elevator button.

" Alice?" Jane made her face herself by turning her around by her arm.

" Why did you ask him for help?" She said in a crying tone. " You know how embarrassing I'm feeling to face him now? I didn't mean to create any drama here, but-"

Jane cupped her face and wiped her tears using her thumbs. " I didn't ask. He offered. I had no other option. The donor was on his deathbed. I was scared to lose you. I'm sorry. I promise I'll pay each penny back." Jane apologized.

Alice grabbed her wrists and removed her palms from her face. " I'm not mad at you." She hugged her sister. "I'm just- I don't know what I'm feeling right now but I'm not ready to face him. It's so awkward." She said hearing the ding sound of the elevator as it arrived. They broke the hug when the doors opened revealing Edwin and Xaden.

" Hi." Xaden cheerfully greeted them. Jane slightly bowed. " Join us for lunch." Xaden offered but Alice only forced a small smile and got into the elevator while they stepped out.

Jane sighed as Alice left.

" What's with that face?" Xaden asked gazing at the closed doors then he saw Reed standing behind her through the glass walls of Reed's cabin. " Something's up." He said hoping it was not because of him this time.

Jane got taken to Reed's cabin and. explained everything to Xaden who listen to them while devouring burgers.

" If she thinks I don't love her enough to share everything with her. If she think I keep secrets from her or aged insecure about our relationship then  I'm ready to change that." Reed came to a decision after discussing it for half an hour.

" What you gonna do?" Edwin asked.

" I'll announce it and make it official." He stated.

" Things don't work like this for us?" Jane's low voice interrupted as she understood his intentions. Three of them turned their heads to face her. " My aunt follows old cultures. She'll never accept your relationship with Alice." All they did is stare at the nervous girl with puzzled expressions. " In my village girls don't date and are told to keep their virginity till marriage." She explained.

" So all the bachelor girls in your town are virgins?" Xaden asked licking his fingers.

Jane nodded awkwardly.

Reed palmed his forehead at his silly question. This is the reason they never involve Xaden in any discussion. He always gets distracted or distracts others from the topic.

" Xaden never visited there I guess," Edwin mumbled under his breath getting punched on his back by the youngest.

"Hmm?" She raised her eyebrows as she didn't hear him clearly.

"Limits." Reed's bossy tone shut their mouths. The frustration was at its peak that was visible on his face. " I need a solution." He sat straight losing his tie.

" We can make it look arranged." Xaden gave them an idea that was actually useful.

Reed glanced at Xaden and proceeded with his words for an entire minute. " That's it." He bang his hands on the table in front of him and stood up as he liked the idea. "My family already knows about us. Let's make it official." He added facing Jane. " I'll bring my family to your house by tomorrow evening." He declared.

" That's too soon," Jane said nervously as her house condition isn't so good to welcome such a royal family there.

" That's final. I can't with her anger anymore." He sat back and sighed heavily. " And no need to tell her anything about it.". He added trying to be polite but his frustration didn't support him.

Edwin turned his gaze at Jane who looked tensed. " Don't worry. My parents are not judgy." He said gaining her forced smile in response.

The remaining day ended convincing everyone at home. And the next evening all of them got ready to go to Jane's house but Edwin was not downstairs yet.

" What's taking him so long?" Xaden muttered looking at his wristwatch.

" Here we go." Edwin finally showed up in a fancy gray suit with his hair jelled back.

" It looks like you are the one we are going there for?" Hazel teased.

" We are going to be in-laws." He fixed his tie and sat in the car.

The short ride to Alice's house was chaotic. Approaching there they all got out of their cars. Tan saw the Lamborghini parked which wasn't matching the surrounding. He eyes Edwin up to down who looked more excited than any other members.

" We are close for today-" Alice lazily walked to the door as she heard knocking and opened it only to find Reed standing on their doorstep. " I'm not in a mood to talk to you-"

She was about to close the door but. paused as soon as she saw his parents and other family members.

"Hello." Edwin peeked from Reed's back grinning ear to ear.

" Is your cafe closed for us as well?" Xaden asked making her blink.

" Come in... Come in." Her aunt came opening the door wide for her guests.

They entered handing Alice a bouquet. " How have you been lately?" Anna asked politely walking side by side with her.

" Good." She replied smiling nervously.

They all sat together and the simplicity they talked with them faded all their nervousness.

" All good?" Her aunt asked Hazel and caressed her back as she wasn't feeling well.

Hazel nodded. " I'll be back. I'm sorry." She left to washroom.

Their parents witnessed how Xaden and others were comfortable around them and how fondly their aunt was treating them.

Tan cleared his throat before going to the point they were there for. " Anna." He said gesturing for her to go ahead.

" Actually, Mrs. Astor, We have come to ask for your niece's hand for marriage." Anna began making their aunt look at Jane then Alice.

She nervously smiled. "Which one?" She asked as Jane's older but Anna was looking at Alice.

" Both," Tan replied unexpectedly.
Everyone's head snapped at him while Jane's in Edwin's direction.

" D-Dad?" Edwin stuttered.

Suddenly a loud noise of chairs falling was heard interrupting their conversation.

" I'll check." Jane made her way towards the noise having no idea what Tan was talking about. She approached the other side of the cafe to see unconscious Hazel on the floor." Hazel?" She ran to her and sat next to her pulling Hazel's head on her lap.

" EDWIN." She called for help loudly. Hearing her everyone rushed to find Hazel like that.

" What happened to her?" Xaden asked kneeling in front of them. He immediately pulled her into his embrace and tapped on her face but she wasn't responding. "Shit." He picked her up and sprinted to his car while carrying her. He laid her at the backside and they all dashed to a nearby hospital.

Some nurses took Hazel to a ward and told others to wait outside.

After roaming and sweating there they waited for her to get her consciousness back as the doctor said she was all good but the reports weren't out yet.

Soon they allowed the members in. Ezra helped her sit up and rest her back against the bed's headrest. She made her drink some water. Hazel sighed snatching her eyes.

A middle-aged lady doctor came with reports and studied her being all smiley. "Congratulations. She's pregnant." She informed.

Reed and Edwin's heads snapped towards Hazel. They all stared at her with wide eyes.

The ward turned dead silent. No one among them has any idea to deal with the situation they thought they got into.

" Who's the father, Hazal," Won asked in a strict tone.

" It's me." A voice pulled everyone's attention towards it from behind.

• I've made a lot of mistakes. You'll never be one of them.

Chapter Published On: 23 July 2023.

🎵 It's me. Hi. I'm the problem it's me...

Curse me. You have all rights and freedom to do it because I'm keep breaking my promises about updates.

My sister cum co-writer is getting engaged. I'm extremely busy. 😭😭

Drama aside, guess how many chapters are left including Epilogue???

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