"KNIGHT, baby," SM called out to Knight, who was inside the bathroom, taking a shower. He just came home from work—his blood-stained work—and he needed to take a bath. "Your phone is so noisy! It keeps on beeping! It's annoying me!"

"Open it!" Knight answered from the bathroom.

SM never touched Knight's phone. This would be her first time, if ever. To her shock, it didn't have a passcode. She raised a brow.

"Why doesn't he have a passcode? Hmm..."

She was supposed to put it on silent, but she accidentally clicked on the notification that suddenly popped at the top of the screen. She saw a group chat with the name Jumbo Hotdog Club.

Her brows furrowed. "What the hell..."

Against her wishes, she ended up reading the chats of the people in that group. Everyone was tagging Knight.

Ymar Stroam: @Knight wtf? You have a wife and all and you won't even treat us to barbecue, you motherfucker?

Phoenix Martinez: @Knight why is that every time I open this group chat, you keep on dropping new bombshells?

Khairro Sanford: @Knight you're fucking married?! I will tell on you to Sweet!

She paused. Khairro Sanford? As in the captain? They know each other—no, it seems that they're friends! she thought to herself. Holy shit!

Calyx Vargaz: @Knight wtf, where's our BBQ and beer?

Iuhence Vergara: @Knight Who gave you the right not to treat us?

Train Wolkzbin: Free stuff always brings out the thick-faced, eh? I'm not saying I'm talking about you @Iuhence @Calyx but maybe I am 🖕🏻

Thorn Calderon: 😏😏😏 someone put an ointment on the burnt area 🤣

Cali Sudalga: Those two will even ask to buy them an ointment.

Iuhence Vergara: 🙄🙄🙄 @Cali, I don't owe you anything, you asshole. You don't have the right to speak that way about me. How dare you 😡

Cali Sudalga: What do you mean that I don't @Iuhence? Have you forgotten that you owe me 20 pesos, you motherfucker?

Valerian Volkzki: 😡 Why is it that every time I open this group chat, someone is collecting your debt, ha, @Iuhence? Pay, you motherfucker!

Iuhence Vergara: 😑😑😑 I hate you all.

Tyron Zapanta: @Iuhence my wife cooked a delicious steak. Come over with your fam.

Iuhence Vergara: 😍😍😍 I feel loved! I'm coming!!!

Titus Morgan: @President You dumb shit. You would really invite only Iuhence? Do we look like we're begging for love here?! 🤬

Dark Montero: My wife is grilling Korean meat. Wanna come?

Lath Coleman: See that ☝🏻 @President? And so what if you have steak if you'll only invite Iuhence? 😡 At least Montero thinks of us.

*** Train Wolkzbin removed Tyron Zapanta from the Group ***

Lander Storm: Serves you right, you motherfucker! Steak my ass!

*** Iuhence Vergara added Tyron Zapanta to the Group ***

Tyron Zapanta: @Train how dare you kick me? 😡

Train Wolkzbin: @President 😛 who you? I don't know anyone stingy 😏

Tyron Zapanta: 🙄 fine, come to my house.

Titus Morgan: You think you can bribe us? Do we look like we're begging for love?

Nate Moretti: @President's wife makes great steak.

Titus Morgan: We're coming 😋 @Phoenix ready the helicopter.

Phoenix Martinez: 👌

Valerian Volkzki: @Knight you coming?

She wanted to reply, but she didn't want to interfere with his personal matters, so she just put it on silent and then placed it on the bedside table.

She lay down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. No wonder Knight is weird... he has weird friends as well.

She was about to close her eyes when her phone beeped. It was a text message from an unknown number—no, not unknown anymore. This was the number his father used to message her: I told you to leave Knight and stay away from him. Why are you not listening to me? He's bad news!

She tightened the grip on her phone before replying, I'm not leaving him. I love him, Dad.

After a couple of minutes, her father answered, He will be the death of you, sweetie.

She irritably clenched her fists and did not reply. She would listen to everything he would say, except anything about leaving Knight. She wanted to protect him at all cost, and she promised to stay by his side. She had no plans on breaking that promise.

"You okay, baby?" Knight asked as soon as he went out the bathroom, his eyes questioning her silence. But SM only nodded.

Knight approached her and sat on the bed beside her. "Dry my hair?"

She immediately got up and then sat on his lap, facing him. Using the towel hanging on his shoulder, he dried his hair.

"You're not okay," Knight observed as he stared at her. "I can read you, you know."

SM stopped and returned his glare. "Promise me, Knight."

"What is it?"

She tenderly cupped his face and said, "Promise me that you'll never leave me, no matter what happens. Even if things get messy—or whatever happens—let's not let go of each other."

Knight gathered her in his arms and embraced her tightly. "Sweet Monday, my mind, my heart, and my body can no longer tolerate your absence. With that, I don't think I have the strength to let you go. That's not happening."

Maintaining her stare, she intertwined their hands. "I promise, I'm not letting go either. Whatever my father says, I will stay by your side."

Knight's forehead creased. "Did your father contact you again? Did he tell you to leave me again?"

SM nodded. "But don't worry... I'm not gonna do that."

Knight sighed heavily before burying his face into her neck. "Thank you... for not leaving me. Thank you for letting me taste heaven and not shoving me back to hell again."

SM returned his embrace and kissed him on his temple. "Enough with my father. Your friends sent you a lot of messages. I'm sorry, I accidentally opened it."

"That's okay." Knight adjusted his position before reaching for his phone on the bedside table. He kept on shaking his head as he read the messages. "How about steak for dinner?" he asked.

His question caught her off guard. Steak? Tyron Zapanta's wife's steak?

"You're bringing me?" she asked, surprised that Knight was ready to introduce to his friends.

"Yeah." Knight smiled. "I think it's about time you meet my friends."

That made her smile. "I wanna meet them too."

"Great." He dropped three sweet little kisses on her lips. "Go change. Don't look too good."

SM laughed as she stood up and walked toward the closet—yes, her clothes were in Knight's closet already. She chose to wear a cream off-shoulder blouse and a pair of ripped blue jeans, which she paired with a black scarf and yellow loafers.

When she faced Knight, she posed, placing her hands on her hips. "How do I look, baby?"

"Gorgeous." He then approached her to "fix" the scarf she was wearing so it could cover her shoulders. "Your shoulders are mine. I'm selfish when it comes to you, remember?"

SM laughed at him and adjusted the scarf to her own liking, in a way where her shoulders were still covered. "How about this?"

Knight grinned. "Perfect."

SM chuckled. "Are we okay? Are you comfortable with how I dress? I don't want you to be jealous of your own friends."

Knight smiled. "Just don't let other men touch you and I won't go beast mode."

She playfully shook her head as she was about to walk out of the room when Knight stopped her, holding her wrist. "Wait."

SM turned to face Knight. "Hmm?"

Knight reached something from his pocket. She was surprised to see that it was a ring. Her lips partially parted when he slid it into her finger.

"Knight..."

"It's a promise ring," Knight said, smiling.

"A promise ring? What promise?"

Knight moved a step forward, closing the distance between them, before kissing her on her forehead. "A promise that I'll marry you," he whispered in her ear.

SM gasped for air as her heart raced. It was as if she had forgotten how to breathe for a couple of seconds because of what Knight said. When she slowly regained her composure, she stared at Knight's face.

He was dead serious. His eyes said it all.

He kissed her forehead again. "Don't look so shocked, baby. Do you think I'll still let you go? Hell no. I'll make sure to level up our relationship."

SM froze in place. Her heart throbbed fast.

"I plan to make you my wife," he added, caressing her body as he hugged her tight. "I'm being selfish, remember? And this selfish man will do anything and everything just to keep you."

SM wrapped his arms around his waist and returned his tight embrace, closing her eyes as she did so. She didn't know why she felt like crying. Maybe because she didn't expect that Knight would go as far as that for her—for them.

He kissed her temple. "Let's go eat some steak?"

She chuckled softly as she let go from his embrace. SM kissed him tenderly, which Knight responded. They smiled at each other when their lips parted.

"Let's go eat some steak," he said before clasping their hands together.

They went downstairs and saw Jacques at Cloud in the living room, replacing the pieces of furniture that got dragged in their fight when Knight went mad. The marquess contorted his face upon seeing Knight. He still looked furious.

"We'll eat outside," Knight said as he looked at Cloud. "Just eat the nuggets."

"Yes, my lord," Cloud replied.

SM turned to the marquess. "Eat with Cloud. Have a fun dinner, you two."

The two butlers just grunted before returning to what they were doing. Meanwhile, Knight and SM left the house and walked toward their destination, which was also inside the village.

SM had no idea why she smiled when Knight put his arm around her shoulders as they walked.

"What?" Knight asked innocently.

"Nothing," she replied. "This is the first time you put your arm around me in public. I never liked this before, but it's different when it's you."

"Of course," Knight replied with pride. "I'm special."

"Special, as in you're weird?"

Knight glared at her. "I hate you—oh, no! I take it back. I don't hate you. I'm just a little upset. How dare you call me weird."

She planned to tease him more when he suddenly waved at the couple who just got out of another house.

"Best friend!" Knight shouted.

It was Valerian Volkzki, together with a woman. Her eyes fell to the woman's finger. She was wearing a wedding ring.

Maybe Valerian's wife.

"Who you?" Valerian quickly asked Knight as they approached them.

Knight frowned. "Why are you pretending that you don't know me?"

Valerian's face darkened. "Huh? What are you saying, motherfu—"

"Val," the woman said in a fierce tone, her voice reprimanding. "You know that I don't like you cussing."

The expression on Valerian's face softened. "Sorry, mooncake. This stupid dumbass Spanish colonizer—"

"Valerian!"

Valerian glared at Knight after being scolded by his wife. "Get away from me. I don't want to see your face with the blood of colonizers."

SM looked at Valerian, shocked. Colonizers? Is he talking about Philippine history?

Knight just stuck his tongue out at Valerian like a kid before introducing her to the couple. "Meet my girlfriend, soon-to-be wife, Sweet Monday Canja Lopez. She's amazing and just plain amazing. Baby, this is my best friend Valerian Volkzki and his wife Grace Oquendo-Volkzki."

She shook hands with Grace. "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise." Grace smiled sweetly at her. "You're very pretty."

"Thank you," SM replied, smiling. But she was taken aback when Grace leaned in closer and stared intently at her.

"Woah... you have long eyelashes. Your skin looks refined and soft. You're so beautiful."

"You're beautiful too." SM beamed in response to her praises.

Grace just smiled.

Just as SM was about to extend her hand to Valerian, the man's arms shot up in the air. "Don't bother. We don't shake hands with our friend's wife or girlfriend because there will be hell to pay."

"That's my best friend—"

"You're not even my friend," Valerian irritably replied to Knight.

SM grimaced. Looks like birds of the same feather truly flock together. Both are weird.

"Are you also headed to Tyron's house?" Grace asked.

"Yep," Knight answered. "Steak dinner."

"We're also headed there. Let's just walk together."

"Sure." Knight then closed the distance between him and Valerie and put an arm around his shoulder. "Best friend! You think I won't notice that you don't buy me cake anymore? You're so mean!"

Annoyed, Valerian shrugged off Knight's arm around him, but Knight was persistent. Even as he quickened his pace, Knight pursued him to ask for cake as he would wrap his arm around Val's shoulder.

Grace playfully shook her head. "Get used to it. That's how they are when they're together. Lunatics."

SM chuckled. "Yeah, I noticed." Knight looked happy, though. She liked seeing him happy like this. "They're really best of friends, huh?"

Grace nodded. "My husband denies it, but whenever Knight has problems, he's quick to comfort."

"That's so sweet." Thank God Knight has a friend like Valerian.

Grace kept gazing at her as they walked. "I like your eyes. This is my first time to see amber eyes up close. It's like the color gold. They're really pretty."

SM smiled. She got them from her father.

"Grace, stop staring at my baby," Knight said, still forcing his arm on Valerian's shoulder. "I know her eyes are very pretty, but stop staring. She'll feel uncomfortable! I don't ever stare at her mesmerizing eyes."

"Don't you shout at my wife, Velasquez!" Valerian hissed.

"I'm not! I'm just explaining—ouch! Fuck! Stop punching me, Val—fuck!"

What started as Knight's several attempts to embrace Valerian had turned into a playful chase, with Valerian in pursuit of Knight, who was laughing as they ran.

Such a kid.

Until they arrived at Tyron and Raine's house, Knight and Valerian were still running after each other and playfully sparring. SM knew that Knight was not taking Valerian seriously. He was holding back his punches. They were really best of friends.

She shook her head, smiling, when Knight returned beside her, intertwining their hands. When he felt unsatisfied, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her temples over and over.

SM was all smiles until they walked through the gate of a luxurious home. They headed to the side of the swimming pool, where the noise they had been hearing ever since they entered was coming from.

SM immediately saw Knight's friends—a bunch of handsome men drinking beer. Some are eating steak, while some are eating grilled meat. Her eyes settled on a big-boned woman grilling meat. A handsome man had his arm wrapped around him as he kept kissing her shoulder.

Aww... they look so sweet.

She broke her gaze when she saw the female doctor who examined her when she got sick. Her cheeks flustered when their eyes met.

The doctor waved at her, smiling, and spoke in a loud voice. "Everyone," she said, pointing at her, "that's Knight's wife!"

In an instant, the men present flocked around her, each taking turns to introduce themselves. Knight clearly wasn't pleased, but he was trying his best not to get jealous, as she deliberately avoided shaking hands with them.

"Sorry," she apologized. "No handshake. Knight is a very jealous man."

"Yes, I am!" Knight said with pride before putting an arm around her shoulder. "Guys, ladies and gentlemen, this is my woman, my person, my baby, my Sweet Monday Canja Lopez, SM for short. And don't you dare touch her if you still like your hands attached to your arms."

His friends clicked their tongues, then the man named Phoenix asked her, "Why did you entertain this lunatic? Do you know how crazy he can get? We're about to send him to a mental hospital."

The man named Titus Morgan nodded. "Because of eating too much cake, he's going to lose his mind."

"And he'll go straight to the hospital because he might be diabetic by now," Calyx Vargaz jokingly ended.

"And it's the end for Knight Velasquez," Cali teased.

Knight smiled and laughed, and SM played along with it since he seemed to have fun bantering. But somehow, she could see deep down, in the depths of his eyes, that he was sad. She could tell that something bothered him, even though he was joking with his friends.

She gave him a hug and subtly whispered in his ear, "You okay, baby?"

Knight turned to her and smiled. "You know me too well."

She smiled. "Of course, you're my baby."

"Mi reina..." He kissed her forehead. "I was just thinking of something. Don't worry."

"Steak—second serving—is now ready!" shouted the guy who introduced himself as Tyron Zapanta, Raine's husband.

The woman in the grilling station was Anniza, and the guy whose arms were wrapped around her was Dark, her husband.

"Hey!" Anniza pouted as she served the rest of the grilled meat. "Y'all are such hogs! Save some for those who haven't eaten yet!"

Evren Yilmaz just laughed at her remark. "First come, first served—that's our rule here."

Anniza used the stainless clamp to pester Evren. "What if I grill you next?"

Evren crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Try and I'll sue you."

"No grilled meat for you, Attorney," Anniza replied as she glared at him.

Evren's eyes widened. "That's not fair. I'm not gonna sue you anymore, Anniza. Give me some meat, damn it!"

"Don't damn it my wife, Yilmaz!" Dark yelled at Evren, which led into a shouting match.

SM continued to observe her surroundings.

"Eat more," Raine told her husband Tyron, placing another slice of steak on his plate.

"Thank you," Tyron replied.

Raine smiled. "Welcome."

Then, Raine's husband Tyron got Knight's attention. "Velasquez, welcome to the UnderStanding Club. May you rest in peace, motherfucker."

Knight shot up his middle finger to his friends as SM continued to slice a piece of steak for him.

Iuhence suddenly stood from his seat and raised the beer he was holding high. "Cheers, lunatics! Knight is now a fully grown man. He has now a love life! Yehey!"

Each and every man in that gathering stood up, holding their bottles of beer up in the air. "Cheers!" they all said in chorus.

"Cheers to our lunatic friend, who now knows how to use emoticons!" cheered Beckett Furrer.

"We're so proud of you, Velasquez," Ream teased.

"So proud of you, Velasquez," Lysander added, acting as if he were about to cry. "The emojis are freaking happy for you, bud."

Knight pouted. "Val, are you hearing them? They're bullying me!"

Valerian just showed his middle finger at Knight. "Fuck off, Spaniard."

Knight turned to SM for help. "Baby, they're bullying me!"

Everyone in the space looked at SM. She paused and then gave them all a smile. "Please, stop bullying him?"

Ymar murmured, "Be grateful that the wife of your dreams is nice."

"Leave him," Phoenix said. "You'll run out of blood trying to understand his nonsense."

Knight quickly picked up the nearest fork near him and threw it to Phoenix, who easily avoided it. Phoenix glared at Knight. "Are you trying to kill me?"

Knight smirked. "Yes, I am."

"Fuck you!"

"You're welcome, a-hole!"

"YOLO!" a familiar voice coming from the kitchen door shouted. It was Captain Sanford, holding a bottle of beer in each hand. "WOLO!"

"Bear with that one, will you?" Lysander told SM as he pointed at Captain Sanford. "He's not on duty today, so he's struck by insanity. Just a heads-up, he could experience an epilepsy episode shortly. Stay tuned."

Captain Sanford's loud cheers stopped when he saw SM. "Sweet! What are you doing here—" Sanford greeted but was cut off when Knight stood from his seat, holding the stainless-steel clamp that Raine used to grill the steak.

"Wanna use the grave I made for you?" Knight asked Khairro with probing eyes.

"Don't wanna!" Khairro loudly replied before running back inside the kitchen. "Nine-one-one! A crazy motherfucker is after me!"

SM massaged her temples. This was one noisy and crazy steak dinner.

She discreetly left her seat when Knight chased Captain Sanford before moving to the round table where the wives of half of the men were. They were sipping champagne as they watched the men in their lives being crazy-ass kids.

Vienna sighed. "Kids."

Raine chuckled. "They are more childish than my kid."

Krisz nodded. "Agree."

Faith placed her palm on her chin, her elbow on the table. "Anniza should've just grilled my husband. He's just too loud and noisy."

SM and the other women couldn't help but laugh. They were right after all. Most of the men were childish.

"You know, we could've eaten steak in Baguio, but he insisted on going here because it's free," said Red, Phoenix's wife.

Mace tsked. "These lunatics are acting as if they were deprived of food for so long. As if they didn't have money to buy their own steak."

"You know, it's another story if it's free," Etheyl added. "Our husbands act as if they're possessed."

Mhelanie sighed. "I don't even know what to call my husband oftentimes. Is he extremely frugal, or does he really have a loose screw?"

Grace smiled. "At least my problem with Valerian is just his excessive swearing." Then Grace looked at her. "You, SM, what's your problem with Knight?"

"Uhm..." SM bit her lower lip. "He's a baby most of the time?"

"Same," almost all women in that venue said in chorus.

Then, Dr. Czarina suddenly shrieked. "Those babies can also make babies, so it's okay. Anyways, who here has a husband who is good at eating out?"

All women raised their hands, except Grace and SM. The two even stared at each other.

"My Valerian doesn't have a big appetite," Grace answered.

Czarina glared at Grace. "Eating out, as in eating you out down there!"

Grace's cheeks flushed immediately before she raised her hand. SM followed.

Dr. Czarina grinned. "Nice! I'm glad that we all have husbands who are good in bed, in the sofa, and in other parts of the house."

SM shook her head and laughed at Czarina's remarks. She noticed that the female doctor had no filter.

"Anyways," Dr. Czarina added, "Who here has tried it in the car?"

Half of the women raised their hands, including Grace. Czarina narrowed her eyes at SM. "Girl, you should try it. Your eyes will roll back."

SM tried to stop her laugh before nodding.

"Good!" Czarina clapped her hands before pausing when Ymar, her husband, caressed her back, making her stand.

"You're the center of attention again, huh?" Ymar tsked. "I told you to put a filter in your mouth once in a while."

Czarina just stuck her tongue out at her husband. "This is me. Take it or leave it."

Ymar kissed Czarina on the lips before saying, "I'll take it all the way."

"Good."

Then their lips locked onto each other.

As if the other women in the group got envious, each one of them approached their spouse and started sweet-talking them. SM turned her head at Knight, who was staring at her as well. Instead of approaching him, she signaled Knight to come to her, which he immediately did.

Knight sat beside her before he told her to sit on his lap.

SM brushed his hair using her fingers. "You have crazy friends."

Knight chuckled. "Yep."

Her hand moved down to his cheek and tenderly touched it. "You look sad earlier. Are you okay?"

Knight smiled. "Not even one emotion could escape your eyes."

"Because I'm overly sensitive when it comes to you. I always pay attention—that's why I know when you're sad or happy."

Knight's face softened. "I like that—that you're overly sensitive and you pay attention when it comes to me." He buried his face into her neck. "We're always like this when we're together. I'm happy at the same time sad because they don't know the real me. I hate pretending in front of them, but I have to in order to keep them safe."

She caressed his hair once again. "You're a good friend, Knight. Time will come when they'll get to know the real you. Someday, you'll be free to do whatever you want."

Knight looked at her. "And you're still by my side when that happens, right?"

SM nodded, smiling, before looking at the direction of the commotion. It was Tyron Zapanta, the owner of the house.

"We're almost complete today—except Baltazar, who may be buried underneath strawberries, the Coleman twins, and fraud aboard a cruise—because food is free. I know y'all are full, you idiots, so let's play to soothe our digestion."

"No, thanks," Captain Sanford refused. "My stomach has digested the food so quickly, thanks to Velasquez chasing after me. I've gone to the CR—that's how fast it was."

Knight immediately showed his middle finger at Captain Sanford.

SM grimaced. She shouldn't really tell Knight that she had a crush on Captain Sanford before. Knight would surely explode.

I better keep it to myself.

"Then don't," Pierce Muller nonchalantly said.

"Fuck you, Muller," Captain Sanford quickly answered, which made SM shake her head. He was always formal at work. She didn't know that he had this side of him. It was weird hearing him cuss.

Thorn raised his hand to get everyone's attention. "What game?"

"Not children's games, for the love of God," Titus said. "Please think of something else."

Iuhence, Mhelanie's husband, raised his hand next. "Musical chairs!"

"That's for kids!" Titus quickly complained.

His wife Mace playfully yanked his hair. "Why are you being so dramatic? You're much more childish than our own child."

Titus just pouted.

"I second," Czarina butted in. "Since y'all are acting like kids here, that game fits your group so well. And us women will watch how all of you are a bunch of lunatics. Okay?"

Reigo Vasquez raised his hand. "If it's musical chairs, where's the music?"

Tyron grinned before entering his house. When he came back, he had a huge speaker with him. "It's a Bluetooth speaker."

Knight raised his hand. "What's a Bluetooth speaker? Is it the same as Bluetooth earphones?"

Valerian threw Knight a bone from a steak. "You're being weird again, you motherfucker!"

Knight quickly glared at Valerian. "I'm just asking! Meany!"

SM shook her head and laughed to herself. After all the banters she had heard, she noticed something. And now she got it. That this was the crazy side of Knight that he only got to be with his friends. She thought that Knight was intentionally acting like a weirdo... or was he, really?

She looked at her boyfriend. Hmm... he's crazy even without his friends, she thought. So, she concluded that her boyfriend was just a crazy weird-ass person.

Knight stared at her. "What?"

SM smiled. "Nothing." Then, she pointed at the chairs that Knight's friends had arranged in a circle. "You join, okay? Make me laugh, okay, baby?"

Knight flexed his arm muscle as he approached his group of friends. "For my baby. I'll win."

The women gathered around a round table. They could control what song to play and when to pause it.

"Me first!" Raine yelled. "I'm the first one to get married here anyway."

To which they all agreed. As the men took their positions, they also kept threatening each other.

"What's the prize?" Dark asked. "This takes effort."

"Take-home steak and grilled Korean meat," Tyron answered.

"Hell yeah! I'll win!" Calyx shouted.

"No. I'll win! It's take-home!" Iuhence butted in.

"Nix," Titus called Phoenix, who was standing beside him. "Let's take these motherfuckers down and take home that steak and grilled Korean meat. For our appetizer later."

"Okay," Phoenix replied with a smile.

Raine picked the song "Despacito." The idiots danced around the chairs, with some of them swaying their hips as they laughed at one another. As the music went on, the men started to nudge each other, all of them aiming for at least one chair.

When the music stopped, they pushed each other just to grab a seat.

"You kicked me!" Khairro at kay Knight.

Knight showed Khairro his middle finger. "That's called mad skills that you don't have. Wanna see the grave I made for you?"

"Fuck you!"

"My turn!" Czarina said. She chose "Pony."

SM knew about the song because she watched Magic Mike. The women couldn't stop laughing when the guys danced as if performing a striptease, their hips swaying flirtatiously, especially during the chorus of the song.

"In fairness," said Ruth, Beckett's wife. "They can dance."

The women all nodded.

Then the music stopped.

They were shocked when Lander pushed Ymar to get a seat. Ymar just shook his head. "Animals."

Lander replied with "Rawr!"

"My turn!" Faith said, smiling as she chose the song "Dura."

SM chuckled when the men in the game began to sing. Knight was even giving his all while his arm was hooked on Valerian's shoulder. Valerian, on the other hand, was frowning.

When the music stopped, Knight kicked Calyx for Valerian to have a chair.

"Cheater!" Calyx snorted at Knight.

The game continued. One by one, the players were eliminated until only five of them remained—Knight, Phoenix, Titus, Nate, and Valerian.

It was her turn to pick the music.

"Baby!" Knight shouted. "I believe in you. You're my good-luck charm."

His friends were quick to follow up with a tease. "Our lunatic weirdo is now a grown man!"

Knight just grinned. "What can I say, I treasure my baby. Now, let's play! Hit it, mi reina! I feel like dancing tonight!"

SM smiled as she played "Careless Whisper." Everyone laughed when they saw Knight playfully sway his hips, as if performing a striptease, while the other four seriously got their eyes on the chairs.

When she paused the music, Knight was far away from the chairs, but he still managed to snatch one by having a hand-to-hand combat against Nate. Knight grinned when he won.

Nate could only shake his head. "I couldn't believe he'd fight me for a chair."

Knight was grinning and shouting, "Can't spell awesome without me!"

SM cringed. She felt embarrassed for Knight.

The game continued. Only three remaining chairs for four people. Knight, Titus, and Phoenix fought when the music stopped.

SM wondered if the remaining players still realized that they were playing musical chairs, not engaging in a brawl. Meanwhile, Valerian quietly remained seated.

Mace sighed. "I feel ashamed."

Red nodded. "Me too. Just for a chair, they're trying to kill each other."

SM smiled to herself when Knight won against the other two. "That's my baby." She really hated losing in any way.

Now, Titus was out. It was just Phoenix, Valerian, and Knight.

"Do you best, Nix," Titus told Phoenix. "If you lose, I'll hang you up on the landing skids of your helicopter."

Phoenix just chuckled and looked at his wife. "Baby, you will still love me if I lose, right?"

Red threw him a flying kiss. "Of course, baby."

Mace threw a piercing glare at Titus. "Don't act like a kid, or I'll be the one to hang you up on the landing skids of Phoenix's helicopter."

Titus immediately hugged Mace and showered her with affection while also partly begging for her mercy.

SM focused her attention on the game. When the music stopped, Knight and Phoenix fought in hand-to-hand combat. And of course, her baby won.

SM couldn't hide the smile on her lips.

And it was down to one chair. For Knight and Valerian.

Knight wrapped an arm around Valerian's shoulder and said, "I have two huge rats to feed at home. Let me win."

Valerian just glared at Knight.

When music stopped, neither of them tried to rush to the seats. They only stared at each other until Valerian snapped at him. "Sit, you motherfucker!"

Knight smirked as he sat on the only chair remaining, raising his arms high before shouting, "I wooooooon! Thanks, Val."

Val just glared at him before he went to hug Grace. Knight did the same. He dashed toward SM and pulled her into an embrace, lifting her off the ground, which made SM laugh.

"We now have food to feed the rats at home," Knight said.

SM playfully shook her head and returned his embrace. A disco song played, urging everyone—including the both of them—to get up and dance.

SM couldn't stop smiling and laughing. It was one of the best nights of her life. Dancing with Knight, laughing with him, and just being with him made her heart feel elated. She actually felt a little sad when it was time to go home. She was having so much fun dancing and being with her boyfriend.

Knight hooked an arm around her shoulder as they walked toward their house. They weren't with Grace and Valerian this time, as they went home earlier after Grace felt her head spin.

"Did my baby have fun?" Knight asked.

She smiled from ear to ear as she nodded. "It was so fun. I like your friends and their wives. They're so fun to be with. It's amazing!"

Knight kissed her temple. "I'm glad you enjoyed the night."

She wrapped her arms around his waist, while Knight kept his arm around her shoulder. They stayed like that until they reached his mansion.

When they walked in, the two butlers were cleaning the living room with a vacuum cleaner. Knight gave them the take-home food he won. "A souvenir," he said. "Enjoy it. I put a lot of effort into that. I even fought."

Jacques peeked inside the paper bag. When he saw what was inside, he raised a brow. "You fought for steak and grilled meat."

"Yes. It was hand-to-hand combat, so enjoy."

Jacques looked at SM. "Is he going crazy again?"

She chuckled. "He's always crazy."

Jacques shook his head before turning to Cloud. "Let's eat? It's steak and grilled meat. Better than nuggets and eggs. Fuck! Our dinner was like breakfast."

Cloud shrugged. "We're broke."

Jacques tsked. "Let's go buy some groceries tomorrow."

"Sounds good to me as long as you pay for it."

"Of course. I'm a billionaire after all."

Cloud just grunted before entering the kitchen with Jacques.

Meanwhile, Knight pulled SM toward his room on the second floor. They both collapsed on the bed, ending with Knight's favorite position.

"So tired..." Knight whispered as he yawned.

SM caressed his hair. "Then sleep.

Knight all the more buried himself into her body as he hugged her. "Okay," he said before closing his eyes.

SM caressed her hair until she heard his deep, steady breathing. She was thankful because ever since she had slept in the house, Knight had been sleeping soundly.

This was one of the reasons she couldn't just leave Knight in this house. He would go back to not sleeping again, and she didn't like seeing him with bags under his eyes. She wanted him to be able to rest, especially when she learned about his work.

She kissed his forehead. "Good night, my lord. Dream of me," she whispered before closing her eyes.

And before she fell into a deep sleep, she felt a pair of soft lips press against hers. Then, she heard Knight whisper, "Good night, mi reina."