February 7, 2024. 1 Chapter only. Sorry guys. After I wrote this chapter, I went to the hospital to schedule a procedure for my son, but it took me so long, and I still have to fetch my daughter. So, I'm not sure if I can make a second chapter.
"Anna, I'm sorry, but closing this deal will take over a month. Maybe I can help you pay the rent at your boss's place?" Macy, Anna's friend, said on the phone, describing the conditions of her business trip. "Or, I can send you money for the hotel. What do you think?" Anna was at Ryan's condo, cooking dinner on a Monday evening. Anna was about to serve the table when Macy updated her on her work status. Macy was the same friend Anna hoped to share an apartment with, the same one who lived in Appleton Suites, but with her gone, Anna's only option was to stay in a hotel temporarily. The problem was she did not have enough money. So, when the offer to stay with Ryan came to Anna, she took it, regardless of how little she knew about the executive assistant to the Thompson Group of Companies CEO. "Um," Anna bit her lip, thinking. The discounted rate Ryan could give her for the hotel room was a hundred dollars per night, which was very generous, considering the Diamond Hotel was a lux
While Ryan regularly rendered overtime with Anna in his office, across the globe, the Thompson family were all sunbathing by the beach. In that stretch of white sand partly shaded with coconut trees and other vegetation, they were lined up from left to right on their individual sun lounges, starting with Lucas, followed by Lily, Lace, Amara, Marcus, Shantelle, and Evan. Aiden was spreading lotion on Lily's arms. He said, "There you go, Mommy. Now, I'll add some more to your tummy!" "Thank you, Aiden. I love you," Lily said with a smile. Her eyes were closed, and the sunglasses shaded her view of the sky. "I could just sleep here and feel relaxed." "Hey, Aiden! Let's go for a swim!" Gunner appeared behind them just in time for Aiden to finish rubbing lotion on Lily's tummy. Lily opened her eyes briefly to admire the turquoise-blue lagoon on the beach with Aiden and Gunner swimming in the water. Just then, Lucas was checking his laptop. He remarked, "I can't believe I barely h
Lily's eyes lit up when Shauna called and asked about pregnancy symptoms. She screamed at the top of her lungs, "Oh, my god! Oh, my god, Shauna, congratulations! I can't believe it! You are -" "That's the thing! I don't think I am pregnant. The other day, I thought that my breast was swollen, and I have been feeling tired lately, but when I took a pregnancy test this afternoon, it was negative," Shauna responded on the phone, sounding woeful. Then, the next thing Lily heard was Shauna's sobbing. Shauna whispered her fears, "What if I'm barren? What if I'll never have a child with Axel's good looks? Then, Axel would leave me and -" "Haha!" Lily laughed her heart out. She was so amused at Shauna that her eyes watered. She said, "Shauna, Axel won't leave you. He loves you! Stop that. You are getting married! You are a little too dramatic, don't you think?" "Look, I did not get pregnant right away. It took Lucas and me a few tries before I got pregnant. Take your time. Enjoy your tim
"Doctor Chan? What is it?" Shantelle asked. The good doctor was acquainted with Shantelle. Doctors, despite having different specialties, often run into each other. "Doctor Shant." The obstetrician said before turning to Lucas, "Doctor Thompson. There is a super stealthy baby." "Super stealthy baby?" Lily asked. "What? Stealthy?" Aiden asked. "My brother or sister is sneaking around?" "Oh, my god," Shantelle finally spoke. "Are you saying -" "Yes," the doctor confirmed. "What?" Lily asked. Her face looked more complicated in each second that passed. "Mo/mo?" Lucas asked. "Yes, Doctor Thompson," Doctor Chan responded. "Mo/mo." "Mo/mo?" Evan was baffled. "Oh, my god! Mo/mo!" Shantelle said with her eyes widening. "What in the world is going on? And what is Mo/mo? Can somebody please speak English for me?" Lily requested, unable to bear the mystery. Evan laughed. He declared, "Lily, you'll have to get used to it. When you marry a doctor, you will often hear medical terms
"Come on, Aiden. Let's go get your mommy," Lucas said as he walked to the lift with Ryan, Axel, and his parents. "Coming, Dad!" Aiden responded while chasing after Lucas. Lily had texted Lucas that she and Shauna had gone to Ryan's condo with Anna. His assistant had miraculously accepted a female housemate, and the same had easily become friends with Lily and Shauna. They walked past Axel's condo first, and the latter let Abner and Martha in before they all made it to Ryan's flat. When they all entered Ryan's home, Lucas' brows drew together. Lucas stood by the living room, noticing the apparent changes to Ryan's abode. Ryan's previously black throw pillows were now covered in blue-green. He had a vase and a flower in the living room, and his curtains were also in the same shade as the throw pillows. "Sir, would you like some coffee? I have some Brazilian coffee beans," Ryan offered. "Would love some cappuccino," Lucas said. "Can you call my wife for me too?" "Here! Here!
"Do you, Axel Green, take Shauna Ross to be your lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do you part." "I do," Axel said with a bright smile. "Do you, Shauna Ross, take Axel Green to be your lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do you part." When it was Shauna's turn to respond, a whirlwind of emotions swept through her. There was this sense of deep happiness, an acknowledgment of the commitment she was about to make. Her eyes glistened with a touch of sentimental tears. She sniffed delicately and said, "I do." After a few words of wisdom from the officiant, he announced, "Please help me welcome Mr. Axel and Mrs. Shauna Green!" Hoots and applauses filled the air, welcoming Shauna and Axel as a married couple. Before they knew it, it was time to kiss the bride. "Go get her, Man,
Ryan and Anna had brunch at the Diamond Hotel's main restaurant. After leaving their rooms, they were mostly silent, as if deciding what to say to each other next. Anna had to admit Ryan's admission that he liked her made things different. They were being cautious of each other's presence. Eventually, Ryan broke the ice. He laughed and said, "This is part of my plan. I would flirt with you, but I'd rather seduce you with my awkwardness." Anna froze. Then, she laughed her heart out. She replied, "This is an entirely different side of you. You've always been so serious." Ryan smiled. He wiped his lips with a table napkin and said, "This is me trying." Anna studied Ryan's face. She liked the lines on the corners of his mouth when he smiled. It looked almost like dimples. Ryan always looked neat. He often styled his blond hair. But today, unlike his usual suit and tie, Ryan wore a grey shirt and dark jacket, which still made him look good. It hid his muscles well, but that was oka
Lily and Lucas stared at the glass window from their bedroom. "This is tempered glass, right?" Lily asked. "Yes," Lucas replied. "Only the most powerful weapon could shatter the glass." Lucas walked back to the bedside table of their room and pressed a button beneath it. Suddenly, panels emerged from the side, covering the glass windows. He said, "To be safe, we can protect the glass." Thunder roared in the skies, and rain poured harder. The lights suddenly went out, but the generator picked up after a minute, and the power was back again. "This isn't good. We aren't going anywhere at this point," Lucas remarked. "And by the looks of it, the internet will be gone too." "Oh," Lily paused and bit her lip. "What about Leonardo Gelato? Hahaha." A day before Shauna's wedding, Doctor Chan suggested that Lily eat some sweets, hoping it would help baby number two to get moving during the second ultrasound. So, she did. They had dropped by this newly opened Gelato shop near the hosp