“Why did you choose him?!” Raven wanted to shout but couldn’t bring himself to do it to Gia.Raven clenched his right fist at his side while pointing his left hand at Matteo, who stood arrogantly in front of the pavilion door.Matteo felt victorious because Gia had chosen him to accompany her for today’s yoga session."You’re busy, Rave. I chose Matteo because you’re busy,” Gia explained patiently.“I’m not busy!” Raven retorted immediately.Standing at the door near Matteo, Jasper shook his head in disagreement. He had been waiting for Raven as well.Raven was incredibly busy. He was cramming his work schedule so that he wouldn’t have to worry about unfinished tasks when the expected due date, about two weeks from now, arrived.Jasper had meticulously organized the schedule, but the downside was that Raven had to work extra hard now to avoid future setbacks.“You are busy! So today, I’ll be with Matteo. I’ll be fine, Rave. Don’t you trust him?" Gia asked."Of course not. Matteo nearl
Their journey ended on the outskirts of Neive, in a hilltop residential complex. It was an exclusive location, with no neighbors in sight, resembling the kind of hideout Raven always preferred.At a glance, the house perched on the hill blended seamlessly with its surroundings. The soothing green walls and dominant wood tones made the house look serene and inviting.And let’s not even mention the surrounding environment. Standing atop the hill guaranteed its occupants breathtaking views of lush greenery and a stunning valley stretching before them. The view alone could easily double the house’s value.“Where are we? Whose house is this?” Gia bombarded Matteo with questions, her eyes roaming the house’s details. So far, she hadn’t found any flaws worth criticizing.“Let’s go inside,” Matteo said.“This is your house?”Matteo’s short answer didn’t stop Gia from probing further. But his response became even more elusive when he merely shrugged.Gia felt an urge to grab Matteo by the coll
“What does that even mean? He’s so stupid!" Gia complained.Commenting on movie absurdity was probably one of Gia’s bad habits. Rose had reprimanded her countless times, but it never worked. Gia would curse in frustration whenever the movie she watched didn’t go how she wanted. Naturally, her outbursts annoyed anyone watching with her.“You shouldn’t call people stupid,” Matteo scolded.The two of them spent a relaxing morning in the pavilion, watching a movie with popcorn. Since Raven hadn’t returned yet, it was Matteo’s turn to keep Gia company.“Stupid isn’t a curse word. I’m just calling it as it is. It’s not an insult.”Her absurd response was just a way to justify herself. Raven would have laughed at her defense, but since Matteo was with her instead, he only nodded understanding before returning to the TV. His focus didn’t last long, though. Slowly, his gaze turned vacant as his thoughts drifted elsewhere, leaving his body behind.“You don’t seem to be enjoying this,” Gia said,
After the panic that left Raven’s mind blank, they spent the rest of the trip in a calmer state.The journey to the hospital was relatively uneventful. Matteo drove while Raven sat in the backseat with Gia. Throughout the ride, Raven never let go of Gia’s hand.Gia’s grip left red marks on Raven’s hand as she squeezed tightly every time a contraction hit. The contractions grew more frequent as time went on.Matteo carefully pulled up to the emergency room entrance, where Vero was waiting with a wheelchair. Matteo had called her before they left.“They must be eager to see the world,” Vero said as Gia stepped out of the car.“I was hoping they’d inherit some patience,” Gia replied.Raven forced a smile despite his pale face. He was far calmer now. “I was hoping for the same. I don’t want them to end up like me,” he added.Vero chuckled as she helped Gia into the wheelchair and pushed her inside.Gia held her breath again as another wave of pain struck. Raven extended his hand and clasp
“Haze?”The soft call reached Gia’s ears, making her smile. Only one person in the world called her by that name. Knowing Raven was nearby filled her with strength.“Wake up... Two angels are waiting to meet you.”The whisper stirred Gia awake.Raven’s face hovered above her, his eyes red and swollen. Gia didn’t need to ask why he had been crying—she knew Raven only shed tears for those closest to his heart.Gia lifted her hand, though it felt impossibly heavy. The anesthesia likely hadn’t entirely left her system.Seeing Gia reaching out, Raven caught her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it gently. “You are the most extraordinary woman, and I will never regret choosing you,” he whispered.“They... are...” Gia’s throat felt dry, her tongue felt heavy; her words caught in her throat.Raven quickly grabbed a bottle with a steel straw from nearby. The nurse, Vero, had prepared it earlier.Gia greedily sipped the water from the bottle.“Slow down. No one’s going to take it from yo
“Before heading home, I want to talk to you later. Please come to my office, okay?”Vero leaned her head into Gia’s room as she spoke. A smile appeared on her lips when she noticed the chaos inside.“Okay,” Gia replied briefly, focusing on handling Freya, who was persistently feeding even though her sibling was starting to get restless, waiting their turn. Nearby, Sophie paced back and forth, organizing the supplies they were bringing home, with Marlow helping her.Raven cradled Alrix, patiently waiting for his turn to eat. Fortunately, the baby stayed calm in his arms, squirming slightly but not crying. If he cried, Freya wouldn’t sleep—such was the reality of having twins. When one cried, the other would likely follow."What’s this about?" Raven asked, curious about Vero’s odd request. Everything seemed settled, and they were supposed to leave soon.Gia shook her head in answer, unwilling to disturb Freya, who was finally dozing off. Her eyes closed, and her lips released Gia’s ches
Gia slowly lay down on the bed with Sophie’s help. Marlow and Sophie naturally followed Gia back to Ranallo’s residence, where they planned to stay. Matteo didn’t mind; he welcomed anyone close to Gia.“I know he’s your brother, but isn’t he a bit intimidating?” Sophie whispered, glancing at Matteo, gazing at the two babies in their cradle."That’s just how he is. Don’t worry; he won’t hurt me or them,” Gia replied, smiling at Matteo.In moments like this, Matteo looked like a teddy bear to her—big like a bear but soft and gentle when touched. Feeling Gia’s gaze, Matteo nodded with a faint smile.“I never thought I’d meet someone even more unreasonable than Raven. That is shocking for me," Sophie commented, arranging Gia’s blanket.“Men like that are rare… and somehow, they always seem to gravitate toward me,” Gia chuckled.“You must have a hidden magnet for cold men buried somewhere in your body,” Sophie joked, her grin wide.“Hmmm... I didn’t expect your brother to be someone quite
Gia stretched her arms and body as crying pierced through the night again.Before she could get up, Raven stopped her. “I’ll take care of it. You just go back to sleep.”"They’re crying at the same time, Raven. You won’t be able to handle it alone,” Gia said skeptically.“I’ll manage. If I need help, I’ll call you. Now rest,” Raven insisted.Though doubtful, Gia relented. From her bed, she watched as Raven tried to handle the twins’ cries.First, he warmed two bottles of breast milk Gia had pumped earlier that day.Next, he checked their diapers. Awkward but determined, Raven replaced the diapers with growing confidence. Gia figured he must have learned by watching Sophie or herself. She had never explicitly taught him, nor had she asked him to know.Gia had no need to learn the basics of baby care; as a nurse, she had handled countless newborns in the hospital’s maternity ward. Those skills were proving invaluable now.Despite the overwhelming cries of both babies, Raven remained cal
King Gustaf held Raven’s hand tightly for a moment. He was aware that their happiness depended on each other.He kept his eyes on Raven as their hands separated.“Well then, I’ll take my leave.” King Gustaf saw no reason for further pleasantries, so he turned around immediately. But before taking a step, he glanced back.His gaze focused on Lonan, who had remained silent and lowered his head after declaring he would be a witness.“I truly wished you had married Willow, but I couldn’t force her. I’m sorry. And please forgive Willow for her mistake this time.” His eyes flickered toward Raven as well, not just Lonan. Then, finally, he stepped out.Two deep sighs of relief filled the room as the door closed—one from Lonan, one from Raven. Raven picked up his phone, checking something. Maybe he was telling Jasper to cancel a plan.“King Gustaf will keep his promise because he will never let Willow’s name be tarnished in the eyes of society. He always avoids scandals so that Willow can live
Gia didn't know who Tilda was, but Raven's intense reaction made her suspect something. Raven clearly cared about whoever Tilda was."Why can't I mention her name? She's Willow's mother!"Gia's suspicion proved correct. King Gustaf disgustingly uttered a name that would surely shake Raven. He mentioned someone Raven loved as dearly as her own family. It was a deceitful move.Raven's face burned with anger, yet the furrow in her brow showed she was thinking. That name had driven her to get engaged and save Willow's life. The inner battle flared up again—this time, it was Raven's turn."For Tilda's sake, I beg you: don't press those charges. And please hand over that recording. You surely don't want to ruin Willow's life, right?""He ruined himself without my interference. You only sped up his plunge into ruin by continually excusing all his misdeeds." Raven stopped using the formal "you" when addressing King Gustaf. Merely mentioning Tilda's name ignited deep emotions within her."You
King Gustaf stared at Al and Frey. "Are they your children?" Gia wanted to answer with a scathing remark with the word idiot, just like she'd used earlier to respond to Lonan's question. It was blatantly obvious who Al and Frey's parents were. "Yes," Gia replied politely. The time when she could curse at the king had long passed. "Then you must understand my feelings. The feelings of a father who must do everything to protect his child." King Gustaf quickly turned to Raven. Unfortunately, his emotionally charged statement was met with a mocking laugh from Raven. "No. I can't understand your feelings. Because I'll make sure these two don't grow up to be manipulators who casually stab others in the back," Raven retorted sharply. King Gustaf's jaw tightened in anger. "What's going on?" Gia demanded. Seeing Raven provoke the king's anger, she felt some satisfaction, but she still didn't grasp the full context. "I'm filing charges against Willow. This time, I'll ensure she
"Oh... My... God...," Lonan muttered as he saw Raven enter carrying Freya. Gia followed behind, with Al playfully twirling around her neck.They had to wrestle a bit while heading to the hospital. Al began teething and fussed whenever things didn't go his way.Freya, who always imitated her older sibling, considered crying together a fun activity. As a result, Gia and Raven had to fight through a torrent of tears before they could leave the house."They…"Lonan shot a disbelieving glance. He rarely saw Raven accompanied by a cute baby; in his opinion, it didn't seem right. In fact, Gia used to feel the same—but that was then. Gia feels something is missing without Freya clinging to Raven's chest.It wasn't Gia's idea to bring them to the hospital; Raven requested it. He wanted to introduce Al and Freya to their uncle. It was a common wish, and Gia simply couldn't refuse."Are they twins?" Lonan asked."You don't eat enough apples. How can you ask such a stupid question? The answer is
Gia peeled the apple on the table and cut it into smaller pieces. That wasn't how she ate apples—she preferred whole ones, eating them with the skin on.The apple wasn't for her. After placing it in a bowl, Gia carried it to the patient's bed and set it on the table. The person sleeping in that bed jumped awake at the sound of movement and footsteps.Gia glanced sideways, and their eyes met. Too late to look away, she could only huff in irritation.Lonan looked toward the bowl of apple. "I thought you'd never do something kind for me again."Gia snorted. "Exactly! I didn't do this for you. I did it for Raven. He'll be upset if he finds out I still despise you."Lonan gave a bitter smile. He had set his hopes too high. Gia always tried her best to be kind to him because she knew that if she kept showing her dislike, Raven would end up sad. Gia understood that feeling well—it reminded her of the time she watched Matteo and Raven argue.Of course, that argument couldn't compare to the ha
Raven felt a little calmer after Gia invited him to sit. Although he still felt anxious, his breathing steadied. He leaned back in his seat while gripping Gia's hand.Doctors had been operating on Lonan for about four hours, and they still hadn't given any news about his progress. Based on her experience, Gia could only guess that the knife must have injured one of his organs—she couldn't tell how severe the damage was.The wait felt like hell to Raven. He no longer displayed any emotion, as if his tears had drained every ounce of feeling. The overwhelming memory of his parents leaving haunted him, and he clung to the hope that Lonan would pull through.All his anger melted away and gave way to hope. He no longer cared about Lonan's mistakes—they now seemed insignificant.Whenever a lousy memory threatened to overwhelm him, Raven squeezed Gia's hand, and Gia stroked Raven's arm gently. Gia reminded him of other parts of his life that still awaited him, assuring him that his world woul
From the beginning, Willow never planned to jump in or be fooled by Raven's blatantly apparent lies. Willow orchestrated this drama to get close enough to Raven so that they could hurt him.Now, Willow screamed in anger as their plan failed once again. Willow didn't care at all that Lonan collapsed and bled because of what they had done."Lonan!"Raven finally realized what was happening and roared Lonan's name. He tried to catch the falling body but couldn't manage it well."No!" Raven roared again when he saw the red stain spreading across Lonan's stomach.Gia pushed aside the nearby guards and ran toward them."Help him, Haze… I beg you," Raven whimpered. He clutched Lonan's head as Lonan began losing consciousness.Gia studied the wound that kept bleeding. The knife is still stuck there.Gia pressed her hand against the wound to stop more blood from flowing out and to prevent Lonan from going into shock from excessive blood loss."Call for help!" Gia shouted. Many ambulances waite
Yesterday's mini forest that once looked peaceful and comfortable had transformed into a warzone. Gia now understood why all the police were downstairs. The royal guards had taken over their duties—not just the ones earlier on the stairs, but a much larger force now spread across the roof. Their primary purpose here wasn't Willow but because their master was also on the rooftop. King Gustaf stood roughly five meters behind Willow, trying to coax her down. Willow had already stepped outside the safety railing, facing the open air, her hands still gripping the rooftop's edge barrier. "Don't jump! Willow!" Gia could faintly hear his desperate pleas. "I should've made that barrier taller," Raven muttered. The railing would have been sufficient to prevent someone Gia's height from climbing over. But Willow, tall as a giraffe, stood only a few centimeters shorter than Raven. Her perfectly proportioned body—especially those long legs—made it easy for her to vault the barrier.
“What's going on?!" Gia demanded, staring at Raven. Her face was pale, and her hand covered her mouth, holding back a torrent of curses.“How did she get in?!” Raven shouted, still directing her question to Jasper at the other end.After hearing Jasper’s response, Raven lowered the phone from her ear. Her eyes shifted to Lonan, who now looked as if he were having a heart attack."You gave her your pass card?" Raven asked quietly.Lonan shook his head. “She came to apologize yesterday... I didn't know... she must've taken it then.”He straightened up and rushed toward Raven.“We have to go there...,” Lonan said, shaking Raven’s arm."Why?"“Can someone explain what's happening?” Gia hated being left in the dark.“Willow is trying to kill herself. She's on the roof of the Lindgren Tower, ready to jump,” Raven explained.“She...” Gia couldn’t find the right words—Willow was beyond crazy.Raven didn’t look at Gia as he spoke. His eyes were fixed on Lonan, who kept shaking his arm.“We hav