I awake to the sound of people shouting from the living room. At first, I think it’s just a dream, the remnants of some chaotic scene seeping into my mind as I try to drag myself out of sleep. But no. The yelling is real, and it’s getting louder. Rubbing my face, I glance at the clock on the nightstand—3:15 a.m. Of course, because when else would a domestic showdown happen in this house? My hand finds the cold spot in the bed next to me. Desiree’s not here. She slept with Juniper in the master bedroom. I sigh as I swing my legs over the side of the bed. I had opted for the guest room tonight—partly to avoid waking up to Juniper’s latest crisis, partly because I feel pity for Juniper. After all, she's my sister, and she's going through a tough time. If all I have to do to make her life better is sacrifice my bedroom, then so be it. Shouts escalate from below, muffled but unmistakable, filled with accusation and frustration. I can’t make out the words, but I know who’s down there.
For a second, none of us move. None of us breathe. Then, chaos erupts. “Jesus Christ!” Isaac exclaims, rushing toward Juniper. “I’ll call the hospital!” Desiree yells, already halfway to her phone, her fingers flying over the screen as she dials. And me? I just stand there, frozen, staring at the puddle forming on the floor, my brain trying to catch up with reality. Her water broke. In the middle of this nightmare of a night, her water broke. Before I know it, I’m moving, though I can’t quite remember deciding to do so. I reach Juniper just as Isaac gets to her, both of us hovering awkwardly around her as she clutches her belly, looking absolutely terrified. The anger from moments ago vanishes from her face, replaced by raw panic. “This isn’t happening,” she murmurs, her voice trembling. “This can’t be happening. I’m not ready. The baby isn’t ready.” “Hey, hey, breathe, okay? Just breathe.” Isaac’s voice is soft, almost tender, as he places a hand on her back. For a guy who was
Isaac’s eyes narrow in the mirror. “Last I checked, you, alone, agreed to have this baby, Juniper. Or have you rewritten that part of history too?” “Oh, don’t you dare—” Juniper starts, but then another contraction hits, cutting her off. Her face contorts in pain, and suddenly, I feel like I’m witnessing something far too personal to be happening in a car with three other people. Desiree turns in her seat, leaning toward me. “How are we doing back there?” she asks, her voice softer now, a bit of concern lacing the words. I glance at Juniper, who looks like she’s about to lose it, and then back at Desiree. “We’re… holding on.” “Barely,” Isaac mutters under his breath, just loud enough for all of us to hear. Juniper glares at him, though the effect is somewhat dampened by the fact that she’s currently breathing through what looks like a pretty intense contraction. “Isaac, if you don’t shut up—” Before she can finish the sentence, Isaac pulls the car into the emergency bay of the h
Isaac’s face goes blank, his eyes widening as the words register. “An emergency... C-section?” The doctor nods again. “Yes, it’s the safest option for both her and the baby. We need to move quickly.” For a second, Isaac doesn’t move. He doesn’t speak. He just stands there, staring at the doctor as if he didn’t understand a word that was just said. But I can see it—the way his brain is racing, trying to process the decision he’s being asked to make. “I... I don’t—” Isaac stammers, his eyes flicking between the doctor and the door Juniper disappeared through. “Is she... will she be okay?” “We’ll do everything we can,” the doctor replies, his voice calm but clipped, like he’s repeating a well-practiced line. “But we need your consent to proceed.” Isaac’s hand goes to his hair again, pulling at it in frustration. “I—God, I don’t know what to do. What if something goes wrong? What if—” Desiree steps forward then, placing a hand on his arm. “Isaac, listen to me. You need to sign that
We all trail behind the doctor, walking down the fluorescent-lit corridors that seem to stretch on forever. As we reach the recovery room, the doctor pushes open the door gently, and Isaac is the first to step inside. The room is quiet, too quiet, save for the soft beeping of machines and the occasional rustle of paper from a nurse checking Juniper's vitals. There she is, propped up in bed, looking pale but surprisingly alert, her hair a tangled mess, but somehow still managing to look like her vibrant self. Isaac is at her side in an instant, grabbing her hand and bringing it to his lips. “Juniper,” he whispers, his voice hoarse. “God, I thought—” “I’m fine, Isaac.” Her voice is soft but firm. “We’re all fine.” Isaac blinks, glancing at the small bassinets beside her bed, each cradling a tiny, wrinkled bundle. His breath catches, and for a moment, the awe on his face replaces the worry. “They’re… they’re ours,” he breathes, his hand trembling as he reaches out to touch on
For a moment, neither of us says anything. The room seems quieter now, the rhythmic beeping of the machines the only sound. Juniper shifts slightly in the bed, wincing as she adjusts herself to face me. “You’re probably wondering why I wanted to talk to you,” she says, her voice quieter now, almost hesitant. I nod, stepping closer to the bed but keeping a respectful distance. “Yeah, it crossed my mind.” She smiles, but there’s no humor in it. “Caspian, you’ve always been my rock. The best brother anyone could ask for. I didn’t have time to say this to you before because, you know, I was kinda busy being pregnant and arguing with Isaac. One thing I never took you for was a blind person.” Her words hit me like a punch. Blind? What the hell is she talking about? I open my mouth to respond, but she’s already continuing. "How long have you and Desiree been married?" she aks, catching me off guard once again. I blink, trying to process. "A couple of months... why?" Juniper giv
I stare at Juniper, trying to figure out what she means. At the back of my mind, I probably know where she’s headed with this, but it never hurts to ask. “So in essence,” I say, “what are you saying?” The soft, sterile light of the hospital room doesn’t match the gritty, borderline absurd conversation that’s happening between Juniper and me. My sister lies there in her hospital bed, exhausted from giving birth and yet somehow full of this sharp-edged wisdom she’s clearly been saving for just the right moment. It’s disconcerting, to say the least. She fixes me with a hard stare. "Get involved with Desiree’s family," she says. “Infiltrate them. Charm them. Get them to like you.” “Okay?” I say. “You’re telling me to charm my wife’s parents? To what… win a popularity contest?” Juniper’s frown deepens. “Popularity contest? Caspian, come on. No. I’m saying that if you can actually get her family on your side, they’ll feel a sense of gratitude. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll start to see yo
I let out a low whistle, shaking my head. “Juniper, this… this is insane.” “Is it?” she asks. “Or is it the only way you’re going to stand a chance against her?” She’s got me there. Mabel has done everything in her power to make my life hell, slipping through every loophole, manipulating every situation to her advantage. She's always a step ahead. If I could get her family to give me something… anything I could use… “Desiree will never forgive me if she finds out,” I say, the words slipping out before I can stop myself. Juniper tilts her head, watching me carefully. “That’s why you’ll need to be discreet. And if you play this right, Desiree won’t need to know a thing. You’re not doing this to hurt her—you’re doing it to protect her.” There’s a twisted sort of logic to it, but I can’t deny the thrill that runs through me at the thought. “You really think this could work?” “Absolutely.” Juniper’s voice is full of conviction, the same tone she uses when she knows she’s right.