“I just might,” Xavier whispered, training his hot gaze on Stephen. “But sadly not today.” He added, lingering his gaze on the hunk for a little longer before turning on his heels and re-entering his brother's room. As if on cue, Theo's body began jerking. Martin rushed to hold his son down, fearing that the tubes sticking from his body might dislocate from the involuntary movements. “Xavier,” Theo groaned without opening his eyes. Chances were he was still out of it, and it was his subconscious pushing his fears to be voiced. “I am here, bro.” Xavier rasped, staring at his elder brother intently. “I am here.” He repeated. A good two minutes passed before Theo whimpered. “Please take care of them for me.” And just like that, his body went limp again. "T… Theo, wake up, dammit!” Xavier almost screamed. But the nerd was dead to the world. “Please…” Xavier begged, willing Theo to open his eyes and put him out of his misery. But Theo didn't even move a muscle. Xavier turned and looked
Alicia looked at her reflection in the mirror and grimaced. That was not the way she had imagined her life would turn out. Growing up, she knew her family would someday make her marry for convenience, but she had always thought she would be strong enough to rebel and run away, to live her life as she saw fit. “You are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen.” Her mother gushed while adjusting her veil. Alicia scoffed. Two years ago, she had heard her mother say the same thing to her elder sister and the one before that. She was the third born among her seven siblings. Three brothers and three sisters. “I need a moment,” she rasped, wanting time alone to drown in her woes. She already hated her husband-to-be just for agreeing to the arranged marriage, which was ironic, for she did the same without even putting up a fight. After her mother left, Alicia leaned on the dresser with a groan. Her eyes moistened suspiciously.“Shut up woman!” She heard a familiar voice yell from the next ro
Her eyes popped as it dawned on her what she was about to engage in, but her muddled brain and overloaded nerves couldn't let her string a coherent sentence to get out of the predicament without creating a scene. She straightened her back and lined up next to the other ladies. The said pimp approached her with a dissatisfied look in his eyes. “Lose this darling,” he nudged her jacket. “These clients are loaded, they need to see clearly what they are paying for.” Alicia nodded, discarding her jacket warily. She craned her neck to scan the property, and it was definitely a private residence. Before she could find a potential escape route, the mansion door opened and a rather chippy sexy devil appeared. Once his eyes fell on the ladies, a bright smile illuminated his face. He rubbed his palms together gleefully like he was about to unwrap a precious gift. “I love today's collection, Mathias.” The man said addressing the pimp. “My nerdy brother will have a field day.” Mathias smiled at t
“You ditched your party,” Xavier growled, unimpressed with his elder brother. After all the trouble he had gone to, so that Theodore could have a remarkable 25th birthday. “Not now,” Theodore rasped, his hopeful eyes scanning his now empty compound. “I am looking for a woman I was with last night.” “You were with a woman?” Xavier creaked wide-eyed. He couldn't hide his obvious shock, even if he tried. “Focus, dammit!” Theodore grumbled completely, missing the approving smirk on Xavier's face. “She was about 5.6" gray eyes, red hair…” He trailed, turning his gaze back to a strangely quiet Xavier, who was just gaping at him with wonder. Like he was seeing him for the first time. “Did you hit it?” Xavier asked, wiggling his brows shrewdly, thirsty for the juicy information on his brother's sex life. “Not that it is any of your business, but…” Theodore trailed, a wide grin blossoming on his face. The vibe spoke for itself. The nerd had hit it. Xavier mused. “Wow!” He breathed, slappi
“What did you say?” Theo asked incredulously.“I am pregnant,” Alicia repeated, enunciating each word for emphasis purposes. Theo gawked at her, wondering what her being pregnant had to do with him. For a nerd, he can sometimes be dense. “How does that concern me?” He asked, genuinely surprised. It hadn't hit him that he might indeed be the father. “I thought since you are the father may…” “What?” He screeched, interrupting whatever it was she wanted to say. He hastily opened the door and stepped out of the car. “You are saying I am the father?” He asked skeptically, narrowing his eyes on her flat tummy. Alicia nodded.“Good lord!” He groaned. “Who knew I would procreate, even before my slutty brother.” He murmured mostly to himself. The notion seemed impossible.“Are you certain?” He insisted and for a second Alicia felt a wave of irritation rush through her. “Yes I am sure,” she answered dryly with pursed lips. “You don't have to snap at me, madam,” Theo growled, his eyes flicke
“You, of course,” Theo frowned. “And me.” He added thoughtfully as if the thought had just occurred to him that he will be part of the wedding too.“Absolutely not!” Alicia screamed. She hadn't narrowly escaped one marriage just to get stifled into another. “But you are pregnant,” Theo argued passionately, looking at Alicia questionably. “Do you want to give birth to a bastard?” He challenged, making Alicia swallow nervously. In their corporate world, a bastard child would be frowned upon, and she wanted to avoid condemning her child to such a fate. She shook her head warily. Theo wasn't convinced by her reluctant conceding. “Let me make something clear, if you are indeed pregnant and with my child, I will have to marry you.” Alicia glared but otherwise didn't try to fight him on the issue. “I will whip us something to eat. Any preference?” He asked, leading the way to the kitchen. Alicia grunted a faint, “anything without nuts is okay.”In the kitchen, Theo rummaged through the cab
Hilda Cavill narrowed her eyes looking up and down at the woman claiming to be pregnant for her son and wasn't impressed at all. She pursed her lips, scoffing softly. 'The damn whore must have known my boy is innocent and decided to take advantage of him.' She thought grimly, pushing past them and stepped further into the house. Alicia knew she was screwed.From her conversation with Theo, Alicia knew Hilda's opinion of her will impact their lives greatly. And Alicia wanted to get in the good graces of the elegant woman glaring at her like she was the worst scum on the face of the earth. “Why, my son?” Hilda asked, merely curious. Alicia didn't understand the question well, so she hesitated. It only made Hilda more suspicious. “She is actually a nice one mother,” Xavier tried to intervene, but Hilda's mean scowl shushed him up immediately.“So nice that she trapped my son with an unwanted pregnancy,” Hilda mocked. “Are you even sure he is the father?” She frowned thoughtfully.“Yes,
After leaving the hospital, Hilda Cavill volunteered to take Alicia shopping. Xavier decided to ditch the women, saying shopping wasn't his forte. There is no shop in the mall that Hilda and Alicia didn't enter. They got it over their head with spontaneous buying, so they ended up shopping for the baby as well. There is nothing they left untouched in the baby store. They bought a lot of stuff, including a tricycle. One would have assumed they were shopping for at least an already born baby. They left precise instructions to have the stuff delivered to Theo's residence the following day.After the shopping spree, Hilda convinced Alicia to accompany her back to their estate, so she could get to meet Martin Cavill. Theo's father. Of course, in an attempt to please Hilda, she agreed. That's why she got home many hours later and Theo had already arrived. *****When Alicia walked into the house that night, she found Theo seated on the sofa drinking in the dark. She hadn't seen him initially
“I just might,” Xavier whispered, training his hot gaze on Stephen. “But sadly not today.” He added, lingering his gaze on the hunk for a little longer before turning on his heels and re-entering his brother's room. As if on cue, Theo's body began jerking. Martin rushed to hold his son down, fearing that the tubes sticking from his body might dislocate from the involuntary movements. “Xavier,” Theo groaned without opening his eyes. Chances were he was still out of it, and it was his subconscious pushing his fears to be voiced. “I am here, bro.” Xavier rasped, staring at his elder brother intently. “I am here.” He repeated. A good two minutes passed before Theo whimpered. “Please take care of them for me.” And just like that, his body went limp again. "T… Theo, wake up, dammit!” Xavier almost screamed. But the nerd was dead to the world. “Please…” Xavier begged, willing Theo to open his eyes and put him out of his misery. But Theo didn't even move a muscle. Xavier turned and looked
When Hilda, Alicia, and Stephen got to the hospital, Theo had already been transferred back to his private room. Xavier was pleasantly surprised to see Stephen, though he just dipped his head in acknowledgment.“How is he?” Hilda asked softly. Martin shook his head, seemingly worried. “The surgery was a success, but the doctor says he isn't out of the woods yet.” Hilda nodded, peeling at Theo. She wondered if he knew they were all there waiting for him to wake. Alicia didn't utter a word to anyone. She just stared hopefully, as if she were expecting him to simply pop his eyes open. Xavier appeared from behind her and draped his hand loosely on her shoulders. She actually jerked in surprise, for her mind was solely on her unconscious husband. She turned with a frown.“Sorry," Xavier whispered. Alicia gave him a small smile before returning her attention to Theo. “I keep wondering if he will ever wake up.” She confessed, leaning onto Xavier's side with a heavy exhale. Instinctively, X
“Watch your tone with me, young lady.” Hilda retorted with a narrowed glare. Alicia shifted uncomfortably, lowering her head. She hadn't meant to come out so rudely. “I am so sorry, mum.” She apologized mortified. “I am just so…” She stuttered, looking for a way to express her distraught.“We are all stressed.” Hilda reasoned with a sigh, spreading her arms. Alicia walked into her arms and the two women hugged tightly, comforting each other. “He had a complication they had to rush him back to the surgery,” Hilda whispered. “We should be there.” Alicia whimpered. She didn't like the thought of Theo suffering alone. “Please, mum.” She begged. “Martin and Xavier are already there,” Hilda informed. “We can all be there,” Alicia insisted. “And we will. I just needed to give you time to rest fully.” Hilda explained. “Plus, the boys have been through enough exhaustion from yesterday.” Alicia couldn't argue with her observation. “Let's give them a few more hours of a peaceful nap before
Martin was startled awake by the persistent ringing of his cell phone. He picked it up with a grunt. He hadn't uttered a word when a worried voice notified him that he was needed at the hospital because Theo had gone into cardiac arrest due to internal bleeding. Apparently, he had been rushed back to the theater for another surgery. Martin's heart skipped a beat and for a while, he didn't utter a word. His mouth suddenly dried and his breath held. “Sir,” Martin could hear the same voice call him over and over again. He attempted a response, but all that tore out of his throat was a loud sob. That woke Hilda. She immediately thought the worst. Her husband's wretched expression made her think they had lost Theo. “Martin,” she called softly. Her voice shook with dread. That is what drew Martin from his trance. “We will be there soonest.” He told the patient soul on the other end of the line and hung up the call. He turned to a now sobbing Hilda. “Don't tell me,” she cried, latching ont
In the washrooms, Alicia stared at her pale complexion in the mirror, tracing her puffy eyes. They looked bleak… lifeless even. How could fate be so cruel? She wondered. Her Theo had done nothing to deserve the kind of misfortune which befell him. For a split second, she blamed herself for not stopping him when he decided to head out briefly. Knowing Theo, he would have done her will. Perhaps then Rowan could still be alive and she and Theo could be home having the time of their lives with their kids. Hilda, who had entered but decided to watch from the entrance, couldn't take it anymore. Anyone could have deciphered that Alicia was loathing herself for some reason, from how tightly she was clutching at her own chin. “Alicia,” Hilda called, stepping closer. Alicia didn't turn. But she gazed at her mother-in-law through the mirror. Her lips began to wobble, and before the first tear could fall, Hilda was by her side. “Shhh…” Hilda stood behind her and began rubbing her shoulders. “Yo
Theo's surgery was estimated to take a couple of hours, so Martin decided to visit Rowan's mother and deliver the bad news. It wasn't easy. Rowan's mother was his only living relative apart from the daughter. She broke down, and all Martin could do was watch helplessly, especially when he had to tell her that the drunk driver survived. In his mind, he was planning on lawsuits that would ensure the bastard never saw the outside of the prison cell again, not that it would benefit him in any way, but at least it would save someone else somewhere from a fate like Rowan's. Or Theo's for that matter, who was fighting for his life. “I want to meet him.” Rowan's mother declared. She wanted an audience with the truck driver and though Martin didn't know for what, he assured her that he would make that happen. After promising to take care of the funeral arrangements, Martin left the heartbroken grandmother to break the news to her granddaughter. Martin could only imagine the pain the family wa
When they got to the hospital, the nurses couldn't give them a sensible response, and it irked Alicia. “Can't I see my fucking husband?” She screamed. The thing about public hospitals is they were clouded and had very shitty customer service. And every member of the Cavill clan hated it. “Ma'am your husband is in the ICU and in dire need of surgery.” The exasperated nurse rasped, retrieving an authorization form that needed a signature for them to proceed with Theo's surgery. Hilda, who was calmer than the rest, picked it up, but when she was about to sign the nurse insisted that the patient's spouse should be the one to sign. Hilda turned to a nervous wreck, Alicia and held out the pen. “Sign here, sweetheart.” She cooed, pointing at the dotted line. The urgency in Hilda's soft-spoken words got to Alicia, who did so without a question. After the form was passed back to the nurse, she asked them to take a seat in the waiting room and that she would keep them updated. “I can't belie
With the help of Louise, Alicia prepared a variety of dishes for dinner. Theo got an urgent call from one of his business associates and decided to meet the lady, but promised will be back shortly. After he left, Alicia called Xavier, who graciously helped look after the twins as Alicia and Louise set the table on the terrace. As expected, Hilda and Martin arrived on time, but Theo hadn't come back yet and all the calls went to voicemail.“Let's eat,” Alicia decided. “Perhaps he got held up.” The Cavill clan took their places at the table and overall, it was a joyful dinner. Even Xavier's mood had immensely improved, and to Hilda, he even looked giddy. “Are you expecting someone?” She asked cheekily. Xavier blushed and covered it quickly with a frown. “Of course, not.” He argued. But he was expecting something. A call from a certain hunk. Ever since Stephen said he would be calling him later, Xavier did nothing but anticipate it. And though he won't admit it loud, he couldn't wait t
It took Xavier almost an hour to find the strength to move. He didn’t feel like going back to his brother's, so he ended up upstairs instead. His own bedroom felt strange to him, and he knew it was because a certain hunk wasn’t around to bring the warmth only he can in the somewhat abandoned room. Xavier dropped face down on the bed and his mind drifted back to Stephen. He missed the hunk more than he had thought it was possible to miss anyone. Theo, on the other hand, couldn’t take the uncertainty anymore. He dialed Xavier, wanting to know if the clown was okay. “I am fine.” But despite his words, Theo was convinced Xavier was lying, and he told him so. Xavier argued that it was Stephen's surprise visit that had shocked him and that he just needed a few hours to himself and that he would see them later. Without further argument, Theo hung up after making Xavier promise to have dinner with them. Xavier pulled himself up, discarding his shoes, and slipped inside the covers. He curled