<3> Family of Doctors

STEPHEN'S POV

I was getting ready in my room for my welcome party that was going to be held at the palace in about an hour, when Lorrine budged in my room unannounced and without so much of a knock on the door

This was my fucking room for god's sake.

But of course my twin sister didn't care about that obviously. In fact she never cared about anything whatsoever. Her combat boots clicked stubbornly on the tiles as she made her way towards me. I was standing in front of the full-body mirror whilst buttoning up my shirt. I saw through the reflection of the mirror as Lorrine took a stand about few centimeters away from behind me , her hands staffed inside her spiked black leather jacket . Her face remained stoic and emotionless as usual. Lorrine was those Alpha female type of women. She had this dominant aura surrounding her and her tall height ,dark tattoos and menacing , cold grey eyes made her look even more intimidating. She literally looked like someone you shouldn't mess with if you still valued your life. You know, those typical tough female gang leader in crime movies ? Yep ,that was my twin sister. Hell ,I wouldn't even be surprised if she was into Mafia or something like that.

She screamed those type of thing.

Lorrine had not said anything since she stood there behind me but her eyes were pinned on me as I continued to dress myself. I reached for my suit jacket and putted it on before turning away from the mirror to face her , putting my own hands in my pants pockets too

"I know you wouldn't just waste your time to come up here just to look at me Lorrine. So what is it?"I asked raising my shoulder in question, my brows furrowed as I wondered what she could be doing in my room

Lorrine chuckled, taking few steps forward"Not happy to see me huh little brother ?"

"On the contrary ,I am. Always am. You are the one who's always not happy to see me"I said, motioning towards the small glass box on the far right of my room that contained my collection of wrist watches "And I'm not your little brother, I'm you twin brother, remember?"

"Right, twin brother...You know it's funny, sometimes I even forget that I have a twin , don't you?"

"No I don't "

"Well I do"

"What do you want Lorrine?"I asked bit annoyed.

"Well , when I heard that you were back ,I thought I should come and see you . It's been a minute" She said looking over at me

It has been a while indeed. Three years away from home. But not that I wasn't keeping in touch though but she wouldn't know that because as weird as it was ,me and Lorrine were not close despite the fact that we were actually twins. Well ,we were close growing up but things changed in recent years and not only between us but between her and our parents too. She was the black sheep of the family ,did and done whatever she wanted. While every Pául in our household fantasized about medicine and medical gowns ,my sister was not interested in none of that and of course that didn't sit well with our father. We were family of doctors and he wanted to keep it at that but Lorraine wanted something different. She was a tattoo artist and she owned her own tattoo parlor called Steel Hearts downtown. She was also a streets motorbiker and a poker gamer, so our dad wasn't quite in supportive of her lifestyle and for the fact that she was also into women too wasn't quite pleasing either to our parents. But I loved her regardless, she was my twin sister after all and I badly wished that the feeling was mutual but unfortunately it was not.

Lorrine blamed me for the damaged relationship between her and our parents. I didn't know why because it wasn't my fault that she didn't want to be a doctor like the rest of us and chose to do whatever she wanted. It wasn't my fault that our dad didn't want anything to do with her and that he favoured me more. I was the golden son and it took wasn't my fault. But still ,Lorrine blamed me for their negligence towards her. She hated the fact that our parents treasured me more and she had been bitter towards me ever since I could remember and she had even went to the extent of sleeping with my ex-girlfriend just to spite me this one time. I couldn't say that she hated me though for she never told me that but I was sure as hell that my own twin sister wasn't that fond of me

"Yeah, it's been a while indeed" I said straightening my suit one more time whilst looking myself in the mirror again. I looked very good "But I thought you wouldn't even notice honestly"

Lorrine chuckled , running a hand through her thick black hair"Typical, isn't it?"

"Very"

"I'm a very unpredictable being Dr Stephen Pául ,you can't confirm me" Lorrine said , sitting man spread on one of the couch that was in my room "So tell me ,how was States?"

I furrowed my brows as I turned to look at her. Was Lorrine starting a conversation with me?

"Are you sure you are alright? I inquired skeptically. Lorrine and I had never talked unless she wanted to criticize and tell me how spoiled I was.

So I was bit taken aback by this

"What do you mean Stephen?"

"I mean you are starting a conversation with me Lorrine and that's....new"

"So? Would you rather we sit here quiet?"

I was about to say something when someone suddenly knocked on my door and a second later ,our dad walked in looking sharp as always and Lorrine's face turned into a deeper scrawl instantly. Christoph Pául was a very proud man , you could even see it in the way he walked and carried himself like he owned the world. He was one of the best cardiologist in the world and he ranked #1 in Qalloway. He was a very respectable man and his family's reputation meant everything to him. There was absolutely no compromises when it came to that.

"I think I'll get going now Stephen" Lorrine was already up on her feet as she said "Would you mind if we could grab a cup of coffee sometime?"

"Of course I would love that"I smiled and she nodded before she walked towards the door and out of the room

I really hoped Lorrine was finally thinking about mending our relationship because that would mean so much to me. I needed my twin sister back in my life. It was just never the same after our relationship broke.

"What was that girl doing here?"My dad asked and I didn't like the way his face was crunched up in distaste

"To see me dad"I told him

"Since when? Did she finally get over her stupid jealousy for you?"Dad uttered scornfully"I want you to be careful around her. I didn't trust her ,she's too sneaky. She must be plotting something"

"That's my twin sister you are talking about dad and your daughter, have you forgotten?"

"I don't have a daughter like that "Dad said sternly , looking at me with his grey eyes that looked exactly the same as Lorrine's. Mines were brown like my mom's.

"Whatever dad , let's just go" I said already starting towards the door. I didn't want to stand there and hear him talk like that about my sister. I didn't like it

My father followed behind as we walked downstairs. My mother was already waiting for us in our spacious living room. She looked so beautiful and young in that navy dress. I smiled as I walked towards her and gave her a tight hug.

"You looking so beautiful mom"I told her as she chuckled sweetly

"Thank you my baby. You are looking very handsome too"She complimented smiling widely at me before I leaned forward for her to kiss my cheek

My mom ,Meryem Warksõn-Pául was an obstetrician before she became a Superintendent of Warksõn General Hospital after the death of her father, Declan Warksõn. Warksõn Gen was amongst the best hospitals in the world. It treated every kind of illness or disease. It had best doctors and medical equipments and good treatments. Which was the reason why I came back to Qalloway in the first place. My parents begged me to come work at our family hospital and I agreed because bringing my skills to my own family's den didn't seem so bad, especially when the hospital was that good.

"Where is Alistair , Alisson and Sterling? We'll be late?"My dad asked as he looked at his wrist watch

"I'm here uncle" Sterling said rushing over to us.

The young man was my father's nephew and my cousin. He was a medical specialist too which was probably why my dad was so fond of him. He was a pathologist at Warksõn Gen.

Alistair and Alison were my younger twin siblings. The twenty-years-olds were already in medical schools ,with Alistair studying Nephrology whilst Alison did Psychiatry. Like I had mentioned before, Lorrine was the only one with different dreams from the rest of us but it doesn't matter, at least to me. I loved her regardless.

"We are here. We can all go now"Alison said with her twin brother standing next to her

"Good. Let's not keep the Royal family waiting"My dad told us as we all followed him outside to the already awaiting limo

*

*

Soon we arrived at the Haknátir Palace. There were lots of expensive looking cars already parked at the specious driveway. It was three years ago when the driveway was just as packed for my engagement to King Wilhelm's eldest daughter, Catherine. Catherine and I were already in a relationship way before our fathers proposed the marriage to us. We met right after I broke up with my four years ex-girlfriend that Lorrine slept with and thing just clicked between us. I liked her a lot and she liked me too ,so when the marriage was brought up between us ,we didn't have a problem. And despite me being away for so long ,the fire was still there between us .We called , skyped and texted everyday.I couldn't wait to see her in person. I have missed her so much. Yesterday I could have came to see her when I arrived but I was too jet lagged to do anything that I went straight to bed after a quick freshening shower.

Once we all existed the car ,my family and I headed inside and we were greeted by many other guests as we pushed our way even further inside the throne hall. I shook many hands and shared a couple of hugs with some of the people I was familiar with and some of my old friends. Many people seemed very happy to see me and I was showered with lot of compliments, congratulations and welcome backs. It felt extremely good to be back home and amongst my own people.

"Christoph! My good friend!" King Wilhelm uttered excitedly as he approached us with her wife , Queen Helén besides him

"My King!"My father chuckled ,extending his hand as both men shook hands "How are you and your family?"

"We are alright my good doctor, right my Queen?"King Wilhelm smiled at his wife as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Yes ,we are fine Dr Pául" The Queen confirmed with a classy smile on her pretty face"I hope your family is doing fine too"

"Yes, of course!"My dad said happily, copying the king's act of wrapping his arm around his wife's waist

"Great!"King Wilhelm chuckled"Now come on let's celebrate the return of my son in law and for putting our country on the map with his incredibility. Stephen son ,congratulate and welcome back! I'm so proud of you!"

I smiled wholeheartedly as I hugged the older man back "Thank you my King!"

What King Wilhelm meant by me putting the country on the map was because I was the first General Surgeon from Qalloway and the youngest at the age of twenty eight to have won a noble prize. Even the great Christoph Pául was yet to win a noble prize. I was so proud of myself for that achievement.

*

*

A little bit later ,all the noble families were seated at the long royal table as we celebrated in Qalloway style with lot of meat, beverages and different types of art performances such as poetry, dancing, singing and storytelling from performers to keep us entertained. I was sitting next to my fiancee who have been discreetly teasing me under the table ever since we sat there next to each other. I was trying to focus on the conversation that was going on at the table but I was failing to. Catherine's hand was resting up on my thigh, dangerously close to my crotch as she teasingly caressed me. I gritted my teeth, suppressing a groan when her red fingernails dug in my thighs. My eyes met hers and I could see the heated desire behind them. She wanted me and god knows I wanted her too so bad. I was hard. Catherine smirked seeing the huge bulge in my pants and she leaned in ,her hand cupping my hard-on as she whispered hoarsely in my ear

"Meet me in my room in five minutes"