Chapter 1

After a month of touring Asia and visiting five countries including Japan, Indonesia, India, the Philippines, and China, both Javier and Ella were thoroughly satisfied and exhausted. Javier had insisted on carrying her into their house.

“You’ve done this every time we arrived at every hotel we went to,” complained Ella, pretending to be mad when she actually didn’t want him to waste more energy especially when they both were already drained. “I’m pretty sure you don’t need to do it again.”

“It’s a tradition for a groom to carry the bride,” explained Javier. Before he let her down, he planted a kiss on her forehead and smiled. “Plus I love holding you close to me,” he added as he brought himself down so she could stand on her two feet.

“Whatever floats your boat, dear husband,” said Ella, shaking her head and laughing.

They let themselves further into the house and wandered into the sitting room as ever loyal Pedro was commandeering two staff who were carrying their luggage and bags into the house.

“Just place our luggage in front of our room upstairs, Pedro, and the rest you could leave them here,” said Javier with a frown. He hadn’t realized that they had brought home so many things during their honeymoon. One look at his wife’s face that lit up every time she found things that she could buy for Clarabelle or Autumn or Jessica or anyone in the family had brought so much joy to Javier that he hadn’t been worried about anything else including the number of luggage that they’d had to end up carrying back home.

Joining Ella on the couch, Javier took her hand and brought it to his lips. He kissed her knuckles softly and affectionately squeezed her hand. “How are you feeling, Miss Stanford?”

“Tired, mostly.” She let out a small chuckle and shook her head. “I still can’t believe you did that.”

He looked at her innocently, his baby blues were widening slightly. “Did what exactly? I have been nothing but a doting husband,” he teased.

“Well, my husband,” she purposedly gave more dramatic penetration on the last word. “I’m referring to the fact that you managed to track down my ancestor in China. That’s really amazing. I always know that my mum is of mixed race and that my grandmother is a Chinese who left China for a better life here in the States but I knew nothing about my ancestor in China or any Chinese tradition. I can’t even speak or understand Mandarin.” She cupped his cheek and moved her thumb, caressing his skin which was tanner than usual due to a lot of sunbathing in Bali. “Truly, thank you. This means a lot to me. I really appreciate it.”

“You’re most welcome.” Javier leaned in and kissed the top of her forehead. “I’m just glad that it makes you happy.” His smile morphed into a small grimace as he added, “And finally a surprise that you appreciate. I’m just blown away with that fact alone.”

Ella couldn’t help but laugh at his comment. It took a while before they could finally joke about this and she was really glad that they’d moved past what had happened. Yet she still felt the need to tell him this, to clear things up and let him know that she had made peace with it. “You know,” she put her hand on top of his hand that was holding hers. “I am glad that you did track down my dad. I know that I blamed you for that but merely it was because I didn’t want to admit that I’d been missing my dad my whole life. If it wasn’t because of you, I wouldn’t know the truth. I wouldn’t know what truly happened and continue living in a lie.” With a brighter tone, she added, “And I wouldn’t have met my lovely little sister Jessica and the funny Nathan! I finally have siblings!”

Javier squeezed Ella’s hand and smiled. He knew, from the moment he’d realized that he loved her, that he would do anything for her. It was even better now that he could do that every single day for the rest of his life. “You should also mention Clarabelle,” he commented as he tapped her nose with the tip of his finger. “She would’ve been jealous and pissed if you don’t consider her as one of your siblings.”

Ella nodded, trying to stifle a laugh and failing miserably. “Of course. She is one.”

“I think judging by the number of gifts you’ve bought for her, not to mention the things she has asked you to buy for her, I would literally charge her for every single thing,” said Javier in a joking manner. He loved his little sister too much to actually do that.

“I just can’t wait until she tried the kimono that I got her from that shop near the—” Ella’s sentence was cut off by Javier’s ringtone.

He quickly pulled his phone out of his pocket and glanced at the caller ID. “Ah, speak of the Miss Devil.” He tilted his phone to one side and showed Ella who was calling before answering the phone and hitting the speaker button. “I put you on speaker. What’s up?”

“Hi, Ella! How’re you? Are you well?” asked Clarabelle almost immediately as soon as the connection was through. “You must’ve been so tired. We could do a spa day at home today. Why don’t you come over to my place? Unlike Javier, I dohave a massage room at my apartment. I could call the usual masseuse right now if you want and we could do it in an hour or two.”

“No greeting to your favorite brother, huh?” Javier rolled his eyes upon being ignored.

“I will let you know that you are fifth on my list of favorite brothers so you’re not even on the top three,” answered Clarabelle with her usual confident and bossy tone.

“Fifth?” Javier widened his eyes and straightened up in his seat. “I was fourth last time. Who took my place?” He sounded genuinely worried for a thirty-three year old CEO of a successful company.

“You can blame Draven for that,” said Clarabelle nonchalantly and probably with a dismissive shrug.

“How on Earth he moved up to fourth so fast?!” exclaimed Javier in blatant surprise although in all honesty, he was really happy that Clarabelle was now accepting Draven. The last time he’d seen both of them, they’d still been patching things up. Draven and his proud knowledge of women and relationship had amused Clarabelle in every turn especially when she’d found herself torn between two men.

“He has redeemed himself.” Clarabelle clicked her tongue impatiently. “Excuse you but I was talking to Ella. So, how’s it, my sister in law? Do you want to have a spa and massage day today or not?”

“I don’t know,” replied Ella with a sigh. “It does sound wonderful but I’m not sure I can be bothered going to your place. I’m extremely tired right now.”

“It’ll worth the effort! Trust me. My masseuse has magical hands. He could work my muscles and knots and make me feel so good and relaxed,” said Clarabelle with a dreamy sigh, trying to convince Ella.

“He?!” said Javier and Ella at the same time. They both looked at each other, blinked for a moment, before returning their focus back to Javier’s phone.

“Oh, come on.” Clarabelle let out a small exasperated groan. “You both sound like Dean right now. He’s not a fan just because the masseuse happens to have a penis even though I told him multiple times that he’s just gonna penetrate me with his hands!”

Javier cleared his throat. “I’m alright as long as Ella is happy and comfortable with it,” drawled Javier even though it would kill him inside to even imagine another man running his hands on top of Ella’s body, caressing her smooth skin. However he was respecting her wish. If she truly wanted to have the massage, he would learn to be okay with it. Her happiness mattered more.

“I’m so sorry, Clarabelle,” said Ella, bitting her bottom lip out of guilt, “as tempting as the idea of getting a massage, I won’t be comfortable if it’s a man. I think I’ll skip this one. You should have the massage and enjoy it though.”

Clarabelle sighed. “Alright. You too have a good rest. At least don’t return to the office for a few days. You must’ve been tired from the trip.” Then she deliberately added in a louder voice, “Work can wait.”

“You don’t have to shout, I can hear you crystal clear. You’re on speaker,” commented Javier with an eye roll.

“I’m just looking out for my brother and his wife,” commented Clarabelle. “Ros and I are perfectly capable of handling another few days without you, Brother.”

“Okay, okay. I get it,” he said with a grunt. His hands were itchy to get back to work. If this wasn’t his honeymoon and if it wasn’t for Ella, he wouldn’t leave his business especially when the expansion plan was in the work. He’d wanted to drop by his office from the airport but Ella was really tired and looked like she could use some sleep. And obviously his little sister knew him well.

“Okay, I’m gonna go for my lunch with Brett first before the massage. Have a good rest you both!”

“You should come by tomorrow, Clara, we could have breakfast or brunch,” invited Ella.

“I’ll text you!” she said to Ella and to her brother, she reiterated, “I mean it, Jave. I’ll have the security escort you out if I catch you in the office.”

Javier rolled his eyes and then ended the call. He tossed his phone on the empty couch next to them. The phone slid in between pillows and disappeared from their sight. “I still don’t know how she juggles with two men.” He shook his head and looked up at the ceiling. It was hard not to be overprotective over his one and only little sister.

“Clarabelle is a strong independent woman, Jiev,” said Ell who could sense his concerns. “You should let her be.”

“I know.” Even though he’d said it, the frown on his forehead didn’t go away. “I just don’t want her to get hurt.”

“If she needs you, she’ll tell you.” Ella patted her husband hand reassuringly.

Javier heaved a sigh. “Alright. Let’s go upstairs.”

Ella eyed him curiously. “Why? It’s still noon.”

He stood up and then held both of Ella’s hands, pulling her up. She let out a small giggle and let herself being pulled.

“I’ll show you how magical my hands can be,” said Javier with a playful smirk.

Ella couldn’t help but laugh her ass off. “Oh gosh.”

But it seemed that sex wasn’t what he was referring to. “I have some essential oil and after I gave you a massage of your life, we can take a dip into the hot tub.”

“I’ll love that so much!” said Ella eagerly.

And once again, despite her earlier protest, she let herself be carried away bridal style all the way to their bedroom. They were too busy with themselves that they did not realize that Javier’s phone was ringing nonstop underneath all the pillows along with multiple texts indicating that something big had just happened. 

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Author Note: Ever wonder what happened after the honeymoon? Catch TTWC3 this August! It is going to be updated EVERY SINGLE DAY! Why? Because this is the author’s birthday month!