CHAPTER ONE: EPIC TRIO
✧THIRD PERSON POV✧
"Faith! Faithfully! Lovey-dudes! Yoohooo!"
Hope’s voice echoed through their large house, announcing his arrival. It was Saturday, and as usual, he wasn’t stuck at home on weekends. The good news was, he’d either come from their Mommyla’s place (his mom’s mother) or from Uncle Ryan’s house.
Meanwhile, his twin siblings, Faith and Love, along with their younger sister, Summer, and their parents, Keycee and Ace, were at home. Especially since they didn’t have a scheduled family trip. They had just returned from Thailand the previous week.
"What gossip has he picked up this time?" Love Andrei said, shaking his head while still absorbed in his game controller. Faith Zeican was equally engrossed in the game. The two of them were playing in the living room while Summer, now twenty-one, had just left with her friends. Their parents were upstairs.
"Maybe it’s about contraceptives again," Faith replied quietly. Recently, Hope Ryker had stirred things up after hearing from some friends that condoms aren’t 100% effective.
"Oh yeah. My doppelgängers are here," Hope chuckled as he sidled up to his twin siblings, squeezing between them on the couch and throwing an arm around each of them.
"Hope." Love huffed, blowing out a sigh of exasperation. His eyes remained glued to the big TV screen, fingers deftly working the game controller. "We are not your doppelgängers. Do you even know what a doppelgänger is? In folklore and popular culture, it's often seen as a harbinger of bad luck or an omen of death! You're just spewing nonsense without thinking."
Faith bit his lip, trying to hold back his laughter. It was always a treat for him when Love launched into one of his rants aimed at their triplet sibling, Hope. Hope Ryker was definitely the wild one among them. They were triplets: Faith Zeican Lee, Hope Ryker Lee, and Love Andrei Lee, who was the last to come out of their mother's womb.
Among the three, Faith Zeican stands out as the epitome of kindness and compassion. Known for his gentle demeanor and caring nature, Faith is always ready to lend a helping hand and offer support to those around him. His generosity knows no bounds, often putting others' needs before his own, and his nurturing personality makes him the go-to person for comfort and advice.
Hope Ryker, on the other hand, is the mischievous prankster of the trio. With an irrepressible sense of humor and a penchant for practical jokes, Hope brings laughter and excitement wherever he goes. His playful antics often lighten the mood and add a sense of fun to any situation, though they occasionally land him in trouble.
Love Andrei complements the siblings with his sharp intellect and quick wit. A true genius in his own right, Love excels in academics and problem-solving, but can be easily irritated by incompetence or frivolity. He tends to keep to himself, preferring solitude over social gatherings, and his reserved demeanor often comes across as aloof or standoffish to those who don't know him well.
"Oh, fine! If you don’t like the ‘doppelgänger,’ then let’s go with the ‘clone.’ After all, we come from the same sperm. But on a different note, I was looking for you guys because I—"
"—have some gossip for us," Faith cut in.
"Oh, you’re such a genius," Hope laughed, turning to Faith. "How did you guess?"
"Because we come from the same sperm, you genius," Faith repeated, a smirk playing on his lips.
Hope burst into laughter. "So, here’s the scoop. I had just been to Mommyla's, and there was a Madam there. I’m not one to spread rumors, you know that. If anyone knows me best, it’s you guys because we share the same sperm. Anyway, I accidentally overheard their conversation. Do you know what they were talking about?" Despite their attention being fixated on the flat screen TV, Faith and Love were still listening intently to their gossip-loving—though unwilling to admit—triplet, Hope. "Next week, Faith, you’re going to meet your future fiancée from the Herald Family."
"What?" Love and Faith both exclaimed in unison. Their hands froze mid-action on their game controllers, their eyes now locked on Hope.
"I thought it was supposed to be next year?" Love said, his brow furrowed with concern. "Do Mom and Dad know about this?"
Hope shook his head. "Not yet. But Mommyla, Daddylo, and Aunt Baby are coming over later. They’re probably going to inform Mom and Dad, especially you, Faithfully, since you’re the first one in line to get hitched—no, I mean married."
Faith fell silent. Yes, he was aware. They had been briefed about the arranged marriage by their greatgrandfather when they were teenagers. They had all agreed because it was a long-standing tradition in the Lee Family. Besides, given Don Adolfo's immense wealth, even the grandchildren of his heir, Ace Lee, were promised a substantial inheritance.
But everything comes with a price. Before Don Adolfo passed away—when they were sixteen—he left a will about his inheritance. It stated that the triplets wouldn't receive their inheritance unless they married the partners Don Adolfo had chosen for them. It was only then that they learned Don Adolfo had already found matches for them while they were still young. However, they had no idea who these people were. The only person who knew was Stephanie—their Mommyla—Keycee’s mother, because Don Adolfo had entrusted her with this task before he died. They were supposed to meet their matches when they turned twenty-five, giving them time to get to know each other before the arranged marriage. But now they’re only twenty-four, so they’re puzzled as to why things are happening a bit earlier.
"Good thing you’re the first one up," Hope continued, still grinning, while Love and Faith looked on with concern. "Lovey-dudes and I will be keeping an eye on how things go with your future wife. If it turns out to be a flop, a no-go, or a denial to your happily ever after, I’ll just go AWOL from this family. So what if I don’t inherit anything? I’m totally fine living on the fringes or even getting adopted by Uncle Ryan."
That was also Faith’s concern from the start. What if his arranged marriage doesn’t turn out as successful as their parents’? They knew Don Adolfo—their dad’s grandfather—and they were well aware of his reputation as the King of Matchmakers. When he was alive, he told them they needed to trust his decisions because he had nothing but their best interests at heart, just as he had with their mom and dad. Still, Faith couldn’t shake the worry, especially since he was the first among them to face this.
Love nudged Hope's arm to give him another lecture. "What do you mean by 'unsuccessful'? Are you seriously worried that Faith will mess up? Have you forgotten that you’re the one who nicknamed him Faithfully? He hasn’t even courted anyone because he’s FAITHful to his future fiancée. Faith can handle married life easily if it comes to that. You should be worried, Hope, because if anyone among us is going to be 'access denied' to your so-called Happily Ever After, it’s going to be you. No one’s going to stick around with you and your wild ways."
Hope immediately turned to him. “Don’t cover the judge by its book!”
Love shook his head at Hope’s remark. He really took after their Uncle Ryan, always ready to ramble on just to crack a joke.
Faith returned his focus to the game controller, mulling over the possibilities.
'What if I don’t like my fiancée, but she likes me?'
“And why do you keep calling me Lovey-dude? I’ve told you a million times, just call me Andrei!”
'What if I like her, but she doesn’t like me?'
“Andrei? Don’t flatter yourself. Andreng is fine.”
'What if we don’t like each other, and we end up just suffering through the time we spend together?'
“Stop getting on my goddamn nerves, Hope. It’s Andrei!”
'But is it possible that our fate could be like Mom and Dad’s?'
“Dad's nickname was Asyong, so don’t be so choosy, Andreng.”
CHAPTER TWO: ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN DECIDED✧THIRD PERSON's POV✧"Hi, darling!" Stephanie greeted her handsome grandchildren with a series of kisses, her smile wide and welcoming. She greeted Summer the same way. "How are you all?" Behind her were her husband, Carlo Vivar, a well-known business executive, and their youngest child, Amethyst, affectionately called Aunt Baby by the triplets and Summer. Amethyst, now twenty-three, was only a year younger than the triplets."We're fine, Mommyla. But Faith isn’t so fine." Hope grinned mischievously, earning a disapproving look from their father, Ace.Hope was being a nuisance. Faith was already nervous about the visit, and Hope's teasing only made things worse. They all knew the real reason for their Mommyla's visit today.They continued their conversation as they made their way to the dining area. The two couples led the way, while the younger ones followed behind. Summer and Amethyst, both close in age and affection, walked arm in arm, giggl
CHAPTER THREE: FAITH's DATE✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧I was busy at my office, reviewing a spreadsheet when someone knocked on the door, followed by its opening. I didn’t need to ask who it was because it was my secretary, Colleen, who usually handles this kind of thing. Before anyone else can come in, they first go through her to inform me if someone is looking for me.“Sir Faith.” I looked up at her. She’s two years older than me, so I feel a bit awkward when she addresses me as Sir. But that’s what she prefers. I’ve told her before that it’s fine to just call me Faith, but she insists on addressing me properly. “Someone’s here to see you.”“Who is it?”“Chloe Herald, Sir.”My brow furrowed slightly. Chloe? Right, it’s been a week. Our meeting was set for this week, but I’ve been so busy that I forgot about it. We don’t have contact details for each other, so I didn’t have a way to reschedule.“Okay. Let her in.” After she nodded, Colleen turned and left my office. I kept my gaze fixed on
CHAPTER FOUR: ENGAGEMENT PARTY✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧It’s been a month since Chloe and I started dating. I’ve taken this time to get to know her, and so far, I’m starting to really like her. Why wouldn’t I? She’s a sweet girl. At first, I was a bit nervous around her, but now I feel more at ease because she’s easy to get along with. She knows how to carry on a conversation when she notices I’m getting quiet, which sometimes happens due to my shyness.It turns out Uncle Ryan’s source was unreliable—his assistant apparently got the info from a friend working at a Herald company. But what I’ve seen in Chloe contradicts that news. She’s genuinely kind and sweet.One moment that really stood out was when we passed an elderly beggar on the street. Usually, I stop to give something when I see a beggar, but at that moment, I hesitated, thinking Chloe might be uncomfortable given her sophisticated demeanor compared to the elderly person who was dirty and smelled odd. To my surprise, Chloe stopped
CHAPTER FIVE: POPPY✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧“Hey, babe.” Chloe greeted me with a wide smile as she entered my office, carrying a pizza box. Her engagement ring was prominently displayed on her finger.Mom picked it out when I was buying the ring. I took her along because I had no clue about rings and Chloe’s preferences. To ensure she’d love it, I let Mom make the decision since they both share the same taste.“Hey.” I rose from my chair with a smile and went to meet her. As we stood face to face, she leaned in to kiss my cheek. I’d grown accustomed to this over the past two weeks since we got officially engaged. During this time, she’d frequently visit me at the office after her shift at Herald Enterprise, making time for us to bond. She’s a finance manager there, so her schedule is as packed as mine. We only get to go on dates during the weekends.“Take a seat. I’ll get some coffee ready for us,” I said, guiding her to the couch in the middle of my office.“I like your secretary. She’s r
CHAPTER SIX: DINNER✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧"Yes. Poppy is my sister, Faith." Chloe kept her gaze on me. "She’s incredibly shy. She’s not used to socializing, so we didn’t push her to join us at our engagement party," she explained.I didn’t respond, just continued to stare at her. It was clear that Poppy was shy when I met her that night—she seemed reluctant to talk to me. I only heard her voice when she mentioned her name, but then she quickly left with her food."She’d rather stay cooped up in her room than mingle," Mrs. Herald added with a sigh, turning to Chloe. "Chloe, call Poppy so you can introduce her to your fiancé. She might as well join us for dinner."Chloe nodded immediately. "Yes, Mom." Then she stood up from her chair and glanced at me to say goodbye before heading out.I was left in silence with Chloe’s parents. Mrs. Herald continued talking about how shy Poppy had been since childhood, mentioning that she grew up with no playmates because she rarely left the mansion.A fe
CHAPTER SEVEN: GIFT FOR POPPY✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧Just like me, Hope Ryker and Love Andrei are both twenty-four, but they outdo even Summer when it comes to scavenging for souvenirs every time I return from a business trip. Like now, I’ve just gotten back from New Jersey, but Hope is already rummaging through my suitcase at the foot of the bed. Love is sitting next to him, joining in the search.I shook my head and turned my attention to my phone. I quickly looked up Chloe’s contact number to give her a call. I’d been in New Jersey for three days on business, and we hadn’t had a chance to catch up. However, I promised her that I’d make time for her as soon as I got back.“Hello?” Chloe answered the call.“Babe! Oh my gosh! You’re back?” I couldn’t see her, but I could imagine her excitement from the way her voice lit up.I smiled at the thought. “Yes. Just an hour ago. Are you free tonight? I’m planning to take you out for dinner.”“Sure! I don’t have much to do later. And even if I di
CHAPTER EIGHT: POPPY'S CONDITION✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧Chloe is happily chatting with my family in the living room. After our dinner date, we decided to visit here since my mom had previously requested that I bring Chloe over. When I mentioned it to Chloe, she was more than happy to come along.Chloe has been here for almost an hour now, deep in conversation with my mom. My dad sits beside her but rarely chimes in, much like the rest of us who can’t really relate to their beauty talk. Chloe will be launching a new cosmetics product soon, under her own brand, CHLOE'S, and I can’t help but feel proud that her name will be on it.“I hope we get to meet Poppy next time.” Hope’s sudden comment brought a silence over the room. He was sitting with Love and Summer, but like Dad, they haven’t said much since they can't really join in on the beauty product conversation either.Chloe glanced at me for a moment, clearly puzzled as to how Hope knew about Poppy, but she quickly smiled at me before tur
CHAPTER NINE: SLEEPOVER✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧There was nothing more I could do but stay at Chloe's place since the rain hadn't stopped—it was already past ten in the evening. Mr. Herald had their driver park my car in the garage. I messaged my family from our DNA BUDDIES group chat, letting them know I wouldn’t be coming home tonight because Chloe’s parents insisted I stay due to the slippery roads—they refused to let me leave.Mom and Dad agreed, but I ended up getting teased by Hope, who suddenly created a group chat with just the three of us—me, him, and Love Andrei. He kept ribbing me, saying that tonight I’d finally become a 'real man.' He even asked if I brought a condom, then warned me that it’s not 100% effective, telling me to be careful because Chloe might end up pregnant before our wedding. Does he really think I’m like him?Love didn’t join in the teasing. Instead, he took it upon himself to name our group chat. He cleverly titled it ‘GOOD, BRAINY & UGLY.’Hope: “Hey, wait!