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, giggling together.
"I heard you haven’t been answering her calls," Amethyst quietly told her niece, Summer. The triplets overheard their conversation.
"Tita Baby, my phone speaker is broken. Even if I answer a call, the person on the other end can't hear me. So I just don’t pick up."
"I have an extra iPhone at home. A 15 Pro Max, still sealed and unused. I’ll give it to you next time we meet."
"Oh my gosh! Really?!"
Hope couldn't resist teasing Summer and the others. "Oh, now you're all about iPhones! Back in the day, you were thrilled with your Chinese phone. Ting-ting-ting wayayu! Ting-ting-ting arf, arf! I, I, I, I'm your little butterfly."
When they arrived in the dining room and everyone was settled into their seats, the meal began. The triplets, their parents, their grandparents, and even Amethyst and Summer were all seated together. As they ate, their Mommyla, Stephanie, initiated the discussion.
"Kids," Stephanie began, her gaze sweeping over everyone. "I have an announcement to make." This was about Faith's upcoming engagement to the eldest child of Lucio and Jody Herald. "I know you probably have some idea of what I'm about to say, since Hope came from the house this morning."
"Mommyla," Hope immediately protested. "The way you say it makes me sound like gossip. You’re hurting my feelings."
"Oh? Are you not?" Stephanie teased with a laugh. "Anyway," she turned her attention back to Faith. "Faith, your engagement has been decided."
The room fell silent. All eyes were on Faith, including those of their parents, Keycee and Ace.
Faith Zeican sighed, accepting his fate. He had always known that arranged marriage was in his future. "Who is it, Mommyla?" he asked.
"Chloe Herald, daughter of Jody and Lucio Herald and heiress to an oil empire. As you know, oil is an industry we haven't ventured into yet, so this is our opportunity. Chloe is twenty-two. I haven't met her yet myself. I only met her parents this morning, as they visited our home."
"Mom," Keycee interjected, concern evident on her face. "Shouldn't this be happening next year? The triplets are only twenty-four. As far as I recall, they’re supposed to meet their matches only when they turn twenty-five."
"Keycee, dear. It’s basically the same thing. It’s just a few months early. Besides, it’s better for Faith to meet his future fiancée now so they can get to know each other. It’s just an engagement, not a wedding. The engagement will be set up first to align with the merger. Faith, sweetie?" Stephanie turned to Faith. "You’ll meet her next week, okay?"
Faith stared at his grandmother for a moment, his heart heavy. Then, having no choice, he nodded. "Okay, Mommyla."
Having earned a degree in Business Management, Faith was already an integral part of the companies left behind by Don Adolfo by the age of twenty-four. Therefore, he wasn't surprised that their future might involve business deals. Still, he had great trust in Don Adolfo’s reputation as the King of Matchmakers, and that was all he held on to.
Among the triplets, Faith Zeican was entrusted with the Electronics Company, while his brother Hope was tasked with overseeing the Entertainment Industry. Although neither had yet been appointed as CEO due to their relative inexperience, it was clear to everyone that they were being groomed for these roles.
In contrast, Love Andrei chose a different path. He opted out of a business course and is currently studying to become a scientist. Their youngest sibling, Summer, is in her third year of college, also pursuing a degree in business. From a young age, they all understood that they would eventually be needed to help manage the businesses left by not only Don Adolfo but also their late great-grandmother, Marlette Tan, Stephanie's mother.
Currently, their father, Ace Lee, has taken on the role of Director at Lee University, a position he inherited after the passing of his grandfather, Don Adolfo. Ace has fully committed to his new responsibilities, ensuring the university flourishes under his leadership. Meanwhile, his wife, Keycee, enjoys a life of leisure as a pampered housewife. Ace has been firm about her not working, despite her occasional interest in pursuing a career. This arrangement has allowed Keycee to focus on managing their home and supporting the family in other ways.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
After dinner and once Mommyla's family had left, Ace and Keycee gathered in the living room with their children to discuss Faith’s engagement.
"Faith?" Ace called out seriously to his quiet son, who was clearly deep in thought. The triplets sat together on the couch, with Summer positioned between them and the couple.
"Yes, Dad?"
"You seem distant. Tell me, is the arrangement not okay with you?" Concern was evident in Ace's voice. He knew this feeling well, having experienced it himself when he and Keycee were first being set up.
"No, Dad. It's, uhm, I-I'm okay."
"You're not. You can fool yourself, son, but not me." Ace sighed. "Just meet her for a week and see how it goes. If you don’t feel good about her or if you think you’re not compatible, let me know."
"What will you do, hubby?" their mother asked in surprise.
"We’ll put Hope in the spotlight first," Ace joked, causing Hope to roll his eyes.
"Nobody loves me in this family. Admit it, am I just an adopted kid here?" Hope lamented.
Summer rolled her eyes at him as well. "You’re such a mess! If there’s anyone adopted among us, I’d think it’s me, because I look different. You three look like identical toilets!"
"Shut up, you sunburned mess!" Hope retorted.
"Hope, really, calling your siblings all sorts of names," their mother scolded.
"Well, it suits Summer. Her name means summer, so it's fitting she’s the sunburned one," Hope laughed, but his laughter quickly faded when Love elbowed him. "Dad, I don’t want to get married yet. Let Faith go first," Hope continued. "Or maybe Andreng—"
"No," Love interrupted him. "I'm still studying."
Ace sighed again and turned his attention back to Faith. “Just one week, Faith Zeican. If you meet Chloe and feel that you don’t get along, your mom and I will do our best to talk to your grandmother about calling off the engagement. Do you hear me?”
“Dad, why are you treating me like a child? I can handle it. Don’t worry.”
“You’re still our baby, Faith Zeican,” Keycee chimed in. “No matter how old you get, you’ll always be our baby.”
As the family chatted, Hope suddenly went quiet, feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket. He pulled it out, opened the chat, and then turned to Faith with wide eyes and a laugh.
“Hell. You’re in trouble, Faith!” He caught the attention of his family. "I've just found out that your soon-to-be fiancée is b*tchy and whiny. The ultimate spoiled, materialistic airhead of the Herald family."
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!
CHAPTER TEN: CHARMING VISITOR; POPPY.✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧Friday.6:03 P.M.Chloe had just arrived at the office, bypassing her usual pizza delivery and instead bringing iced coffee and fries. It had become a routine for her to stop by after her shifts at Herald Enterprise.“Good news?” Her wide smile was evident as she placed the food in front of me, having already moved to the sofa in the middle of the office. My desk was cluttered with documents and my laptop, leaving little room. “I’ve talked to Mom and Dad about Poppy.” She settled into the chair opposite me, the coffee table between us now holding our snacks. “They agreed. But I’ll have to stay with Poppy because she’s not used to being alone in unfamiliar places. Mom and Dad are worried about that.”“How about Poppy? Did she agree to go out?” I asked, intrigued.She nodded. “She didn’t know we were coming to your place. I told her we were just going out together, so she agreed.”“You should have been honest with her. She might g