"Yayyy! Grandpa’s staying with us!" Daisy cheered from her seat at the dining table.
Donald smiled down at her, ruffling her hair affectionately. "Yes, he is."
"Princess, please eat more," Kieran murmured.
Genesis looked up at him, about to shake her head, when the sound of approaching footsteps silenced the room. Every gaze, including the maids’, shifted toward the doorway as Alia entered the dining room—smiling, her hand resting protectively on her stomach.
They all stared at her, their expressions mixed.
Genesis looked curious.
Daisy looked annoyed.
Donald looked irritated.
Kieran looked furious.
Even the maids—angels in disguise—seed intrigued but also on edge.
Alia reached the table, and Genesis, without thinking, stood and hurried over to pull out a chair for her. It surprised Alia—but no one else batted an eye. Genesis held the chair, and Alia took her seat gracefully.
"Thank you, honey pie," Alia said sweetly.
Genesis smiled. The thing was... just like when she had mistakenly thought Veronica was related to Kieran the first ti they t, she now assud Alia must be family. She had no reason to think otherwise.
Cady leaned toward Revelation, who was still watching Genesis... then Alia... then back to Genesis.
"She’s about to start so shit," Cady whispered. "That bitch is up to sothing."
Suddenly, Alia snapped her fingers at the maids. "I need a plate."
Revelation didn’t flinch, but Cady turned, raising her brows. She forced a smile in reply, but Rev stayed composed.
Kieran opened his mouth to speak, but Alia cut him off.
"Babe, why didn’t you tell dinner was ready? Your baby and I were starving," she said, rubbing her belly and faking a pout.
The mont the words left her mouth, Daisy’s fork slipped from her hand and clattered on the table.
"Baby?" Daisy blinked. "What baby?"
Alia ignored her. Instead, she turned to Genesis, who was now seated beside her, eyes wide with confusion. Alia placed a hand dramatically over her mouth.
"Oh... they didn’t tell you, did they, honey pie?" she said with mock sympathy.
"Shut the fuck up," Kieran growled.
Genesis flinched beside him.
Alia tilted her head, pretending to be hurt, but her smile returned as quickly as it left.
"As you can see, I’m pregnant," she said proudly, rubbing her belly again. "And the father is your husband. Well, our husband soon—since he’s marrying too."
She bead as the maids placed a plate in front of her. She waved them off dismissively and turned back to Kieran.
"I thought we agreed you’d tell her," she said with a shrug. "But hey, truth’s out now. That’s what matters."
Donald pushed his plate away, appetite gone.
"He’s not marrying you," he said coldly. "I’ve already told you—you’ll stay here until the baby is born. Then you’ll be compensated and leave."
Alia laughed. "Oh, Father, you crack up."
She turned to Genesis with a bright grin. "I can’t wait to be co-wives with you."
"No. That’s not true... right, Uncle Kieran?" Daisy’s voice wavered.
But Kieran didn’t look at her. He had already stood, crouching in front of Genesis, who was pale and shaking.
"Baby, I can explain. Please—"
He stopped cold when tears slipped silently down her cheeks.
Alia chuckled. "Oh, don’t cry, honey pie. At least he didn’t cheat—well, okay, I heard he cheated on you when you were married. But this baby? This happened before the forced wedding. So technically, I win."
"Shut up!" Kieran yelled, his voice so loud it startled both Genesis and Alia.
Alia zipped her lips dramatically and turned back to her food.
Genesis trembled, then suddenly stood and bolted from the table.
"Genesis!" Kieran shouted, running after her.
Alia watched them disappear and smirked. "Dinner and a show... amazing." She glanced down at her belly. "Don’t you think so too, little Kieran?"
Daisy’s cheeks were wet with tears. "You’re an!" she scread, jumping off her chair and storming away.
Alia watched her go, then flinched slightly as a mory surfaced—frogs in her ice cream. She knew Daisy did it.
"I’m watching you, brat," she muttered.
Donald stood without a word. He looked at Alia, who returned his gaze with a fierce glare.
"I’m not going anywhere," she said.
Donald nodded once and walked out.
Alia took a deep breath and focused on her food, smiling—until she frowned.
"Maids!" she barked.
Mia growled from the kitchen. "I swear, if she talks to us like that one more ti, I’m slamming her face into the wall."
"Maids!" Alia yelled again.
"I’m going to kill her," Revelation said, calm as ever.
anwhile...
Kieran sprinted after Genesis and caught her just before she collapsed. But the mont his arms wrapped around her, she tore away from him like his touch burned.
Genesis stumbled back, breath ragged—then dropped to her knees.
She opened her mouth, her face twisted in a silent scream.
Nothing ca out.
Just a sharp gasp of pain, so raw.
Then she broke.
She pounded the earth with her fists, legs thrashing, her body convulsing in grief. She clawed at her arms, her throat, her chest—desperate to tear the pain out from sowhere, anywhere.
And Kieran could only watch.
Helpless.
Kieran reached for her again, his voice breaking.
"Genesis, please, please..."
She shoved him.
So hard he nearly lost his balance. Then she clutched her head with both hands, trembling, rocking back and forth, her mouth open in another silent scream. A scream so wide and raw it looked like it should’ve shattered the skies.
But there was nothing.
No sound.
No words.
Just a girl crying so violently it looked like her soul was trying to escape her body.
Kieran felt helpless. Worthless. Watching the love of his life unravel in front of him, screaming without a voice, like her body had beco a battlefield for all the words she couldn’t say.
And he had done this.
He had broken her.
"Please, just hit , scream at , throw sothing, do anything just don’t..." His voice cracked as she curled in on herself, her pain folding her inward.
Genesis slamd her fists into the grass again. And again. Until her hands were scraped and red. Until her body gave out and she collapsed sideways, sobbing silently into the earth. Her shoulders trembled, face pressed into the dirt, mouth still open in soundless agony.
She couldn’t breathe.
She couldn’t scream.
She couldn’t run.
Everything inside her ached. Everything hurt.
Then Kieran moved.
He dropped to his knees and gathered her into his arms, wrapping himself around her, arms over her shoulders, legs braced around her shaking fra—as if he could shield her from the world, as if he could hold her tight enough to take the pain away.
"I’m here... I’m here... I’m so sorry," he whispered against her temple, rocking her gently as she trembled like a leaf
Her fists beat weakly against his chest, but he didn’t let go.
She opened her mouth again, trying to scream, to release the anguish inside her, but nothing ca. Her throat locked. Her vision blurred. The world tilted...
Then silence.
Genesis went limp in his arms.
"Genesis?" he whispered, panic creeping into his voice.
Her head lolled to the side. Her fingers slipped from his shirt. Her eyes were open, empty, unfocused.
"Genesis!" he shouted louder, voice cracking as he shook her gently. "No—no, stay with , please..."
But she didn’t move.
And for the first ti, the silence between them was truly terrifying.
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