congrats, Laurent family

Stranger! Please be my Child’s Father

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Chapter 8: congrats, Laurent family 

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“Okay, Mr Laurent. We’ll move in with you. Can you please, please, make sure my two conditions are acknowledged? I promise we’ll be good houseguests, the second this entire thing dies down we’ll leave you alone and let you be. But I’m unwilling to part with any of my conditions. I can’t.”

Arabella tentatively broached the subject, and Gael could see how tired the woman got just by talking about their situation. 

“Okay.” Gael acquiesced. “Okay. We’ll figure out a way around it. I’ll accept the two conditions.”

[to Louis Avian MANAGER: 

Louis. We have an answer.

Arabella is willing to pose as my spouse, but she has two conditions.

She’s using another name, and she’s not doing any publicity with me.

She doesn’t want her face to be seen.]

[from Louis Avian MANAGER: 

That’s not looking good at all.]

[from Louis Avian MANAGER: 

It won’t look believable.]

[to Louis Avian MANAGER: 

I know, but I don’t know what else to do. She seems adamant about this.]

[to Louis Avian MANAGER: 

We even had a fight in front of her child.]

[from Louis Avian MANAGER: 

Hmm. not sure how we can get around this unless we take matters into our own hands.]

[to Louis Avian MANAGER: 

What do you mean?]

[from Louis Avian MANAGER: 

We can release pictures taken by our own people. Slowly, taken so that her face isn’t seen. Any information that the paparazzi has of you two will be from us and us only.]

[from Louis Avian MANAGER: 

And you can always use your socials.]

[from Louis Avian MANAGER: 

We can fabricate some story of sorts as to why she doesn’t want to be seen in public.]

[to Louis Avian MANAGER: 

This doesn’t feel like we’re complying to her no-social condition.]

[from Louis Avian MANAGER: 

We’re not. But there’s no way to keep the heat off of both of you without this. People aren’t going to believe you.]

[to Louis Avian MANAGER: 

This is the best option, right?]

[from Louis Avian MANAGER: 

Of course, Gael.]

[to Louis Avian MANAGER: 

Let’s do it, then.]

oOo

“Hudson, you have your stuff that I gave you? The backpack and Benny?” Arabella twisted in the passenger seat to smile at her son, who chirped and nodded in the affirmative. 

“Great! Let’s go now! We can go to your Dad’s house.” Arabella settled into her seat, reaching over to take Gael’s hand in hers, lacing their fingers on the gearshift. 

“What--” Gael mumbled in surprise, before feeling Arabella’s death-grip squeeze. As she glared up at the other man, Arabella indicated to the backseat, where her son was watching innocently with a dart of his eyes. 

Right.

They had to pretend in front of Hudson now too. Just to reinforce that Gael totally was his dad. Lovely. 

Moving in, luckily, wasn’t too much of a hassle. The mother-son duo only had a few boxes, and everything was packed within the hour. The drive too, was short, just across town, away from the more cramped inner city to the luxury villas that were on the other side. 

Hudson, for his part, had immense enthusiasm. Once he was let in, he was quick to explore, looking around at the new space introduced to him. 

“You can show him around, let him know the spaces that he’s not allowed in. I’ll bring the other boxes up myself.” It was kind of odd to see Arabella smiling, especially seeing how since most of the time he had been on the receiving end of her glares.

But then again, it was because of one troublesome little kid, who was currently wrapping his small hand around Gael’s index finger and making his heart melt in all sorts of ways. 

Gael nodded, before bending down to scoop up Hudson, bouncing the other on his hip. His hand reached across and playfully poked the little boy’s stomach, sending the little one into a fit of giggles.

He tickled as he slid into the hallway, intending to give the tour. 

“Here’s the kitchen. Lots of snacks, okay? Lots of things for you to eat. I have some ice cream in there, cookies, and all sorts of junk food. Don’t tell your momma, okay?” Gael conspiratorially raised a finger to his lips, grinning as Hudson mirrored the motion. 

“Can we have some ice cream now?” Hudson whispered. 

“Mmm. Maybe not now, I think your mummy’s coming upstairs with a few boxes, and she’s sure to get angry if she sees us eating ice cream now. Come on, let’s see the best parts of the house.” 

Gael walked along the big interior, pointing out the room Hudson would be occupying which excited the little boy to no end, and after reassuring him that he would let him decorate with as many bear and tiger stickers as he liked, they moved on, to the other bedrooms (Wow! Daddy, you have a bouncy bed!), Gael’s studio (“There’s a bad word on your welcome mat, Daddy.” “Shh. Don’t tell your momma.), and the backyard (“Wow! There’s lots of room for a tiger, Daddy! Even a pool!” “No tigers here, little one. I already have you!”), before ultimately coming up to the living room, where Arabella sat, scrolling on her phone. 

“Hey, how was it?” She smiled up at the two, setting her phone aside. Hudson wiggled to be let down, jumping into his mother’s arms, who easily caught him and settled him down on her lap.

“Daddy’s house is so big! I have a room and he said I could have lotsa stickers, and we have a pool! Can we have a tiger, momma? I want a tiger.” Hudson bounced excitedly.

Arabella looked down fondly at her son, nodding along at most words. “Hmm. Not sure about the tiger, baby bear. But let’s see what I can do about that. Did you tell Daddy thank you for taking the time to show you around?” 

Hudson turned, chirping out a thank you, before wiggling off his mother’s lap and darting in the direction of his room, leaving Gael and Arabella in the living room. 

“I set up our stuff already in one of the bedrooms, and one of the others that I think is Hudson’s. Let me know if it isn’t, or you want me to move anything.” Arabella murmured. 

He nodded, letting the silence hang between them before breaking it. “Hey, Arabella. There’s something for you.” Gael pushed up from where he had been leaning against one of the walls, pulling out a velvet box. 

“Well, drop on your knees and ask me.” Arabella teased, but the joke apparently didn’t fly over too well.

Gael didn’t crack a smile or anything of the sort.  Right. Hudson wasn’t in the room, there was no need to pretend.

Gael just tossed over the box, leaving Arabella to look down at the ring. 

It was a simple silver band, nothing flashy about it at all. 

She sighed, sliding it onto her left finger.

The presence was cold, unfamiliar, alien.

She sank back in the couch, twisting the new ring, and tried to keep her mind from racing. 

***

Gael opened the document sent to him by the company, sliding the paper out of the manilla folder. 

Gael Laurent’s GUIDE TO SUCCESS IN THIS MARRIAGE

(Gael. if you follow this, you'll always have good press. your ratings will go up and people will stop bothering you.)

1) Keep the wife and son happy.

There should be no pictures of either of them looking sad / angry. 

2) Take them on an outing, somewhere small and low-key.

Think first date. Please tell Louis when doing this. 

3) Take a candid shot of said wife and son, and post it on your socials. 

Show that you're affectionate. Be nice. More details to follow.

4) Take a selca with your wife, just you two. maybe fancier, date-like. 

Take her out somewhere nice. NO WEARING SWEATS.

5) An anniversary post. 

Please make this marriage last a year, Gael. 

Gael sighed, leaning back in his chair, staring at the paper. This was for the greater good. 

*****

SWEETER THAN SWEET! LAURENT FAMILY REVEALED!

In a statement released two hours ago, Pop-star Gael Laurent confirms that he is married to the love of his life,

stating that he has never been prouder to have such a supportive partner

by his side and a son that he loves to the ends of the earth.

His agency released a picture of their hands, with their matching rings on their fingers. How cute is that?! 

Apparently, the famous star wants to play this one close to the heart.

In the statement, he addresses his fans and asks them to give his family space,

wanting his son and wife to have a safe bubble outside of his hectic entertainment job.

He stated, “My son and wife’s safety comes first. For that reason, I ask everyone to give us space and respect their privacy, to keep them from getting hurt.”

Fans were more than happy to express their support for the couple!

And we’re happy too! Congrats, Laurent family! 

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TBC

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