~~~~~~FIVE YEARS LATER~~~~~ Five years had passed since that long night in the hospital when Lucien almost slipped away and Zayn nearly lost his mind. But in those years, their world had changed. The mansion, once quiet and filled with shadows of the past, now echoed with small footsteps, laughter, and the occasional loud cry of a stubborn little boy who had become the center of their lives. Their son, Zaylien, had grown into a bright, curious, and mischievous child. He had Zayn’s sharp, watchful eyes but Lucien’s warm, soft smile. Everyone who saw him could not deny that he was the perfect blend of both men. That afternoon, the garden was alive with colors. White roses and lilies decorated the pathway, not because of an event yet, but because Zayn had ordered it in preparation for what was to come. Workers were busy arranging tables, chairs, and lights. At the far end, a woman with a clipboard in her hand directed decorators as she waited for Lucien to give his final approval. L
Lucien shifted uncomfortably on the bed, his hand pressing against his belly. He frowned and took in a sharp breath. “Lucien?” Zayn’s deep voice came immediately as he looked up from his tablet. “What is it?” Lucien shook his head stubbornly. “It’s nothing. Just… maybe the baby kicked too hard.” But Zayn didn’t miss the way Lucien’s face tightened again, his lips pressing together as if to stop a cry. Zayn was already on his feet. “That’s not just a kick,” he said, his tone rising with worry. “Where does it hurt?” Lucien tried to wave him off, but another wave of pain tore through him and he clutched his stomach, groaning. His eyes watered. “Zayn… it hurts. I don’t… I don’t know what’s happening.” Zayn’s heart dropped. He crouched in front of him, holding his hands tightly. “Baby, look at me. Stay with me, alright? You’re going to be fine. I’ll get you to the hospital right now.” Lucien shook his head weakly. “I’m scared, Zayn… is it too early? What if something happens?” “N
The garden was being decorated quietly, fairy lights strung along the trees, soft music playing in the background. Maids moved about quickly, placing roses, candles, and lanterns everywhere. Zayn stood apart from it all, his hands shoved into his pockets, pacing restlessly. His face was unreadable, but his eyes betrayed the storm inside. Selene walked up to him, her gown swishing lightly as she crossed her arms. “Stop pacing, Zayn. You’re making everyone nervous,” she said. “I don’t know if I should do this, Selene,” Zayn muttered, dragging a hand through his hair. “What if he says no? What if he looks at me and thinks I’m… too much? What if—” Selene cut him off with a sharp glare. “Zayn, listen to me. That boy loves you. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Do you think anyone else would put up with your temper? Your moods? The way you bark at everyone? He not only puts up with it — he softens it. He softens you.” Zayn’s jaw clenched. He lowered his eyes, whispering, “But he’s
Zayn sat in front of Dr. Daniel, his expression hard, his body stiff as if bracing for the worst. The office smelled faintly of antiseptic, and the quiet hum of the air conditioner filled the silence between them. Dr. Daniel, however, wore a calm smile, the kind of smile that tried to put anxious families at ease. “So?” Zayn asked finally, his voice low and steady, though deep inside his chest his heart was pounding. He masked his anxiousness well, but his fingers betrayed him, tapping restlessly on his thigh. “We have found a solution on how to bring out the baby,” Dr. Daniel said slowly. Zayn straightened in his seat, his dark eyes narrowing. “What is the solution?” The doctor folded his hands on the desk. “We are going to perform a C-section on him.” The word hung heavily in the air. Zayn’s jaw clenched as he tried to process it. Dr. Daniel paused, letting the words sink in, before continuing in a careful tone. “It’s going to be risky, but there is no other solution. A
“Lucien, I just changed the bedsheet to the one you wanted just now,” Zayn said in surprise, his brows raised as he stood by the bed. “No, change it. It’s too soft. I want it soft, but this… is too soft,” Lucien said firmly, touching the bed with his palm as if proving a meaningful point. Zayn pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed in frustration. “Fine. I’ll change it.” He pulled off the sheet and picked another one from the neatly folded pile. He had just started spreading it across the mattress when Lucien’s voice cut him off again. “No. Not that one. This one,” Lucien said, pointing at the same sheet he had rejected earlier. Zayn froze and turned slowly, disbelief written all over his face. “But you said that one was too hard.” “I know,” Lucien replied with all the stubbornness of a child. “But I want it.” Zayn’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t argue. He simply sighed, nodded, and changed the bedsheet back to the previous one. As soon as he finished tucking in the c
Peace seemed to reign throughout the next five months, and Lucien found himself settling into a routine that felt almost too good to be true. The mansion was calm, the guards were alert but not overbearing, and Zayn was around more often than before. Lucien loved the quietness. He loved waking up without fear of being snatched away. He loved the little moments—eating ice cream in the sunlit garden, dozing off while Zayn worked late in the study, humming to himself as he rested his hands on his growing belly. But even in his moments of joy, skepticism lingered. Sometimes, late at night, when Zayn had already fallen asleep beside him, Lucien would stare at the ceiling and wonder if those two men—the ones with sharp eyes and mocking smiles—would ever come back. Later, he learned their names. Mikhail and Damien. And later still, he learned they were dead. Brutally so. When the news reached him, he didn’t know what to think. A part of him felt relieved, another part unsettled. He aske