Alexa stood in the bathroom, staring at the calendar on her phone. Her finger traced the days, stopping on the date circled in red—an ominous reminder that her period was late. Late by several weeks. “I’ll just take a test,” she muttered to herself. “It’s probably nothing.” The walk to the pharmacy felt longer than usual. Her mind raced with every step, each scenario more daunting than the last. She slid her sunglasses on, hoping to hide the worry etched on her face.Inside the pharmacy, her gaze swept over the shelves, landing on the array of pregnancy tests kit. Her hand hovered, hesitant, before she grabbed not one but several, from 10 different brands—she needed to be sure. At the counter, she avoided the cashier's eyes, her cheeks burning with a mix of embarrassment and fear. “Is this all for you today?” the cashier asked, ringing up the tests. “Yes, thank you,” Alexa replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Back home, the tests sat on the counter like a jury ready to del
Dionysus made his way toward the Gardier mansion, where he had been invited to stay for several weeks to attend a grand wedding. As he walked through the snow, his boots crunched beneath him. His silver hair shimmered in the winter sunlight, creating a striking contrast with the deep green of his eyes. To his surprise, the mansion's staff, who were usually indoors, had gathered outside, leaving Dio puzzled."Lots of bustling out here in the cold—don't tell me you've all been replaced by snowmen," Dio quipped.The head butler, Benson, chuckled, tipping his hat. "Oh no, Lord Dio, nothing so dramatic. Lady Renata has given us an unexpected holiday gift—a break to enjoy with our families after the frenzy of her wedding preparations."Dionysus raised an eyebrow, the surprise evident on his face. "A holiday? Before the wedding? How generous of her. Tell me, is this a tradition I've somehow missed?"The maids whispered among themselves before one of them spoke up. "It's a first for all of us
Alexa let out a half-hearted chuckle, still clinging to the hope that this was Dio's idea of a twisted joke."Well, heartbreak is an unusual way to turn brotherhs againts each other." Dio said."Heartbroken? Gilbert?" she echoed, incredulity painting her words. "If he ever found out about this, he'd be crushed." Dio leaned back, his gaze fixed on her with unsettling intensity. "Crushed is an understatement. He wouldn't just be licking his wounds. He'd go after Jean. Gilbert's the kind of guy who doesn't just get mad; he gets even." "You're saying he'd kill his own brother over this?" Alexa's voice was a mix of shock and skepticism. Dio nodded, his lips curling into a wry smile. "Kill, elliminate, murder, butcher, you name it. Remember, I am talking about the same scary smart boy who turned his high school buddies into a cold case. Gilbert's not just smart, actually; he's a genius... with a very dark side. He's been playing this deadly game since he was a teen, and the family? They
Dio's voice held a tone of conspiracy as if they were allies plotting to survive in a thriller video game. "You, Alexa, are my ally in this.""Thank... thank you. Me too, I want you to survive, to thrive even. You had said 'welcome to game' to me in my engagement day days ago. I got it now." Alexa looked at him, her eyes reflecting the determination that his words had sparked. "Survive and thrive, huh? Sounds like a plan. But in this house, it feels more like survive or die, Alexa. You're smarter than you know," Dio reassured her. "And now, you have the knowledge to protect yourself. Use it."Alexa nodded, a semblance of calm returning to her. "And what about you, Lord Dio? What's your endgame in all of this?" Dio's smirk was a shadow of his usual confidence. "Let’s just say I’m invested in ensuring the family legacy doesn't claim my live. And keeping you safe." Alexa studied him for a moment, realizing how little she knew about the man before her. "Lord Dio, I've always wondere
Jean's phone vibrated softly against the nightstand, a beacon in the darkness. He glanced at the screen—Alexa's name lit up. "Meet me at the gazebo, please. Now?" the text read. He smiled, how happy he was, Alexa texted him back after months."Off couse, dearest love." he replied.As he approached the gazebo, he found Alexa's form framed by the delicate lattice of the gazebo, bathed in the soft silver of moonlight. "I got your text," Jean said, breaking the silence as he stepped into the gazebo. "What' is it, baby?" Alexa's gaze met his."Jean, my lord, we need to talk about... something." He took a deep breath, the cool night air filling his lungs. "I know. I did a lot of bad things to you, especilally that one night in the wine cellar, but I can't shake these feelings for you, Alexa. I'm still deeply in love with you. It's a mess, I know, but it's the truth."Alexa's eyes held his, a silent war of emotions raging behind them. "Jean, I am not here to talk about that..."He cut her
In the dim lights of a local dive, Jean slouched at the bar, his messy clothes standing out against the polished Gardier lineage image. Each gulp washed away the pain of Renata's second betrayal, but with every shot, his sobriety faded, replaced by raw, unfiltered anguish. Hours later, a drunk Jean stumbled into the grand entrance of the Gardier estate, swaying and casting a stark shadow against the lavish backdrop. The ever-watchful servants rushed to Jean's side, supporting his unsteady steps with their arms.It is currently 3 AM.Gilbert and Alexa were just hanging out in the living room with the rest of the fam. They all waiting for Jean to return. He disappeared and that was making everyone worry. Now, they all turned their attention to the servants who were carrying the drunk Jean. Gilbert squinted his eyes as he watched his brother's sorry state. "Dear Alexa," he whispered to Alexa. "do you mind if I tag along with the servants?"In his bedroom, the servants placed Jean on his
Alexa stood on the brink of her life-changing decision when a sudden grip on her arm startled her. She turned around, her heart racing, half-expecting to see Gilbert's in his angry eyes. Instead, Jean's concerned gaze met her, leaving her momentarily speechless. His grip held firm, yet gentle, displaying genuine disappointment in his expression. "Alexa," he said calmly."Je... Jean. What are you doing here?""You... You are pregnant, right? And I am the father."*****Last night,After Gilbert left his room, another visitor opened Jean's bedroom door once more, and Dionysus, also known as Dio, stepped in, commanding attention with his presence. "Still alive, I see." Dio began with his creepy-villain-like voice. Jean, who had been staring at the ceiling, turned toward Dio. "Barely," He replied. The word heavy with the remnants of his earlier anger and the alcohol that still coursed through him. Dio pulled up a chair and sat down. His eyes looked serious. "You know, you have every
Jean's arms wrapped around Alexa from behind, giving her warmth against the cold doubts that had taken hold in her heart. He whispered softly, "Come back to me, my love." His voice had a small order with some desperation in it. It felt like the whole world was just that hug, and her back against his heartbeat.Alexa said, "I... can't, really. Our relationship is a disaster... and this baby is an apocalypse to your family," her voice shaking. "I don't know what to do," she said again, with each word getting more broken than before. "It's alright. I will do everything to protect you. I will... I will sacrifice anything for the sake of your happiness. I will die for you if I have to."He turned Alexa around and slowly made her look towards him. His eyes looked deeply into hers, searching for a sign that she felt the same way with him. But Alexa, caught up in the storm of her thoughts, could only shake her head. Her big eyes showed the confusion she was feeling inside herself. She tried