Chapter 102 Chapter 102
Chapter 102 Chapter 102
I stayed in the room while the boys played, though I wasn’t exactly sure why. Maybe it was because I didn’t want to be alone. Maybe it was because Ace’s presence still calmed the lingering remnants of the dream. Or maybe it was because part of me didn’t trust Michael—not after the way his smirk lingered a little too long, or the way he blew kisses when he thought Ace wasn’t looking.
Either way, I remained there.
Ace sat cross-legged, controller in hand, completely absorbed, his focus narrowed to the pixelated battleground on the screen. Michael sat beside him, leaning forward with exaggerated intensity, his elbows on his knees, controller clenched like it was an extension of his hand.
The two of them were locked in another heated match. It was the third since I woke up. And as usual, Ace was losing.
Again.
Michael wasn’t being subtle about it either; every win came with a dramatic, obnoxious celebration. “OH! OH! WHO IS THE KING? WHO?” he shouted, pointing at himself with both thumbs as the victory music played. “That’s right, Ace! Daddy’s home!”
Ace groaned, flopping backwards onto the chair.
“Stop calling yourself Daddy. It’s weird.”
“It’s only weird because you’re losing. And you’ll keep losing no matter how many times you try to beat me. I’ll keep winning again, and again, and again, and again.”
“Wow, Michael... ever heard of the word humility?” Ace shook his head.
“What’s that?” Michael chuckled. “It’s certainly not a word for kings.”
I cracked a small smile despite myself. For a few minutes, things felt… normal. Michael then turned his attention toward me. I felt it before I even looked at him. It was the way his energy shifted, the way he angled his body so he could see me out of the corner of his eye.
“So, Sabrina…” he began, sliding his voice into that playful, taunting tone he loved so much. “Enjoying the show? I can give you a private one later if you want.”
Ace’s eyes didn’t leave the screen, but his voice sharpened.
“Michael.”
It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t angry. Just a warning. A quiet, deadly serious warning.
Michael blinked, then forced a laugh. “Relax, man. I’m kidding.” He shot me a grin that said he wasn’t kidding at all.
I didn’t respond.
Not with words.
I just shifted my weight on the bed and folded my arms, making it clear I wasn’t interested in entertaining him.
Ace’s gaze flicked toward me quickly, before snapping back to the game.
The match resumed.
Michael kept trying every few minutes to pull my attention.
“Hey, Sabrina, tell Ace he sucks.”
“Sabrina, who do you think is gonna win this round?”
“Sabrinaaa—come on, say something. Don’t be shy.”
But Ace cut him off each time.
“Michael, play.”
“Stop distracting her.”
“Dude. Seriously.”
I appreciated it. Every little interruption. Every boundary he placed. Every moment he made sure I wasn’t uncomfortable again. Even if he didn’t realize it, it meant everything.
Time passed like that slowly, filled with the clicking of buttons and Michael’s loud commentary, until the sound of a car door slamming shut in the driveway echoed faintly through the walls.
Ace froze mid-game. Michael paused the screen. And I lifted my head.
That sound could only mean one thing. Scott was home.
Before any of us could move, the familiar, booming voice filled the house.
“Ace!”
It wasn’t a shout of anger.
It was warm. Happy and excited.
“ACE! Come down here!”
Ace blinked, confused. “What the—?”
We all scrambled to our feet and hurried out of the room. Ace pushed ahead, Michael right behind him, practically skipping. I followed, heart, picking up speed, but not from fear this time, just curiosity.
We reached the stair rail at the same time, all of us leaning over slightly to get a look.
Scott was standing inside the foyer, still in his casual sports outfit, with a tennis bag slung over one shoulder. He looked refreshed and energized. The opposite of how I’d last seen him earlier in the day.
When his eyes lifted and found us at the rail, his face broke into a huge smile.
“Ace!” he called again. “Come down here, boy!”
Ace furrowed his brows. “Dad, what is going on?”
Scott didn’t answer. He just grinned… a grin way too mischievous for a man his age.
Michael nudged Ace’s shoulder repeatedly. “Oooh, mysteryyy. Maybe he found out what you’ve been doing with his wife behind closed doors.”
“Michael, stop it,” Ace shot a glare at him.
“I bet he bought you a puppy. Or a car,” Michael continued. “Or, I don’t know—therapy?”
“Will you just shut up?” Ace hissed, swatting him away.
I leaned toward Scott. “How was your game?” I asked softly.
“Oh, darling... it was tiring,” Scott answered, still smiling. “But good. Really good.”
“Dad, seriously,” Ace said impatently. “What’s the surprise?”
Scott’s grin widened.
“Come down, Ace. You’ll see.”
The tension in the air shifted, an anticipatory kind of buzz. Ace sighed, defeated, and started toward the stairs. Michael followed closely behind, bouncing on his heels. I trailed them, careful on each step, heart fluttering with curiosity, confusion, and a little nervousness.
We reached the last step. And then—
“You won’t believe who I have with me, Ace,” Scott chuckled.
The entrance door swung open. A girl rushed in, and it wasn’t just any girl.
She was extraordinarily beautiful.
She had a bright smile. It was big, warm, and so genuinely cheerful it filled the whole room instantly. Her hair bounced around her shoulders in loose curls, her outfit casual but effortlessly cute. She radiated confidence and friendly energy, the kind that made even the mansion feel too small to contain it.
“HI!!” she said, waving excitedly at all of us.
I blinked, startled.
Michael choked on his own laughter, doubling over as if he already knew everything that was about to unfold. Ace froze.
Completely.
Like his soul momentarily left his body.
I leaned slightly toward Scott and whispered, “Who is she?”
But before Scott could answer—
Michael yelled at the top of his lungs, still laughing.
“That’s ACE’S GIRLFRIEND!!”
…and that was the moment everything stopped.