Chapter 101 CHAPTER 101
Preggers!
The morning sun stretched lazily over the Tokyo skyline, slipping through the curtains of the mansion in gold strips that cut across the polished floors and the green of the garden below. The world was still waking, soft light bathing everything in a gentle clarity, and the mansion felt momentarily at peace.
The kids had gone to school, their small uniforms carrying them into the mundane rhythm of life outside this house. A rhythm that had once been fractured, that now somehow hinted at stability. Ares and Julian were seated in the garden, the marble fountain at the center casting gentle ripples over the water as the early breeze moved through the wisteria and hedges. The garden smelled faintly of jasmine and damp earth, a delicate mix that always reminded Ares of Tessa.
Julian leaned back in his chair, one hand resting on the armrest, the other idly turning a coffee cup. “Business looks tighter this week,” he said, eyes scanning the small skyline visible over the hedge walls. “The contracts from the Tokyo branch are due by Friday. You want me to handle the meeting for you, or you going to sit in?”
Ares didn’t take his eyes off the fountain. “I’ll sit in. It’s important I see the team’s reactions in real time. Plus…” His gaze drifted toward the house for a split second, then back to Julian. “…it’s been a long time since I’ve had some quiet in this garden. I want to remember it before it all turns chaotic again. Good thing Tessa isn’t paying attention to Chloe anymore.”
Julian nodded, understanding more in the silence than words could convey. “Quiet is a luxury in our line of work.”
The conversation waned, leaving only the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant hum of the city below. It was the kind of calm that felt temporary, like the pause before the storm, but Ares savored it anyway.
Then Chloe appeared.
She was walking down the garden path, her legs crunching lightly against the stone, her hair catching the sunlight, gold with faint strands of honey. As she reached the edge of the fountain, she tilted forward slightly, pretending to stumble.
Ares reacted instantly. His chair scraped softly against the stone as he pushed to his feet. One hand shot out, catching her by the elbow, steadying her in a protective grip.
Chloe let herself be guided, her weight supported entirely by him. His chest pressed slightly against her side as he helped her sit on the garden bench, a hand lingering on her back. She exhaled softly, just loud enough for him to hear, a feigned relief that made her eyes glint mischievously.
“Careful,” Ares said, voice low and steady. “You almost fell.”
Chloe smiled faintly, looking up at him with a practiced softness. “Thanks…for catching me.”
Julian’s eyes flicked between the two of them, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. He leaned back, shaking his head slightly, as though observing a delicate play unfold in front of him.
From the second floor balcony, Tessa watched. She stood by the open window, arms folded loosely, a frown creasing her brow. The sunlight caught the edges of her hair as she leaned slightly forward, watching Chloe nestle into Ares’s attention with the subtle, effortless charm that always seemed to disarm him.
Her chest tightened. The sight of Chloe there, the way Ares’s hand rested lightly on her back, even in a simple gesture of help, ignited a swirl of emotions she couldn’t quite name — jealousy, anxiety, and a sudden, inexplicable determination.
Tessa turned from the balcony and left the room silently. She made her way down the street to the small pharmacy just a few blocks from the mansion. The aisles smelled of antiseptic and faint floral perfume, the air filled with the soft hum of fluorescent lights. She walked straight to the pregnancy test section, selecting two strips carefully, checking the expiration dates, and tucking them into her purse.
Back at the mansion, she moved to the bathroom. The sunlight poured through the frosted window, casting soft shadows on the tiles. She placed the two strips on the counter and, with a marker, marked them each with two bold lines.
When she was done, she washed her hands and left the bathroom quietly, the strips tucked neatly into a small envelope. Her heart pounded, but her steps were steady. There was no rush, just focus, determination, and the calm that comes from finally deciding to act.
The garden had shifted slightly while she was gone. Ares still sat beside Chloe, the breeze brushing the hem of his white shirt sleeves, catching the pale sunlight on the fabric. Julian leaned back, relaxed but alert, scanning the garden and the fountain as though it might reveal secrets if he looked long enough. Chloe laughed softly at something Ares had said, a sound deliberate yet light, curling around the still air.
Tessa stepped into the garden quietly, holding the envelope in her hand. She didn’t speak. She walked past the fountain, past the table where Ares and Chloe sat, and set the envelope down gently in the center. The two pregnancy strips peeked out slightly from the top.
Ares looked down, eyes narrowing at the small envelope. Chloe’s smile faltered for the briefest second, curiosity and concern mingling on her face. Julian leaned forward, squinting at the object, his lips twitching with amusement.
He picked it up, peering at the strips, then looked at Ares, trying and failing to suppress a laugh. “Congratulations,” Julian said, his voice tight with barely contained mirth. “Looks like…maybe Chloe’s going to give you twins. And…well…” He glanced at the other strip, then back at Ares, “maybe Tessa’s planning triplets this time.”
Ares froze. His gaze went from Julian to Chloe, then finally rested on Tessa. Chloe’s lips parted slightly, a soft exhale escaping her, though her eyes stayed fixed on Tessa.
The three of them sat there, the garden holding its breath. The water in the fountain rippled gently, the fairy lights strung along the hedges flickering faintly as the breeze moved through them. A single leaf drifted lazily across the surface of the marble table, brushing the edge of the envelope like the world itself was waiting for something to unfold.
Tessa’s eyes met Ares’s. There was no anger, no tears, no need for explanation. Her expression was calm, resolute. She did not smile, did not frown. She simply looked at him, and through that quiet gaze, she said more than words could convey.
Ares’s chest tightened, a complex knot of emotions forming behind his steady expression.
Chloe’s fingers toyed nervously with the edge of her skirt, her attention between Ares and Tessa. She wanted to speak, to make a joke, to diffuse the tension, but the words wouldn’t come. She felt the calm strength radiating from Tessa, and even she could not ignore it.
Julian leaned back in his chair again, shaking his head, trying not to laugh outright. “Well,” he said finally, voice quiet but tinged with disbelief. “This is…certainly one for the books.”
Ares’s hand hovered over the envelope but did not reach for it. He simply looked at Tessa.