Chapter 312

Chapter 312

The house was loud from the moment the sun rose.

Reid and Luna had been awake since 5 a.m., running laps through the hallway like two hyperactive puppies released from a cage. Sia was right behind them, giggling as she tried to keep up, her little feet pattering across the floor while Mira yelled from the living room:

“HEY! Stop running before one of you breaks your neck!”

They didn’t stop.

Of course they didn’t.

Birthdays in the Damian household were always chaotic, loud, and messy, but this one was special. It was the twins’ first birthday since Sia joined the family — officially, emotionally, and lovingly. Last week, she had whispered “Mom” to Serene for the very first time, and Serene had cried for almost an hour straight, hugging her like she would never let go.

And two days ago, Sia finally gathered the courage to call Damian “Dad.”

Today, she woke up and greeted him shyly with:

“Good morning, Daddy…”

Damian almost crashed into the wall.

Now, the house looked like a circus show. Balloons everywhere. Wrappers on the floor. Damian trying to tie ribbons that kept falling apart. Serene baking the last batch of cupcakes. Mira trying to braid Sia’s hair but failing because Sia kept turning excitedly every time Reid and Luna screamed.

“STOP MOVING!” Mira whined.

Sia giggled. “Sorry, Aunty.”

Mira melted.

The “Aunty” part was still new. It still made her choke up. She sniffed dramatically.

“Why are these children so cute? It’s evil. I’m being emotionally attacked.”

Serene laughed. “You love it.”

“I do,” Mira admitted. “Unfortunately.”

The twins zoomed into the living room again wearing matching inappropriate amounts of glitter on their faces.

Damian placed a hand on his forehead.

“What—why—how did you both get glitter? WHO gave you glitter?”

The twins pointed at each other.

Sia pointed at the twins.

Mira pointed at Serene.

Serene pointed at Damian.

Damian groaned. “This is betrayal on all levels.”

The laughter that followed was loud, warm, and perfect.

Sia stood there, soaking it all in — the love, the noise, the chaos she finally felt part of. She had never experienced this. Her birthdays in her old homes were either silent or forgotten. Today… she felt like she belonged.

She whispered softly, almost to herself:

“I have a family now.”

Serene heard it, turned, and hugged her tightly.

“Yes, sweetheart… you do.”

THE PARTY STARTS

By noon, the backyard looked like a mini-fair. A bouncy castle. A table full of sweets. Party hats everywhere. Damian even surprised the kids by bringing a magician.

Reid and Luna screamed more at the magician’s hat than the actual tricks.

Sia clapped timidly at first, then got louder, braver, happier.

The feeling inside her chest kept swelling — a mix of joy and something warm she didn’t know how to name.

Serene noticed her glow.

Damian noticed too.

“She’s really ours,” Serene whispered to him.

Damian nodded, quietly emotional. “She always was.”

Mira wiped her eyes. “Stop it, you’re making me cry again. I’m going to look ugly in the pictures.”

“You’re always ugly,” Damian teased.

Mira threw a cupcake at him.

They laughed until their stomachs hurt.

LATER — INSIDE THE HOUSE

After hours of screaming, bouncing, sugar-rush chaos, the children finally calmed down enough to sit with their toys. Damian had taken Reid and Luna upstairs to change clothes filled with icing. Serene was wiping Sia’s face and humming quietly.

Mira was helping pick up wrapping paper from the floor, but she seemed… distracted. Quiet. Nervous.

“Are you okay?” Serene asked, noticing.

Mira froze.

Then bit her lip.

Then looked around to make sure the kids were nowhere near.

She stepped close, lowered her voice.

“Serene… I have to tell you something.”

Serene straightened, sensing seriousness. “What is it?”

Mira inhaled shakily.

“I’m pregnant.”

Serene blinked.

Then blinked again.

“Pregnant… as in… pregnant?”

Mira nodded fast, eyes wide and scared. “Yes. Yes. Serene, I don’t know what to do. I don’t know if I want it. I don’t know how to tell Alec. I don’t even know how he’ll react. I don’t know if—”

Serene grabbed her hands.

“Mira. Breathe.”

Mira tried.

Failed.

Tried again.

Her eyes watered. “What if he doesn’t want it? What if he thinks I’m trapping him? What if—”

“Mira,” Serene said firmly, pulling her into a hug. “Alec loves you. And even if he didn’t, that baby is a blessing, not a mistake.”

Mira sniffed loudly.

“I’m scared.”

“I know,” Serene whispered. “But you’re not alone. You tell him. It’s his child.”

Mira nodded slowly, shakily, still trembling.

Neither of them realized…

Damian was standing behind the half-open door.

He had come to call them because the twins were screaming about a broken toy.

But instead… he froze.

He heard everything.

His eyes widened slightly — not in judgment, not in anger, but in surprise.

He stepped back quietly, not wanting to intrude.

But he wasn’t the only one who heard.

Reid and Luna had followed him.

They stood behind him, holding their teddy bears, listening.

Luna gasped dramatically.

Reid whispered loudly:

“Mira has a baby in her tummy?!”

Damian slapped a hand over Reid’s mouth. “REEIDDD—”

But it was too late.

Because someone had just walked through the front door.

The worst possible person.

Alec.

ALEC ENTERS — AND HEARS EVERYTHING

“Alec?” Damian said, startled.

Alec waved casually. “Hey, man. The gate was open so I just—”

Then he froze.

Because Luna ran forward, unable to contain herself, yelling at the top of her lungs:

“UNCLE ALEC, MIRA HAS A BABY IN HER TUMMY!”

The entire house went silent.

Mira inside the living room went rigid.

Serene’s eyes widened into full saucers.

Damian rubbed his face.

Alec… stood like a statue.

His mouth parted slightly.

His eyes moved slowly from Luna…

…to Reid…

…to the hallway…

…to the living room where Mira stepped out, pale and frozen.

“Alec…” she whispered, voice cracking.

Alec swallowed.

Long.

Hard.

“What… did she just say?” he asked softly.

Reid proudly repeated:

“She has a baby! In her stomach! A real one!”

Luna nodded aggressively.

“It’s tiny but growing!”

Serene nearly fainted.

Damian muttered under his breath, “Why do my children expose every secret like breaking news reporters?”

But Alec wasn’t hearing anything else.

His entire world had just shifted.

He stared at Mira.

Mira stared back, terrified.

The air thickened.

Silence stretched.

And stretched.

And stretched.

Alec took one slow step toward her.

Then another.

His voice was low, trembling, disbelieving.

“Mira… are you… pregnant?”

Mira opened her mouth to answer—

Tears in her eyes…

Hands shaking…

Heart pounding…

And then—