The next day was finally the weekend, and Andrew went to pick the children up to spend the day at his house. To ensure they wouldn't experience a single moment of boredom while staying indoors all day, he had proactively bought an abundance of games, toys, and activities. Playing, however, was not the only thing on their agenda. Together as a family, they also huddled up to watch cartoons and a variety of family movies. Later on, they all drifted into the kitchen to cooperate on preparing a few simple, delicious dishes for dinner.
As evening approached, Andrew became adamant about not letting them leave just yet, enthusiastically suggesting a sleepover instead. The kids were absolutely thrilled by the prospect, jumping with excitement, but their mother, Stephanie, remained hesitant. She politely listed various reasons why staying overnight might not be the best idea, but Andrew countered every single objection with a practical solution. Caught between the children's eager faces and Andrew's persistence, Stephanie finally gave up, smiled, and said, "Okay."
Thankfully, the assortment of items Andrew had purchased earlier included a collection of colorful storybooks. When bedtime arrived, Stephanie picked out one of the books and began reading it aloud to the kids. While the story was underway, Andrew quietly stepped into the room, eager to join in on the bedtime routine. He lay down on the far side of the bed next to Arya. Seeing her daddy lying right there beside her, Arya immediately stood up, climbed onto his chest, and curled up until she was perfectly comfortable. "Daddy, sleep with us," Arya pleaded softly, looking up at him. Andrew glanced toward the doorway, offering a gentle smile. "I wish I could, princess, but I don't think your mommy will approve of that just yet."
Arya turned to her mommy and pleaded, "Please mommy, let daddy sleep with us, pleeasse..."
"I'm sorry, baby, but daddy can't..."
"Please, Lily. I feel very lonely sleeping alone while knowing you guys are sleeping right next door," Andy pleaded.
"But Andy..."
"Please. We can sleep with the children between us. A whole, perfect family," he interrupted again. "I will hold you responsible if I encounter insomnia tomorrow morning."
Though his last words were not something she would have normally considered, she still agreed to let him sleep with them.
The next morning, Stephanie woke up to find out she was the only one in bed. She decided to take the chance and take a bath. Throughout her cleanup, she was blushing since she was using Andy's toiletries. When she was done, she searched through his closet to find something to wear. Thankfully, she found a long t-shirt and shorts to wear.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, the kids and their father were busy preparing breakfast.
"Daddy, I want to cut the vegetables," Arya cooed.
"No, princess. You might cut your hand. Here, sit here and wash the veggies," Obed stay beside the blender. When it's done, press here to stop it, hmm?" he instructed. He showed Obed where to press on the blender and sat Arya on the countertop. He started to cut the vegetables, and that was when they heard Stephanie greet them, "Good morning."
The three of them turned toward her. While the kids responded with a greeting, Andy just stared. He was awestruck. Six years... it had been six years since he last saw her in his t-shirt. Her curves had filled out, and her skin had a healthy glow. She looked so different from six years ago when she used to work tirelessly under the hot sun. Back then, she lived in a cramped, barely comfortable apartment and had to stay up late to study because she worked all day. Now, she was much more beautiful, carrying far less physical, mental, and emotional stress. Things were no longer like they used to be. The young Stephanie, whose problems once seemed as countless as leaves on a tree, had grown into a wonderful woman. What made him fall for her even more after six years was who she had become through that suffering—a great mother, a capable businesswoman, a wonderful role model and a perfect wife.
The woman standing before him, draped in his oversized T-shirt and looking effortlessly beautiful, was his wife. He could not wait for the day he could finally tell her she was legally his.
While he was lost in this daydream, a sharp, sudden pain pierced his hand, jolting him back to reality. He looked down to find himself bleeding heavily.
"Oh, Daddy, you cut your finger!" Arya exclaimed.
Stephanie rushed to his side instantly. "Let me see," she said, gently taking his hand to examine the wound. Her face was a mask of pure worry and distress.
"Don't worry, it's not severe," Andrew said, trying to comfort her.
"You call this not severe?" Her voice carried a sharp, scolding tone that, oddly enough, thrilled him to the core. It felt nostalgic. Six years ago, she used to scold him just like this whenever she stayed overnight at his place and caught him working past midnight.
Stephanie tightly wrapped a kitchen towel around his bleeding finger and guided him toward the living room. Back in the kitchen, Arya was left stranded on top of the counter.
"Obed, help me down," she called out to her brother.
"You know you should say please when asking for help." Obed pointed out, crossing his arms. Arya rolled her eyes dramatically at her brother. "With you? Never!" she refused, crossing her arms stubbornly. "You are just so narcissistic. If you don't say please, I won't help you," Obed lamented firmly, refusing to back down. "But you have to remember that you owe me a favor from when I saved you from sitting with those two annoying girls at school... use that favor to help me now," Arya bargained. Realizing she had a point, Obed had no choice but to help his sister. "Fine, but we will be completely even after I help you," he muttered, making sure they understood each other perfectly. "Yeah, yeah..." Arya mumbled, nodding her head repeatedly in agreement.
Obed carefully pulled the heavy kitchen stool under Arya's feet to support her, gently helping her step down safely to the floor. Together, they both rushed into the living room, only to find their mother furiously scolding their father. "Mommy, please don't scold daddy! He was only trying his best to prepare a nice food for us all," Arya pleaded, instantly defending her father. "Well, Daddy should be much more careful and not worry mommy so much," Obed countered, quickly defending their mother's frustration. The two kids kept on defending opposite sides and arguing back and forth. Watching them, Stephanie knew that unless she did something to stop them right now, they would continue bickering until night fell. "Obed, stop arguing and go bring the first aid box," Stephanie instructed her son, interrupting the chaos. "It is located in the bathroom cabinet, right inside the first drawer."
After a while, when Obed had gone away to fetch the medical supplies, the loud ring of the doorbell suddenly echoed through the house. "Don't worry, mommy, I will open it!" Arya shouted excitedly as she ran quickly to the entrance, and with a heavy effort, she pushed the large door open to see who was outside.
The person whose face came into view made Stephanie's heart skip a beat. Ice flooded her veins as she stared at the woman standing on the porch. Why hadn't Andrew told her his mother was coming? He had even insisted Stephanie stay the night, leaving her completely unprepared for an ambush by her mother-in-law.
She looked at Andrew, her eyes narrowing into a sharp, displeased glare. He immediately recognized the panicked fury in her expression. "I didn't know she would come today," he whispered softly, his voice trembling slightly as he stood up.
Andrew walked toward the entrance to welcome his mother. Stephanie forced herself to follow a few steps behind. When they reached the door, Stephanie swallowed her pride and offered a polite greeting. "Good evening, Mrs. Gray."
The older woman barely acknowledged her, offering only a cold, dismissive nod. Mrs. Gray had planned this sudden arrival to surprise her son, but the sight of Stephanie's shoes in the hallway meant the tables had turned. Her husband had warned her, claiming his men heard rumors that Andrew had secretly married. She had refused to believe it. If it were true, surely Claudia—the woman they had always chosen for him—would have called to tell them. Looking at Stephanie now, the bitter truth clicked into place. Mrs. Gray finally understood why her son had married in complete secrecy. It is because he married the wrong person, she thought bitterly. Where on earth is Claudia?
"Mom... please, come in," Andrew said, breaking the suffocating silence.
Mrs. Gray didn't say a word. She stepped past Stephanie as if she were a ghost, her heels clicking sharply against the hardwood floor. Andrew quickly reached for her heavy suitcase to help.
From behind the couch, a tiny voice broke the tension. Arya stepped out, tightly gripping her father's hand. "Daddy, is she our grandma?" the little girl asked, her large eyes blinking cutely up at the stern visitor.
The innocent voice immediately drew Mrs. Gray's attention. Her rigid posture softened just a fraction as her sharp gaze locked onto the child.
"Yes, princess. She is your grandma."