Chapter One Hundred Thirty Four: The Apology That Changed Everything
The morning after the fight, the mansion was suffocating.
No one spoke. No one laughed. Percy sat quietly for once. Honey held his hand. Akshi hadn't slept. Chethan hadn't left her side.
Jay sat at the kitchen table, one hand on her belly, the other wrapped around cold coffee. Keifer stood behind her, his hand on her shoulder.
Shreya's door was still closed.
Mithun had spent the night in the hallway. Sitting against the wall. Waiting.
---
At 7 AM, the door opened.
Shreya stepped out.
She looked terrible. Pale. Dark circles. Eyes swollen. But she was out.
Mithun stood slowly. "Shreya."
She didn't look at him.
"I need to go to the bathroom."
"Shreya, please—"
She walked past him.
---
He followed her to the bathroom door.
Waited.
When she came out, he was still there.
"Shreya. Please. Just let me talk."
She tried to walk past.
He blocked her.
"Mithun—"
"Just five minutes. That's all I'm asking."
Her eyes filled with tears. "I can't."
"Please."
"I can't do this right now."
"Then when? When can we talk? Because I can't—" His voice cracked. "I can't lose you."
---
She stopped.
Her hand was on the doorknob.
She didn't turn.
"You're not going to lose me."
"Then why won't you look at me?"
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because if I look at you, I'll forgive you. And I'm not ready to forgive you."
---
She went back into her room.
The door closed.
Mithun stood there.
Alone.
---
An hour passed.
Shreya came out again.
Dressed. Hair brushed. Pale but determined.
She walked to the kitchen.
Everyone watched her.
She poured coffee. Sat at the table.
Mithun stood in the doorway.
---
"Shreya."
She looked up.
"I'm sorry."
The words hung in the air.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I'm sorry I met her. I'm sorry I let her touch me. I'm sorry I made you feel like you weren't enough. You're more than enough. You're everything."
She stared at him.
Tears filled her eyes.
---
"I was stupid," he continued. "I was careless. I thought it was nothing, so I didn't mention it. But it wasn't nothing. It was something. It hurt you. And I'm sorry."
She opened her mouth to respond.
Her eyes rolled back.
She collapsed.
---
Mithun caught her before she hit the floor.
"SHREYA!"
Everyone moved.
Akshi screamed. Chethan held her back.
Jay stood, belly first, Keifer catching her arm.
Percy ran for water. Honey ran for a blanket.
C.N. was there in seconds. "Move back. Give her space."
He knelt beside her.
Took her pulse.
Checked her breathing.
---
"She's breathing. Pulse is weak but steady." He looked up. "Has she eaten?"
Akshi shook her head. "Not since yesterday."
"Slept?"
"I don't think so."
C.N. nodded slowly. "Exhaustion. Dehydration. Stress. Her body just shut down."
"Is she going to be okay?"
He didn't answer immediately. His fingers pressed gently against her wrist, counting. Then he looked at her pale face.
Then at her stomach.
---
"Help me get her to the couch. Gently."
Mithun carried her. Laid her down.
C.N. sat beside her. Took her hand. Checked her pulse again.
"She needs water. And food. And rest." He paused. "And I need to run some tests."
Akshi's face went white. "What kind of tests?"
C.N. looked at her. Then at Shreya's still form.
"She's been exhausted for weeks. Not eating properly. Mood swings. And now fainting." He paused. "I want to check something."
---
He pulled a small kit from his bag.
Mithun's eyes widened. "What are you doing?"
"Trust me."
He drew a small amount of blood. Ran a test.
Everyone watched.
The room was silent.
---
C.N. looked at the result.
His face went through several expressions.
Then he smiled.
---
"She's pregnant."
The room went silent.
Mithun stared. "What?"
"About eight weeks. That's why she fainted. Her body is exhausted. She hasn't been eating. She hasn't been sleeping. And now she's growing a baby."
Shreya's eyes fluttered open.
She heard the words.
Her hand went to her stomach.
"A baby?"
"A baby."
---
She looked at Mithun.
He looked at her.
"I'm pregnant," she whispered.
"You're pregnant."
"We're having a baby."
"We're having a baby."
She started crying. He pulled her into his arms.
---
The room erupted.
Akshi screamed. "A BABY! SHREYA'S HAVING A BABY!"
Chethan held her. "I know! I know!"
Percy was crying. "A BABY! ANOTHER BABY!"
Honey hugged him. "Babe, calm down."
"I CAN'T! BABY!"
Jay leaned against Keifer, crying. "Another one."
"Another one."
"Our family keeps growing."
"The best kind."
---
C.N. stood, making notes. "Eight weeks. You need to start eating properly. Sleeping properly. Prenatal vitamins. Regular checkups."
Mithun nodded. "I'll make sure she does."
"You'll need to monitor her stress levels. The fainting was caused by exhaustion and dehydration, but stress contributed."
"I'll take care of her."
C.N. looked at him. "I know you will."
---
Shreya was still crying.
Mithun held her.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"I know."
"I was stupid."
"You were."
"But I love you."
"I know."
"And this baby—"
"This baby is ours."
He kissed her forehead. "I'm not going anywhere."
"You better not."
---
Later, after everyone had calmed down, Shreya and Mithun sat on the balcony.
"You scared me," he said.
"I scared myself."
"You fainted."
"Because I'm growing a human."
He put his hand on her stomach. "A tiny human."
"Our tiny human."
She leaned into him. "I'm sorry for the divorce thing."
"I'm sorry for the ex thing."
"Can we just... not fight anymore?"
"We can try."
"Try harder."
He laughed. "Okay."
---
Jay and Keifer watched from their own balcony.
"Another baby," she said.
"Another baby."
"Our baby's going to have a cousin."
"The best cousin."
She touched her belly. "They'll grow up together."
"Chaos together."
"Beautiful chaos together."
He kissed her forehead. "I love you."
"I love you too."
---
The news spread fast.
Percy called everyone. Honey tried to stop him. Failed.
Aries and Ella arrived within the hour. Ella was crying. Aries was smiling.
Kuya Angelo came with Ion. He looked at Shreya. At Mithun. At the hand on her belly.
"Another one."
"Another one."
He almost smiled. "Good."
---
Tita Gemma arrived with food. "A BABY! SHREYA IS HAVING A BABY!"
Tito Rachel followed with more food. "She's been cooking since 5 AM."
"I'M A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER AGAIN!"
"You're not a grandmother. You're an aunt."
"SAME THING!"
---
That night, everyone gathered for dinner.
Shreya ate. Actually ate. Mithun watched her like she was the most precious thing in the world.
Because she was.
Percy raised his glass. "TO SHREYA AND MITHUN! TO THE BABY! TO NO MORE FIGHTING!"
Honey sighed. "Percy, that's not a toast."
"IT IS NOW!"
"TO SHREYA AND MITHUN!" everyone echoed.
---
C.N. sat in the corner, making notes.
Rakii sat beside him. "You're working."
"I'm documenting. For medical records."
"You're smiling."
He paused. "I'm pleased with the outcome."
"You're happy for them."
"I'm... pleased."
She kissed his cheek. "You're soft."
"I'm professional."
"Soft professional."
He didn't deny it.
---
Jay leaned against Keifer.
"Our family."
"The best family."
She kissed his cheek.
He kissed her forehead.
The chaos continued.
But for one moment—
Everything was perfect.
---
End of Chapter One Hundred Thirty Four