Chapter 128– Yuri's Fiancé & Teasing
1:37 AM
After The New York Grand Gala
The gala was over.
---
Finally.
---
Everyone was exhausted.
---
Socializing.
---
Dancing.
---
Smiling at rich people.
---
Listening to speeches.
---
Pretending to enjoy speeches.
---
It was tiring.
---
Very tiring.
---
The Cars
Started leaving one by one.
---
The mansion crew occupied several vehicles.
---
And somehow—
---
The loudest car became the quietest.
---
Because in the front seat—
---
Care Patel
Was asleep.
---
Completely asleep.
---
Her head resting against Cole.
---
One arm wrapped around him.
---
Refusing to let go.
---
Even unconsciously.
---
Cole
Driving.
---
Trying very hard not to smile.
---
Failing.
---
Badly.
---
Because every few minutes—
---
Care would move closer.
---
And somehow become even more attached.
---
Like a very sleepy koala.
---
Care
Half asleep.
---
Mumbled something.
---
Cole
"What?"
---
Care
Incomprehensible sleepy doctor noises.
---
Cole
"I agree."
---
He had absolutely no idea what she said.
---
Care
Immediately happy.
---
Still asleep.
---
Cole
Smiled.
---
Like an idiot.
---
Behind Them
Another Car
---
JJ
Looking through the window.
---
JJ
"..."
---
Percy
"..."
---
Keifer
"..."
---
JJ
"I KNOW SOMETHING HAPPENED."
---
Percy
"Obviously."
---
JJ
"LOOK AT THEM."
---
Keifer
Trying not to laugh.
---
Failed.
---
JJ
"I'M GOING TO EXPLODE."
---
Percy
"Please don't."
---
JJ
"HE'S SMILING."
---
Percy
"That is concerning."
---
JJ
"VERY."
---
Mansion
2:14 AM
The cars arrived.
---
Everyone climbed out.
---
Stretching.
---
Yawning.
---
Complaining.
---
Then they looked toward Cole's car.
---
And immediately stopped.
---
Because—
---
Care was still asleep.
---
Completely asleep.
---
Still attached to Cole.
---
Like her life depended on it.
---
Aera
...
---
Rhys
...
---
Lyra
...
---
Alex
...
---
Freya
...
---
Entire Mansion
...
---
JJ
OH MY GOD.
---
Percy
OH MY GOD.
---
Keifer
OH MY GOD.
---
Cole
"Quiet."
---
JJ
YOU SAID THAT LIKE A HUSBAND.
---
Cole
...
---
Percy
HE DID.
---
Then
Cole carefully unbuckled Care's seatbelt.
---
She immediately wrapped herself around him.
---
Still asleep.
---
Care
Sleepily.
---
"Cole..."
---
Entire Group
...
---
Aera
I'm recording this.
---
Rhys
Send me the recording.
---
Aera
Already did.
---
Cole
Traitors.
---
JJ
We learned from the best.
---
And then—
---
Cole lifted Care.
---
Effortlessly.
---
One arm under her knees.
---
One supporting her back.
---
Care immediately buried her face into his neck.
---
Still asleep.
---
Still refusing to let go.
---
Percy
She's literally hugging him like a koala.
---
Freya
A very possessive koala.
---
Aera
An Australian national treasure.
---
Care
Still sleeping.
---
Care
"No."
---
Rhys
No what?
---
Care
"Mine."
---
Silence.
---
Complete silence.
---
JJ
AAAAAAAAAAAAAA—
---
Keifer
Covered her mouth.
---
Immediately.
---
JJ
MMMMMMMMMMM—
---
Percy
She's going to explode.
---
Keifer
I know.
---
Fifteen Minutes Later
Living Room
---
Care had finally been carried upstairs.
---
Still asleep.
---
Still attached.
---
And now—
---
Everyone was staring at Cole.
---
Waiting.
---
Cole
"..."
---
JJ
"..."
---
Percy
"..."
---
Aera
"..."
---
Rhys
"..."
---
Keifer
"..."
---
Cole
"No."
---
JJ
YES.
---
Percy
YES.
---
Aera
YES.
---
Entire Room
YES.
---
Cole
...
---
Keifer
Brother.
---
Cole
...
---
Keifer
Tell us.
---
JJ
TELL US.
---
Percy
TELL US.
---
Aera
I WILL COMMIT CRIMES IF YOU DON'T.
---
Rhys
That's not helping.
---
Aera
I know.
---
Finally—
---
Cole sighed.
---
Then—
---
For the first time—
---
He said it.
---
Cole
"We're together."
---
Silence.
---
For exactly one second.
---
Then—
---
THE MANSION EXPLODED.
---
JJ
SCREAMING.
---
Aera
SCREAMING.
---
Freya
SCREAMING.
---
Percy
SCREAMING.
---
Rhys
Laughing.
---
Lyra
Laughing.
---
Alex
Actually smiling.
---
Keifer
Looking absurdly proud.
---
Like he'd personally arranged it.
---
JJ
WHEN?
---
Percy
HOW?
---
Aera
WHO CONFESSED FIRST?
---
Freya
WHO KISSED WHO?
---
Rhys
Ignore that question.
---
Aera
Never.
---
Cole
Trying very hard not to smile.
---
Failed.
---
Again.
---
Keifer
Brother.
---
Cole
What?
---
Keifer
You're grinning.
---
Cole
No I'm not.
---
JJ
YOU ARE.
---
Percy
IT'S TERRIFYING.
---
Aera
HE LOOKS HAPPY.
---
Rhys
I've never seen this before.
---
Keifer
Neither have I.
---
And for the next two hours—
---
Cole Watson.
---
Feared by corporations.
---
Feared by governments.
---
Feared by criminals.
---
Was relentlessly bullied by his own family.
---
While upstairs—
---
Care slept peacefully.
---
Completely unaware.
---
That her boyfriend was currently being interrogated by twenty people.
---
And losing.
---
Very badly.
---
Watson-Mariano Mansion
8:47 AM
For the first time in months—
---
Care Patel slept peacefully.
---
No surgeries.
---
No emergency calls.
---
No hospital alarms.
---
No Aera starting arguments before breakfast.
---
Just peace.
---
Beautiful.
---
Wonderful.
---
Temporary.
---
Because downstairs—
---
The mansion had already discovered something dangerous.
---
Very dangerous.
---
Care Patel had no idea everyone knew.
---
Dining Room
8:15 AM
---
Everyone was already gathered.
---
Everyone.
---
JJ.
---
Keifer.
---
Percy.
---
Rhys.
---
Aera.
---
Lyra.
---
Alex.
---
Freya.
---
Edrix.
---
Aries.
---
Ella.
---
Rakhi.
---
Cin.
---
Mica.
---
Calix.
---
David.
---
Felix.
---
Rory.
---
Eman.
---
Grace.
---
Denzel.
---
Even little Grazel Jay.
---
All waiting.
---
Like predators.
---
JJ
Looking toward the staircase.
---
JJ
"How much longer?"
---
Percy
"You're acting like we're waiting for a movie."
---
JJ
"We are."
---
Aera
"The season finale."
---
Rhys
"You people need help."
---
Aera
"We know."
---
Meanwhile
Upstairs
---
Care slowly opened her eyes.
---
Blink.
---
Blink.
---
Stretch.
---
Pause.
---
Care
"..."
---
Something felt different.
---
Very different.
---
Then she remembered.
---
The gala.
---
The hallway.
---
Cole.
---
The confession.
---
The kiss.
---
The—
---
Care
Immediately buried her face in a pillow.
---
Care
"Oh my God."
---
Her ears turned red.
---
Then her cheeks.
---
Then probably her soul.
---
Care
"Oh no."
---
Because now she had to face people.
---
Actual people.
---
Who would definitely know.
---
At least—
---
She hoped nobody knew.
---
Five Minutes Later
Staircase
---
Care walked downstairs.
---
Trying to look normal.
---
Trying very hard.
---
Failing immediately.
---
Because the second she appeared—
---
Everyone looked up.
---
At once.
---
Silence.
---
Absolute silence.
---
Care
...
---
Entire Mansion
...
---
Care
"...Why are you all staring at me?"
---
JJ
Suddenly stood.
---
JJ
GOOD MORNING MRS. WATSON.
---
BOOM.
---
Care
...
---
Care
...
---
Care
...
---
Care
"JASPER JEAN MARIANO."
---
JJ
Started running.
---
Immediately.
---
Care
"COME BACK HERE."
---
Percy
She's awake.
---
Aera
Very awake.
---
Ten Minutes Later
Breakfast Table
---
Care finally sat down.
---
Trying to recover.
---
Impossible.
---
Because everyone kept smiling.
---
And smirking.
---
And looking suspicious.
---
Care
Why are you all being weird?
---
Rhys
We're not.
---
Aera
We're absolutely being weird.
---
Rhys
Aera.
---
Aera
What?
---
Care
...
---
Freya
...
---
Mica
...
---
JJ
...
---
Care
I don't trust any of you.
---
Entire Table
Good.
---
Then
The front door opened.
---
And in walked—
---
Cole Watson.
---
Fresh from a morning meeting.
---
Coffee in hand.
---
Perfect suit.
---
Perfect posture.
---
Perfect timing.
---
Because everyone immediately became interested.
---
Very interested.
---
Cole
Morning.
---
Care
Morning.
---
Silence.
---
JJ
...
---
Percy
...
---
Aera
...
---
Rhys
...
---
Keifer
...
---
Cole
...
---
Care
...
---
JJ
THAT'S IT?
---
Care
What?
---
JJ
THAT'S YOUR GOOD MORNING?
---
Percy
I expected more.
---
Aera
Same.
---
Care
WHAT WERE YOU EXPECTING?
---
JJ
I DON'T KNOW.
---
Percy
Something dramatic.
---
Keifer
They're disappointed.
---
Cole
I can see that.
---
Then
Little Grazel Jay climbed onto a chair.
---
Looking between Care and Cole.
---
Thinking very hard.
---
Dangerous.
---
Very dangerous.
---
Grazel
Uncle Cole?
---
Cole
Yes?
---
Grazel
Are you Care's boyfriend now?
---
Silence.
---
The mansion died.
---
Immediately.
---
Care
...
---
Cole
...
---
Grazel
...
---
JJ
FELL OFF HER CHAIR.
---
Percy
CHOKING.
---
Aera
Crying.
---
Rhys
Actually laughing.
---
Alex
Trying not to laugh.
---
Failed.
---
Cole
Looking at Care.
---
Care
Looking at Cole.
---
Grazel
Waiting.
---
Cole
...
---
Then—
---
For the first time publicly.
---
In front of everyone.
---
Cole
"Yes."
---
EXPLOSION.
---
The mansion absolutely exploded.
---
JJ
SCREAMING.
---
Aera
SCREAMING.
---
Freya
SCREAMING.
---
Percy
SCREAMING.
---
Keifer
Laughing.
---
Rhys
Laughing.
---
Care
Trying to disappear.
---
Failed.
---
Because Cole looked completely calm.
---
Meanwhile—
---
She was dying.
---
Grazel
Smiling proudly.
---
Grazel
I knew it.
---
Percy
How?
---
Grazel
I'm not blind.
---
Silence.
---
Entire Mansion
...
---
Aera
The six-year-old figured it out before them.
---
JJ
Actually embarrassing.
---
Keifer
Extremely embarrassing.
---
Cole
Especially for you.
---
JJ
RUDE.
---
And thus—
---
The first official morning of Care Patel and Cole Watson being together—
---
Was spent being bullied by their entire family.
---
Exactly as expected.
---
Watson-Mariano Mansion
Same Morning
The chaos had finally started settling.
---
Which was unusual.
---
Very unusual.
---
In fact—
---
Suspicious.
---
JJ
Looking around.
---
JJ
"Something feels wrong."
---
Percy
"The house is too quiet."
---
Aera
"Someone should start a fire."
---
Rhys
"No."
---
Aera
"Fine."
---
Then—
---
Ding Dong.
---
The doorbell rang.
---
Everyone looked up.
---
Keifer
Expecting someone?
---
Cole
No.
---
JJ
Maybe it's food.
---
Percy
You literally just ate.
---
JJ
And?
---
Fair point.
---
Entrance Hall
The door opened.
---
And standing there was—
---
Yuri Hanamitchi.
---
JJ
YURIIIIII!
---
Percy
Finally.
---
Keifer
Welcome back.
---
Yuri
Smiling.
---
For once.
---
A genuine smile.
---
Which immediately made everyone suspicious.
---
Freya
Why are you smiling like that?
---
Yuri
Because.
---
Aera
Because what?
---
Yuri
I brought someone.
---
Silence.
---
Everyone froze.
---
Because.
---
The Fiancée.
---
Finally.
---
After years.
---
After months of mystery.
---
After JJ threatening to investigate.
---
The reveal was here.
---
JJ
Immediately standing.
---
JJ
MOVE.
---
Percy
Sit down.
---
JJ
NO.
---
Then—
---
A woman stepped inside.
---
Long dark hair.
---
Elegant.
---
Confident.
---
Famous.
---
Very famous.
---
And for one second—
---
Nobody recognized her.
---
Then—
---
Mica
Wait.
---
Freya
No way.
---
Grace
NO WAY.
---
Ash Alvarez.
---
One of the most famous international models in the world.
---
The face of countless luxury brands.
---
The woman half the fashion industry worshipped.
---
The woman every magazine wanted.
---
The woman—
---
Suddenly dropped all elegance.
---
Ash
"CAREEEEEE!"
---
WHAT.
---
Before anyone could react—
---
Care launched herself forward.
---
Care
"ASHHHHH!"
---
And at exactly the same moment—
---
Lyra
"ASH!"
---
BOOM.
---
The three women collided.
---
Into one giant hug.
---
Nearly falling over.
---
Laughing.
---
Crying.
---
Squealing.
---
The entire mansion froze.
---
JJ
...
---
Percy
...
---
Keifer
...
---
Cole
...
---
Aera
...
---
Rhys
...
---
Alex
Already smiling.
---
Because he knew.
---
The Trio
Still hugging.
---
Refusing to separate.
---
Ash
"Oh my God."
---
Care
"Oh my God."
---
Lyra
"Oh my God."
---
Ash
"It's been forever."
---
Care
"YOU DISAPPEARED."
---
Ash
"YOU MOVED COUNTRIES."
---
Lyra
"BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP."
---
And then they hugged again.
---
JJ
Excuse me.
---
The trio ignored her.
---
JJ
EXCUSE ME.
---
The trio still ignored her.
---
Percy
You've been replaced.
---
JJ
I DON'T LIKE THIS.
---
Five Minutes Later
Everyone finally sat down.
---
Mostly.
---
The trio still refused to leave each other's side.
---
Freya
Looking at Yuri.
---
Freya
Wait.
---
Freya
THIS is your fiancée?
---
Yuri
Yes.
---
JJ
YOU WERE HIDING ASH ALVAREZ?
---
Yuri
Correct.
---
JJ
FOR YEARS?
---
Yuri
Also correct.
---
Percy
You deserve jail.
---
Yuri
Probably.
---
Then
The interrogation began.
---
Aera
You know Care?
---
Ash
Know Care?
---
Ash laughed.
---
Ash
We practically grew up together.
---
Care
Soul sister.
---
Lyra
The original trio.
---
Ash
The chaos trio.
---
Lyra
The troublemakers.
---
Care
The survivors.
---
A brief silence.
---
A meaningful one.
---
Because some bonds never changed.
---
No matter how many years passed.
---
Then
Ash looked toward Rhys.
---
Ash
Dr. Rhys Kapoor.
---
Rhys
Ash.
---
Ash
Still terrifying?
---
Rhys
Only professionally.
---
Ash
Liar.
---
The room laughed.
---
Then—
---
Ash looked toward Alex.
---
Ash
CEO Alex Rivera.
---
Alex
International supermodel.
---
Ash
Still working too much?
---
Alex
Still avoiding sleep?
---
Ash
Absolutely.
---
Finally
Her eyes landed on one person.
---
Cole Watson.
---
The room immediately became interested.
---
Very interested.
---
Because Ash smiled.
---
A very dangerous smile.
---
Ash
So.
---
Cole
...
---
Ash
The legendary Cole Watson.
---
JJ
OH NO.
---
Percy
OH THIS IS GOING TO BE GOOD.
---
Ash
I've heard stories.
---
Cole
I'm afraid to ask from whom.
---
Ash
Care.
---
Silence.
---
Care
...
---
Cole
...
---
Entire Mansion
...
---
Ash
Years of stories.
---
Care
ASH.
---
Ash
So many stories.
---
Care
ASH ALVAREZ.
---
Ash
Enough stories for a documentary.
---
JJ
SHE TALKED ABOUT HIM FOR YEARS?
---
Care
JASPER.
---
Percy
SHE'S RED.
---
Aera
SHE'S RED.
---
Keifer
THIS IS AMAZING.
---
Cole
Trying not to smile.
---
Failed immediately.
---
Ash
Looking at Cole.
---
Ash
You know.
---
Cole
Hmm?
---
Ash
I honestly thought you'd be taller.
---
Silence.
---
JJ
...
---
Percy
...
---
Keifer
...
---
Rhys
...
---
Aera
...
---
Care
...
---
Cole
...
---
Ash
...
---
JJ
SHE CHOSE VIOLENCE.
---
The mansion exploded again.
---
And somewhere—
---
Yuri quietly sat beside Ash.
---
Watching her laugh.
---
Watching her fit into the chaos effortlessly.
---
And realizing—
---
Maybe bringing her here wasn't a mistake after all.
---
Although he was definitely going to regret introducing her to JJ.
---
Very soon.
---
Probably by dinner.