The evening air carried a quiet shimmer, the kind that hints at luxury, wealth, and secrets. King Amir Al-Rahman's party wasn't just a gathering; it was a kingdom-class event.
Warm gold lights draped across the tall ceilings of the grand hall, the marble floor reflecting the glow. A soft orchestra played in the background, chandeliers hanging like constellations above the guests. The crowd was a mixture of political giants, business tycoons, foreign diplomats, and beauty everywhere.
Kairo cut through it like he didn't belong in reality at all. Holding Zayn confidently on one arm, the other hand wrapped firmly around Sara's waist, as if letting her go for even a second was not an option tonight.
His hold was a silent announcement: this is my world, my family, my everything. And the room noticed. Half the women present weren't subtle about staring. Between Kairo's intimidating presence, Zayn's cherub-face charm, and Sara's serene beauty, they looked like a perfect young, cool couple.
A few business acquaintances who hadn't heard the news approached in surprise, "You got married?" "You have a kid?"
And Kairo, instead of hiding, glowed. Actually glowed. Pride lit his features every time he introduced "my wife, Sara" and "my son, Zayn." Sara felt the warmth of it in her bones.
Charles, a distance away, was busy talking to a circle of business giants discussing business and markets, occasionally glancing over with a small smile, as if watching his son and daughter-in-law was a quiet kind of peace he didn't want to interrupt. Yet in between, he even introduced Sara to his many old friends.
The king hadn't arrived yet. The air was still shifting.
And someone tapped Kairo's shoulder. He turned around and froze for a moment. A familiar face.
"Hey, bro… how are you doing?" Kael said, smiling brightly.
At just fifteen, Kael was already too handsome for his age. He wore a similar black suit, his hair neatly combed, his green eyes sparkling with youth, and his smile warm and genuine.
Kairo's chest tightened for a second. If Kael was here… that meant Vector was here. Which meant his mother was also somewhere in this party.
But Kael's easy smile pulled him back, and Kairo forced a faint smile in return. "Hey… little bro."
Kael winked playfully, matching the vibe. Sara watched them curiously.
Kael turned to her and smiled. "Hello… Miss…" He didn't know her name yet.
"Sara," Kairo said softly. "Sara Valen." He said her name paired with his last name as if it belonged there. Sara blinked at him, then smiled at Kael.
Kael's eyes lit up. "Remember that evening at the restaurant? I spilled my soft drink on you…"
Sara blinked again. Of course, she remembered him; she knew exactly who he was, but she didn't expect him to remember her from such a small incident.
She smiled. "Yeah… I know you."
"You know me?" Kael looked genuinely surprised.
Sara exchanged a glance with Kairo before replying, "Yeah. Who doesn't know you? The future heir of Vantare… and maybe Belvana."
Her voice carried a faint touch of sarcasm.
Kael laughed softly. "That's way too big of an introduction for me." His tone was goofy, playful, and unexpectedly humble.
Sara gave a small smile, and Kael's gaze drifted to Zayn.
"Ohh… my little handsome man…" He gently touched Zayn's cheek, careful and light, as if he were afraid he might hurt him. Zayn giggled, instantly charmed.
And for the first time, Kairo didn't tense up when someone touched his son.
"Can I hold him?" Kael asked softly, hope shining in his eyes. Kairo opened his mouth to refuse, but Kael spoke again, almost pleading. "Please…"
Kairo glanced at Sara. She blinked, giving him a quiet reassurance.
"I'll hold him carefully. He's too cute to resist," Kael added, unable to hide the affection in his voice.
After a second of hesitation, Kairo finally handed Zayn over. Kael took Zayn with both arms, slow and gentle, like he was holding something precious. He pressed a soft kiss to Zayn's cheek, and Zayn broke into a big smile.
"Hi… I'm Kael. And you?" he asked in a warm whisper.
"Zayn…! Baby Zayn!" the tiny voice chirped, shaking Kael's huge hand with his little fingers.
Kael smiled in awe. "Oh my god… why are you so cute?" He exclaimed softly, hugging Zayn a little tighter.
Zayn giggled, instantly vibing with him. "Mumma made me cute," he said in his tiny, proud voice.
Kairo and Sara couldn't help but smile.
Kael laughed. "Ohh really?"
The two adults stood there watching Kael, this boy who looked innocent, gentle, pure-hearted. The boy whose parents' decisions had once thrown chaos into their lives… yet he seemed he know nothing about it. He was just a sweet child, loving a baby he'd just met.
Sara's fingers slipped into Kairo's, instinctively, leaning to him. He pulled her closer by the waist, his thumb tracing slow comfort against her hip. But his eyes kept drifting around the room, searching for a familiar, dreaded presence.
Liana. His mother. But she was nowhere in sight. Then he asked, "You came alone?"
"No. I came with Dad." Kael smiled, "He's talking to his friends. I was bored, and then I spotted you two, so I came here. This place is too boring for a person like me." He chuckled. "Dad forced me to come. I couldn't say no."
Sara looked at the boy with quiet curiosity.
"What about your mom?" Kairo asked softly, his tone gentle in a way only Sara noticed.
Kael's expression didn't change; he just smiled. "Mom's not here. She went abroad for some business stuff."
"Your dad loves you so much, right?" Sara asked without thinking, the question slipping out from a tender ache she didn't hide fast enough.
Kairo's eyes flicked to her immediately, sensing the shift in her chest.
Kael grinned. "Of course. I'm a spoiled brat. Only-child privilege." He laughed lightly, genuinely.
Sara's heart tightened. Kairo felt it like a soft tug through the hand he had around her waist. He held her closer, his palm smoothing against her hip in a slow, comforting caress.
"You seem like a good boy," she said warmly, hiding that small sting behind a smile.
Kael's face brightened. "You guys are sweet, too. I don't know why, but you both… match my vibe. Maybe that's why I feel drawn to you every time I see you."
Sara smiled. Kairo did too, a small warm curve like he agreed without words.
"Can I get your contacts?" Kael asked, eyes sparkling. "So we can stay in touch. And also visit this little prince." He leaned in and kissed Zayn's chubby cheek.
Sara and Kairo exchanged a brief, silent conversation through their eyes. Then Kairo reached into his blazer and handed Kael a business card.
He took the card, glanced at it, and his eyes widened. "Oh… you're the Director of Novacore?" he exclaimed in a hushed, dramatic whisper. "Really? That's a surprise, dude."
Kairo raised a brow, smiling. "What's so surprising about it?"
Kael's grin turned sly, the kind that carried harmless trouble. He leaned closer, lowering his voice like he was sharing state secrets.
"Okay, I shouldn't be saying this… but I'm a huge fan of Novacore, man. I've been obsessed with your designs forever. And the latest Halloween collection?"
He paused, eyes darting around to make sure no one important was listening. "I bought the entire line for my wardrobe."
Kairo and Sara both giggled at his excited confession.
"Don't tell my dad," he warned, whispering again as if the chandeliers were wired with microphones.
"He'll be so upset. Even today, I wanted to wear the same suit you're wearing… in navy blue. I saw it at your last launch and fell in love. But for Dad's sake, I had to wear Vantare." He said dramatically.
Kairo laughed, genuinely entertained. He was starting to like this boy more than he expected.
He smirked. "Don't you think you're spilling a lot of secrets to your dad's business competitor?"
Kael clicked his tongue. "I know, right? But I can't help. I like what I like." He paused, then leaned in again as if delivering the juiciest gossip. "Even my girlfriend said yes to dating me because I gifted her that Novacore limited-edition bag."
Kairo broke into another laugh, the kind he didn't get to release often.
"What? You already have a girlfriend?" Sara asked, eyes widening.
Kael winked. "Actually… two."
"What?" She nearly choked on air.
Kairo burst into laughter, loud enough that a few people turned.
Kael lifted his shoulders, unapologetic. "I know, I know, it's wrong. But I can't help it. One is cute, the other is sexy. And I'm weak for both."
Sara stared at him as if he had just declared he owned Mars. Meanwhile, Kairo was clinging to his sanity.
"You do realise you're a teenager, right? You should focus on your studies. Not… girls." She gave him the obvious Lecture.
Kael sighed. "Here we go again… Why are girls always so worried about studies? My girlfriend, the cute one, says the same thing."
That finally destroyed Kairo. He leaned against Sara's shoulder, laughing like he'd been personally attacked by nostalgia.
Sara smacked his arm with her elbow. "Why are you laughing?"
"I'm sorry, baby… he's just—" Kairo wheezed between laughs. "He reminds me of my old self."
She elbowed him again. Kairo groaned dramatically.
Kael watched them with amused approval. "You two are adorable."
"Yeah… well, she gave me a hard time convincing her," Kairo teased.
Sara shot him a daggered look.
Kael's eyebrows lifted. "Really? You fell first?"
"She did," Kairo answered instantly. "She fell first and stalked me all over campus. Maybe even outside campus, too."
"I did not stalk you," Sara snapped, offended.
"You did, baby. And you admitted it."
"That was one time!"
Kael chuckled, loving every second of this couple bickering like they were giving him free entertainment. Then he added,
"Please don't hit me," lifting his one hand in surrender, "but I also believe that girls who look quiet, nerdy, especially... those who wear glasses… are absolute sweethearts." He paused, then added with too much honesty, "And also very dangerous."
Kairo exploded into laughter again, bending over like Kael had delivered a personal prophecy. He high-fived with full brotherly solidarity. "I agree with you, bro."
Sara stared at them, betrayed.
"Enough." She narrowed her eyes.
Kairo tried to pull her closer, but she resisted. He pulled anyway, grinning like he was immune to consequences.
She shifted her glare to Kael. "Should I tell your dad all your secrets?"
Kael froze. "No. Please." His voice turned soft and tragic. He immediately looked at Kairo. Silently begging Help me, bro.
Kairo looked at Sara. "Baby, spare him… let the boy live."
She smirked. "Fine. But you're sleeping outside for a week."
"What? No! That's cruelty," Kairo gasped like she'd sentenced him to exile.
Kael watched the show, grinning silently.
"I'm sorry, bro," Kael whispered to Kairo, still dramatic.
Kairo looked between them, cornered like a guilty cat. "Baby… I'm sorry. How can you say that? You told me earlier you love me."
Sara crossed her arms, enjoying every second. "And now I'm saying I don't."
Her smirk was villain-level perfect.
Kael looked between them, concerned, then smiled like he'd just cracked a secret code. "Maybe she'll love a date night tomorrow…" he suggested, eyes flicking meaningfully to Kairo.
Kairo caught it instantly. "Yeah… how about a date night tomorrow?"
"Nope." Sara didn't even blink.
Kael didn't miss a beat. "A vacation to Hawaii?"
Kairo repeated it like an obedient student. "Yes… a vacation to Hawaii?"
She tilted her head, smirking at Kael. "Hmm… still not convinced."
Kael exhaled dramatically. Understanding... "How about… a sorry from Kael?"
Kairo looked at him, surprised. Kael just wiggled his eyebrows, fully committed.
"Yes. How about that?" Kairo asked, teaming up.
Sara pretended to think, tapping her chin. "Okay… I'm forgiving, go live your life."
Kael grinned, relieved. Kairo mirrored it instantly.
"Thanks, bro," Kairo said, lifting his hand for a high-five. Kael slapped it, laughing.
They didn't even realize how quickly they'd bonded, how natural the little trio felt. They forgot the music, the crowd, the glitter of the party around them…
Until a voice behind them snapped the moment, pulling them abruptly back into reality.