"Yayyy! Grandpa's staying with us!" Daisy cheered from her seat at the dining table.
Donald smiled down at her, ruffling her hair affectionately. "Yes, he is."
"Princess, please eat more," Kieran murmured.
Genesis looked up at him, about to shake her head, when the sound of approaching footsteps silenced the room. Every gaze, including the maids', shifted toward the doorway as Amelia entered the dining room—smiling, her hand resting protectively on her stomach.
They all stared at her, their expressions mixed.
Genesis looked curious.
Daisy looked annoyed.
Donald looked irritated.
Kieran looked furious.
Even the maids—angels in disguise—seemed intrigued but also on edge.
Amelia reached the table, and Genesis, without thinking, stood and hurried over to pull out a chair for her. It surprised Amelia—but no one else batted an eye. Genesis held the chair, and Amelia took her seat gracefully.
"Thank you, honey pie," Amelia said sweetly.
Genesis smiled. The thing was… just like when she had mistakenly thought Veronica was related to Kieran the first time they met, she now assumed Amelia must be family. She had no reason to think otherwise.
Cady leaned toward Revelation, who was still watching Genesis… then Amelia… then back to Genesis.
"She's about to start some shit," Cady whispered. "That bitch is up to something."
Suddenly, Amelia snapped her fingers at the maids. "I need a plate."
Revelation didn't flinch, but Cady turned, raising her brows. She forced a smile in reply, but Rev stayed composed.
Kieran opened his mouth to speak, but Amelia cut him off.
"Babe, why didn't you tell me dinner was ready? Your baby and I were starving," she said, rubbing her belly and faking a pout.
The moment the words left her mouth, Daisy's fork slipped from her hand and clattered on the table.
"Baby?" Daisy blinked. "What baby?"
Amelia ignored her. Instead, she turned to Genesis, who was now seated beside her, eyes wide with confusion. Amelia placed a hand dramatically over her mouth.
"Oh… they didn't tell you, did they, honey pie?" she said with mock sympathy.
"Shut the fuck up," Kieran growled.
Genesis flinched beside him.
Amelia tilted her head, pretending to be hurt, but her smile returned as quickly as it left.
"As you can see, I'm pregnant," she said proudly, rubbing her belly again. "And the father is your husband. Well, our husband soon—since he's marrying me too."
She beamed as the maids placed a plate in front of her. She waved them off dismissively and turned back to Kieran.
"I thought we agreed you'd tell her," she said with a shrug. "But hey, truth's out now. That's what matters."
Donald pushed his plate away, appetite gone.
"He's not marrying you," he said coldly. "I've already told you—you'll stay here until the baby is born. Then you'll be compensated and leave."
Amelia laughed. "Oh, Father, you crack me up."
She turned to Genesis with a bright grin. "I can't wait to be co-wives with you."
"No. That's not true… right, Uncle Kieran?" Daisy's voice wavered.
But Kieran didn't look at her. He had already stood, crouching in front of Genesis, who was pale and shaking.
"Baby, I can explain. Please—"
He stopped cold when tears slipped silently down her cheeks.
Amelia chuckled. "Oh, don't cry, honey pie. At least he didn't cheat—well, okay, I heard he cheated on you when you were married. But this baby? This happened before the forced wedding. So technically, I win."
"Shut up!" Kieran yelled, his voice so loud it startled both Genesis and Amelia.
Amelia zipped her lips dramatically and turned back to her food.
Genesis trembled, then suddenly stood and bolted from the table.
"Genesis!" Kieran shouted, running after her.
Amelia watched them disappear and smirked. "Dinner and a show… amazing." She glanced down at her belly. "Don't you think so too, little Kieran?"
Daisy's cheeks were wet with tears. "You're mean!" she screamed, jumping off her chair and storming away.
Amelia watched her go, then flinched slightly as a memory surfaced—frogs in her ice cream. She knew Daisy did it.
"I'm watching you, brat," she muttered.
Donald stood without a word. He looked at Amelia, who returned his gaze with a fierce glare.
"I'm not going anywhere," she said.
Donald nodded once and walked out.
Amelia took a deep breath and focused on her food, smiling—until she frowned.
"Maids!" she barked.
Mia growled from the kitchen. "I swear, if she talks to us like that one more time, I'm slamming her face into the wall."
"Maids!" Amelia yelled again.
"I'm going to kill her," Revelation said, calm as ever.
Meanwhile…
Kieran sprinted after Genesis and caught her just before she collapsed. But the moment his arms wrapped around her, she tore away from him like his touch burned.
Genesis stumbled back, breath ragged—then dropped to her knees.
She opened her mouth, her face twisted in a silent scream.
Nothing came out.
Just a sharp gasp of pain, so raw.
Then she broke.
She pounded the earth with her fists, legs thrashing, her body convulsing in grief. She clawed at her arms, her throat, her chest—desperate to tear the pain out from somewhere, anywhere.
And Kieran could only watch.
Helpless.
Kieran reached for her again, his voice breaking.
"Genesis, please, please..."
She shoved him.
So hard he nearly lost his balance. Then she clutched her head with both hands, trembling, rocking back and forth, her mouth open in another silent scream. A scream so wide and raw it looked like it should've shattered the skies.
But there was nothing.
No sound.
No words.
Just a girl crying so violently it looked like her soul was trying to escape her body.
Kieran felt helpless. Worthless. Watching the love of his life unravel in front of him, screaming without a voice, like her body had become a battlefield for all the words she couldn't say.
And he had done this.
He had broken her.
"Please, just hit me, scream at me, throw something, do anything just don't…" His voice cracked as she curled in on herself, her pain folding her inward.
Genesis slammed her fists into the grass again. And again. Until her hands were scraped and red. Until her body gave out and she collapsed sideways, sobbing silently into the earth. Her shoulders trembled, face pressed into the dirt, mouth still open in soundless agony.
She couldn't breathe.
She couldn't scream.
She couldn't run.
Everything inside her ached. Everything hurt.
Then Kieran moved.
He dropped to his knees and gathered her into his arms, wrapping himself around her, arms over her shoulders, legs braced around her shaking frame—as if he could shield her from the world, as if he could hold her tight enough to take the pain away.
"I'm here… I'm here… I'm so sorry," he whispered against her temple, rocking her gently as she trembled like a leaf
Her fists beat weakly against his chest, but he didn't let go.
She opened her mouth again, trying to scream, to release the anguish inside her, but nothing came. Her throat locked. Her vision blurred. The world tilted...
Then silence.
Genesis went limp in his arms.
"Genesis?" he whispered, panic creeping into his voice.
Her head lolled to the side. Her fingers slipped from his shirt. Her eyes were open, empty, unfocused.
"Genesis!" he shouted louder, voice cracking as he shook her gently. "No—no, stay with me, please..."
But she didn't move.
And for the first time, the silence between them was truly terrifying.