Life slowly began to move on. Unlike Eron, Marco kept his promise — he was always there for Aryan. No matter how busy or exhausted he was, a call would come to Aryan's phone every single day. That routine never broke. And over time, it became a quiet comfort, anchoring Aryan in the absence of the one he still missed.
As days passed, Aryan also grew attached to Ginger, the puppy who had once made him panic. Now, Ginger was more than a pet — he was family. From waking Aryan with wet licks to curling up at his feet during quiet nights, Ginger brought warmth to the still corners of Aryan's life.
After beginning college, Aryan moved into an apartment near campus. Still, every weekend, he returned home to spend time with his parents — and, of course, Ginger. The calm of those weekends became his little sanctuary.
But on one particular weekend, something felt… different.
Lisa and Adam appeared tense, glancing at each other like they were preparing for a serious talk but couldn't find the right words.
"I don't know how to say it," Lisa murmured as she poured juice into glasses. "What if it makes him uncomfortable?"
"You're overthinking it," Adam replied gently, sliding his arms around her in a soft hug. "Why would Aryan be uncomfortable? He's mature. He'll understand. Don't stress yourself out."
Just then, Aryan knocked lightly on the open kitchen door. "Can I come in? Or should I wait until your romance is over?" he joked, smiling playfully.
Lisa quickly pulled away from Adam, trying to act normal. "Yeah, come in."
Aryan glanced at the juice on the counter. "Is that for me?"Lisa handed him a glass, and one to Adam.
Sitting on the kitchen counter, Aryan sipped his juice contentedly, swinging his legs. Lisa subtly gestured to Adam, nudging him to speak.
Noticing the awkward tension, Aryan raised an eyebrow. "Is there something you guys want to tell me?"
"Aryan…" Adam began, clearly nervous. "I'm pregnant."
"What?!" Aryan choked on his juice while Lisa turned to stare at him, stunned.
Lisa's face screamed, 'What nonsense is this man spouting?!'
"N-Not me!" Adam quickly corrected, pointing at Lisa. "Your mom is pregnant!"
Aryan turned his eyes to Lisa, then glanced instinctively at her stomach.
"You won't see a difference yet," Adam added quickly. "The baby is only three weeks along,"
"Is it true?" Aryan asked, now turning to Lisa, wanting confirmation straight from her.
When she nodded with a soft smile, Aryan's face lit up. "Congratulations, Mom!" he exclaimed, jumping down and wrapping her in a warm hug. At nineteen, he was going to be a big brother — and the thought filled him with genuine joy.
"Aryan… are you really okay with this?" Lisa asked hesitantly, concern still lingering in her eyes. She had worried how he might react to the unexpected news.
"Of course! Why wouldn't I be? I'm going to be a big brother!" he beamed.
Seeing the sincerity in his smile melted all of Lisa's worries. From that moment on, she became even more attentive toward Aryan — determined to make sure he never felt lonely or left out.
...
After speaking with the doctor, Lisa learned that a late pregnancy at her age could come with serious risks. Adam gently tried to talk her out of it, fearing for her health—but Lisa had already made her choice.
She had always dreamed of having a child of her own, and she wasn't willing to let that dream slip away. No matter how difficult the journey, she chose to hold onto hope.
Seeing the toll the pregnancy was taking on her, Aryan decided to move back home. He wanted to be there for her, to support her through every moment—every craving, every sleepless night, every quiet fear.
In their own way, Adam and Aryan found themselves in a quiet competition—each trying to be the better husband, the better son. They cooked, cleaned, brought her warm towels and cold juice, told her jokes to make her laugh. Life inside the De Vilan home turned into a picture of warmth, laughter, and tender love—so full and bright, it was something anyone would envy.
But that happiness didn't last.
Lisa didn't make it through childbirth.
She passed away after bringing a baby girl into the world.
In the hospital room, filled with sterile silence and grief, Aryan held the newborn tightly in his arms, his eyes fixed on Adam—who sat by Lisa's side, sobbing uncontrollably, his fingers clutching her lifeless hand.
"Even if I'm not there… you have to take care of your sibling. Always tell her—after you and Adam, she is the third blessing God sent to me." Aryan remembered Lisa's words vividly. It was as if, somehow, she had known this day would come.
Tears welled in Aryan's eyes as he looked down at the baby girl in his arms.
It wasn't easy to move on after Lisa's death—especially for Adam. To escape the grief her absence left behind, Adam threw himself into work. He spent long hours at the office, then drown himself in alcohol.
He couldn't bring himself to look at the baby. For him, she became the unbearable reminder of Lisa's death.
That night, in the quiet nursery, soft wails echoed through the house.
"She's burning up. The fever isn't going down…" one of the maids said, her voice tight with worry as she dabbed the baby's forehead with a damp cloth.
The other maid sighed. "Master's passed out drunk. If we wake him now, he'll fire us in the morning."
"But she's just a baby. She's not even a year old yet—what if something happens to her?"
"We already told him about her condition. If he doesn't want to call a doctor, what more can we do?" She rubbed her temples in frustration. "My ears are about to explode. How long is this child going to keep crying?
Let's grab something to eat before the kitchen closes. We'll come back after." The first maid hesitates first and then went along with her.
"But..." .
"She'll stop crying eventually… If you want something to eat, come on," Seeing the other maid walked out, the first maid hesitated, then reluctantly followed, leaving the child alone in the room.
Meanwhile, Aryan returned home late with Marco, who was currently on vacation. As soon as they entered, the sound of relentless crying echoed through the house. Without a second thought, Aryan rushed upstairs, to check on the baby.
"A baby's crying this loud and no one's here?" Marco frowned, stepping in behind Aryan.
Aryan gently picked up the child to soothe her, but the intense heat radiating from her small body made his heart drop. "She's burning up."
"What?!" Marco quickly moved closer and placed a hand on her forehead. "She has a high fever—we need to get her to the hospital now."
Without wasting another second, they rushed her to the nearest hospital. All the while, Adam lay passed out in his room, unaware of anything.
Seeing the little girl lying on the hospital bed, pale and weak like an abandoned orphan, pierced Aryan's heart.
"If you had been even a little later… she might not have made it." The doctor reprimanded them harshly for the delayed treatment, his voice sharp with frustration. He reminded them just how dangerous a high fever can be for infants.
"I'll stay with her. You go home," Aryan said softly to Marco, not wanting to burden him with his family problems.
Marco shook his head. "I'm not leaving you. You look exhausted—why don't you rest for a while? I'll watch over her."
But Aryan couldn't bring himself to leave. He sat beside her, holding her tiny hand, waiting for the fever to break. That night, he made a promise to himself: 'No matter what, I will protect you from now on.'
And just like that, five years passed in the blink of an eye.