The sun had barely risen over the Black Box, but the atmosphere was already thick with the kind of tension usually reserved for a declaration of war. Except, this morning, the "invaders" were three world-renowned maternal-fetal specialists flown in from Germany, Japan, and the U.S.
I stood in the foyer, my arms crossed, watching as the specialists were ushered through the security scanners. I had regained my "Monster" mask—sharp, cold, and intimidating—but it was hard to maintain a professional aura when my four-year-old was currently conducting his own security sweep.
POV: Keifer (Mark Keifer Watson)
"Name and rank!" Alexander barked, standing in front of Dr. Hans, the German specialist. Alexander was wearing his pajamas, a tactical vest, and was holding a toy stethoscope in one hand and his plastic sword in the other.
"Alexander, let the doctors through," I said, my voice low and warning.
"No, Dad! Uncle Ci n said these are 'Specials.' Specials need to be vetted!" Alexander turned back to the confused doctor. "Do you have the green swamp juice in your bag? If you have the green juice, you cannot enter the fortress."
"I... I have a laptop and medical records, little sir," Dr. Hans stammered, looking at me for help.
"He's clean, Dad," Alexander announced, waving them through with his sword. "But I'll be watching."
The Medical Briefing (The Chaos Continues)
We moved to the glass-walled conference room. I wanted a clinical, high-level briefing on Jay's placental status. However, Section E had decided that a "Medical Briefing" was a spectator sport.
Percy (Blue Eyes), Aries (Horoscope), and Keiran were sitting at the back of the room with coffee. Erdix was "helping" by projecting 3D holograms of the scans, while Mayo and Kit had brought in a tray of breakfast sliders.
"As you can see, Herr Watson," Dr. Hans began, pointing to the screen. "The vascularization here is—"
"Is that the baby's head?" Alexander interrupted, climbing onto the conference table to get a better look at the hologram. "Why does he look like a bean? Dad, did you marry a bean?"
"Alexander, sit down," I muttered, rubbing my temples.
"Wait, look at the alignment!" Aries chirped, pointing at the hologram. "The way the baby is positioned... it's a clear sign of a fiery personality. He's going to be a Leo-cusp nightmare!"
"Aries, this is a medical consult, not a psychic reading," Ci n snapped, though he was busy eyeing the sliders Mayo had brought.
Actually," Keiran chimed in, leaning forward. "If the bean-baby is a girl, Kuya is going to need to buy a whole new island. One with a moat. And sharks. Laser sharks."
I looked at the specialists. They were staring at my family as if they had accidentally walked into an asylum.
"Ignore them," I said, my voice dropping into that icy tone that usually silences boardrooms. "Continue with the risk assessment of the Placenta Percreta."
The "Interrogation"
While the doctors spoke about surgical interventions and blood-loss mitigation, Alexander was busy "interrogating" the Japanese specialist, Dr. Sato.
"Do you know how to use a sword?" Alexander whispered loudly.
"For surgery? Yes, a scalpel," Dr. Sato replied politely.
"No. A ninja sword," Alexander clarified. "Because if the 'Green Swamp' (Aries) tries to poison the Mumma with wheatgrass, you need to be ready to fight."
"I... I will keep that in mind," the doctor said, glancing at me with pure terror.
"And," Alexander added, leaning in closer. "You have to promise not to tell Mumma about the 'Heart' story. Dad is very embarrassed about it."
I felt the heat rising in my ears again. Percy let out a loud snort of laughter.
"Oh, the Heart Story is international news now, Alexander!" Percy teased. "Dr. Sato, did you know the Great Mark Keifer Watson is secretly a poet?"
"That's enough," I growled, standing up. The chair screeched against the floor. "Doctors, thank you. Ci n will show you to your quarters in the North Wing. Alexander, to the kitchen. Now."
The Aftermath
As the doctors hurried out—clearly eager to get away from my family—I found Jay—my wifey—standing at the door, leaning against the frame with a smirk on her face.
"How was the briefing, hubby?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Did you find out if the 'bean' is healthy?"
"The doctors think we're insane, Jay," I said, walking over and pulling her into my arms. I checked her pulse—steady—and kissed her forehead. "Alexander told them I was embarrassed about the Heart Story."
"Well, are you?" she teased, wrapping her arms around my neck.
"I'm embarrassed that my son is more tactical than my security team," I grumbled.
"Dad!" Alexander ran back in, hugging both our legs. "The doctors said I can be a Junior Specialist! I get a white coat and a sword!"
"No swords in the medical wing!" Ci n shouted from the hallway.
I looked down at my son, then at my wife, and then at the chaotic mess of Section E arguing over who got the last slider in the background. My life was a circus, my house was a fortress, and my heart was—admittedly—completely owned by the two people in my arms.
"Fine," I sighed. "A white coat. But the sword stays with the 'Deputy Safety Inspector.'"
"Deal!" Alexander cheered.
I looked at Jay and smiled. The specialists were here, the plan was in place, and despite the madness, we were ready.
"I love you, wifey."
"I love you more, hubby. Even if you are a poet."
The atmosphere in the Black Box was electric, bordering on dangerous. What had started as a quiet evening for the Watson-Mariano clan had devolved into a full-scale interrogation under the guise of Truth or Dare. The "Monster" was cornered, and the predator was his own heart.
POV: Keifer (Mark Keifer Watson)
I sat on the velvet sofa, feeling the weight of twenty-five pairs of eyes on me. I adjusted my grip on Jay, pulling her closer to my side. Across from us, Percy (Blue Eyes) gave the whiskey bottle a flick. It spun across the marble table, slowing down until the neck pointed straight at my wifey.
"Truth or Dare, Jay?" Percy asked, his grin widening to reveal a row of shark-like teeth.
"Dare," Jay said instantly. She was a Mariano; she never backed down from a challenge.
"I dare you," Percy leaned forward, "to tell us the most embarrassing stories about Keifer from when you were dating. We want the stuff the PR team buried. Give us the un-CEO version."
The room erupted. Keigan and Keiran high-fived, sensing blood in the water. Aries (Horoscope) started chanting "Spill it!" while Mayo and Kit leaned over the kitchen island as if they were watching a gladiator match.
"Jay, don't you dare," I muttered, my ears already beginning to burn.
"Oh, hubby, it's a dare," she whispered, patting my hand with a devious sparkle in her eyes. She turned to the crowd. "Let's start with the 'Security Proposal'?"
The Tactical Proposal
"So," Jay began, her voice ringing through the silent room. "When Keifer decided he wanted us to be official, he didn't just ask. He staged a 'Security Drill.' I was coming out of a long shift at the hospital, and suddenly four black SUVs—driven by Denzel and Rory—blocked my car. I thought I was being kidnapped!"
"We were just following orders, Ate!" Rory shouted, laughing.
"Exactly!" Jay continued. "Keifer stepped out of the lead car wearing a bulletproof vest. He didn't say 'I love you.' He handed me a 50-page non-disclosure agreement and a GPS tracker. He looked me in the eye and said, 'Jay, your current security status is unacceptable. I am initiating a permanent protective merger. Sign here to be my girlfriend.'"
"A merger?!" Keiran howled, clutching his stomach. "Kuya, you asked her out like a hostile takeover?"
"It was for her safety!" I defended myself, though even Kuya Angelo was shaking his head in disbelief.
The Drunken GPS Incident
"That's nothing," Jay said, leaning into my side. "Remember the night of the charity gala? Keifer had exactly one glass of champagne—he's a lightweight, guys. He insisted on driving me home because he didn't trust the 'civilian' valet."
"I was perfectly capable," I grumbled
"He was so focused on 'tactical navigation' that he ignored the GPS," Jay revealed. "He kept saying, 'I know these streets, I have a Watson's internal compass.' We ended up at a drive-thru funeral home at 2:00 AM. He tried to order a burger from the intercom where people view the caskets. When the attendant asked if he was okay, Keifer replied, 'I require a medium-rare steak and a secure perimeter.' I had to apologize to a plastic flower arrangement while I moved him to the passenger seat."
Ci n and Rakki were doubled over, gasping for air. Ma (Jeena) and Tita Gemma were clutching their sides, while Pa Pa (Jasper) just chuckled.
The Failed Serenade
"But the best one," Jay said, her face glowing with delight, "was the violin. He wanted to be a 'classical romantic.' He stood under my window at midnight and started playing what he thought was a love song."
You play, Kuya?" Keigan asked, shocked.
"No, he doesn't!" Jay laughed. "It sounded like a dying whale. Two neighbors called the police reporting a 'distressed animal,' and Felix actually scrambled a drone team because the sound was so high-pitched he thought it was a sonic weapon targeting the building. I had to throw a bucket of ice water on him from the balcony to make him stop before the SWAT team arrived."
"I thought it was a frequency attack!" Felix yelled, defending his tech while Mayo laughed so hard he dropped his ice cream scoop.
The Aftermath
The room was in total shambles. Section E was chanting "Violin! Violin!" while Alexander ran around the room mimicking a squealing whale.
"Hubby," Jay whispered, looking at my bright red face. "Are you mad?"
I looked at the chaos—at my brothers who finally had leverage, at Ate Ion and Lia who were filming the whole thing, and at my wifey, who looked happier than she had in weeks.
"I'm not mad," I grumbled, pulling her close and kissing her temple. "But I'm officially firing Felix for not deleting those 'steak' audio files."
"I love this family!" Alexander cheered, jumping into my lap. "Dad, can we go to the funeral home for burgers tomorrow? I want to see the flowers!"
No, Alexander," I sighed, as the whole family dissolved into another round of insane laughter.
.....
Hello guys here is your another chapter i actually saved this chapter earlier i thought of asking your permission before posting this thats why i asked you if you want two more chapter then comment yes on yhis chapter but remember there should be atleast 15 comments and dont forget to leave your ideas.
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Shreya. 💞🌸