Chapter 82: Will You Marry Mommy?

Chapter 82: Will You Marry Mommy? "Yes," Lauren said sweetly, her voice coated in artificial warmth. "Caius and I were supposed to get married when I got pregnant... but I told him to wait. I wasn’t ready." She said it like it was a sweet memory. Something tender and shared between lovers. But anyone who knew her — anyone who had seen her desperation behind closed doors — would know that was a lie. The truth was much more pathetic. And painful. Caius had never wanted to marry her. Not when she first told him she was pregnant. Not when she sobbed on his front porch, ring in hand. Not even when her mother had called him, trying to force the issue and begging. Lauren had begged. More than once. And the worst part? Even then, when his life was crumbling and Heather had refused to sign the release for his company, he still hadn’t married her. He’d rather burn than settle for her. But of course, no one could know about that part. So she smiled through the lie. "He’s been begging ever since," she added with a light, airy laugh — like it was all some private joke only she and the air were in on. Evelyn leaned in beside her daughter, laughter coming from her too. "As it should be," she said, nodding like it was law. Heather’s fingers rested loosely on her lap. Her eyes were unfocused. She didn’t want to be here. Every sound Evelyn made made her want to walk out. They were completely unaware — or perhaps they choose not to be aware — that this dinner was not for them. They had been invited because of her. But still, she said nothing. She didn’t feel like correcting them. She wanted to allow Lauren enjoy her fantasy while it still had legs to stand on. Amaranth watched their exchange with a growing knot in her stomach. Her brows furrowed as she looked from Lauren to Evelyn, and then to Heather. She had planned this evening to celebrate a bond. Her son’s new wife and her family growing. But the tone in the room had turned to something unfamiliar — almost as if she had stepped into someone else’s house without reading the room. "Caius never mentioned having a child with you," Amaranth said softly, not accusing, simply confused. "Not once." Her voice wasn’t cold—it was just curious. But beneath that calm surface was a flicker of something deeper. Suspicion, perhaps. And unease. "Oh, um... that’s because I asked him not to," Lauren said quickly, fumbling to keep the illusion alive. "You know how the entertainment industry can be. Rumors... tabloids..." Amaranth gave a gentle, polite smile — but it didn’t reach her eyes. "Actually, I don’t," she replied. Lauren laughed awkwardly. "Right. Of course. Well... I just thought it was better to keep things quiet until the time was right." "You should be grateful my daughter can give your son a child," Evelyn cut in. Her voice was proud, but her smile held the sharpness of a woman who wanted something in return. Lauren, ever the actress, nodded beside her. Like her mother’s comment was gospel. "Excuse me?" Amaranth asked, her head tilting slightly. She wasn’t sure what was happening anymore "You do want grandchildren, don’t you?" Evelyn said, as if this were all perfectly reasonable. "I do love children," Amaranth replied carefully. She sat straighter in her seat, her teacup now forgotten. There was a tiny bit of tightness around her eyes. "Then you’re lucky," Evelyn said, holding Lauren’s hand up like a prize. "To have my beautiful daughter in your life." The silence that followed wasn’t peaceful. It was stiff and stretched too long. Amaranth didn’t reply. Because what could she say to that? She wasn’t sure what this dinner had become anymore. "When is the marriage happening, then?" Lionel asked suddenly. "What marriage?" a voice called from the hallway. Everyone turned. Caius stopped at the threshold of the room, holding Alex against his hip. The boy looked half-asleep, his small head resting on Caius’s shoulder, thumb lazily in his mouth. His curls were tousled from the nap, and his eyes blinked slowly, adjusting to the brightness. Caius paused mid walk in. He looked slowly around the table to the faces present. What’s happening? He thought. He gave his mother a stare, and then to the faces present. He didn’t understand what he had just walked into, but whatever it was — it didn’t smell right. "Caius!" Lauren rose too quickly. Her voice was high and sugar-coated. She moved like a teenage girl spotting a boyband star in an airport. "Hi," she added, brushing her hair behind her ear like she wasn’t 27 with a child. Caius was almost frightened by her awkward smile, he shifted back a bit. He wasn’t smiling and he didn’t respond. "Asher," Lauren said, stretching out her hand to her son. "Come say hello to your father." "Daddy!" the little boy ran toward him with excitement, pausing a step before reaching him. He looked at Alex in Caius’s arm, then back up at his father. His smile didn’t falter, but something in his eyes dimmed slightly. He wrapped his arms around Caius’s leg. Caius rubbed the boy’s head. It was an automatic gesture — kind, but distant. He didn’t let go of Alex. "Caius," Evelyn said, her voice tinged with annoyance, "don’t you think you should greet your son properly?" Caius looked up. "I am." "Shouldn’t you put the other child down and hold Asher? He clearly has missed you a lot. Isn’t that right, Ash dear?" Evelyn said. The boy nodded too eagerly. Caius’s gaze hardened. "Caius," Lauren said quickly, trying to recover the moment. "Asher’s been wanting to ask you something." Asher looked up again. The silence around him made him shrink slightly. He took a step back. His hands clenched at his sides while he looked down at his shoes. "Go ahead," Lauren said through a forced smile, nudging him slightly. "Tell him about the ring." The boy still didn’t move. "Ash," she said again, teeth clenched now. "Do it." Still, the boy didn’t speak. Evelyn leaned down, resting her hand on his shoulder — it looked gentle, but everyone could see that she was pushing him forward. "Just like we practiced, sweetheart," she whispered. The boy finally reached into the small pocket of his jacket and pulled out a tiny velvet box. His voice was barely above a whisper. "Daddy," he said, carefully, eyes on the floor. "Will you marry Mommy?" Lauren gasped. Her hands flew to her mouth as though she had no idea what was happening. Theatrical and predictable. Heather raised an eyebrow. She had to hand it to Lauren, she did know how to be dramatic. Caius knelt down to the boys level, he accepted the box. "Where did you get this?" "It’s the ring you gave me back in high school," Lauren said, inching forward. "You remember — the black sapphire one." Desperation looked especially ugly when wrapped in couture. Heather wanted to laugh. Not because it was funny—but because this was what desperation looked like in designer heels. Caius stood up. His eyes were still on the box. He remembered giving this ring to Lauren when they were younger, but the ring looked badly shaped. The ring had a small crack at the side and was somehow taken to a ring expert. He opened his hand. Lauren eagerly placed hers in it. She turned to Heather, who was focused more on her tiny sandwich than whatever was happening. Lauren wished her eyes would just land here and see what was happening. Her smile widened when Heather’s eyes finally landed on the scenery. Her smile deepened and she raised her chin up. She acted as though she had just woke something, rather someone. Heather thought it was embarrassing her sister was fighting with her for a man like this. He looked at her palm for a second, then dropped the ring gently into it. "You can keep it," he said, quiet but certain. "It doesn’t mean anything to me anymore." Her smile faltered. But her fingers closed around the ring slowly, uncertain. "So... is that a yes?" she asked, hope clinging desperately to her voice. Caius didn’t answer. He turned instead, moving further into the room. "Mother," he said. "What’s going on?" Amaranth gently placed her teacup down. "I invited them over for dinner. I thought it would be a good chance for families to come together." "You said something about marriage," Evelyn cut in. Caius looked at her. "Is that why you’re here?" "Of course," Evelyn said, her voice light. "Why else?" "Well," Lionel cut in, clapping his hands once. "Let’s not drag this out. Can we get dinner started already? What’s taking so long?" "We’re waiting for my husband," Amaranth replied calmly. Just then, the large oak doors opened. "Well," Evelyn said, half under her breath. "Speak of the devil." Gerald Thorne entered in a tailored suit, with the three triplets. Behind them, the maids wheeled in trays of glistening silver and crystal — the scent of roasted meats and truffle oils filled the space.