About half an hour later, Lara’s lashes fluttered open, her vision blurry as she blinked away the fog of confusion. The surroundings gradually came into focus, and a soft hum of worried whispers reached her ears. Familiar faces hovered nearby, their concern apparent.

  “What’s going on?” she asked, looking around, feeling weak and uncertain. The last thing she remembered was the overwhelming tension, her head spinning, and the sudden plunge into darkness.

  “Lara, are you alright?” Kasra’s voice cut through the haze, a thread of relief running through him as he helped her sit up. His palm rested lightly on her back, grounding her, while his gaze roamed over her for any lingering signs of distress.

  She nodded, though slowly, her mind still trying to catch up. “I think so,” she said, pressing her index finger to her temple, rubbing away the last traces of dizziness. “What… what happened?”

  Kasra briefly explained why she had fainted. Then, he asked, “Do you want to take a rest before dinner? If you’re still unwell by then, we can skip it or have it delivered. I’ll stay with you.”

  Aiden, still rattled by his daughter’s fainting spell, persuaded, “Sweetheart, you gave us quite a scare. You should listen to Kasra.”

  “But…” Lara began, attempting to protest.

  “No buts!” Aiden’s tone left no room for argument. “We’re taking the time to get to know your in-laws. Go on. If you still don’t feel better later, Kasra will take you to the hospital.”

  With a resigned sigh, Lara allowed herself to be guided to her feet. Kasra’s arm enclosed her slender waist, steadying her as they left the parlor. The concerned murmurs faded behind them as they moved down the hallway, each step measured, careful.

  ……

  In the suite, Kasra eased her onto the bed. She sank into the pillows, feeling the subtle tension radiating from him.

  “Lara,” Kasra started, his timbre softer now, even a little shaky, “there’s something I need to tell you.”

  Lara looked up; curiosity pricked at her despite her fatigue. “What is it?”

  “When Seven examined you, he noticed something unusual… something he called a ‘slippery’ pulse. It’s an early sign of pregnancy, at least in traditional medicine. It’s too soon for anything like a heartbeat, but enough to raise suspicion.”

  He gave a wry smile. “So, I had the housekeeper run out to grab a few pregnancy test kits.”

  Lara’s breath caught in her throat. “P–Pregnancy test?” she echoed, her words barely audible. Her palm instinctively went to her abdomen, as if her body could confirm what her mind struggled to comprehend.

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  “Are you serious?”

  Kasra inclined his head, his expression muted. “Yes.”

  At that moment, the world seemed to tilt, the heaviness of the revelation pressing down on her chest. Without another thought, she took one of the kits and ambled to the ensuite, her steps unsteady, as if the floor had shifted beneath.

  Behind the closed door, the sound of tearing plastic and the rustling of instructions filled the space. Lara’s fingers trembled slightly as she followed the steps, reeling inside. She wasn’t ready for this—she didn’t know if she ever would be.

  Seconds passed like hours, and when she finally glimpsed the result window, the sight of two crimson lines felt like a punch to the gut. Tears welled as she opened the door to find Kasra waiting, concern etched into the fine lines of his forehead.

  “I… I’m pregnant,” she mouthed, her lips quivering.

  Kasra’s joy was tempered by the turmoil he saw in her eyes. He reached out, gently taking her hand in his. “Lara, are you… not okay with this?”

  Uncertainty shadowed her face. “I… I don’t know,” she admitted shakily. “It’s all so sudden. I don’t know if I’m ready.”

  Her dilemma tugged at his heartstrings. “Well, how about I talk you through it? Since you’re unsure, would you consider getting an abortion?”

  Shock registered across her features, her jaw slack. “I… How could I kill my innocent baby?” Her voice hitched, distressed.

  “Since you won’t consider abortion, then it’s just a matter of adjusting our mindsets, isn’t it?” Kasra patiently pointed out. “No matter what, I’ll be here for you and our little peanut.”

  Understanding slowly dawned. “You’re right, Kasra. I hadn’t thought of it that way,” she murmured, her fingers tightening around his.

  ……

  Meanwhile, Hanz ushered in the latest arrivals, exchanging a few words before leading them into the already bustling parlor. Sadra, spotting his parents and his brother’s family, immediately rose to greet them.

  “Mom, Dad, guys, you’re here!” Sadra warmly called, his tone filled with affection.

  After hugs and greetings, Sadra began the introductions. “Aiden, Louisa, I’d like you to meet my parents, Aaris and Huma, my twin brother, Sadri, his wife, Kyra, and my nephews, Shan and Sig.”

  He paused briefly before continuing. “Mom, Dad, I’d like you to meet Aiden and Louisa Wolfe. Their daughter, Lara, is set to marry Kasra.”

  Surprise and delight lit the elderly couple’s faces. Aaris’s gaze swept the room, noting a young woman nearby. “Aiden, is this your daughter?” But in the next breath, he huffed, “Oh, where’s that smelly boy?!”

  Before anyone could answer, Kimi replied, “Grandpa, this is Katherine, my fiancée. Lara isn’t feeling well, so that smelly grandson of yours accompanied her to rest.”

  Aaris’s smile widened upon discovering that another grandson has a fiancée, and his heart swelled with pride.

  “Ah, Saddy, your boys are finally making headway! I was beginning to think the Shahi lineage might end with them,” he playfully chastised as Huma nodded in agreement. They exchanged a meaningful glance, an unspoken question lingering between them: When will we be great-grandparents?

  Then, recalling he has numerous other grandsons, he shouted, “Kian! Kayan! Shan! Sig! Even Kimi has a fiancée! You guys better hurry up and bring home a girl to marry!”

  Accustomed to his ramblings, the boys stayed silent. However, recognizing Katherine, Shan couldn’t resist a jab at his cousin. “Kimi, when I met Detective Kavanagh the other day, she didn’t mention being your fiancée. Are you sure this isn’t just your wishful thinking?”

  Ignoring Shan’s taunt, Kimi turned to Katherine, raising an eyebrow. “You met Shan before?”

  Instead of answering, Katherine shot a how-dare-you glare at Kimi, thinking, Gee, you introduced me as your wife to your PA, and now as your fiancée to the family! You’ve got some nerve!

  Yet Kimi’s vulnerable expression seemed to temper her. In the end, she bit her lip and simply said, “Yes, I met Shan a couple of days ago to see if there were any accomplices from Jetset Aviation.”