Leanna\'s POV]

[Prologue]

The world stopped, time froze as we stared at the scene. My parents totally forgot about me as they look at the twins with questioning faces.

"Zoe . . . did you . . . The one you slept with . . . was Lawrence?" I said, soft and careful, denying every word, not minding the gasped from the audience.

I should have waited for a private time to ask, but the eagerness of knowing the truth overcame me.

. . .

. . .

No one said a word. Even my parents\' eyes never left Lawrence, waiting for his reply.

Zoe was the one who broke the silence. She turned her pretty face towards my direction, looking all apologetic.

"I didn\'t know."

GASP!

I shut my eyes for a moment, then shot Zoe a threatening glare.

I have mix feelings about this, but I was sure as hell that it was not a happy feeling!

Lawrence is just a twelve-year-old kid! It\'s even considered a crime!

For heaven\'s sake!

I was about to lash out at Zoe when Lawrence walked in front of her and faced me.

"Sis. It\'s not her fault! I was the one who\'d done the deed."

GASP!

"No! It was my fault; I was the one who seduced him!"

GASP!

"Easy . . ." Cain supported me as he pressed my head against his broad chest as my body limped in his embrace.

"Z-Zoe . . . you two . . . you did . . . a one-night stand." My voice was barely a whisper as the realization forced its way into my brain.

Zoe stepped up and pointed at herself.  "It\'s not just going to be a one-night stand! I promise it won\'t remain that way. I want to have an official relationship with him. One of these days, I\'ll tell him I love him!"

GASP!

Eh? Lawrence\'s head snapped at Zoe, eyes wide.

Eh? Zoe\'s mouth flung open when she realized what she just said. Colors drained from her blank face.

. . .

. . .

Aghh . . . Zoe, you brainless girl.

"Oh my . . ." My mother clasped her hands and circled Zoe as she ran her scrutinizing eyes over her. She then nodded her head while my father held his face high, emanating with pride.

I was wholly convinced that my parents have a few screws loose in their heads.

"C-could you . . . leave us for a moment . . . ," I said with difficulty as I couldn\'t handle this kind of conversation anymore longer.

"Alright. We will leave first . . . it\'s good that you\'re alright now, Leanna." Zhander shot me a timid smile before he dragged Estela by the shoulder as the girl tried to protest.

"B-but, I\'m Leanna\'s best friend. I\'m her sister to be. I\'m family. I have the right to remain here."

"Not today, Estela." Zhander pulled Estela and grabbed Emery with his other hand and ushered them outside.

"Let\'s go." Zhander nudged the stunned Emery whose sparkly blue eyes remained fixated on Lance, not budging even for a second since the moment she saw him.

"I want to stay," Emery mumbled her words in finality which made Zhander dragged her by the hand. "What\'s wrong with you two? This is a family affair. Let\'s go!"

Zhander pulled the two unwilling women out of the room using a bit of force. I still heard their whining in the hallway. Even they were already meters away.

"I-I want to talk to you . . . ," Zoe said, breaking the awkward silence, "g-give me your number." Her voice grew weak at the end while her eyes shifted left and right with cheeks painted in red.

Lawrence grinned and replied, a bit teasing, "I don\'t want to."

Zoe\'s expression fell right off her face. The hurt was evident in her downcast lips.

Then Lawrence brought out his phone. "Give me your number. I\'ll be calling you later."

Zoe\'s downward lips turned into a droopy smile like she was floating on cloud nine. And with full open reluctance on her steps, she went out of the room with a love-struck smile on her face.

I have goosebumps all over!

I couldn\'t believe that my brother flirted in front of me! I felt like I didn\'t know who this kid was anymore!

What happened when I was away?

The changed was too much of a drastic I refused to accept it.

"And you?"

Lance high sneer at Cain made me think, somehow . . . there is something wrong with the way I guided the twins.

Cain didn\'t budge at my brother\'s crass remarked as he looked me in the eyes before he stood to his feet.

I grabbed his shirt.

"Stay."

----

[Leanna\'s POV]

[The In-Laws]

"Who is this handsome man, Leanna?"

My mother asked with an astonished expression. Her eyes were stuck on Cain the moment she noticed him. My father was the same. He was checking something on Cain, looking up and down. The twins also sized him up. They frowned when they couldn\'t find any criticism on the man.

"Hello, my name is Cain Fay. I\'m Leanna\'s . . ." Cain took a peek at my nervous face before he looked at my parents.

"Frie––"

"Fiancé!"

I said a bit loud and snatched his hand in a firm grip.

. . .

. . .

"What?!"

My family barked at the same time. Their eyes bulged as their mouth opened and closed, wanting to say something but didn\'t know where to start.

"Cain Fay. My fiancé." I hardened my voice and steeled my face, not backing down at their shock faces while my hand gripped Cain\'s hand in a tight hold.

Cain looked at me in disbelief. Then he smiled –– his whole person radiated warmth.

"I can\'t believe this!"

My mother exclaimed and went to my side. She pointed her finger at me while her gaze remained fixated on Cain.

"Are you really okay with her? She didn\'t drug you or anything, did she?"

"Mom!"

Cain stifled a laugh as he shook his head a little. "No, it was I who was beholden by her at first sight." And he squeezed my hand.

My body flared. It was burning as he stared at me like I was the only person in this room.

My father cleared his throat, face stern. "Now, I\'m not against this or anything, but . . ."

He shifted his stern gaze between Cain and me.

"Leanna is still young. I don\'t want her to get married at a very young age."

"Yes! Tell him, dad!"

The twins roared at the same time while their dagger eyes didn\'t leave Cain even for a moment. Hoping to murder the man with their piercing glares.

"There is an advantage if Leanna marries me at a young age . . . ," Cain said. The seriousness on his face contented with my father. "You can play with your grandchildren early."

. . .

. . .

My father took his time as he made his way towards Cain and patted his shoulder.

"Well, you know girls have to grow up sooner or later. And Leanna can already decide for herself. If you want to get married, then who am I to stop you? I can only give you my blessings."

"What!" The twins yelled in protest. "Dad, you traitor!"

"Dad, Mom! I thought you\'re going to interrogate this man on how did sis end up like this?!" Lance smirked when Cain\'s brows twitched.

I was just glad that Cain hadn\'t told my parents anything yet.

"Hush now!" My mother reprimanded. "I bet your clumsy sister fell down a stair and hurt herself. The most important thing is . . . Len-Len is alive. Don\'t hang up on the past too much, honey. You\'ll grow grey hairs early."

My mother brushed the twins and shoved Cain closer next to me.

"Now, you two get all lovey-dovey while I take a picture. Wait till I post this. My friends will be eating vinegar their entire lives with a son in law like this!" My mother brought out her phone and took shot after shot in different angles before she sat at the corner of the room, lost in her phone with a satisfied smile.

My father sat beside her. His face serious, thinking about something while murmuring to himself.

"Is Lotte a good name? Or . . . Lenny . . . naah . . . too common. How about . . . Loren?"

. . .

. . .

I didn\'t know if I should cry or be happy to have these kinds of parents.

I lifted my eyes over at Cain and found the man was already staring at me. We smiled at each other as he squeezed my hand.

We were lost in each other\'s eyes until Lance rudely whacked our joined hands apart. He then snarled at Cain, looking all menacing.

"Don\'t get too comfortable with my sister, you demon!" Lawrence stood between Cain and me as he puffed his chest, trying to look all tough while straining his pretty head over at the towering man, so he could look Cain in the eyes.

"Sis, don\'t worry. Now that we are here, we\'ll save you from being brainwash by this demon." Lance grabbed my hand and squeezed it. His dark brown puppy eyes were determined and fierce.

. . .

. . .

I don\'t understand . . . Where did I go wrong in raising these two?

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