Esme packed the things that she shopped and put them neatly in the luggage bag. She had Christmas gifts for everyone and just before Christmas, they are going to leave. So, the rest of the days, she's going to advance reading. She topped the quizzes and other exams and her performance are also outstanding. She's doing it for the family that takes care of her and mostly for Laurence. She promised him. Soon, he'll marry her. And although she's married to him, he'll let her do things that she wanted to do. She will always stick to that promise.

"Oh, wow. You have a lot of things there." She stopped and looked up at Percy.

​​

"Dad!" She ran to him and hugged him. Percy kissed her temple.

"Your mom is here too."

"Why did you call?" She asked. Damn, if Laurence is still in her room they would've got caught.

"It is no longer a surprise if we tell you," Ashaya said and she hugged her.

"I already packed up and I have every gift for everyone." She giggled.

"Esme!" The two little ones ran to her and hugged her. She bent down and hugged Zayne and Rosie on both cheeks. She sighed. They are complete. Her guilt suddenly made her stomach ache. But she needed to brush it off for Laurence's sake.

"And where's Laurence?" She asked.

"I think he left." She said.

They went to the kitchen and she prepared the tea. She took out the snacks and she always stored them and Laurence came with a paper bag.

"Hey," Laurence greeted them and kissed them. He lifted the little ones and gave them kisses.

"Now that we are finally complete, I'll set up a shopping appointment," Ashaya said.

"Nice."

"Do you want me to buy take outs from Asian Season?" Laurence asked.

"No. I'm going to cook," Ashaya said. "I haven't cooked for my two big babies for a while now."

"Okay," Laurence said. "Check the fridge, mom. If you have anything else to buy, just call. I'll be in the living room with these little ones."

Their parents prepare dinner for them while they are busy playing in the living room. At that time, both Esme and Laurence didn't care if they were in a secret relationship. At that time, they both didn't care about the guilt that they felt. They just become a family and act like a family which is painful for both of them. They couldn't show it. It should remain secret.

Laurence wanted to hold her at that moment. But he couldn't because if he would, his parents would break them apart.

<><><><><>

Noah checked his clothes that were already set up by Bea. It's his vacation clothes. And they bought a couple of shirts. Noah checked the ring that he always brought with him. He didn't get a chance to propose to Bea because Christian has been stuck in the Eagle Empire. Now, tonight, they will have a family dinner with the EPUA team. It's a heck of a party.

There are the heirs and heiresses of A-Special Agents from their Aunt Sabrina's generation. It's Christmas and everyone is having fun doing raffles and exchanging gifts. But before the exchange of gifts, there is a performance first. And the boys do a mob dance that everyone didn't expect except the choreographers.

Bea and others are in front watching their boyfriends doing such crazy things. But they dance so well, then she didn't expect in the song Marry Me, Noah would kneel in front of her and show the ring. The girls squeal and Bea froze.

"Beatrix Mondragon William, I have been wanting to do this… and I guess, this is the right time." Noah chuckled and Bea bit her lip. "I love you so much. Will you marry me?"

"No," Bea said then everyone looked at her. "I will freaking marry, marry you!" She said and everyone cheered up.

"You got me there, baby." Noah chuckled as he put the ring on her.

She admired the ring and it's a damn real ring. She hugged Noah and they kissed and everyone cheered. She looked at her parents who looked happy too. Bea is over the moon and the boys continue dancing and stripping. Their parents scold them. But the boys continue even the two pairs of triplets from Alvarez and Lawson. Then the triplets from Pattinson did the same, while Cyra is an exemption.

"Oh, damn. I am so embarrassed right now." Cyra told the Butler Samson.

"Why won't you join the team?" Tucker asked.

"Oh, shut up, I won't do such a tremendous thing. Why won't you go and strip there?"

"Would you triple my allowance if I do that?" Tucker asked. Cyra shook his head.

"No. Do not embarrass me as my brothers do." She sipped on her wine and exhaled. 

Tucker chuckled.

"Slack off. You've been stressed lately."

They watched as the couple enjoyed everything. They watched as the couple danced along with the boys.

<><><><>

Xavier never enjoyed a Christmas party in his life like this. Soon, his mother would fly here so he could spend Christmas with her. Athena is also excited to meet his mother and soon, Xavier will ask Athena to marry him. If she didn't say yes, he could wait.

"You enjoy it?" Athena asked.

"I've been enjoying every part." Xavier kissed her cheeks. "Thank you."

"For what?" She asked as she unbuttoned his shirt.

"For letting me in your family and find true happiness."

"So, you weren't happy with me?" She creased her brows.

"I am happy with you. I just enjoy every happiness with you. And I want it to stay long. I want it until we grow old. I can't say forever because we all need to leave the earth. So, I wanted it until we couldn't walk…"

Athena wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his chest. Xavier patted her head and kissed it.

"I want to share every happiness with you, Athena. Small or big doesn't matter. As long as I am with you. I'm happy."

"Now, show me that happiness."

"Damn, are you horny again?" He asked.

"You are just sexy and I need a little workout." She smirked.

He caressed her hair.

"How about, I'll prepare our bath so we can enjoy the bed?"

"Great choice." She kissed his lips.

Xavier prepared the bathtub with bubbles. He helped her as she dipped her body in the bathtub. His phone started ringing and he excused himself and reached for his phone from his pocket. He answered it almost immediately.

"Hi, mom!"

"Hey, I am done packing and I'll be there in no time."

"Okay. Just call me at your arrival time so I could pick you up."

"Don't need it. Just give me the address and I'll be there."

"Mom, I insist," Xavier said. "By the way, Athena is here. Do you want to~~"

"Wait, I have to go. My friend is here." She hung up and Xavier stared at the phone for a while and he shrugged and put it away.

"So, how is it?" Athena asked.

"She's busy as always." He said as he removed his clothes and he dipped on the bathtub and positioned behind her. She leaned to him and reached his hand.

"I haven't thought of a gift for your mom," Athena said. "What do you suggest?"

"Anything will be fine."

"How about the latest bag collection?"

Xavier kissed her cheek as his hands massaged her full breasts.

"Anything will do." He kissed her ears. "What gift do you want?"

"Just you," Athena grinned.

"How about a ring?" Xavier grinned back. She chuckled and turned her head to him.

"You know well that I'll marry you. But we'll just work it slow…"

"So, it's a yes?"

"Whatever, Xavier… I'll make love to you and that's what I want now."

Xavier took her to bed and they made love. She fell asleep almost immediately since she's weary and she's trying to stay up as she could so they could make love. He couldn't fall asleep. He reached for his old phone which he used to call her mother. The other phone that Athena gave will be useless when he's with Athena. But he always kept it with him.

There are messages from his ex-girlfriend, the one that Athena saw in the mall back in California. He read the messages and she said that she wanted him back. Xavier didn't want to keep the girl waiting. So, he replied to her. He said that he didn't feel anything special towards her. He already had a girlfriend, and he didn't want her to ever text him. Then after he sent the message, he blocked her number.

He put away his phone and turned to Athena. She opened her eyes and snuggled to him.

"Who did you chat with?"

"Ex-girlfriend." He said and caressed her hair. "I don't want her to keep on chatting with me. So, I told her to stop it and blocked her."

"Good." She mumbled.

"How about we go shopping tomorrow for more gifts?"

"Yeah, sure. I'm free and have a lot of time." She said in a sexy voice which she isn't aware of. Xavier is aroused, and he will surely make love to her.

"Athena,"

"Hmm?"

"I'll never love again to anyone but you. I think I might not be able to give the same love to another."