Chapter 4

It  was a regular weekday morning-except in the Armstrong household, nothing was ever just regular. The sun had barely peeked through the half-drawn curtains when Becky found herself standing in the middle of her living room, facing her three pint-sized revolutionaries who looked as if they had declared war on the institution of kindergarten itself.

Still clad in their mismatched pajamas, their arms folded and expressions etched with determination only a five-year-old could pull off convincingly, Fosbein Rox, Fastian Bifah, and Fahnareeh Beena Suphaphorn Armstrong stood like tiny statues of defiance.

“We don’t want to go to kindergarten today!” Fastian declared, his small feet planted firmly on the carpet, eyes narrowed and hands confidently perched on his hips as if he were a little general leading an army.

Fahnareeh clutched her slightly-worn plush bunny close to her chest, her big brown eyes shimmering with conviction. “We want to stay with Mommy,” she chimed in, her voice small but unwavering.

Becky blinked. “My gosh,” she muttered under her breath, completely baffled by the sudden protest. Her phone buzzed somewhere behind her, but she couldn’t even reach for it as she tried to reason with her children who now had the energy of a full-blown activist movement.

She had tried everything that morning. Sweet-talks and gentle persuasion had failed. Snacks-no reaction. Bribery with new toys? Instant rejection. Even the mention of their much-anticipated field trip couldn’t change their minds. It was clear-they had made a pact, and there was no breaking it.

Finally, rubbing her temples and sighing in surrender, Becky threw her hands in the air. “Fine! The three of you coming with me to the company. But there are rules-strict rules. No running. No shouting. And absolutely no hiding in storage rooms like the last time.” Her eyes narrowed as she remembered that infamous incident involving a missing Fastian and a thirty-minute manhunt.

In unison, the triplets lit up like they’d just won a golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s factory.

Less than an hour later, they were dressed in coordinated pastel outfits, their little backpacks slung across their tiny shoulders, and bundled into Becky’s sleek black car. The ride was filled with excited chatter, songs from their favorite cartoons, and occasional arguments over who would press the elevator button first once they arrived.

As they stepped into the polished glass doors of Beckangels Company, Becky could already feel the energy shift among her staff. Whispers spread like wildfire and smiles bloomed across every face that passed them by.

“Good morning, Madam Armstrong,” Ayon, her ever-reliable assistant, greeted, eyes twinkling as he looked at the three familiar VIPs beside her. “Looks like we’ve got special guests again.”

“Morning, Ayon,” Becky replied with a tired smile. “How many times do I have to tell you-drop the ‘Madam.’ Just call me Becky. We’re not in ‘Boss Mode’ yet.”

Ayon chuckled. “Noted, Becky.”

She handed over three color-coded bags to Ayon, who accepted them with the solemnity of a soldier being entrusted with top-secret cargo. “Snacks, toys, their personal stuff. Just make sure they don’t turn the office into a warzone. I have a staff meeting-boring stuff.”

Fastian immediately tugged on Ayon’s sleeve, curiosity already bubbling to the surface. “Do frogs blink with both eyes or just one?”

Ayon burst into laughter. “Let’s find out together, buddy.”

As Becky disappeared into the glass-walled conference room, Ayon prepared himself for the triplets’ energy. Fastian’s questions were relentless.

“How does the elevator know what floor you want?”

“Can computers get tired?”

“Why does Mommy like being a boss?”

Meanwhile, Fosbein stood observing everything like a little strategist. “What’s she doing?” he pointed at an employee. “Is she boss? Can I have a chair like that one?”

And Fahnareeh? She was in awe of the shimmering Beckangels logo in the lobby. “Is it made of real stars?” she asked, voice filled with wonder.

“Okay, little bosses,” Ayon sighed dramatically. “What would you like to do first?”

“Playing around!” Fastian and Fahnareeh chorused, dashing away, their footsteps echoing off the marble floors.

“Wait for me!” shouted Fosbein, already sprinting after his siblings.

Ayon groaned. Not even three hours in, and he was already jogging through departments like a babysitter on a mission. Everyone knew the triplets only ever listened when Becky used her “Mommy glare.” The rest of the world? Pawns in their game.

They zoomed past employees who grinned and whispered:

“They’re so cute!”

“They really do look like little angels.”

Soon enough, chaos led them directly outside the meeting room. Becky’s eyes darkened when she caught sight of her kids sprinting past the glass. She opened the door sharply.

“Fosbein Rox! Fastian Bifah! Fahnareeh Beena!” Her voice cracked like thunder across the hallway.

Ayon skid to a halt behind her, panting. The triplets froze. Their faces fell. They knew what that tone meant-Mommy Angry Mode Activated.

“Come here,” Becky said coldly, crouching to their eye level. “I warned three of you before come here. Why didn’t listen to me?”

“Sorry, Mommy…” they whispered in harmony.

“Say sorry to Uncle Ayon.”

“Sorry, Uncle Ayon…”

She ushered them into the meeting room. “Face the wall. Twenty minutes. No arguing.”

The staff watching from outside winced in sympathy as the three little bodies stood with their noses to the glass wall.

Even during her presentation, Becky didn’t let her stern expression waver.

When Fastian tapped the hem of her clothes and whispered, “I want milk,” she passed him the glass silently. She always anticipated their needs. That didn’t mean they escaped discipline.

—

Later that day, Becky finally had a breather in her office. That moment of calm was shattered by the sudden arrival of Sana, who burst in with her usual flair. The triplets jumped in alarm, eyes wide.

“Look what you did!” Becky exclaimed, rushing to soothe her frightened children.

“I’m sorry, cuties,” Sana cooed, ruffling their hair.

“Aunt Sana, you scared me,” Fosbein pouted.

“I’m sorry,” she said, wiping his cheek. “Don’t cry, or you won’t be handsome anymore.”

“I’m always handsome,” he replied confidently.

Lisa and Fay walked in shortly after, their jaws dropping at the triplets roaming the office.

“Since when is skipping kindergarten allowed unless they’re sick?” Lisa joked.

“They staged a protest,” Becky replied dryly. “I had no choice.”

“Well, we missed them,” Fay grinned, opening her arms as Fahnareeh and Fosbein ran into her embrace.

“You go finish your work,” Sana announced. “We’ll take care of these little bosses.”

With that, the group headed off to an indoor playroom, and chaos resumed-building blocks, tea parties, and ball pits galore. After hours of laughter, they moved on to the mall’s luxury toy store.

But the fun was about to take an unexpected twist.

—

“Can you take care of them? I need the toilet-emergency!” Sana declared to Lisa, sprinting off. Fay also have emergency.

Lisa nodded her head.

They went to the girls’ toys. Lisa felt something was missing. She checked her bag. It turned out to be her phone and wallet.

“Oh shit!! Why now?!,” she cursed herself. She told the triplets about that matter.

“Aunt Lisa can go pick it up,” said Fosbein while his eyes look at the toys that display at shelf.

“If i go, three of you must follow.”

“I don’t want to follow aunt Lisa untill i get my toys,” said Fastian.

“We will come here again after I get it.”

“No,” said Fastian.

Lisa called an employee. “You know who I am, right?,” asked her with cold tone.

“You are my boss friends,” said the employee.

“They…,” she pointed to the triplets. ” They are your boss favourite person. Take care of them until I back .”

“Okay.”

They went to the boy’s toy section after Fahnareeh got the toy she wanted.

“Phi Rox, this is cool,” Fastian show off the mini car he pick from the shelf.

“Nice!,” Fosbein give his thumbs up.

A boy snatched a toy from Fastian. Fastian was startled and turned his head. The boy ran away, Fastian chased after him.

The employee that must take care of the triplets did not there again. She did not trust Lisa words that the triplets has something to do with her boss.

The boy turned his head.

“Prawit! Give it to me!,” said Fastian. Fastian hate that boy. What he wants is always taken away by Prawit in class. He can give it but not by taking it away. Just ask him. Prawit are his classmates.

Fosbein and Fahnareeh also ran to caught that boy but they lost track. The toy store was big.

Prawit hid behind Freen. Mavin looked at Fastian and smiled. That was his best friend.

“Hey, Fastian.”

“Hey, can you ask Prawit to give back that toy to me?,”

Mavin looked towards Prawit.

“I was the one who took it first.”

Fastian clenched his fists.

“I was the one get it first!,” Fastian started to burst his tears. He held it back first.

Jennie, Tzuyu and Namtan looked at Fastian. Then, look at Freen. They saw them one after another.

“What the heck?! Why do you have the same eyes as him?” Jennie asked Freen.

The triplets always wear masks when they are outside except at the company and kindergarten.

“Did you… do IVF with someone else?” Namtan asked.

“No!,” Freen hissed. She wore her glasses and mask. She didn’t want to attract attention from the public.

Suddenly, Fosbein come and pulled Prawit’s collar roughly from behind.

“Got you! Give me back the toy,” he shouted. Even though he was smaller than Prawit, his strength was stronger than Prawit.

Fahnareeh clapped her hands. “Bravo

“Bravo, phi Rox!” Naree cheered.

Freen and her friends were shocked, they turned their heads. Freen didn’t like it when anyone hurt her family members. Prawit was her cousin’s son.

“Hey, don’t hurt him,” she said.

“He stole from my little brother,” Fosbein defended.

“They’re so smart,” Namtan praised them. “How old are they?” asked Namtan.

“I don’t know,”answered Tzuyu.

Namtan asked her question earlier to Fahnareeh. Fahnareeh proudly showing five fingers.

“Mommy told us not to talk to strangers,” Fosbein pulled Fahnareeh away from Namtan.

“But you already talked to us,” Namtan teased.

Fosbein ignored what Namtan said. He gave the toy he snatched to Fastian.

Freen took the toy from Fosbein. “You stole from Prawit,” she said and gave it to Prawit.

“Hey, it’s my toys.”

“As long as it hasn’t been paid for, it’s not your toy,” said Freen coldly.

“I feel like I’m watching big Freen and small Freen fighting,” said Namtan.

“Her temperament is the same as that boy,” she said again, pointing towards Fastian.

Prawit stuck out his tongue. “Yes, I won. The fatherless like you loser.”

Fastian is crying.

Freen and her friends were shocked by the words that came out of Prawit’s mouth.

Fosbein pushed Prawit’s body until he fell. “We have a daddy. Our daddy is busy.”

“Your father does not love you. That’s why left! Three of you loser!,”

Fahnareeh and Fosbein burst into tears.

“You’re unwanted! All three of you!”

Freen and her friends stood frozen-watching the chaos, but something inside Freen cracked.

Something didn’t feel right.