Chapter 8

“I’ve done what you wanted. Now stop bothering me.”

Becky’s tone was ice-short, cold, and sharp like the edge of a freshly honed knife. She didn’t even look at Yan as she adjusted her mask and turned away, clearly fed up with the way he kept pushing her to endorse his company’s new product lines.

Yan, unbothered by her cold shoulder, remained still. “There’s a reason I asked you to be the ambassador.”

Becky froze mid-step, her jaw clenching slightly. “And what brilliant reason is that, huh?”

“Nop asked me to keep you busy,” he admitted, his voice lower now, almost hesitant.

Becky turned back, blinking. “What?”

Yan inhaled. “He thought that if you had enough on your plate, you’d stop thinking about Freen.”

For a moment, Becky didn’t say anything. Her eyes narrowed, lips pressing together. And then, she scoffed, rolling her eyes in disbelief. “Stupid,” she muttered under her breath, pulling her mask tighter against her face as though it could shield her from the annoyance tightening her chest.

“It’s been five years, Yan. Five years. Do you both seriously think I haven’t moved on?” she hissed, voice low but venomous. “And for the record, don’t ever pull that kind of stunt again. I don’t want to hate my friends. But if you keep doing this… I will.”

“I can’t promise you that,” Yan replied softly, guilt creeping into his voice.

Becky was about to retort when Ayon came sprinting into the hallway, his face pale, his breath ragged.

“Becky!” he called, chest heaving. “Your kids-they’re in the hospital.”

Everything inside Becky stopped.

Her limbs froze. Her breath hitched.

“What?!” Her voice cracked as her eyes widened in panic. “Where?! Which hospital?!”

“I’ll take you there-just come now!”

Without a second thought, Becky sprinted toward the carpark, her heels clicking loudly on the pavement as Ayon tried to keep up.

“Drive faster!” she shouted the moment they were both in the car, panic clouding her tone. She was shaking, imagining the worst.

“We can’t go too fast, if we rush, we might get into an accident before even reaching them. Please, boss-calm down.”

“Calm down?! My kids are in the hospital, Ayon! What if they’re seriously hurt?! What if-“

“Don’t think negatively. We don’t know their condition yet.”

“Stop the car.”

Ayon blinked. “What?”

“Stop. The. Car.” Becky’s voice turned icy, layered with that commanding aura that made people obey without a second thought.

Reluctantly, Ayon pulled over. Before he could even argue, Becky stormed to the driver’s side, yanked the door open, and looked him dead in the eyes. “Let me drive.”

“No.”

“I’m your boss. You’re supposed to listen to me.”

“And I’m your friend. I care more about your safety than following orders blindly.”

“I promise I won’t drive fast,” Becky lied, her voice calm but her face betraying the storm inside. Her eyes begged for control-this was the only thing she could control right now.

“…Okay.”

They arrived at the hospital in under thirty minutes, despite the red lights Becky ran through and the cars she dangerously overtook. She didn’t care about traffic rules. Not now. Not when her babies were in pain.

She leapt out of the car, ignoring the startled stares of the hospital staff as she rushed inside.

“Excuse me, where are Fosbein, Fastian, and Fahnareeh Armstrong?” she asked the nurse in a breathless panic.

“Go left,” the nurse said kindly. “Take the elevator to the first floor. Their room is at the very end.”

“Thank you.” Becky didn’t waste another second.

Ayon finally staggered out of the car, muttering under his breath, “Why doesn’t she ever think about her own safety first? They’re already in the hospital-they’re being taken care of…”

Becky walked quickly but cautiously now. Her hand trembled as she reached for the doorknob. When she pushed the door open, she didn’t expect what she saw.

Inside the room were her triplets, Fosbein, Fastian, and Fahnareeh but they weren’t alone.

Freen. Freen was there. And with her, Jennie, Namtan, and Tzuyu.

Her breath hitched. The air in the room felt suddenly heavier.

Behind her, Ayon appeared, panting. “Boss, you’re really fast. I nearly fainted chasing you.”

“It’s your fault you’re slow,” Becky retorted, brushing past him.

The triplets turned at the sound of her voice. Their eyes lit up in unison.

“Mommy!!” they screamed as they rushed toward her, their little legs moving fast.

They clung to her legs tightly. Fosbein, looking particularly guilty, spoke first. “Mommy, I’m sorry… I didn’t take care of Tian and Nareeh carefully.”

Becky knelt, cupping his cheeks tenderly. “You don’t need to apologize, my love. It’s not your job to take care of your siblings. That’s Mommy’s job.”

“But you always say we have to take care of each other.”

“That’s only because I want the three of you to stay close, to protect one another when I can’t be there.”

Her eyes moved to Fastian. His head was bandaged, and his right arm was wrapped tightly in a cast. Becky’s heart clenched.

She scooped him into her arms gently. “Where does it hurt the most?”

Fastian smiled softly. “I’m okay, Mommy. The doctor helped me.”

“Good. But if you feel even a little pain, you must tell Mommy. Don’t try to be strong, okay? You don’t have to endure pain alone.”

“Becky…” Namtan’s voice cut in quietly. “Are they… your children?”

Becky stood slowly, eyes still on Fastian as she nodded.

Tzuyu, ever blunt, asked, “Freen’s children?”

Becky didn’t answer. Her lips parted, but no sound came out.

“I… I don’t know,” she finally whispered.

The triplets exchanged confused glances but said nothing.

Becky turned to Ayon. “Ask the doctor if Fastian can go home.”

Freen spoke up for the first time, her voice calm. “There’s no need. The doctor already said he needs to stay for two days.”

“Mommy, I want to stay with Phi Rox!” Fahnareeh said, tugging at Becky’s hand.

“No, sweetheart. You’re not sick. You can’t stay in the hospital,” Becky replied, trying to stay firm.

“Want me to take them to your parents’ place?” Ayon offered.

“My parents are in the village.”

“Your brother’s house?”

“His wife’s about to give birth. I want them to rest peacefully. Tell my friends they have to help.”

“What if they fight again over who gets to take care of them?”

Becky sighed. “Tell them to stay at my house.”

Fahnareeh clung to Becky tighter, her voice breaking. “I want to stay with Mommy…”

Becky rubbed her back gently. “Just two days, baby.”

“No…” her voice cracked into a sob.

“Maybe you should just let her stay,” Jennie said gently. “She looks like she’ll cry herself sick if she doesn’t.”

“She won’t cry that long,” Becky said.

Eventually, Ayon took Fahnareeh into his arms. She struggled and screamed. Becky had to take her back and whisper assurances, her heart breaking with every tear.

After calming her, Becky kissed Fosbein and Fahnareeh goodbye, sending them off with promises of desserts and video calls. Once the room was quieter, she laid Fastian on the bed and turned to Freen and her friends, who were still silently watching.

“You all can go. I’ll take care of my son now.”

Before she could sit down, Namtan grabbed her arm. “Fastian, can we borrow your mommy for a bit?”

“Don’t hurt my mommy!” Fastian cried out.

“They won’t hurt me,” Becky said, gently patting his head. “I’ll be right back.”

Outside the room, Tzuyu closed the door behind them.

“Why are you working with Yan?” she asked coldly.

“Let me ask first,” Namtan interrupted. “Becky, are they yours and Freen’s children?”

Becky stayed silent. Then, softly, “I told you already… I don’t know.”

“How can you not know?”

“Because of the incident…” her voice trembled. “Please… stop investigating me.”

She turned away and walked back inside the room.

Her heart was full. Of guilt. Of longing. Of love.

Of pain.

And of a truth she wasn’t sure she could face just yet.