Chapter 78

Reid Mansion.

Knowing Megan and Tristan were coming back, Elliot,Diane Hartwell, and Chloe had already been waiting at the door.

Hold on a sec.

Megan rubbed her eyes, "Wait, what the heck?"

Right next to Chloe was a familiar face flashing a big ol' grin.

Tristan chuckled, "Looks like this guy's dead set on becoming your brother-in-law."

As soon as they got out of the car, the little twin-tailed ball of energy launched herself at Megan with a bear hug.

"Missed you so much, sis!"

Megan poked her gently on the forehead. "What's this Goofball Bro doing here?"

Chloe beamed, "Goofball Bro's been awesome. He's my personal driver now-and he always takes me out for tasty food!"

Kevin brushed a hand through his bangs,"We're Team Thunder-Cutie." Megan gave him a cold sideways glance, then linked arms with Diane and Elliot as she walked into the house.

Chloe followed them in bouncing with joy.

Kevin scratched his head. "I get the feeling my future sister-in-law doesn't like me."

Tristan glanced at him and calmly adjusted his cufflinks. "Be more confident. Drop the 'feeling' part.""Huh?"

Tristan shot him a look. "You're not reliable."

Kevin touched his face in mock horror. "Is being good -looking a crime now?"

Without reacting, Tristan asked, "Found that mole in the company yet?"

Kevin coughed, "Uh. not... not yet."

Tristan gave him a dry half-smile and headed into the house.

Kevin muttered,"What kinda expression was that? Tch."

Dinner was all made by Diane, every dish perfectly tailored to Megan's taste.

Diane kept piling food onto Megan's plate. "Eat more,sweetie. Healthy babies need good nutrition."

Megan blushed instantly. "Mom, I'm still young. No rush."

Tristan cleared his throat, "Let's wait till Megan finishes college." Diane smiled kindly, "Just three more years, but by then, Tristan'll be twenty-nine."

Kevin's eyes lit up with mischief. "Guess if I become a dad, it'll be after thirty."

Chloe started counting on her fingers. "Why do you have to wait another four years, Goofball Bro?"

Kevin smiled sheepishly, "I gotta wait for my girl to finish college too!"

"Who's that?"

Kevin suddenly felt like someone stabbed him in the heart. wasn't it obvious? It's you!

After chasing her all this time, was his devotion just for show?

Megan eyed a dish of figs near her and slid it over to Kevin. "Long road ahead, my friend. Gotta stay strong -or end up forgotten and friendd-zoned."

That last bit really hit him right in the feels.

Chloe giggled, dimples popping. "Sis, I saw the news today. Can't believe Jason saved you! He's super dreamy!"

Kevin immediately leaned in, "What about me?"

Chloe gave him a side-eye, "You? You're definitely not as handsome as him."

Kevin:"..."

Diane, catching on to how hard Kevin was trying,gently chimed in, "Chloe, watch what you say/. Sure, Kevin's not a movie star, but he's not too shabby either."

Kevin: ".Ouch, Mrs. Hartwell, that still stings."

Elliot laughed, "Kevin looks fine, though he's abit old for my daughter."

Kevin: "...Wow. Mr. Shaw, that's even worse."

Megan, watching his totally defeated expression,couldn't help but feel kind of amused.

Still, she decided to throw him a bone and changed the subject. "Brandon's back from abroad next Monday.Tristan already contacted him-he'll check on Grandpa at the hospital."

Elliot gave a slight nod. "Brandon from the Lewis family is known for being a tough nut to crack. Not just anyone can get him to help. This time, it's all thanks to you, Tristan."

Tristan returned the nod. "No big deal."

Elliot turned to Megan . "Back then, you were still young and didn't see it, but now you get why your grandpa and I picked Tristan for you, right? It was the best decision ever."

Megan stuck out her tongue. "Yeah, yeah, I get it now.Thanks for seeing the good in him. Guess I was the only clueless one."

Chloe chimed in, "Well, even Dad had his blind spots -like with Molly. Took years for him to realize how fake she was." Elliot let out a heavy sigh. "You're right. That's on me.But there's still no news from Molly or Wyatt?"

Tristan's brows furrowed slightly, then he said, "Not yet. But I've already sent people to dig into it."

Diane Hartwell's expression turned serious. "Both of them are bad news. I just hope they're found soon before they cause more trouble for Megan again."

Tristan nodded softly. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll keep Megan safe,no matter what."

The moon hung bright in the sky, shadows of trees swaying gently.

Tristan drove Megan back to Dreamscape Manor.

As soon as they got out of the car,Megan insisted on checking out the sunken area near the lawn.

It was dead quiet, save for the sound of crickets.

Hand in hand, Tristan led Megan down the steps.With each step, LED strips lit up, glowing in different colors.

By the time they reached the last step and looked back, it felt like they were wrapped in a rainbow,standing in a dreamlike, colorful space.

Megan glanced around the underground room,a bit puzzled. She couldn't figure out what he meant this place for.

She wrapped her arms around Tristan's waist and looked up into his gleaming eyes. "Babe, what is this place even for?"

Tristan lowered his head and kissed her smooth forehead."You'll see soon enough."

Even though he was clearly keeping something from her, Megan just knew-whatever it was, it'd blow her away.

"It's kinda chilly here. Let's go back inside."

Before Megan could react, Tristan scooped her into his arms and carried her up the stairs toward the house.

Lying against his chest, Megan grinned like sunshine."You know where you're the warmest?"

"In my arms," Tristan replied without missing a beat.

Megan twined her arms around his neck, her soft lips brushing his rough stubble. Her fingertips slipped through a gap in his shirt and rested gently on his chest.

"Nope," she giggled. "It's your heart."

Tristan's steps froze, his body tense. His Adam's apple bobbed visibly.

Seeing that, Megan burst out laughing.

Tristan leaned down and pressed a kiss to her giggling lips, voice husky. "You cheeky thing... You've gotten way more daring."

Megan kicked her legs playfully, her delicate face the picture of innocence. "But I'm just a baby. What bad thoughts could I possibly have?"

Tristan narrowed his eyes, lips twisting into a faint smirk. "Then let's get back under the covers and see just how innocent this baby is." Upstairs, in a room on the second floor, Mr. Reid stood by the window holding his cane.

Watching the scene below,he stroked his white beard and muttered to Zeta Prime beside him, "You see that?My great-grandchild is on the way."

Zeta's mechanical eyes rolled, then rolled back again.

With Nova Tech resting on his head,the little Al puppy let out a squeaky voice, "It's night time, ya know. You should save that dream for the morning."

Mr. Reid paused, realizing this dumb dog just threw shade at him for daydreaming.

He thumped the floor with his dragon-headed cane,and Zeta took off running.

It muttered under its breath while fleeing, "Man,humans sure get cranky as they age!"

Elsewhere, at the docks, a woman in a black dress and mask stood still.

The salty ocean breeze blew across her face,whispering the promise of freedom.