Sylvius closed his eyes for a moment and gathered every strength he could muster.
He then opened his eyes, and with the firmest bearing, he spoke,
"Evangeline, my dearest daughter, will you please listen to me?"
"I'm listening." The other responded with an all-ears expression. The exasperated father felt his soul wither in exhaustion, for they had been discussing the same topic for almost an hour. At first, the conversation was full of solemnity but now-
How did it come to this?
He could only sigh for the nth time.
"I comprehend you want to have a brother, but you must also understand that Iris and I have yet to wed." Sylvius watched his daughter nod in acquiescence. Good, he thought. At least they started with the right foot. He then resumed,
"In addition, it needs at least nine months to conceive..." He paused, maintaining eye contact with her,
"Yes, indeed." Uttered Eve as she nodded once more.
"So, even if you wanted to have a brother, you can only wait until we finish the wedding." Sylvius resumed.
"Yes, of course." She replied, totally agreeing with her father's statement.
Seeing this, the heavy stone in Sylviuv's mind began to settle down.
"I'm glad you understood." He couldn't help but utter.
But before Sylvius can finally sigh in relief, Eve, a beat later, added.
"Yes, I do. But,"
Sylvius felt an incoming headache, thinking: here it goes.
"As I said, you can get your certificates right now and go on your honeymoon. Then, you two can come back when I have a brother." Eve solemnly recommended, talking as though the ludicrous idea does not sound bullcrap at all. She spoke in an unhurried manner, showing her intense conviction.
Sylvius's palm landed on his forehead, not knowing what to do with his daughter. Why is she so adamant about having a brother? What is this new obsession? Initially, she wanted to matchmake him and Iris, but now she wants them to make a brother. Also, why is it a brother? Why not a little sister? That way, the two of them, one big and one small, can play with dolls and be pampered by the family.
[Hmm... That actually sounds lovely. I will have two little princesses.] Such thought made Sylvius smile. Then, reality dawned on him.
[Wait, why am I thinking like this?] Sylvius chided himself for being distracted. It seems his daughter has an almighty hypnotic-like ability, nearly talking him into such a crazy idea.
"Dad, are you listening?" Eve woke Sylvius from his daydream.
*Cough
"Yes, Dad is listening." Sylvius coughed in embarrassment.
"As I said, I want a younger brother ASAP." Eve had no choice but to act like a spoiled brat. She has been having the same conversation with her dad, making her throat parched. Now, her patience is nearing its end.
"If you wanted to have a sibling that much, should we adopt a baby?" Sylvius asked in good faith. Hey, what can he do? He spoiled his daughter to this point.
"No. I want a blood-related brother." Eve's tone is resolute, with no room for any contradiction.
Eve imagined having a little brother spouting "sister, sister, goddess sister" lovingly like Aquillen. Well, maybe if he is older, he will be giving her all the yummy snacks he found. Then, when her brother is capable enough, she will pass the business to him. After all, she doesn't want to work herself to death.
Not to mention, she needs her dad and Iris to be away when that person comes.
It's really for the best that when Hemiura comes, she'll learn that the target of her obsession has been secretly married and is expecting a child.
How will that annoying vixen react by then?
Surely it would be hideous beyond compare.
Eve anticipated breaking the news herself and savoring each second of Hemiura's crumbling expression.
So, having a younger brother ASAP is a must!
She won't back down on this.
"Evangeline, listen to dad." Sylvius almost pleaded.
Eve stood up and prepared to leave.
No way she'll let this conversation drag on. It's snack time, so time to go.
Seeing her stand up, Sylvius could only follow her actions while trying to convince her.
"Evangeline, child."
Eve watched her father mimic her actions and knew he wanted to continue the conversation. The alarm bells in her head keep clanging, reminding her of her snack time's impending doom. Her mind turned faster and finally spoke in a threatening voice,
"Dad, if you don't have a baby ASAP, I will."
The thunderstruck father heard a loud tingling in his ears. He felt the ground shake and his limbs immediately felt cold and stiff.
What did he hear just now?
His baby daughter will have a baby?
Who? What?
To whom will she give birth?
His mind turned a hundred times and ended with two annoying-as-hell, handsome wolves. Then he finally noticed his daughter almost at the door.
"Evangeline! Stop!" His voice was a decibel higher.
"Yes?" The unreasonable girl glanced at him as if asking what was wrong. She is displeased by her father's repeated blocking.
However, she remains patient with her golden thigh.
Their eyes met, one clueless and one desperate.
Then she watched Sylvius come to her and clasp her shoulders, saying.
"You are not allowed to have a baby." Sylvius has never spoken solemnly to his daughter.
Raising her brow, Eve asked,
"Why not?"
Of course, Eve really didn't plan on having a baby. In addition to getting away earlier from the unending conversation, she just wanted to stimulate her dad to consider the gravity of the situation. Her father doesn't know that a viperxanaconda has been lurking in the corner just to bite him and swallow him in one breath. What if the plot cements that original fate and lures him to that woman? She has made preparations, but she is not God. She doesn't have control over many things.
That is why, to have certainty, she needs to seal that possibility by having him and Iris fall in love, wed, and conceive a baby before the plot takes over.
Fate is scary, after all.
She needs to protect her family at all costs.
Sylvius could have seen the truth but is too agitated to realize her empty threat. His mind was full of those bastards trying to hoodwink his baby daughter. As a doting dad, how could he let those evildoers scam his treasure away?
Now when asked why she couldn't bear a child, he nearly choked, not knowing how to answer.
"You, you.. well, you are too young to give birth."
"I'm almost 18, dad. I'm nearly an adult."
"Almost, but that doesn't mean you are ready to be a mother."
"Well, Miss Iris is almost 30. She has nearly passed the ideal child-rearing age, so you must hurry, dad."
" Don't worry about her. Her age is still ideal...Wait, this is not about her but about you, child."
"Of course, this is about her. Specifically, you plus her is equal to my future baby brother."
The two stood by the study's door, exchanging sentences that were getting weirder by the second.
When Eve heard her dad enlightening her using her age again, she looked at him dead in the eyes and said,
"You underestimate my birthing hips."
With that, she left the room in her father's dumbfounded eyes.
Sylvius watched his daughter sashay out of the room while words echoed continuously in his mind.
You underestimate my birthing hips.
You underestimate my birthing hips.
My birthing hips.
My birthing hips.
Unable to refute, his mind went blank except for a two-letter word popping continuously.
No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No!
In shock and desperation, Sylvius almost popped an artery in his neck in an attempt to voice out his frustration.
His angel daughter has been fully corrupted by those evil spirits!!!
Eve did not know that the words she uttered mindlessly were so powerful that it only took a day for Sylvius and Iris to get their marriage certificates and three days to hold the wedding ceremony.
The plans set for their engagement have turned into simple nuptials attended only by their immediate family. The public didn't even get a scoop on the matter.
Sylvius naturally told Iris of the circumstances behind the hurried schedule.
Iris was taken aback and found it funny. Of course, she did not mind marrying in such a hurried manner.
Truth be told, she was pleasantly surprised.
She sincerely loved Sylvius and marrying him earlier only made her happy.
After all, she also longed to be with him every day.
She also felt that Sylvius seemed to have changed. She could not pinpoint where exactly but is elated by his actions.
Not to mention, marrying means she's the legal mother of her baby Eve.
Time flew like a gust of wind, and the day she woke up as a bride came.
She will never forget everything about that day.
How pretty she felt when wearing her wedding dress.
How excited she was when she held her bouquet.
How her fingers trembled as she heard the start of the processional song playing.
How she felt emotional walking down the aisle towards the beautiful man who waited for her at the altar.
How captivating his gentle smile was when he looked at her.
How reassured she was when his warm hand took hers.
How she found her courage when he called her name softly.
How joyful she was when they exchanged vows that made them husband and wife.
She felt the roses bloom just for her and him.
As the blessings poured for the two of them, her happiness almost turned into substance.
She was genuinely beyond happy.
It's funny because her husband always felt sorry for the hasty wedding. He said they'll have another ceremony with all their kids in the future.
Iris felt helpless whenever she hears him say such a thing.
She thinks their wedding ceremony and celebration weren't that simple at all. It did not lack anything. It can be considered intimate, only inviting their closest friends and family.
She is very satisfied with every detail of the nuptial alright.
Lionel, her father-in-law, walked her down the aisle and her daughter Eve was her maid of honor.
She was simply the happiest person that day.
Iris recalled how fulfilling it was to finally have a solo portrait with Eve. And she may add, she got it in an upright manner. She is now her baby Eve's bonafide stepmum! Just thinking about it made her chuckle a lot. Gone are the days when she could only crop their photo. Now even Sylvius has no say in her stanning goals. hahaha
Calming her inner fanatic mode, Iris recollected the tears her husband silently shed when he received their daughter's and father's well wishes. Also, the moment when they accepted a white envelope with a letter that only contained a few words in gold and a fancy font at the end which wrote the word "Cross."
She realized it was Lilian's family.
She knew his husband's heartache and worry. So when she read their message, she felt relieved and glad for Sylvius.
With it, he can finally start a new chapter in his life.
And she will accompany him every step of the way.
When they thought that marriage was the end of it, Eve gave them another surprise.
The two once again woke up to a familiar set-up.
They found themselves in a wide bed with the sound of waves and the scent of salt surrounding them.
There was also a letter with a message;
[ Dad, Mommy Iris,
You can only return once you give me a brother.
Please work hard.
Love, Eve.]
Sylvius and Iris looked at each other and laughed helplessly.