Larry cautiously approached the door of the hotel suite he shared with his cousin, gently turning the handle.
He peeked inside, his eyes scanning the lounge area. It was empty, devoid of any sign of his cousin. Must be occupied with more personal matters, he thought with a mischievous grin.
In reality, helping Amy conceive had been Larry's plan from the start when he convinced her to come to Queenstown after completing his midterm exams.
He deeply cared for his cousin and couldn't bear to see her distressed about her age and the prospect of not having a husband and family.
Larry knew that Amy would never take the initiative to seduce Kyle on her own; she was far too polite for that. So, he resorted to this covert plan instead.
When he had casually mentioned to Amy the day before that he was going out to explore, he had actually gone networking.
Larry believed he would become a successful businessman with global connections someday, so he had started networking early.
The information he gathered aligned perfectly with his scheme.
That night, Kyle Queenwould was hosting an entertaining party at Torque for his VIP guests, and Larry knew it was the perfect time to set his plan in motion.
During dinner at The Burger, he had informed Amy that she should wait in his friends' suite at Night Love Hotel while he grabbed some midnight snacks before they all headed to the Gondola to experience the nightlife.
Little did she know that he had planned to bring Kyle to her room and lock them inside together to work their magic.
Afterward, Larry had stayed out all night, enjoying the nightlife with his friends until he was too exhausted to make it back to their suite. It was now nearly 10:00 a.m., and it appeared that his cousin had not returned yet.
"They must be having a great time," Larry thought happily.
Amy's dream was finally coming true, and he couldn't have been happier for her. Soon, he might have a new nephew or niece to dote on, and perhaps even twins.
Larry wondered what reward he would receive for playing cupid like this.
Still grinning like a fool, Larry closed the door and was about to turn when—
Whack! A pillow smacked into his face.
"Larry, you scoundrel! Why would you do that?" Amy charged out of her bedroom with another pillow in hand, which she promptly hurled at him as well.
"Whoa, cousin," Larry yelped as he found himself facing a transformed Amy, a furious wild boar.
He had heard from Helen and Laura countless times that Amy had a tendency to become a boar when she was upset, but experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely.
Larry desperately tried to dodge and weave, doing his best to avoid her fiery temper. "I'm sorry, okay? I thought you'd be thrilled that I arranged this for you," he managed to say as he continued to evade her.
"Why in the world didn't you tell me? You set me up, you scoundrel!" Amy yelled, chasing him down once more.
After a few minutes, both of them stopped to catch their breath before resuming their chase.
"Amy, please stop," Larry implored, gasping for air. This was ridiculous. Why were they running and shouting? What a waste of energy. They needed to sit down and have a civil conversation. "Let's just talk like adults, alright?"
"Fi... fi... fine," Amy wheezed, collapsing onto the couch. Larry did the same, relieved to end their wild pursuit.
"That was quite an ordeal," Amy sighed, her breath still recovering. "I can't remember the last time I ran like that."
"You really should make exercise a regular thing, cuz," Larry suggested earnestly. "It's good for your health."
Amy shot him a stern look once her breathing had steadied. "Don't change the subject, Larry. If you want to have an adult conversation, then let's do it properly."
"Fine, I'm sorry," Larry admitted with a hint of sadness. "I thought I was doing something that would make you happy."
"I just can't comprehend how you thought it would, Larry," Amy replied.
"Yes, I want to have a child and was planning to ask him for his sperm, but I wanted to do it the right way – by asking, not by stealing. I value my integrity."
Larry sighed. "I apologize, Amy. I only want what's best for you. You mean a lot to me, and I moved all the way to Chicago to be here for you."
Amy softened, embracing her cousin. "Larry, wipe that sad look off your face. I appreciate your care and love. But this situation is delicate. We're talking about a person's life, and I won't compromise my principles. If you ever have another plan involving someone else, please consult them first. Agreed?"
"Okay," Larry agreed, still looking remorseful. "Do you forgive me?"
Amy nodded. "I forgive you. Just promise me you'll always seek permission before interfering in others' lives."
"I promise," Larry said with a smile, and they shared another heartfelt hug.
Later that evening, after dinner, Amy sat at the dining table, her lips sore and reddened.
"Hey, cuz," Larry called from behind, noticing her continuous lip rubbing. "Are your lips okay? Did you eat something spicy or get stung by a bee?"
Amy turned away, avoiding eye contact. "No, nothing like that. I'm going to bed."
Larry blocked her path, his concern growing. "Cuz, why are you rubbing your lips like that? They look really red, almost like someone kissed you. Did Kyle do something?"
"Larry!" Amy hushed him, placing a hand over his mouth. "Don't say things like that."
Larry's eyes widened with realization. "Did he? Did he kiss you?"
"I'm not discussing this with you, Larry," Amy retorted, growing tired. "I need some rest. Please, go to your room. Goodnight."
Larry's tone was skeptical as he remarked, "I'm not buying that excuse. Your face is flushed. He kissed you, didn't he? And he presented you with that sperm!"
"Indeed he did. You orchestrated this, didn't you?" Amy let her words flow freely, and before she could react, Larry had whisked her over to the cozy couch, insisting she spill the entire tale.
"Are you sure you're old enough to hear this?" She was on the verge of leaping up again, but Larry's firm arms held her in place, his eyes pleading with a puppy dog charm that had melted hearts before, and he was confident it would work on his cousin too.
"There's nothing much to tell. I'm heading to bed," Amy quickly stated before making a hasty retreat to her room. However, even after she closed the door, Larry's voice still seeped through.
"Someone's feeling bashful," Larry teased from the other side. "Ooo-la-la."
"Shush. Spare me that nonsense. You're such a pest. Go to bed already," she shouted. "We're leaving early tomorrow morning, so get some sleep."
"Alright, alright, Amy cuz. See you tomorrow morning, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. I hope you dream sweetly about that baby of yours. I'm so looking forward to having a nephew or niece," Larry said.
Once she was certain Larry had retreated to his room, she sank to the floor, her knees feeling weak. Goodness gracious! So many things had unfolded in the last twenty-four hours.
Kyle had confessed his feelings for her, she had spent the night with him, and then she had been kissed by that smooth-talking Casanova, Justin.
"Ughhh…" Amy moaned as her heart continued to beat for both men. "Why, oh why, did that Casanova have to kiss me?"