"Mama, we should go to the hospital," Sasha her youngest daughter said sweetly. Ryder eyes widen when he saw these three kids for some odd reason he couldn't help but want to spoil these three kids their mother who saved his nephew. He took a deep breath.
"Your kids are right, we should go to the hospital."
"No," Catarina said. Ryder grabbed Catarina who felt uncomfortable but Ryder didn't seem to care too much.
"If you don't I will tell your Great Pops," Ryder said sternly. Catarina opened her beautiful lips and she nodded her head she dislike hospital.
Catarina's eyes flashed with annoyance, but she knew she couldn't win against Ryder's persistence. She nodded curtly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Fine." Ryder's grip on her arm tightened, his eyes gleaming with triumph.
"Good, let's go," he said, leading her towards his car, the triplets following closely behind. Catarina's discomfort grew with each step, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that Ryder was watching her with an intensity that made her skin prickle.
As they walked towards the car, Ryder's eyes kept drifting back to the triplets, who were chattering excitedly among themselves. He couldn't help but smile at their antics, and his gaze lingered on Catarina, who was watching him with a mixture of wariness and curiosity.
"You know, I never would have pegged you as a mother," Ryder said, his voice low and teasing. Catarina's eyes narrowed, her expression guarded.
"What does that mean?" she asked, her voice cool. Ryder chuckled.
"Just that you're so... capable and confident. I wouldn't have thought you'd be the type to have kids." Catarina's gaze dropped, her eyes flashing with a hint of defensiveness.
"I'm a good mother," she said, her voice firm. Ryder's expression softened, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
"I'm sure you are," he said, his voice gentle.
"I can see how much your kids adore you."
Ryder's words caught Catarina off guard, and she felt a flutter in her chest. No one had ever spoken to her like that before, with such genuine warmth and kindness. She looked up at Ryder, her eyes searching for any sign of insincerity, but all she saw was genuine interest and curiosity. The triplets, sensing the tension between their mother and Ryder, exchanged a nervous glance. Sasha spoke up, her voice sweet and gentle.
"Mama's a great mom. She takes care of us and teaches us everything." Catarina's eyes softened, and she smiled at her daughter.
"Thank you, Sasha," she said, her voice warm. Ryder's eyes lingered on Catarina, his expression thoughtful.
"Handsome Angel! How do you know our sweet Angel mama?" Sasha the bubble one asked. Ryder eyes sparked and he gently smiled.
"Your Uncle Lucas is my best friend, after all your mama just came back to New York City, and to live with her biological parents."
"Oh I see! Mama Angel is awesome huh? Humph you haven't seen the last of her talents yet at all," Sasha bragged.
"Sasha are you planning to just tell this stranger everything mama just reunited with her biological family. Remember the adoptive family weren't nice to mama," Apollo whispered.
"Mama can handle herself," Fairy said.
Ryder chuckled he pulled up at the hospital. Catarina followed Ryder who got her a vip ward which she tried her best to refuse but she gave up. After that she didn't see Ryder which she was glad she looked at the triplets who where all doing their own things. Catarina eyes closed she drink some water she let out a cough the door opened she saw her brother second uncle and cousin rush over.
"We got a call from Ryder oh my gosh little sis are you okay!?" Lucas asked and Catarina nodded her head.
"Thank goodness you aren't badly wounded," Lucas said as he sat down next to his sister.
Catarina's eyes fluttered open, and she smiled weakly at her brother.
"I'm fine, Lucas. Just a few bruises and scratches," she said, her voice hoarse from coughing. Her cousin, Ethan, and second uncle, Julian, exchanged a relieved glance. Ethan spoke up, his voice filled with concern.
"We were worried sick about you, Catarina. Ryder called us and told us what happened. He said you saved his nephew's life." Catarina's eyes widened slightly at the mention of Ryder's name, but she quickly composed herself.
"It was nothing, really. I just happened to be there," she said, downplaying the incident. Lucas's eyes narrowed, his expression skeptical.
"Don't play it down, Catarina. Ryder said you were amazing. He's really grateful to you." Catarina's cheeks flushed slightly at the praise, but she looked away, trying to hide her reaction.
Lucas's eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Ryder's really taken with you, sis. He's been asking a lot of questions about you." Catarina's eyes snapped back to her brother, her expression wary.
"What kind of questions?" she asked, her voice low. Lucas leaned in, a conspiratorial look on his face.
"He wants to know everything about you. What you like, what you don't like... he's really interested." Catarina's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with possibilities.
Catarina just meant Lucas and Ryder today actually she just meant her family today she is still shaken up by everything. Her second Uncle Elijah and his son Ethan both looked at Catarina. "Cousin this is for you," Ethan said as he handed some food over to Catarina who happily took it. After she was finished eating she let out a sigh.
"Hey triplets I am your Uncle Lucas! I know this is your first meeting me," Lucas said gently. Apollo, Fairy, and Sasha all stared at their uncle. They know their mama just returned and meant few of her family today so everything is a mess for her right.
"Hello!"
Catarina's eyes watched as her brother interacted with her children, a mix of emotions swirling inside her. She was still trying to process everything that had happened, and the sudden influx of new faces and relationships was overwhelming. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, as she watched Lucas try to connect with the triplets. The children's shy hellos were met with Lucas's warm smile, and he began to ask them questions, trying to get to know them better. Catarina's eyes drifted to her second uncle and cousin, who were watching the scene with interest. Elijah spoke up, his voice gentle.
"Catarina, why don't you rest for a bit? We can take care of the children." Catarina hesitated, unsure if she wanted to leave her children with her family, but Lucas's reassuring smile put her at ease. "It's okay, sis. We've got this. You rest."