At dinner time, chaos was in full swing.
In the living room, Alvin, Leo, Diana, and Luis were seated around a large Monopoly board, and things were getting... heated.
Leo, the youngest in the group, was hugging a pile of fake money like a dragon guarding his hoard. Diana, his partner-in-crime, was stacking up property cards while giving Alvin the most innocent look possible.
Luis, meanwhile, looked one step away from flipping the entire board.
"I call fraud!" Luis declared, pointing an accusing finger at Alvin. "There's no way you should have this much money left! You barely landed on any properties!"
Alvin leaned back on the couch, lazily tossing his stack of money in the air before catching it effortlessly. His long blue hair shimmered under the light, and his smirk could not have been more smug.
"Cheating?" Alvin scoffed. "Luis, my dear, sweet fool. It's called strategy. Something you clearly lack."
Luis scoffed, grabbing the game rules. "Oh, I'm sure it's strategy when you conveniently 'forget' to pay rent."
Leo gasped dramatically. "You're supposed to pay rent?!"
Alvin's smirk grew wider. "No, no, dear Leo. Not me. Only Luis. I'm exempt because I am the game master."
Diana tilted her head. "There's a game master in Monopoly?"
"No." Luis deadpanned. "He's making it up."
Alvin put a hand over his chest in fake offense. "Luis, you wound me. How dare you accuse me of such dishonesty?"
Luis gestured to the board. "You STOLE Park Place right from under me!"
Alvin shrugged. "It's not stealing if I'm simply faster than you. Think of it as natural selection."
Leo, still clutching his money, turned to Diana. "What's natural selection?"
Diana, always confident even when completely wrong, answered immediately. "It's when Alvin bullies us, and we can't do anything about it."
Alvin burst into laughter, ruffling Diana's hair. "Ding ding ding! We have a winner!"
Luis groaned, rubbing his face. "I hate playing games with you."
"That's the spirit!" Alvin grinned. "Now, hand over Boardwalk, and no one gets hurt."
Meanwhile, Alice sat on the couch with Mina and Lily.
Mina, the youngest at only four, had taken it upon herself to introduce Alice to everyone, as if Alice hadn't already met them.
Lily, who had a bit more sense, occasionally corrected Mina's very exaggerated descriptions.
Mina clapped her hands. "Okay! So, Alice, since you're new, I will tell you who is who!"
Alice smiled softly, absentmindedly playing with the bracelet on her wrist. "Alright, Mina. Go ahead."
Mina pointed at Diana, who was still in the middle of her Monopoly war. "That's Diana. She's really strong because she eats a lot."
Lily quickly corrected, "That's not how strength works."
Mina ignored her. "And that's Leo! He's a boy, but it's okay, we like him anyway."
Leo, who overheard, turned to look at Mina. "What do you mean 'but it's okay'?"
Mina continued. "And that's Ash! He's scared of bugs but says he's not, but we know the truth."
Alice chuckled. "I see. And what about you, Mina?"
Mina puffed up proudly. "I am the best! And the cutest! That's what Daddy says!"
Alice's smile softened at the word 'Daddy.' She still wasn't used to it, but the warmth these kids shared made her feel a little less alone.
Just as the Monopoly war reached its peak, there was a knock at the door.
Ash, the self-proclaimed 'Guardian of the Orphanage', immediately ran over to investigate.
However, Ash was small, and the mansion's door was massive. He had to drag over a stool, step on it, and peek through the peephole.
What he saw made him smile brightly.
He quickly unlocked the door and pulled it open with his tiny hands.
Standing there, with luggage in hand, was none other than Xavier Loid.
Ash, without hesitation, grinned up at Xavier and said, "Father!"
Silence.
Behind Xavier, the entire Loid family stood frozen in shock.
Sasha, Natasha, Daniel, and even Alex all turned to look at Xavier.
Xavier, however, did not hesitate. He simply leaned down, picked up Ash, and hugged him tightly.
"I'm home," he murmured.
Ash, still smiling, wrapped his tiny arms around Xavier's neck.
Sasha blinked, then crossed her arms. "So. Father, huh?"
Natasha stared at Xavier like he had betrayed her in some profound way. "I'm sorry, when did you suddenly become a Dad?"
Daniel sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This family is ridiculous."
Alex, however, was completely unbothered. He merely nodded approvingly. "Well done, son. That's how you claim dominance."
Sasha glared at her husband."Claim what, Alex?"
Xavier, ignoring them, walked inside, carrying Ash like he had been his son for years.
Alvin, who had been watching all this unfold from the couch, smirked. "Welcome to fatherhood, Loid. I hope you're ready for sleepless nights, endless 'why' questions, and the constant battle for affection."
Xavier sat down next to Alvin, Ash still clinging to him. "I'm ready."
Alvin raised an eyebrow. "Oh? That confident, are we?"
Xavier smirked. "I'm more than confident. I'm committed."
Alvin rolled his eyes, mockingly placing a hand over his heart. "Oh, be still, my fragile emotions. You say such sweet things."
Xavier chuckled. "I mean it."
Alvin met his gaze, his usual sarcasm faltering for just a second. Then, he smirked. "Yeah, yeah. Now shut up and play Monopoly. Luis needs a new person to lose to."
Luis groaned loudly. "I hate you, Alvin."
Xavier raised an eyebrow. "Monopoly?"
Ash gasped excitedly. "Father! Come play with us!"
Xavier smiled, setting his bags aside. "Of course."
Daniel was not prepared.
He had stepped into Alvin's mansion with a simple goal—to make sure his reckless younger brother wasn't making a fool of himself. But the moment his eyes landed on Luis, all thoughts of responsibility vanished.
His heart skipped a beat.
Luis, completely unaware of the internal crisis he had just caused, was leaning casually against the doorway, arms crossed, his long golden hair catching the light in soft waves. His sharp golden eyes, his flawless white skin, his lean, graceful figure—everything about him exuded a feminine beauty, yet there was an underlying sharpness that prevented him from looking delicate.
For the first time in his life, Daniel Loid, the composed and intelligent businessman, forgot how to think.
"…Holy shit."
It wasn't just attraction. It was something deeper, something primal. Something ancient, buried within his very bloodline, awakening.
"No. No way. No, this isn't happening."
Daniel stared at Luis, his mind screaming at him to look away, breathe, act normal—do literally anything other than stand there like an idiot.
Unfortunately, Daniel's body had completely betrayed him.
Unaware of Daniel's existential crisis, Xavier officially introduced Alvin to his parents.
"Mom, Dad, this is Alvin Bencio. My beloved."
Alvin, always composed, bowed slightly out of respect."It's an honor to meet you, Mrs. and Mr. Loid."
Sasha, who had been mentally preparing to meet her son's future husband, studied Alvin with a sharp yet assessing gaze. "So you're the one who managed to capture my reckless son's heart?"
Alvin, ever the smooth talker, offered a small smirk but remained respectful."It was mutual, I assure you."
Sasha nodded, clearly approving. Then, to Xavier's absolute horror, she reached out and patted Alvin's hand gently.
"If Xavier ever makes things difficult for you, just let me know. I'll handle him."
Xavier choked."Mom—!"
But Sasha wasn't done.
She smiled sweetly at Alvin, but her voice carried a dangerous undertone."You don't need to tolerate nonsense just because you love him. If he ever gets too much, I'll personally remind him who's in charge."
Alvin's smirk widened. "Duly noted, Mrs. Loid."
Xavier groaned. "Great. Now my mother is on your side."
Before Xavier could die of second-hand embarrassment, his father, Alex, stepped forward.
"Alvin."
Alvin turned, noting how Alex was built like a mountain, his presence commanding despite his calm demeanor.
Alex's gaze was firm, but then—he suddenly grinned.
"If my son ever annoys you too much, just tell me. I'll beat him for you."
Xavier whipped around in horror."Dad, what the hell?!"
Alvin laughed."I'll remember that, Mr. Loid."
Sasha nodded in satisfaction."Good. Now that we're settled, we should discuss—"
But Alvin, in the middle of his polite conversation with his in-laws, suddenly froze.
Something felt off.
He subtly glanced sideways, his sharp blue eyes narrowing.
Daniel.
Daniel, who had been silent for way too long, was staring in a very particular direction.
Alvin, curious, followed his gaze.
And saw Luis.
Luis, who had simply walked into the room to check on Alvin and see what was happening, paused when he saw that Alvin was looking at him.
Except… Alvin wasn't just looking.
Alvin was glaring.
With an expression that could only be described as deeply suspicious.
Luis tilted his head, confused. "Uh…? Did I do something?"
Alvin narrowed his eyes further.
Luis, now slightly concerned, tried to casually smile.
It only made things weirder.
Alvin's stare intensified, as if trying to burn a hole through Luis' soul.
Luis, unable to handle the uncomfortable tension, cleared his throat and muttered, "Why does he look like I owe him money?"
Daniel, still standing there like a fool, was practically vibrating with unspoken emotions.
Xavier, noticing that Alvin had completely stopped listening to his parents, raised an eyebrow.
"Alvin, what are you—" Xavier turned to follow Alvin's gaze. Then he looked at Daniel. Then back at Luis.
Xavier's eyes widened in realization.
"Oh. Ohhhhhh. This is happening."
Daniel, who was still completely overwhelmed, snapped out of his daze."What?! What is happening?! Nothing is happening!"
Xavier, now smirking, crossed his arms. "Daniel, my dear brother, you look like you just got hit by a lightning bolt of destiny."
Daniel, horrified, turned red."I did not! Shut up!"
Luis, still not understanding the full situation, pointed at Alvin. "Why is he glaring at me?!"
Alvin crossed his arms, deep in thought."Something's off."
Luis frowned. "With what?"
Alvin glanced at Daniel. Then back at Luis. Then back at Daniel.
Then, slowly, Alvin's eyes widened in realization.
"Oh. Ohhhhhh. This is happening."
Daniel covered his face."Not you too!"
Sasha, watching everything unfold, sighed. "So, Daniel finally met his fated one."
Daniel choked."I HAVE NOT!"
Alex, watching his son descend into full-blown denial, simply nodded wisely."Took long enough."
Xavier grinned. "Damn, bro. You're screwed."
Luis, now thoroughly confused, held up his hands. "Okay, can someone explain why everyone is looking at me like I just became an endangered species?"
Alvin snapped his fingers."That's what was weird! Daniel was staring at you like you were a newly discovered rare gemstone."
Luis looked at Daniel, confused."What?"
Daniel, face burning, avoided eye contact. "I wasn't—"
Alvin, ignoring Daniel, leaned toward Luis. "Be honest. Did he look at you and suddenly forget how to breathe?"
Luis blinked. "…Yes?"
Daniel groaned.
Xavier laughed."Confirmed. Daniel has been hit by the fated mate curse."
Luis frowned."Wait. What does that mean?"
Sasha smirked, resting her chin on her palm. "It means Daniel will now spend the rest of his life obsessing over you, resisting for absolutely no reason, until he eventually gives in and becomes hopelessly in love."
Daniel whipped his head toward her."MOTHER!"
Luis, now fully amused, grinned mischievously."Oh? So, I'm his fated one, huh?"
Daniel, panicking, took a step back. "No! That's ridiculous! We don't even know each other!"
Luis, absolutely enjoying this, tilted his head dramatically."Daniel Loid, was it?"
Daniel narrowed his eyes, suspicious."What?"
Luis smirked, his golden eyes twinkling. "You're kind of cute when you're flustered."
Daniel froze.