Karmina kept quiet while her daughter was complaining to Ian about how he treated Tracey badly. Ian was only silent and he was slouching on the sofa while his niece was busy telling him how bad it was.

But as he listens to Keira and sinks it all in his head.

Karmina giggled as she watched the footage that one of Harvey's friends filmed. It was only filmed at the time that he squealed like a girl and mentioned the oyster as the vagina.

"What are you laughing at?" Alex leaned over her behind the sofa.

"Well," She showed it to Alex as he burst into laughter.

Mina's other phone vibrates that she kept close to her. It was the phone that Harvey gave and she's contacting her husband through it.

"Alright, I'll leave the meal to our chef. I'm quite tired." She told Alex who nodded.

"Can we talk?"

"Later," Mina smiled at him and kissed his cheeks in a friendly way. Then, she went upstairs, locked the door, and closed the curtains.

She quickly called her husband who answered right away.

"My love, our rendezvous is ready. We can spend the whole month here." Henry said.

"I can't wait." Karmina already planned a vacation away from her children. It was one way to be with him for so long, like before. It'll be just wishing for now. "I have to tell my daughters that I'm staying away. Keira and Jo would be very much suspicious."

"Don't worry, my love. Soon, we will be whole again."

She was eager to be with her husband now. But she has to wait until tomorrow. Also, there's another problem, which is Alex. She can't accept his feelings as she was still married to her husband. Not to mention that he's completely alive. She sat up and felt a little headache.

"So, how's Alessandro?"

"Well, that guy has been pampering our daughter so much. Not to mention that they look more adorable even after they are married."

Henry laughed from the other line.

"I know that he'll take care of our daughter."

"My love," Karmina called. She has to tell him at least.

"Yes?"

"Alex confessed his feelings toward me."

Henry was silent on the other line for a moment.

"I know that he loves you. I can't blame him for feeling that way. His wife was long gone for more than a decade and you are lovable."

"I turned him down, that was before I found out about you."

"Let's talk about this when you get here."

"Alright," Karmina mumbled.

<><><><>

Johanna stared at the key in the small box that Violet gave to her. She has not yet gone there to check it out. Violet mentioned that it was gifted from her biological brother. Tomorrow is Monday and she needs to rest tonight to work diligently tomorrow. She doesn't want to have a messed-up mind after going in there to check it. A whimper caught her attention as she looked down at the door of her walk-in closet. Hunter was sitting looking up at her. She noticed that he grew bigger.

She closed the drawer and approached the puppy. She patted him as Hunter followed her downstairs. In the kitchen, her lover was busy buttering the scallops and oysters. Her heart had that sound of 'badum' every time he had this beautiful gesture. She might already love him but she has to ignore it or control herself. She doesn't want to fall in love. It might ruin her responsibility. Being pregnant already ruined it. It's hard for her to move around freely as she likes as Connor would tell her not to do this and that. There were a lot of restrictions.

"Hey, baby." Connor turned around with a big smile. "It's almost ready. I also prepared baked oysters for our baby."

"That's good." She nodded. "Hunter isn't allergic to seafood, right?"

"No." Connor shook his head and put the scallops on the big serving bowl. He set it up on the table and Johanna helped him. Although he mostly didn't want her to help, she insisted. She knew how tired he was. She's a considerate person although she was spoiled by Connor.

Connor gave Hunter his dinner and he sat down. The couple started eating their meal and Johanna looked so happy whenever she ate. He was pleased that she loved every food that he prepared for her. This time, he made sure that it's a little bland yet she still likes it. He decided that he had to cut sodium in their food. She was aware of it but she still said that it's delicious.

"My love, what did you and Violet talk about?" He asked. She's used to him calling her that. But she doesn't feel like she deserved being called by it.

"Nothing." She doesn't want him to know. It's better that way.

"Jo," Connor watched her eat. "Let's get married."

"How many times would you ask and how many times would I turn you down?" She asked coldly.

"Can you live sleeping while killing someone else?"

"It's easy." She mumbled. "I can chain myself."

Connor sighed and nodded. He has no choice but to let it go. After their meal, instead of washing the dishes and so he let her while letting Hunter go out of the house probably poop on the sand that he made for his pooping. The puppy sniffed around and ran around and finally pooped on the sand. Well done! When he went back inside, Johanna seemed to have gone to her room.

He locked the doors first and windows. Then, he finally went upstairs to her room. She was sitting on her bed while holding the teddy bear. He now understands. She must be thinking of Victor. But she claimed that she doesn't have vivid memories of it. He approached her and hugged her neck.

"You know, it's been a while since we last had sex." He chuckled. He only wanted to shift her overthinking mind. He kissed her cheeks and slid his hand down to her belly.

"I'm not in the mood." She whispered.

"I know." He kissed her temple and snuggled with her. "What did you dream about last night?"

Johanna was silent for a while. She holds his hand over her stomach. It was a painful memory but somehow it was a little blurry.

"I dreamed of… being caged."

"It means you want to be free." He mumbled.

"But still their voice echoes in my head. I have to kill him." She mumbled.

"Kill who?" Connor was puzzled.

"I have to kill that Empire."

That's the part that Connor was worried so much about. Killing that big Empire won't do. They will come after her and after her. The family that he wished might turn into ashes. They were only starting a life together and although she didn't agree to seal their relationship with marriage. Connor will still wait and be by her side.

"Alright," He squeezed her a little bit. "But you have to take care of your body first. And if you want to kill that Empire, you have to plan thoroughly. First, you have to take care of yourself and our baby."

"Damn, I still have months to wait." She mumbled.

Connor only laughed.

"Hey, babe. You and our baby are a blessing to me. I have wished for a family ever since. I want to have a complete family… I will always love you and our baby."

Johanna never heard him say such things. Both of them don't have the ideal family as Keira had. But she was happy that they took her in as a family member and she had a chance to feel how to be loved by a mother, a father, a sister, and a brother. She doesn't know much about Connor, but maybe it's time?

"Let's have a bubble bath." She told him.

"Okay? How about snacks too?"

"I'll get the snacks."

Connor nodded and went to the bathroom. Johanna went to the fridge and took two bottles of yogurt drink and fresh fruits from the container. She went to the bathroom, peeling off her clothes, and put the snacks on the side table beside the big bathtub. Connor was still filling it up and making sure that there were a lot of bubbles. The couple cuddled in the hot bubble bathtub, caressing each other.

Johanna hesitated to open up but she finally looked up at him and reached his face. He smiled like he always does.

"Why don't you have a family?" Johanna asked. "I want to know about you."

Connor's smile faded as he reached her hand over his cheek, holding it still.

"I~I don't have one."

"When I was ten, my mother remarried and I was kicked into an orphanage and worked in labor, while schooling. Then, there's a man who recruited me. I got into that special school in Japan. It's a martial arts one and that's when I met my boss…"

"Sabrina?" She asked.

"Hmm," He nodded. "She and others were my first family and after school, I joined the army and that's when I met everyone. Harvey, Violet, and your brother."

"My brother?" She was puzzled.

"Victor." He kissed her forehead. "He can't stop talking about you." He smiled. "I found you and he'll beat me up if he finds out that I had this romantic relationship with you." Connor was trying to humor her but she stared at him blankly. "He loves you… always."

"I was talking about you. Not Victor or me."

"I just want you to know that." He smiled. "That a real family of yours still loves you."