Liam's phone rang. He glanced at the screen—an unknown number. Jeff still wasn't back, and worry gnawed at him. He answered anyway.
"Hello? Liam here. Who is this?"
"Oh, you picked up. Hahahaha. I told you I'd get you, didn't I?"
He froze at the familiar voice.
"Tasha?"
"Yes, it's me. Let's cut the crap. I know you have Ned. I'm calling to warn you: if you don't release my brother, what happened to you before will be nothing compared to what's coming. I know exactly where you are right now. I can see you."
A picture arrived on his phone—him from that morning.
"What!!!!"
He dropped the phone, hands shaking. He tried hard not to cry, but trauma didn't ask permission. Tears slipped down his face anyway.
"Please… don't kill me. Just don't…"
"Liam? Liam!"
Jeff burst into the room just in time to see him huddled in the bedsheets, shivering. He rushed over and pulled Liam into his arms.
"It's okay. It's okay now."
"She's here. She saw me. She took a picture."
Jeff grabbed the phone and saw the photo, the number, and the new message: I will come for you sooner than you expect. — Tasha.
He hugged Liam tightly, holding him until the shaking eased. When Liam finally calmed, he pulled back slightly, looking jealous and pouty.
"What were you doing? Why weren't you with your friends?"
Jeff smiled at the tone. "Aww, you missed me. But trust me, I wasn't out with friends. It was work-related."
"Whatever. Why are you even explaining?"
"Because I wanted to."
Liam smiled faintly. Jeff pulled him closer, letting him rest in his arms.
"I will kill Tasha."
"How?"
"Just trust me. Tomorrow I'll take you somewhere safe. You can stay there until you're fully healed."
"How will I know it's safe?"
"Because my siblings are there."
"What!?"
"Calm down. My brother is the sweetest person ever, and my sister barely notices anyone. Relax."
They lay there together, each lost in their own thoughts.
"Ben, what's going on?"
"Nothing."
"Why are you so quiet?"
"Nothing, sir."
They were back home. Ben went inside and sat facing away from Arthur. Arthur looked worried—he had no idea what he had done wrong.
"What did I do, Ben? Tell me. I'm confused."
"Nothing, nothing, nothing."
"I'm sorry, Ben. I'm sorry. I don't know what I did, but I'm sorry."
Ben's POV
Awwww, he doesn't even know what he did, but he's apologizing anyway. I was here for the drama.
"You didn't do anything. I'm just not myself."
Truly, I wasn't. I was still annoyed about what he had said to Liam—that I belonged to him fully now—but more than that, I'd been feeling off for the past three days: dizzy, tired, drained.
"What's wrong? Are you sick…?" Arthur paused. "Oh. You must be mad because I told Liam you're mine now. Fuck, I didn't think. I'm so sorry, Ben."
I smiled a little. Even though we weren't officially dating, it felt like I had been his forever.
Then the nausea hit hard. I rushed to the bathroom and threw up.
Arthur's POV
I was terrified watching Ben run to the bathroom like that. Was he sick? I followed immediately.
"Ben, what's wrong?"
"I don't know… maybe I ate something bad."
I helped him out and upstairs to the bedroom. I went to get a towel and bowl to clean him up, but when I returned he had already changed and was lying down. For the first time, I noticed how his skin glowed more than usual. He looked a bit fuller, more radiant—perfect. I wanted him right then, but he was weak. Instead, I climbed into bed and held him close, whispering.
"Ben? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Just weak. Maybe I'm tired, but I'll get better."
"Let's go to the hospital. I don't want you feeling even a bit of pain."
"I'm fine."
He wasn't. I was worried sick. Within seconds, he had fallen asleep. I couldn't take my hands off him, and my body was reacting strongly.
Oh no, not now.
Since the last time, I hadn't had the chance to get this close to him again.
Ben's POV
It hit me again. I was almost asleep when the wave of nausea returned. I bolted up, leaving Arthur in shock. He ran after me.
"Ben, calm down. How are you feeling?"
"I don't know."
He pulled out his phone and called a doctor. The worst part was that I rarely vomited—almost never. I washed my face and stood to leave when everything went black.
Arthur's POV
He passed out. I caught him just in time.
"I'm dead. What did I do to him?"
I carried him out of the bathroom and laid him on the bed. I was close to tears—this had never happened before. I loved this man too much to lose him now. Thankfully, the doctor arrived quickly and rushed to check on him while I stood aside, worried sick.
"Sir, he fainted but he's sleeping now."
"Thank God. So what happened? Why did he faint? He's been dizzy and nauseous since we got back."
"I took blood for tests. Results will be ready tomorrow, sir."
"Fuck tomorrow. I need them now."
"But sir…"
"How much is your hospital worth?"
"What???"
"I need the results now."
"Alright, sir. But we may need to take him in."
"Fine."
The doctor moved to carry Ben. That was a mistake.
"If you lay another finger on him, I will kill you here and now. I promise."
"Ahhh—"
"Move."
The doctor stepped aside, terrified. I didn't care. I meant every word. I picked Ben up myself and we followed the doctor to the hospital.
Author's POV
Ben woke up in the hospital bed, looking confused. Nurses rushed to attend to him. Arthur, noticing the movement, looked up and hurried to his bedside, dismissing the nurses.
"Ben… you're awake."
"Where am I?"
"Hospital. You passed out on me."
"What!!!"
"Shhh, calm down. The doctor will be here soon."
Arthur held Ben's hands, kissing them, then kissed his forehead as he sat beside the bed.
"Sir," the doctor said, entering the room.
"The results are out. I need to speak with you in my office."
"Speak here."
"Sir, it's best—"
"You really like testing your luck, don't you?"
"Hmm. Sir, you don't know anything about being a doctor, so quit being rude and come with me."
"What did you just say to me…?"
"Arthur, just go with him. I'll be fine."
"You're lucky."
Arthur left with the doctor and sat in the office, staring menacingly. The doctor handed him the papers.
"I don't understand a single thing here. Are you messing with me?"
"No, sir. I'll explain. These are the test results, confirmed across multiple machines."
"Speak."
"Your husband is pregnant."
"Hahahahahahaha. Funny. Now explain the actual results."
"Mr. Ben—the young man you brought in, probably your husband—is pregnant, sir."
"What!!!!!"
"Yes, sir. Further tests show he absorbed his female twin sister in the womb. He possesses some of her reproductive organs. It's extremely rare, but research confirms it's possible. Mr. Ben is approximately four days pregnant. Given the risks involved, it can be terminated if you choose."