C5 CHAPTER 4

I stared back at the phone. It's been two weeks since Luke called. Two weeks since we talk about his impending marriage that he plans to do with me.

Which won't happen, ever.

But what worries me is his words. The life and death situation he's talking about. I'm worried that he's already out cold, dead. It seems that he really got his karma. He's gotten into too much trouble for not telling me the truth.

He does knew all along that I was his sister, yet he did not inform me. Then why would I help him if he's like this?

That old chimp of a liar!

I took my phone out of my bag and punch the dials, hearing a groan from the other side of the line, "Hello?"

"Neo! Are you free?"

"Hmmpph-er- Oh, why?" I can hear her shuffling before a loud thud made me jump.

Looks like someone fell out of the bed.

"Neo, are you okay?" I can almost imagine her nod, her bed hair bouncing off her head as she pull on the sheets, "Yep, I'm completely- aaaaggghhhh!"

"Neo! Goodness, I shouldn't have called you this early..." I glance at the clock which shows five thirty-seven am and sigh, "But I do really need you right at this moment."

"You mean, now?" She emphasized the word 'now' before I heard more scuffling.

"Uh, I hope so. But can you make it here in fifteen minutes?"

More shuffling and a thud on the other line continue as I waited for her response. "Sure, sis. Oh, I'll just, uh-take a shower? And hey, expect me to be there soon!" She promised, ending the call.

I look down at my son and smiled down at him, "Here, my prince..." I pulled him up from his father's side of the bed and tuck him down on my hips, "You've grown so fast, my little prince. C'mon let's make you breakfast." I carried him out of the room and together we descend down the stairs and to the kitchen as Jacob rubbed on his eyes. "Mama, do I have to go to school today?"

I lower him down on his chair as I answered, "It's Saturday baby, no school. Though you have to go to Grandma, you'll help her with the flowers, right?" He just nodded at me, his curls glinting as the suns rays caught it. I remember those days when he is still a baby, biting his rubber spoon before waving it on the air.

I put the blue pancake on his plate, making some whooshing sounds and earning a giggle from this eat-play-poop-play-sleep machine.

I was surprised when a hand suddenly snatch the plate from my hands, making me turn around only to face the feminine version of my loving husband, "Neo, give it ba-"

It was too late for me to pull the plate from her grasp, nor to stop her hand shoving a spoonful of pancake on my son's mouth, "Neo...." I groan, slouching down the chair beside her and my son, "Do you really have to do that everytime I feed him?" I pouted, leaning on the table as I watch her feed my son.

"Indeed, I should." I watch them as they eat together before Neo snap a finger in front of my face. "You know what?" She turn towards me and frown, "Why don't you do me a favor and get me his chocolate drink..." I glared at her, earning a slap on my shoulder.

"Go get it!" She playfully push me again making me stumble as I rush on the kitchen. I snatch the bottle off the fridge, stomping loudly as I walk back.

"Catch!" I scream, sending the bottle up on the air.

I closed my eyes and blink only to find the bottle now stuck on Jacob's mouth. He pulled at it and drank so loudly before opening his mouth again for another spoonful. He is acting like a baby again. Oh these girl! She loves to spoil him...

"Cool...What happen to your catch-that-thing phobia?" I blurted out as I watch her feed him.

"I've got that in control for now at least. So, tell me..." Neo spoke as she finish up Jacob's breakfast with a quick much on the pancakes.

"What?" I ask, trying to beat around the bush.

"Why did you call me here in the first place? Oh c'mon, Elle. I've known you long enough to know when you wanted to avoid topics you don't want to discuss." She carried a happy Jacob on the living room as I follow them. She switch the TV on and transfer the channel to Disney. Jacob settled comfortably on the floor as Neola stared at me.

"Now, talk." I took a deep breath and stared at her.

"Luke called me..." I watch Neo as she paled and stood there with her eyes wide as saucer. It took her a while to recover and just nod "That's surprising, isn't it?" I say , sitting on the rocking chair as I wait for her to recover.

"But it's been--" She counted her fingers and frown at me, "Five years and he called you just now? What I don't understand here is, why would he call you all of a sudden? The reason must be very special. Does he want you back in his life?" She squinted her eyes as she lean down, "Is he, already...pregnant?"

"What?" I almost got a whiplash if I didn't control the angle my head was turning to. "He's my brother, crazy. How could you even say that he's pregnant? He's a man..."

"Chill, I just wanted to lighten up the mood by joking." She raise her hands on top of her head and smile, "Now, continue..."

"So, the call happened two weeks ago and," Her eyes grew wide again as she mouthed 'continue'. "He told me that he just returned to London that day; Then he began telling me that he's related, I mean both of us...me and Luke, is related to the royal family and that he's the heir to the throne. Knowing that, the king required him to sign some papers and told him that he needs to marry in order for him to gain the position. Luke doesn't have a girlfriend or some woman in particular to turn to, so he concluded on just taking me as his bride but ," I sighed, "I love your brother. I am married to him and we have a son. Even if it is just pretending, I can't just do it. "

I took a deep breath and stared at her, "I don't want another complication in our life."

"So, what are you going to do now?" I turn to my side, avoiding her gaze as I bit my lip. I don't have any plan B. I mean how could I plan if I don't know-

"Wait," I was interrupted when she suddenly stood in front of me, "He doesn't have a girlfriend?"

"Like I said, he offered that he would give me a large amount of money if I pretended as his bride. I will marry him and together we would win the consent over my son. The thing is he doesn't even know yet that me and Gabriel are now back together and is living our life like a normal couple". I look at Neo as she stares down on the floor, her brows furrowing as she turned her bright blue eyes on me. She sigh, running her hands on her curls. "There is really no hope for your brother going back here, right? He will have responsibility now."

I sigh, as I turn towards the direction of my son, "I guess so. Sometimes I still miss him. You know like, realizing what he'd done to us, especially on behalf of my son. He saved us. I'm ready to sacrifice myself if only that would mean that my son will live peacefully," I turn to her and hold her hand, "But how about your brother? Gabe's the best thing that happen to me Neo...I can't let him suffer because I agreed to help my brother. Gabe is both the worst and the best. I won't risk to do anything and destroy what we have." I sigh, giving her hand a tight squeeze before letting go.

"You know what?" I suddenly contemplated on asking her a very important question instead of going back my past. She stares at me and furrowed her brows once again as I spoke, "I'm going to Paris next weekend because I need to attend a very grand exhibit. I want you to come with me, because.." I look down at my son and back to her, "I can't leave him here. We can also go on a tour around. And maybe, just maybe," I snuggled close to her and grab her arm, " you can find your pair on the city of love...and poof! You have your happy ever after!" She wince at how shrill my voice was.

She looks at me and exhaled, "Now you're playing cupid. You got me there...God! You really know how to convince me, huh?" She smiled, making me jump up and down. "I'd love to go with you..."

"Thank you!" I pulled her in a tight hug.