chapter 51: secret's out

Bose POV:

I waited in the car, scrolling aimlessly through my phone while Chapa finished up her motorcycle lessons. It was nearly 8 PM, and the lot was getting dark, the only light coming from the streetlamps lining the road. A few minutes later, I spotted her walking out of the building, practically bouncing with excitement.

She waved at me as she approached, her helmet tucked under one arm. "Bose, the instructor said I did an amazing job today."

I grinned as she slid into the passenger seat. "Really? That's awesome, Chapa! I'm so happy for you."

Her excitement was contagious, and I was genuinely proud of her. She'd been talking about this for weeks, and to see her so hyped was refreshing, especially after everything that had been weighing on my mind lately. But as I started driving back home, my chest tightened. I knew I had to tell her about Sage being at the penthouse, and I wasn't sure how she'd take it.

As we drove down the quiet streets, I glanced at her briefly before speaking up. "Hey, Chapa... um, I wanted to let you know that Sage is at the penthouse right now."

Her excited expression shifted almost instantly, her brows furrowing. "Wait... why? What happened?"

I hesitated, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. I didn't want to lie, but I also didn't want to betray Sage's trust. "She, uh, got lost on the way home. She took the wrong bus and ended up in Neighborville. Then it started raining, and she called me to pick her up."

Chapa gave me a long, pointed look. "Why didn't she call me?"

I scratched the back of my neck, feeling the tension rise. "She knew you had your lessons, and, well... I have a car, so it was easier for me to get her."

Chapa rolled her eyes and lightly punched my arm. "I'll have a motorcycle in a few weeks, just so you know. I could've picked her up."

I laughed, glad that she wasn't taking it too hard. "True, true. Next time, I'll call you first."

The real kicker was yet to come, though. I cleared my throat, bracing myself. "So, uh, I kinda promised Sage she could sleep at the penthouse tonight."

I glanced at Chapa, expecting her to be at least a little annoyed. After all, Sage had school tomorrow, and I should've probably checked with her first. But instead of the irritation I anticipated, she surprised me.

"Uh, okay. Well thanks for taking care of her, Bose," she said, her voice soft.

I blinked, taken aback. "Wait, really? You're not mad?"

She smiled faintly. "No. She needed help, and you helped her out. That's what matters."

I smiled, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. When we finally pulled up to the penthouse, we walked inside, and the scene that greeted us was straight out of a cozy movie night. Sage was wrapped up in a blanket on the couch, a bowl of chips beside her, the remains of dinner on the coffee table, and some cheesy movie playing in the background. She looked completely at home.

Chapa took one look at the setup and shook her head, half-smiling. "Now that's what I wish my life could be."

I laughed, walking over to take off our jackets and hang them up. Sage looked up from the couch and smiled brightly when she saw us. "Hey, guys!" she greeted, hopping up to give Chapa a quick hug.

As I was putting our jackets away, I heard Sage say, "Chapa, you have no idea how bad I want to be an aunt."

I froze, feeling my stomach drop. Oh no. I could practically feel Chapa's eyes on me from behind. Slowly, I turned around, giving her my most innocent smile.

Her expression was nothing short of deadly. "You told her?!" she hissed, like I'd just revealed the deepest, darkest secret in the universe.

Before I could say anything, Sage jumped in, waving her hands frantically. "No, no! He didn't tell me! I found out when the pills fell out of his pocket earlier when I hugged him. It wasn't his fault."

Sage's voice softened as she realized the tension in the room. "I'm really sorry for bringing it up."

I shook my head, trying to defuse the situation. "Sage, you don't need to apologize. I should've been more careful."

Chapa sighed, rubbing her temples. "You're both idiots," she muttered, clearly exasperated.

Sage grinned and shot back playfully, "Yeah, but you love us the most."

I couldn't help but laugh at that, and even Chapa cracked a smile, shaking her head. "Yeah, yeah," she said. "I guess I can forgive you, Bose, since you took such good care of Sage."

I smiled, relieved that the storm had passed for now. Sage plopped back onto the couch, pulling the blanket up to her chin, and I joined them, feeling like maybe—just maybe—things were going to be okay for the rest of the night.

Andrew POV:

Walking up to Mika's family home, I could sense how nervous she was. She took a deep breath, fidgeting slightly. Her hand was shaking just a little as she reached for the doorbell. I gently squeezed her arm. "Hey, it's going to be fine," I reassured her softly. "Should I introduce myself as your...partner?"

She looked up at me, eyes filled with apprehension. "No, I'll handle that part," she replied.

The door opened, and there was Miles, standing there, clearly surprised. His eyes darted from me to Mika and back again. "You brought him with you?" he asked, a mix of curiosity and disbelief in his voice.

Mika smiled nervously. "Yes, I did. Hi, Miles."

"Hi," I said, offering him a small smile.

"Hey," Miles replied, his gaze lingering on me before he stepped aside to let us in.

We walked into the house, and the smell of a home-cooked meal hit me immediately. Mika's mom, Angela, was in the kitchen, finishing up the dinner preparations. As soon as she turned around, she saw me, her eyes quickly shifting from confusion to curiosity.

Her gaze flickered to Mika. "Who's this?" she asked, her tone clipped.

Mika hesitated, her nerves starting to show. So I stepped forward, walking up to Angela and extending my hand. "I'm Andrew," I said simply, smiling warmly.

Angela gave me a once-over, her face softening just a little. "Hi, handsome," she said, accepting my handshake. "I'm Angela." She turned back to Mika, her expression a little sharper now. "Mika, why is Andrew here?"

Mika bit her lip, looking unsure for a second. Then she exhaled. "Mom, Dad... Andrew and I are in a relationship. I thought it was time you met him."

Before she could even finish, Angela cut in. "Wait a damn minute. A relationship? Since when do you date?"

Mika stumbled over her words, clearly flustered. "I know it's new, and I understand if you don't get why I'd—"

"Oh baby, I won't understand it," Angela interrupted again, before letting her gaze slide back over to me. "But with this handsome one? I get it."

I chuckled, thankful that the situation was lightening up a bit. "Thank you, ma'am."

Just then, her dad chimed in. "Handsome, my ass, but can he take care of my sweet girl?"

I stepped in again. "Absolutely, sir. I would do anything for her. She makes me the happiest man alive."

He gave me a long, hard look before his eyes narrowed slightly. "You watch basketball?"

I grinned. "Every Saturday night."

That seemed to do the trick. He smiled a little. "Alright, you might be a keeper."

Angela wasn't done yet, though. She turned back to me, folding her arms across her chest. "I don't know yet. How much do you make a year?"

"Mom!" Mika said, mortified. "You can't just ask him that!"

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Enough to provide for your daughter's entire life and for all of your grandbabies' lives. And yours and your husbands too, ma'am."

Angela's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh he knows how to make me happy, you better hurry with those grandbabies."

Mika gave me a playful punch on the arm, her cheeks turning red. "Don't start with the grandbabies, Andrew."

Angela's tone shifted, much softer now. "Mika, you shouldn't treat your husband like that."

"Husband?!" Mika nearly choked, eyes widening as she looked from her mom to me.

I couldn't stop laughing at this point. The whole thing was spiraling into the absurd.

Then Miles stepped up beside me, leaning in with a smirk. "Congrats, man. You're her new favorite son now. She loves a guy with deep pockets."

I chuckled and nodded, feeling like I'd somehow passed this strange, unofficial test. "Good to know," I whispered back.

Mika caught the look between us and rolled her eyes, clearly embarrassed but also relieved. Dinner was going to be interesting, to say the least.

Miles POV:

We all sat down for dinner, and as usual, Mom took it upon herself to serve Andrew. But this time, she was piling food onto his plate like she was trying to fatten him up for winter. I watched in disbelief as she kept going, adding more and more to his plate. "Mom, there won't be anything left for the rest of us," I said, half-joking, half-serious.

She shot me a death stare, the kind that could freeze water. "Do you make money like a millionaire?" she asked, her tone sharp.

I sighed and muttered under my breath, "No."

That was it—Andrew was now officially her favorite son. I'd been dethroned, and it didn't take much. The guy barely said a word, but apparently, being rich and charming was enough to win her over completely. She finally let the rest of us help ourselves, but she kept glancing over at Andrew like he was a prized possession.

As we began eating, Mom wasted no time diving into family business. "So, Aunt Didi's 50th birthday is this Friday," she said, turning to me. "Did you text Maddie yet?"

Mika, who had been quietly picking at her food, perked up at that. "Maddie?" she asked, her tone curious and a little suspicious.

I knew where this was going. "Yeah, Mom promised Aunt Didi that I'd bring Maddie," I explained.

Mika's eyes widened a bit. "Maddie? As in your ex?"

I nodded, already knowing the argument that was coming. "Yeah, I know."

"You can't just text her and bring her, Miles!" Mika said, clearly exasperated.

"I know, Mika. I know." I repeated, trying to keep my voice calm, but it was hard. This wasn't exactly my favorite situation either.

Mom didn't care about the awkwardness at all. "You should text her fast," she said matter-of-factly, like this was just some casual errand.

Then, with a sly smile, she turned to Mika. "And you should bring your new fiancé," she added, her eyes glinting with amusement.

Mika's face flushed with embarrassment. "Mom, he's not my fiancé."

Andrew, ever the charmer, jumped in before things could get any worse. "I'd be happy to come," he said, flashing that perfect smile of his. "Anything to spend more time with Mika and her loved ones."

That got both Mom and Dad smiling. He really did know how to win them over. It was impressive, actually. He had the whole "perfect man" act down to a science. I had to hand it to him; the guy was smooth.

Mom beamed. "Aunt Didi is going to be so happy when she sees both of you in relationships," she said, practically glowing with excitement.

Meanwhile, I was trying to figure out how the hell I was going to manage this. If Blaise couldn't make it, I was stuck bringing Maddie to this family event, which was the last thing I wanted to do. But I had to hope for the best. Bringing Blaise would definitely make things easier.

I glanced over at Andrew, who seemed completely unfazed by all of this. He had it easy, walking into this family like he was made for it. Me? I was just trying to survive.

Chapa POV:

I woke up around 11 a.m., which was already a bad sign. Bose wasn't next to me, meaning I'd forgotten to set my alarm. Great. I scrambled out of his bed and rushed into the living room, expecting to be all alone. Instead, I saw him and Sage sitting on the floor, playing a board game. I blinked, confused, still half-asleep. "Shouldn't you be at work? And Sage, shouldn't you be at school?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.

Sage grinned. "Bose called us both in sick. We caught a cold yesterday," she said, looking way too pleased with herself.

I narrowed my eyes at them. "Any of that true?"

Bose smirked. "Maybe," he said, chuckling along with Sage. They were clearly enjoying themselves.

Seeing him being all protective and playful with Sage did something to me—it stirred something deep, though I wasn't sure what it was. It made me feel... warm, I guess. Not that I'd ever admit it.

"So, why didn't you wake me up for work? I'm supposed to be at George's," I reminded him, crossing my arms.

Bose shrugged, still watching the board game. "George called you around 7 this morning. Said he's having a small party at his house today, so you're free." He gave me a knowing look, like he already expected me to accuse him of lying.

"Are you sure you didn't just call me in sick too?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sage piped up, "Nope, it's true. He didn't."

I turned to Sage. "Why were you up so early, then?"

She gave me a sheepish grin. "I woke up starving." Then she pointed towards the kitchen, where the counter was completely covered with breakfast. Waffles, eggs with bacon, pancakes, sausages, fruit—an actual feast. "Bose made all of that," she said, clearly proud.

Bose glanced over and smiled. "Don't worry, we left some for you."

I was still trying to process everything. "I don't even remember going to bed last night," I mumbled.

Bose looked up from the game and said, "That's because you fell asleep in your pajamas on the couch. I didn't want to wake you, so I just put you in bed."

Sage chimed in, "I fell asleep too, so he put me in bed next to you."

I stared at them, feeling like I was missing something. Then Sage said, almost like it was the most natural thing in the world, "I'd live here if I could."

I paused, feeling the weight of her words. "Did you tell Mom and Dad you're here?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

Sage nodded. "Texted them last night," she said, her face calm, which eased my worry a bit.

I made my way to the kitchen, finally focusing on breakfast, when I heard Sage yell from the other room. "Yes! I won!" She was practically bouncing, excited about beating Bose. He just laughed, clearly letting her win.

I couldn't help but smile at them. Maybe this wasn't the worst way to start the day after all.

—

After finishing breakfast, I stood up and stretched, feeling the food settle. "I'm gonna take a shower," I announced to Bose and Sage, who were still chatting and playing their game. As I made my way to the bedroom, something caught my eye—a small box laying on the desk. The morning-after pill. I hesitated for a moment before grabbing them and heading to the bathroom.

Inside, I placed the box on the counter and stared at it. My heart started to race as I thought about everything—the risks, the fear of what could happen. I looked at the pill again, the instructions printed clearly, like they were urging me to act. But instead, I opened a drawer and slipped the box inside, choosing to forget about it for now. I turned on the shower, letting the steam fill the room, and stepped in, hoping the hot water would wash away the anxiety building inside me.

Later that afternoon, after lounging around with Bose and Sage for a bit, I decided I needed to clear my head. "I'm gonna head to the supermarket," I told them casually, grabbing my bag.

Bose glanced up from his phone. "You want me to go with you?" he offered.

"Nah, I'll be fine," I replied, giving him a small smile. I needed some space, and besides, I had something else in mind. Instead of going to the supermarket, I drove straight to the pharmacy. The nerves hit me again as I walked in, but I brushed them off, grabbing a pregnancy test. I paid quickly, hiding the box deep in my bag, and headed back to Bose's penthouse.

When I walked in, they were both waiting, eyes curious. "What'd you get?" Bose asked, casually glancing at my bag.

Shit. I'd completely forgotten to buy something from the supermarket. My mind raced, and before I could think, I blurted, "Tampons."

Sage raised an eyebrow and turned to me with a mischievous grin. "You won't need them if I'm gonna be an aunt," she teased, clearly enjoying herself.

"Shut up," I shot back, rolling my eyes. She just smiled wider, knowing she got to me.

Bose's phone buzzed with a notification, and he glanced down. His face shifted slightly, and I could tell it was something important. "It's my mom," he said, his voice quieter. "She wants to apologize... again. And she's ready to tell me more about my birth dad." He stared at the screen, his hands shaking a little.

I moved closer to him. "Do you want to see her? Maybe tonight, or now?"

He didn't answer right away, just stared at his phone, his mind clearly running through the possibilities. "I might," he said after a beat.

I placed a hand on his arm. "We could go with you, you know. Take Sage home on the way if you want."

He looked at me, appreciating the offer. "Yeah," he said softly, nodding. "Maybe that's what I need."

As he got lost in his thoughts again, I felt the weight of the pregnancy test in my bag. It was too soon to take it now anyway, so I pushed the thoughts to the back of my mind and buried the test deeper in the bag. There would be time to deal with that later, but for now, Bose needed my focus.

Blaise POV:

It was 4 p.m., and I was lounging on the couch with Lena and Sadie, flipping through TV channels. George had given us the day off, so it was nice to relax for once. Then, the doorbell rang, snapping me out of my thoughts. I got up, walked to the door, and opened it, surprised to see Miles standing there with that same innocent smile he always had.

Lately, I couldn't stop thinking about him. There was something weird about it, but I kept brushing it off, telling myself it was nothing. "What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to keep my cool.

"I wanted to see if you'd come with me to my aunt's birthday party on Friday," he said. Then, with a sheepish grin, he added, "As Maddie."

I blinked. The idea was ridiculous, but the way he asked, with that look in his eyes, made it hard to say no. Still, I wasn't going to just give in that easily. "I'll think about it," I said, crossing my arms.

But he wasn't about to let me off the hook that quickly. "Come on, Blaise," he practically begged. "Please? I really need you to do this for me."

I hesitated for a moment, biting my lip. I liked spending time with him, and part of me wanted to say yes just because I enjoyed being around him. Before I could fully process what I was doing, I sighed and said, "Fine, I'll do it."

His face lit up immediately. "Thank you!" he said, looking more relieved than I expected. "I'll pick you up around 2 p.m. on Friday, if that works."

I shrugged. "Yeah, that's fine. As long as I can find someone to babysit my sisters."

He waved it off like it was no big deal. "Don't worry, I'll take care of that."

Of course he would. That's just who Miles was—always caring, always considerate. And sometimes, that made my heart flutter in ways I wasn't used to. I used to think I had a type—tall, manly, direct, the kind of guy who didn't beat around the bush. And Miles, well, his personality was the exact opposite of that. But his looks? That was a different story. He looked like the kind of guy I'd usually go for, but he had the heart of a softie.

I found myself thinking, maybe Friday would be a good chance to see what it would be like being his girlfriend.

Bose POV:

After dropping off Chapa and Sage at their place, I headed straight to my mom at my stepfather's mansion. It was a short drive from Chapa's house, and my mind was racing. The texts she'd sent me had stirred up a lot of emotions I wasn't sure I was ready to face. But I had to know what she wanted to tell me. I parked in the private parking lot, took a deep breath, and walked up to the door.

A new servant I didn't recognize opened up the door. Guess she was new. She leaded me to my mom, who was waiting for me. She greeted me with a nervous smile. It was strange seeing her like this—she was usually so composed. We sat down in the living room, and for a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, she spoke.

"I want to apologize," she began softly, her voice shaking a little. "For everything. For not being honest with you about your father."

I wasn't sure how to respond, so I just nodded, waiting for her to continue.

"I've kept things from you, and I know it wasn't fair," she said. "Your father... your real father... his name was Rafaelle de Capra."

The name took me by surprise. It sounded Italian, but it wasn't something I'd heard before. "Rafaelle de Capra?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Isn't that Italian for 'goat'?"

She let out a small laugh, her smile bittersweet. "Yes, it does mean 'goat' in Italian."

I couldn't help but laugh too, even though the situation was far from funny. "So, my dad's last name is literally 'the goat'? That's something."

She smiled for a moment, then her expression grew more serious. "He was an exchange student from Italy. We met in college. I was 21, and he was only here for a short time. We fell in love... deeply. He was the kindest, most charming man I had ever known."

I leaned in, hanging on her every word. "What happened to him?"

Her eyes softened with a mix of sadness and nostalgia. "When I got pregnant with you, he panicked. He didn't know how to handle it. He... he went back to Italy when I was two months pregnant. I never saw him again after that."

I frowned, processing the information. "Do you think he ran off because you guys were too young?"

She shook her head quickly, her eyes filling with emotion. "No, I never believed that. He wasn't the kind of man to run away from responsibility. Something happened, but I don't know what. All I know is that he disappeared, and I never heard from him again."

She pulled out an old, worn-out photo from her pocket and handed it to me. It was a picture of her and a man who looked eerily similar to me, standing together on a college campus. I stared at it for a long moment, trying to wrap my head around the idea that this man was my biological father. He had the same eyes, the same jawline... it was uncanny.

"He looks just like me," I said quietly, still staring at the picture.

She nodded, wiping away a tear. "You are the spitting image of him. Sometimes, it's hard for me to look at you without thinking of him."

I didn't know what to say to that. It was a lot to take in. I looked back at her. "Why are you telling me this now? After all these years?"

She hesitated, then said, "Because I didn't want you to desperately look for him. And... I need you to promise me something."

"Anything," I replied.

"Don't tell your stepdad about this. He doesn't know. And if he finds out... it could tear everything apart. He hates him and if I ever even think about it, he knows."

I nodded slowly, understanding the gravity of her request. "I won't tell him. I promise."

She sighed, relief washing over her face. "Thank you, Bose. I'm sorry for everything."

We sat in silence for a few minutes, both of us lost in our thoughts. I glanced at the picture again, my mind swirling with questions about this man who had disappeared from my life before I was even born.

"Do you know anything else about him? Where he is now?"

She shook her head. "No, I don't. I've tried looking for him over the years, but I never found anything. It's like he vanished after he left. And then I got with Will, and I stopped looking."

I leaned back in my chair, still holding the photo. She called my stepfather Will, since his full name is Willard. "Maybe one day, I'll go to Italy and see if I can find him."

She smiled sadly. "Maybe. But for now, let's just focus on what we have."

I nodded, still deep in thought, wondering about this mysterious man who was once a part of my mother's life—and, by extension, mine.