The Montgomery estate shimmered with elegance. Ivory tents were draped across the sprawling garden, sheer blush curtains dancing in the warm breeze. Crystal chandeliers hung from the tent frames, casting soft light on cascading floral arrangements of soft pink peonies, white roses, and gold-tipped baby's breath. The baby shower was a dream come to life.
Clair stood near the arched entrance of the tent in a custom-made satin gown, her round belly framed by a golden sash reading "Mama of Three." Her braids were pinned up in a crown, her makeup dewy, glowing. She clutched her belly as a flutter of kicks reminded her she was never truly alone.
Austin, ever the king in a black-on-black designer suit, watched her from a few steps away. His eyes never left her. Protective. Loving. Fierce. This celebration was not just about babies—it was about survival, legacy, and the family they had built in fire and blood.
Guests mingled with cautious joy. No press was invited. Only trusted allies, close friends, and family. The air was thick with laughter, light music, and the subtle awareness that danger always lurked.
As Clair greeted her guests, Elias leaned against a marble column, his jaw tight, watching everyone with a trained eye. His mind wasn't on the celebration. It was on what he'd discovered two nights ago.
---
Flashback - Elias's Subplot
Elias had followed the money trail. A recent laundering scheme connected a dummy real estate firm in Los Angeles to a ghost cartel that hadn't made a move in years. But he'd uncovered something darker—a name buried in the transfer logs.
"Cassia Valdez."
She wasn't supposed to be alive.
Cassia had once been Elias's lover. Smart, deadly, loyal—until she betrayed the Montgomerys for power. Rumors had said she died in a yacht explosion five years ago.
Elias found her name tied to recent arms deals. And worse, a hit list. Clair's name was on it.
Back at the estate, he hadn't told Austin. Not yet. He needed confirmation.
But now, standing at the edge of celebration, his heart raced. If Cassia was back... she wouldn't just want money. She'd want revenge.
---
Back under the baby shower tent, a toast began. Austin raised his glass.
"To the woman who carries my heart and our legacy. To Clair—my wife, my warrior, the mother of our children."
Everyone clapped. Clair's eyes welled with tears. She smiled at him, her lips trembling with love.
"To our babies," she whispered back.
As the toast ended, Maria brought over a tray of custom cupcakes—pink and gold, with tiny crowns on top. Each one was filled with either blue, pink, or lavender frosting—representing the twins and their unexpected sibling.
Clair cut the first cake and revealed lavender.
The crowd cheered.
A second cake—pink.
Another cheer.
And then the final one—blue.
Austin laughed. "Just like us. One of each."
"Balanced chaos," Clair joked.
The warmth in the tent grew, and for a moment, the world felt perfect.
---
Later, as dusk fell and the guests started leaving, Austin pulled Clair aside into a private corner of the garden.
"I have something for you," he said, pulling a velvet box from his inner jacket pocket.
She opened it to find a delicate gold necklace with three pendants—each a tiny heart, engraved with the babies' initials.
Tears spilled freely down her cheeks. "Austin..."
"For every heartbeat you carry. For the love you've given me."
She threw her arms around his neck, and he held her close, breathing her in like she was his lifeline.
---
Meanwhile, Elias stepped away to make a call.
"Get me eyes on the Pacific coast. If she's alive, I want her found."
His voice was steel.
A voice replied, "We have movement. Cassia's ship docked in Santa Barbara this morning."
His heart sank.
It was true.