The boss rubbed his temples like he was holding back a headache. "If you're lying to me, boy, I'll make sure your death is slow."
"Noooo, I'm not lying," Sean replied quickly, forcing his voice to sound steady even though his chest was tight. "In fact, when I get out of here, I'll take her to the doctor for proof. Heck, you can come with us! We can even have one of those fancy gender reveal parties. Pink or blue smoke—your choice!"
"Boss…" Figure 1 said quietly, leaning closer, "maybe we should… you know… check first?"
"Yeah," Figure 2 added. "If we kill him now and it's true, the young miss might… do something crazy. Remember what she did when her favourite doll went missing when she was 10? She almost set the building ablaze."
*What?! That cute idol almost did what?!* Sean screamed in his mind, eyes going wide.
The boss let out a long, slow breath, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "…She also almost burnt down my room."
Sean's brows shot up. Okay… that's a little scary. But good for me. If I survive this, I'm moving to another country and changing my name.
Before the boss could say anything else, a soft, feminine voice echoed from somewhere in the house. "Dad, where are you?"
All three men stiffened.
"Oh no… it's young miss," Figure 1 muttered, his face paling.
"She's not supposed to be home right now," the boss said under his breath, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Sean watched them, a slow smile curling on his lips. He could see it now—how much the boss loved his daughter, how much he feared upsetting her. Gotcha.
"Dad, where are you?" the voice called again, closer this time.
The boss's head snapped toward his men. "Everyone keep quiet. If any one of you makes a sound, I'll feed you to the birds."
"Dad, I have something to tell you," the voice continued, now just beyond the door.
Sean's grin widened in his mind. This is my chance.
He sucked in every bit of air he could, then unleashed a scream that rattled the walls. "HELP! Your father wants to kill me!!!"
The boss's eyes blazed as he turned to his men. "Go and cover his mouth, you fools!"
The two goons rushed forward, each clamping a hand over Sean's mouth. Sean twisted his head from side to side, still managing to shout between muffled gasps, "Help! Save me!"
From outside, the girl's voice sharpened. "Isn't that Sean's voice?"
Her footsteps quickened, and then she was pounding on the door. "Dad, open the door! If anything happens to Sean, I will hate you forever! I know you're in there—answer me and open the door, Dad!"
The boss's glare could have burned holes through Sean. "You aren't going to die a peaceful death. You made my daughter say she's going to hate me forever."
"Mjhhggbb!" Sean tried to speak, but it was nothing but muffled nonsense under the goons' hands.
The boss grabbed a knife from the table, the blade catching the dim light as he started walking toward Sean. Each step felt heavier, slower, more deliberate.
Sean's heart pounded. So… this is how I'm going to die… again.
And then—
A deafening BOOM! shook the room.
The door exploded inward, splinters flying, and thick smoke poured into the air, swallowing everything in a grey haze.
Smoke still lingered in the air, the smell of burnt wood mixing with dust. Sean's ears rang, his heart pounding like a drum as two goons gripped his arms.
A slim figure stepped through the smoke, swinging her bag casually like she had just come from school. Her eyes locked onto Sean first, then shifted to the two men holding him.
"Let. Him. Go."
The goons froze, looking at the boss for orders.
The boss's jaw clenched, but he raised a hand for them to pause. "Wait… before anything else… is what Sean said true?"
Sean blinked. "What did I say?"
The boss's eyes narrowed. "That you… got my daughter pregnant."
Sean's entire soul left his body for two seconds. "I—wait, WHAT?! I never—"
She suddenly looked at him, a calm smile curling at her lips. Then she turned back to her father and said, "Yes, Dad. I am pregnant."
Sean almost shouted ARE YOU CRAZY?!, but then he noticed the boss's hand tighten on the knife.
He gulped. His brain screamed at him, Deny! Deny! But his survival instincts slapped back, Say yes or die, idiot!
So Sean forced a shaky laugh. "Y-Yeah… haha… totally… pregnant. With… uh… my baby."
Figure 1 gasped like they'd just witnessed a royal scandal. "Oh… my…"
Figure 2 whispered to Figure 1, "Should we congratulate them or get popcorn?"
The boss's glare could have burned holes in concrete. "You're admitting it?"
Sean straightened up as much as the goons allowed. "Yes, sir. 100%. Absolutely true. I… I take full responsibility."
She tilted her head and smirked at him like this was the funniest thing in the world.
The boss slammed the knife into the table, making everyone flinch. "Do you even understand what that means, boy?"
Sean nodded rapidly. "Yes, sir. I'll… marry her, raise the kid, change the diapers—heck, I'll even go to those weird prenatal yoga classes if I have to!"
Figure 2 snorted. "Hope he likes breathing exercises."
The boss looked from Sean to his daughter, his expression unreadable. "Jessica… you're telling me this in front of my men so I won't kill him, aren't you?"
Sean quickly added, "And because it's the truth, sir! Totally the truth!"
Jessica shrugged. "Believe what you want, Dad. But if you hurt him, I'll make sure you never see your grandchild."
Sean forced the most awkward smile in human history. "Yep… grandchild… coming soon…"
The boss rubbed his temples. "I'm getting a headache."