When they arrived home after picking up Fiona and Iris, Dylan, along with Amy and Ellie, walked to the main door. Maya had already started her shift at the restaurant, while Lena had gone to the dentist's clinic to hand in her company data. "Click," Dylan opened the door. Fiona and Iris immediately ran inside, kicking off their shoes and dropping their bags.
"Hey... take them off properly before you run," Dylan said, bending down to pick up his twin sisters' bags and shoes.
But when he looked up, he saw Fiona and Iris standing frozen, staring toward the living room. Curious, Dylan, Amy, and Ellie walked over to where Fiona and Iris stood and looked inside. Aaron was already there, along with a friend who turned out to be a girl his age, with messy hair and a rumpled uniform. The girl was silent, not saying anything, and sat with her head down. Aaron turned to look at the living room doorway and stood up.
"You're home, Bro?" Aaron asked.
"Oh, you're back," Dylan replied, placing his twin sisters' bags on the table and their shoes beneath it.
"Who is she, Aaron?" Ellie asked.
"Oh right, everyone, meet Clara (he turned to look at Clara). Clara, this is my brother Dylan, his two girlfriends, Ellie and Amy, and my twin sisters, Fiona and Iris," Aaron said.
Clara turned, then stood up. "Gasp," Dylan's eyes instantly widened, and he backed up, "thump," pressing against the wall. Ellie turned to look at Dylan strangely. Dylan immediately realized that the girl named Clara, Aaron's friend, was the girl he had seen last night in the apartment when he stole the laptop and smartphone from the luxurious apartment's office safe.
"CA... CATS, that girl... she's the one from last night, right?" Dylan asked.
[That's right, sir, but relax, you're not the only one who's surprised. Look to your side.]
Dylan immediately turned. It turned out Amy was stunned, her mouth hanging open, and for the first time, Amy was showing an expression on her face: a look of shock.
"Clara... what are you doing here?" Amy asked.
"Huh... Sis Amy? Why are you here?" Clara asked.
"Huh... you guys already know each other?" Aaron asked, surprised.
The atmosphere immediately became silent, letting the question hang in the air. Amy kept staring at Clara, who stared back. Ellie stepped back and stood next to Dylan, taking his hand but not saying anything. Fiona and Iris also moved closer to Dylan, while Aaron looked confused.
"Um... what's really going on, CATS?" Dylan asked in his head.
[Just watch, sir. You asked about Amy's problems yesterday, right? Now is the time for you to know.]
"Huh... really?" Dylan asked.
Suddenly, Dylan's attention was diverted as he saw Amy step forward and "hug," she immediately embraced Clara, who hugged her back. Both of them sank to the floor and cried silently. Dylan and Ellie just watched without saying anything. Fiona and Iris were also completely silent, not moving at all, just standing frozen with their mouths open. Aaron looked uncomfortable, but he seemed afraid to ask and just let it be without moving.
A moment later, Amy and Clara released their embrace, then wiped away their tears.
"So you're in this city, Sis. Since when?" Clara asked.
"Since I started high school, about three years ago. How are you? Is your mom healthy?" Amy asked.
"Mom's healthy... but she's stressed right now. Her new husband was called down to the police station for questioning because someone took his laptop and smartphone last night. Does Uncle know you're in this city?" Clara asked.
"Of course not... I ran away from home... I didn't want to be married off to a branch family head who's around 40 years old... but Dad and Mom didn't understand... so I ran away to this city," Amy answered haltingly and looking down.
"But what if they look for you? We know what our family is like," Clara said.
"Don't worry, I won't involve you and your mom, who also ran away just like me," Amy replied, smiling.
"I understand, Sis," Clara replied. Then she looked behind Amy and saw Dylan, who was holding hands with Ellie. "Um... Aaron's brother, Sis Amy's boyfriend?" Clara asked.
"Um... he's my husband... I'm pregnant with his child now... Ellie, standing next to him, is also pregnant with his child," Amy said.
Clara's face immediately showed a range of emotions in five seconds, starting with shock, disbelief, confusion, suspicion, and finally, a fierce anger as she stared at Dylan. But Amy, noticing it, immediately held both of Clara's cheeks and looked at Clara sharply and coldly.
"He's not at fault. I'm the one who wanted to be pregnant with his child. Don't be mad at him, or I'll be mad at you," Amy said in a low voice.
Clara flinched, her face immediately turning to one of fear, and she nodded enthusiastically. Witnessing the scene in front of him, Dylan realized that he knew nothing about Amy, and just now, Amy had looked terrifying, like someone with an aura of authority. Then he whispered to Ellie.
"Ellie, who is Amy, really?" Dylan asked.
"Um... I don't know the exact details, but I've been friends with her since childhood. Her dad works with my dad, and if I'm not mistaken... her grandfather is a mafia boss, according to my dad," Ellie answered.
"Huh," Dylan replied, completely shocked.
"You really don't remember? We five used to play in the garden at my house?" Ellie asked.
"Huh," Dylan was even more shocked by Ellie's words.
"You really don't remember, do you? Lena's parents went bankrupt, that's why she was used as collateral for a debt. Maya's father died, and her new father is trying to take over her family's assets, that's why she came here. You know... Amy ran away from home, and me... I'll tell you later. The reason we all came to this city is because we all knew you were here, and judging by your expression, I'm sure you don't remember the promise you made to the four of us back then, huh," Ellie said, annoyed.
"Oh... d... did I promise something?" Dylan asked innocently.
"I knew you wouldn't remember. Figure it out yourself," Ellie replied, annoyed, looking away and pouting.
Dylan looked shocked at a clearly annoyed Ellie. He looked back at Amy and Clara, who were now talking, then he saw Aaron joining the conversation. He was truly processing what he had just heard and questioning himself. Finally, he spoke in his head,
"Hey CATS, what's really going on? Why don't I remember?" Dylan asked.
[Because you've been under constant strain, sir. It's best to let everything unfold naturally. You'll remember eventually. I already told you, they're all cornered, and only you can save them. Do you understand, sir?]
"Yeah, I know... but... did I really know all four of them since we were kids?" Dylan asked.
[Try to think carefully, would a woman willingly get pregnant by a man who isn't her husband, even if she loves him? The answer is no, sir, but if there's a strong reason behind it, she'd be willing, and even willing to share him with women in the same situation or with the same goal.]
"Hmm... y... you're right," Dylan replied.
[So just keep thinking, sir. The wheel of fate has turned, and I'll give you one hint: all this is connected to your grandfather, not your parents.]
"Huh... why don't you just tell me?" Dylan asked.
[It's not my right to say it.]
"Stingy," Dylan replied, while still looking at Amy, Clara, and Aaron, then at Ellie next to him, who was still pouting. "I'm really curious... I want to know what's buried in my memory," Dylan muttered to himself.