After everyone calmed down, Dylan, Ellie, Amy, Clara, and Aaron sat on the living room sofa, while Fiona and Iris ate and did their homework at the dining table.
"Okay, so why are you here?" Amy asked Clara.
"I can't go home, Sis. My apartment was sealed by the police. Mom is staying in a cheap hotel in a rough part of the city for a kid my age. My stepfather has been taken to the police station since noon for questioning," Clara replied.
"No one at school would help her because she's always being bullied, so I brought her here," Aaron added.
Then Clara looked at Dylan and furrowed her brow; she seemed to be scrutinizing Dylan's face.
"I feel like I've met you somewhere, Bro. Where was it?" Clara asked.
"Hmm? We just met today," Dylan replied. "We met last night. Good thing you were half-asleep," Dylan thought.
Dylan turned to look at Ellie and Amy, who were sitting next to him, staring at him meaningfully.
"I've never met her before, I swear," Dylan said, emphasizing once again because he understood the meaning of their gazes.
"Okay, understood," Ellie replied.
"Hmm... for now, okay," Amy added.
"Sorry, can I ask a quick question? What does your stepfather do for work? Why would the police detain him?" Dylan asked, trying to ignore the looks from Ellie and Amy, who seemed annoyed with him.
"My stepfather works as a real estate developer... he also owns a logistics company. Last night, a thief broke into the apartment and took his laptop and smartphone. My stepfather was panicking since the morning before I left for school. Then during my lunch break, Mom suddenly called and told me not to come home yet," Clara answered.
"Hmm... okay, a thief," Dylan replied, pretending to be thoughtful.
"Wait... your place is an apartment, right? Your floor is pretty high up, if I remember correctly. How did the thief even get in?" Aaron asked.
"Through the window. I don't get how, but I think I actually saw him when I went to get a drink of water... he jumped out the window and sort of flew away, even though that window can't be opened because it's actually a glass wall... the thief was like a ghost," Clara answered.
"Did you tell the police about that clue?" Amy asked.
"No, but I told Mom, and Mom immediately got scared... you and I both know, Sis, who our family calls when they're looking for someone to find... Mom suspects the thief last night was sent by our family," Clara replied.
"It really could be," Amy replied.
Dylan, who realized he was the thief, became utterly confused. He leaned back and let Amy, who was sitting next to him, talk to Clara, who was sitting next to Aaron. With a slow, quick motion, Dylan took off his watch and pocketed it so Clara wouldn't see it. After that,
"Hey CATS, are you working for Amy's family?" Dylan asked.
[Of course not, sir. We are independent and not tied to anyone.]
"Driiing," suddenly, Clara's phone rang. She looked at the screen and answered it; everyone immediately fell silent.
"Hello, Mom," Clara greeted.
As Clara listened to the voice on the phone, her face suddenly grew paler and paler, looking as if she had seen something terrifying. Dylan watched her; he also saw Amy watching her. But then Clara's face looked a little relieved.
"So that's it, Mom... it has nothing to do with the past?... Okay, Mom... take care... bye," Clara said.
Clara hung up the phone and placed it on the table, then she let out a long, relieved sigh.
"My mom just called. She said my stepfather got arrested for proven forgery of invoice signatures, company embezzlement by creating fake client data, and defrauding clients. All the evidence is on his laptop because he saved the documents and chat history on his smartphone. The police had a report from his executive board a month ago, and my adoptive dad was already under investigation. So his laptop and smartphone are solid proof to nail him. This has nothing to do with our family, sis," Clara told Amy.
"Oh, really... well, that's a relief then. So where's your mom?" Amy asked.
"She's with a friend right now, looking for a rental apartment so I can be with her later," Clara replied, relieved.
"Thank goodness for that," Amy said, also looking relieved.
"Okay, well, in that case, since you don't have a place to stay yet, feel free to stay here. You can sleep with Fiona and Iris. You're okay with that, right, Aaron?" Dylan asked.
"Yeah, Bro. If I wasn't, why would I have brought her here?" Aaron replied.
"Thanks, Bro Dylan, Aaron," Clara said.
"Now then, (holding both Amy and Ellie's hands at the same time) we need to talk... just the three of us," Dylan said.
"Oh... okay," Ellie and Amy replied simultaneously.
"Sorry... just a moment," Dylan said to Clara and Aaron.
Dylan immediately stood up and pulled both Ellie and Amy into his room. After closing the door, Dylan turned to face Ellie and Amy, who were standing in front of him. He immediately knelt down, his arms outstretched, embracing both Ellie and Amy, then he pressed his head against their bellies.
"Eh... what's this?" Ellie asked, confused but not letting go of Dylan's hug.
"Y... yeah, you startled us," Amy replied, also looking resigned and not letting go of Dylan's hug.
"Just want to say hi to the babies, hehe," Dylan joked, pressing his face against Amy's belly, then Ellie's belly.
"You're impossible, hehe," Ellie replied happily, stroking Dylan's head.
"Next time, give us a warning," Amy replied, smiling and stroking Dylan's head.
Dylan released them both, then stood up. He guided them to sit on the edge of the bed, then he sat on the futon below.
"Sorry, before we talk, I want to confirm something first... are you both serious about me?" Dylan asked.
"Huh... why would you ask that? Of course, I am. Like I told you, I've been engaged to you since childhood," Ellie answered.
"Same here. I'm serious about you too," Amy added.
"Good. That's what I wanted to hear. Now, tell me about yourselves. I want to know the background of my two wives who are now sitting in front of me," Dylan said.
Amy and Ellie fell silent. They looked away from each other and seemed restless. Dylan moved forward and held both of their hands. Of course, they immediately looked at Dylan, who smiled.
"No matter what you tell me, I'm going to stick with you, and that goes for Lena and Maya too. I'll do my best to look out for all of you. You don't have to be afraid because I'll always protect you and be by your side," Dylan said. "Sorrrrry... I had to use the skill, or you two wouldn't talk," Dylan thought.
Ellie and Amy immediately looked at each other. Their faces suddenly flushed red, and their eyes started to tear up.
"You... you remember your promise from back then?" Ellie asked, smiling.
"I'm happy you still remember what we talked about in the garden that time," Amy added, smiling.
"Something like that," Dylan said, smiling. "Don't remember a damn thing. It's the manipulation skill... ugh," Dylan thought.
Suddenly, "hug," Ellie and Amy immediately embraced Dylan, who returned their hug. Ellie and Amy's faces looked relieved, as if to say, "He finally remembers." Dylan, meanwhile, still didn't know what his promise was.
[I was wrong, sir. You're even crazier than your grandfather. You're deceiving your own wives.]
"Shut up," Dylan commanded in his head.