CHAPTER 30

Lisa's POV

Damien smiles at me as we hold hands and I'm unsure whether it's to reassure me or if the act of playing genuine couples has already begun.

We start to go in the direction of the large mansion's entrance. I was enthralled with the waterfall that is in the center of the front yard.

I start to get anxious as we get closer to the front door, and my hands start to shake a bit.

My heart skipped a beat when Damien informed me we would share a bed because we need to seem sincere and in love.

How am I supposed to keep my sleeping disorder a secret from him now that we have to share a bed?

He moved right by me to the bathroom to take a shower so that we could come here, so I couldn't even propose that another bed would be the best.

Since then, my heart has been racing. I feel terrified and uneasy.

I'm now forced to interact with his family. Although I haven't met anybody else, I have met his parents previously. This house is different from the one I saw, and I wonder whether there are many homes similar to this one in New York City.

We enter when the door is opened from the inside. Damien's shoulder is rubbing against me due to our proximity, which is weird.

It's the closest I've ever been to a guy. Even though we are married, it seems strange. This is likely because we are not in love and lack the shiver-inducing electricity that would normally go down my spine at the touch.

Right now, I just have to shiver. The touch sent icy chills down my spine, heightening my terror.

We enter the home silently until we see the dining room, where a cacophony of laughing and commotion fills the air.

It's so loud everywhere. A child is sobbing. Another infant is crying out. Around the table, there is a conversation, and as soon as I can see us, I understand why there is so much commotion.

Three servants had already begun serving dinner. The oldest maid is placing each dish on the wide rectangular table while the other maid picks them up from the cart and passes them to the maid carrying the trolley full of plates. They all wear the same black and white uniform, which consists of a short gown and a half-apron.

It seems spacious and warm because of the great furnishings, the ancient antique, the tall, light chandelier, and the creative artwork all over the room.

I've never gone to a location this size. My whole flat may be represented by the dining room alone.

Why the heck not?

A young woman raises her head and looks at Damien and me as we stand there taking in the spectacle. She's been the one who's been babbling constantly and assisting the maids with setting the table.

"Damien!" She motions for us to get closer while waving at him.

Damien and I look at one other, then he shrugs. I'm curious as to his thoughts. Before we can get near, the woman walks out in front of us, her long, wavy, black hair pulled back into a bun and her brown eyes gleaming with joy.

"Damien is here with his wife!" Her announcement causes others to glance at us. If they missed her the first time, I wonder.

I wonder whose child it is since the infant is still sobbing.

Damien eventually releases my arm with a smirk on his face. He confronts me directly and lays his hand on my back.

He says "Babe, meet my cousin Caroline" before turning to Caroline, who seems to have a smile on her face by nature. "Lisa, my wife, meet Caroline."

He releases his hold on my back as Caroline extends her arms and pulls me within.

"I'm so glad we got to meet. I've been yearning to view his wife's beauty and to find out who the fortunate person is. She exclaims in one breath, making me uneasy in the embrace, "I had to travel all the way from California just to come and visit you all.

When she raises her voice or you observe her lips moving, you will realize she is speaking since her voice is so low. That explains, I suppose, why she enjoys always raving. We've just recently met, yet I immediately understand who she is.

She resembles my mum exactly. She may be quiet when she wants to but can become a chatty person in a matter of minutes, particularly if she feels at ease with someone.

After she pulls me from the embrace, Damien's hand reaches my back once again. Damien gestures to the two boys who are both the same height and says, "Caroline is the mother of that baby who cries all the time, and also those brats over there."

While the other is quietly seated on the floor, one of them is yelling at the other.

Wow! I almost say. They must be twins because of how similar they seem. These infants are quite little.

Given that the twins are still young children, how did she manage to get pregnant again?

Damien tells me as if reading my mind, "She gave birth to the baby girl a year after the boys," and Caroline playfully slaps his arms as a flush of shame appears on her cheeks.

"Do you have to make it so obvious in front of your bride? Everyone knows how much you hate babies and the close proximity of my princess and the twins." She gives him a scathing glance.

Damien lets go of his hand and casually shrugs. I am aware that I have been silent at this point.

I greet Caroline with a little grin on my face and say, "It's so lovely to finally meet you.

Her anger has now been replaced by a grin as she turns her focus to me. "Nice to meet you, too," she said.

I pose as unhappy. "Damien despises infants?"

After exhaling, Caroline grabs my arms. "You're unaware?" She instantly sighs in relief as I shake my head. "Finally. You enjoy infants, thank God.

Damien counters, "She doesn't like babies", and I stare at him.

"I don't? Of course, I disagree with him.

"Yayyy! My older brother will shortly give birth to children. She squeals with delight.

"Caroline cut it out!" Damien is ashamed, and I'm on the verge of laughing.

"Hey, stop by. I hear someone yell from above the dining room, "Dinner is ready," and I know it's Damien's mother.

The diminutive-looking relative of Damien directs us to the dining room.

While she leaves to retrieve the boys, Damien and I make our way to the dining area. I see an older Damien, his father, a man with brown hair and broad hands, and then a smaller man.

As we all say hello to one other, Damien pulls a chair out for me. I now see the infant in Mrs. Russell's grasp. She is attempting to hold back her tears.

Caroline makes them sit and takes the baby away from Mrs. Russell when she returns with the boy. The infant stops crying as soon as we start eating.

Despite the fact that I'm still feeling anxious, there is a pause. Although Caroline had previously met us halfway, I didn't feel as anxious about her as I do now.

This anxiety must be brought on by being with unfamiliar people or by Mrs. Russell's attention that she is giving me while she eats.

She is seated next to Mr. Russell, her husband, who is seated at the head of the table. I am standing next to Damien, who is on the left. The man with the enormous hands is next to me, followed by Caroline, the tiny man, and Mrs. Russell.

Damien says aloud, "Babe, pass me the salt, please," and I fumble for the salt. I swiftly get it from Caroline and hand it to Damien. He gives me a grin. "Awesome, babe.

As we continue to eat in solitude, Caroline finally lets out a sigh of relief. When I glance up, she has a chuckling expression on her face.

"Mom?" She calls, which causes Mrs. Russell to look away from me. Damien says, "Damien wants babies, but Damien doesn't want them."

Her eyes soften as she turns to look at me.

The meal remains silent for the remainder of it. After we eat, the maids quickly come to clean the table.

Caroline introduces the guy with dark hair and big hands to me as her husband: "This is John Lorenzo. She then gestures toward the male neighbor. "This is my brother, Andrew," I said.

I bend my head gently in greeting, "Nice to meet you two, John and Andrew."

They both chime in, "Nice to meet you too," beaming down at me.

Damien will soon welcome babies, right? Mrs. Russell queries while fixating on me.

"No!" Damien replies, "Yes!" I respond.

We both exchange glances, and I nearly giggle at the shocked expression on his face.

I mumble. "I want to have babies."

He scrunches his face and says, "I hate them," and I giggle and hold his palm down on the table.

I reassure him with a grin, "Don't worry, you'll adore them.

Babies may be demanding.

I say it again, "You will love them," and I walk away from him. I glance down and clear my throat as everyone's attention turns to us.

Hear his mother say, "Damien was once a baby." "If he doesn't want babies with you, then he doesn't like babies."

All of the males save Mr. Russell and Damien gives Caroline a furious look as she gasps and mutters.