Is this destiny?

"How are you doing?", Jasper asked Aiden.

"Never better.", Aiden responded. "How about you?"

"It's OK. I'm taking it one day at a time. Are you excited about fatherhood?"

Aiden inhaled sharply. "Excited and terrified."

Jasper smiled. "That is how I felt."

"Does it get better?"

"Nope. It gets worse. The bigger they get, the bigger the worries."

"Listen to you, talking like an old man…", Jeff said to Jasper from the back and chuckled.

"Am I wrong?", Jasper questioned Jeff as they shook hands in greeting before they pulled each other into a man-hug.

"You are absolutely right.", Jeff confirmed. "The worst things are vaccines. You know they are good for them, but at the same time you can't bear watching those nurses pricking your baby."

Jasper nodded solemnly. "That is why I let Ellie take the kids for checkups. I was tricked twice, and after that, the moment the nurse comes to give shots, I wait outside."

"Chicken...", Jeff said under his breath, but Aiden and Jasper heard him, and they burst into laughter.

Sophia and Felix arrived at the garden in time to see Jasper, Aiden, and Jeff laugh. Sophia headed to where Sarah and Ellie were, and Felix joined the guys.

"Hi Cousins!", Samara greeted Aiden and Jeff enthusiastically.

"We heard there is a party, and we couldn't miss it…", Mathew said with a smile while shaking hands.

"I'm glad you could make it.", Aiden welcomed Samara and Mathew. "Did you settle in your room well?" When Mathew and Samara confirmed, Aiden gestured toward the tables with food and drinks. "You know the drill. If you are hungry or thirsty, help yourself. Barbecue will start in about one hour, until then, feel free to join in the games and mingle."

Samara left Mathew with the guys and she went to where Oni and Nala were. Over the years (since she is together with Mathew), they attended several events and she got to know all the kids.

"How come Samara didn't go and talk to Sarah and the girls?", Jeff asked while observing his Cousin. He knows that Samara is on good terms with the Hill sisters. And she even attended girl-only gatherings that Sarah and JoAnna organized, more than once.

Mathew cleared his throat and gestured toward Sarah, Sophia, and Ellie. "It's because Ellie is there."

"Did they have an argument?", Aiden guessed, unable to contain his gossipy side.

"No.", Mathew responded. "She is mentally preparing to tell Ellie the news."

"What news?", Aiden asked, and Jeff, Felix, and Jasper leaned closer, feeling that this is important.

Mathew grinned. "I am going to be a father. Again."

"Wow!", Jasper exclaimed.

Mathew squinted at his son-in-law. "Was that a good 'wow' or a bad one?"

"Uhm… sorry. I mean… congratulations… dad!", Jasper stumbled over his words.

Jeff chuckled, seeing how flustered Jasper was. "Babies are always good news. Your offspring will have a lot of company. How far is she with pregnancy?"

"Two months.", Mathew said proudly.

Jeff glanced at Aiden. "Your babies will be close in age."

Aiden was happy even though he needed a minute to absorb the news that his Cousin (aka Samara) is pregnant with a child whose father is the father of the woman at whose wedding he was the best man. It all sounded… complicated.

"More baby news?", JoAnna's voice came from the side. She was on her way to join with the girls, but then she passed next to the guys and heard Jeff's comment.

"Yeah.", Jeff confirmed. "Mathew and Samara are expecting."

"Waah! That is wonderful!", JoAnna exclaimed.

"Ellie does not know yet.", Jeff told JoAnna with a meaningful look to what JoAnna turned to Mathew.

"Don't worry. I am sure she will be delighted.", JoAnna assured Mathew. "Why didn't you tell her?"

"Sam wants to tell her.", Mathew responded.

JoAnna nodded and read the mood correctly. She is aware that Ellie had difficulty accepting Mathew into her life because of his womanizing, but they are fine now. However, it seems that Mathew still fears that Ellie will reject him.

JoAnna shared her opinion: "It's your business, Mathew, but my advice would be that you do it together. Ellie accepted you and Sam a long time ago, and she is happy for you. Don't act like you did something wrong."

Mathew smiled. "Thanks, Anna."

"If you excuse me…", Aiden said and made his way to the door when Mr. Wang and Suvedini made their appearance.

"Thank you for coming.", Aiden said while shaking hands with Mr. Wang.

"If I didn't come after everything you did for me, I would be rude.", Mr. Wang responded. He waited for Aiden to greet Suvedini before speaking. "Should I congratulate the new Elder of the Voronin family?"

Aiden smiled. "I will take it, even though it's just in name."

Mr. Wang's eyebrow arched questionably, but he didn't ask for clarification. "Are changes in the Voronin family going well?"

Aiden confirmed. "Everything is going well. If you need more information than that, the best person to answer that question is the new Grand Master…", Aiden said and gestured toward Hong who was chatting with Konstantin.

Mr. Wang was familiar with the plan that Hong will take over as the new Grand Master, but he didn't know if that will work out or not. Based on Aiden's words, the execution of their plan was successful.

Mr. Wang's admiration for Sarah increased. He met her three years ago as a girl who gave him an ancient vase, but now he knows that she is much more than that. She is behind the Army of Chaos and at the top of the Lebedev family, and she is capable of shaking up other organizations and put her people as leaders (an example of that are the Voronins). He wondered if the present he got Sarah will be sufficient.

"I will make sure to talk to Mr. Hong today. I want to greet our hostess and to thank her.", Mr. Wang said with a big smile that was directed toward Sarah who was approaching them.

Sarah greeted Mr. Wang and Suvedini and then her shoulder fit snugly under Aiden's armpit as his arm circled around her.

Maksim was standing next to the table with drinks and he sipped a beer while his eyes didn't leave Sarah.

"If you didn't get the message, she is taken.", Noah said to Maksim without trying to hide his hostility.

Maksim ignored Noah's unpleasant tone. "Do you know who is that with Divna?"

Noah rolled his eyes. Why can't Maksim call Sarah by her name? "Yes, that is Mr. Wang. He collaborated with us in the plan to cut down wings of a crow." Noah had to rub it in.

"I was asking about the woman.", Maksim said curtly.

"She came as Mr. Wang's date. Are you interested in her? What is with you and with women who are taken?", Noah asked mockingly, even though he knew that he is mocking himself at the same time.

"Hmm…", Maksim hummed. "I am not interested in that woman, but you should be. She is one of the personal assistants who work directly under Mr. Patel and based on my intel, she is more than that.", Maksim said smugly and glanced at Noah. "You boast yourself as Divna's best guard. Maybe you should do a better check on people who are gathering around her. Not everyone is who they pretend to be."

"If you have something to say, say it.", Noah urged Maksim impatiently.

Maksim shrugged. "You are the one rubbing it in that I am a Voronin and that I should stay away. Now you want information? What do I get in return?"

Maksim grinned when he saw Noah's confused expression that mixed with outrage.

"What do you want?", Noah asked stiffly.

Maksim exhaled dramatically and his eyes moved back to Sarah. "I wonder… what could I want…?"

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