When Santiago and Persephone reached Valencia and Nash's house, they were stunned to see Valencia sitting on the steps of the gate, her hands holding her head. Her face appeared ashen as if she was lifeless.
"What happened, Val?" Santiago asked his sister as he took the seat next to her, rubbing her back. She leaned into his embrace as she gazed up to look at her brother.
"Did Nash and you fight?" Persephone asked next. She hadn't seen her best friend so lifeless before.
Valencia shook her head. "I'm nauseous. Been throwing up for a while."
Persephone's mouth formed in an 'O' as she sat next to Valencia on the other side and grabbed her hand in excitement. "Wow. Congratulations. I'm so happy for you guys."
Valencia and Santiago both scowled at her. She has been throwing up to the extent of passing out and here Persephone was congratulating her. What was wrong with this woman?!
"Come on, guys!" Persephone said, rolling her eyes. "Don't make that face. She is throwing up. And she is nauseous too. Don't you understand what it means?"
Santiago, who now had an understanding of the matter, looked at his sister who was done with both of them. Then, he shook his head and glanced at his a bit dumb but overly excited wife, heaving out a sigh.
"Persephone, do you by any chance remember that my sister is a gynaecologist?" Santiago asked his wife who used her lips.
"If it makes anything easier to know that I'm currently on my periods," Valencia too replied. Why was her best friend so concerned about others' lives? She wished that Persephone started thinking about her own love story too. Then, her gaze fell on the light hickeys her sneaky sister-in-law was trying to hide. Someone had a good time together. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"Seems like Nash is not working hard," Persephone grumbled and Villain lightly pinched her. "Oww. Stop pinching my butt, Santiago!"
"I don't know about my fiance but my brother is surely working hard for baby number two," Valencia commented, gathering the energy to retort.
Persephone waved her hands, dismissing her claim. "Give my honey pot some rest!"
"What?! What honey pot?" Valencia asked her, bewildered as she looked around to see what pot she was talking about.
Persephone patted her shoulder and pointed at the exact location, making the other two speechless and embarrassed.
"You know what, Santiago? Take your wife inside. I can't talk to her without losing my mind," Valencia said. She didn't have enough energy to bear with Persephone's humour.
Santiago sighed and stood up to pull his wife with him. "Aren't you coming inside?"
Valencia's face fell. "Can you tell Nash that I have to leave for an urgent case in the clinic?"
"What's with you two? Trouble in paradise?" Persephone asked, seriously.
Valencia shook her head. "Nash is a good man. He is very good to me and Santiago. There is no moment in the last few months when we even had to argue. He always gives in to me. And since he always does things keeping me in mind, I also try to meet him halfway. A relationship needs mutual efforts and I understand it. So, no, Persephone and Santiago, there is no trouble in our paradise."
"Then, what's the problem?" Santiago asked her. "Is it work-related? Are you ill? Or you are missing Cameron? If you want to go back, you just need to tell Nash. I don't think he will mind shifting with you back to America."
"Of course, I miss Cameron and truly want to see him," Valencia said. "But my problem...I don't even know what it is. Nash started cooking and I started feeling nauseous. You know what? I can't explain. Tell Nash that Emma called and I will be back before dinner."
Then, she realized her car keys were inside and there was no way she was going inside again. So, she looked at Santiago with the best puppy eyes she could form and caught his sleeve. "Big bro, how about you let me take a ride of your classic babe?"
"Valencia, don't think about it! I'm not into you," Persephone yelled at her, hiding behind her husband.
"Persephone, I know a good physiatrist. I don't mind spending some appointment fee for you," Valencia said, through gritted teeth.
Santiago held Persephone by her shoulders and made her look at the car parked outside the gate. "This is the babe she was talking about. Stop running your brain unnecessarily. I'm afraid your leftover brain cells will decline if you insist on using it so much."
Persephone pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. "I thought I was your babe."
"As much as I would love to hear what transpired between the two of them in detail, I have to leave. And for leaving, I need car keys," Valencia reminded the couple that she was still there. "Bro, please. If you don't save me today, you will cry over my loss all your life."
Santiago flicked her forehead. "Don't say nonsense." And passed her the keys. No rash driving. No scratches and come back in one piece."
Valencia let out a gratified smile and disappeared with the car.
Santiago grabbed Persephone's hand and said, "Let's see what's going inside. Suddenly, I had a bad premonition."
"What can scare you, my Villain?" Persephone asked innocently, raising her brow.
Santiago smiled widely and pecked her cheek. "Sometimes, you are ridiculously cute."
"Is it a bad thing or a good one?" Persephone inquired.
"A little too good," Santiago replied. "Open the door and let's meet my other babe."
"Aiyoo, you have too many babes," Persephone replied, trying to sound less jealous. "I wonder what our Eleanora would be doing?" She palmed her head for thinking nonsense. "What does our Eleanora know apart from sleeping?"
Santiago sighed as he couldn't refute. Their baby was lazy and didn't like people picking her too much.. She was like a cat who would be happy dozing off the entire day.