The portable garden, the flowers, and the blue and pink wall decorations were all aesthetically giving a vibe. Gender reveals vibes.
Orla scowled. They agreed not to do a gender reveal for their twins, but it seemed like Callan had deceived her.
"Callan," she whispered, clutching his hands. She recognized a few people as she walked down with her husband.
Rosa was present, it'd been a while since she saw her. Liam was there too, his arms wrapped around Rosa's waist. Orla smiled, wondering if they were a thing. Elizabeth was there, she had made up with Callan and Orla, and she'd been the best mother-in-law to her.
Her sisters who weren't in jail were present, but Orla chose to keep to herself. She still didn't understand what was going on. The sheepish smile on Callan's face made it very impossible for her to even guess what was going on around her.
"Callan, what's happening here?" She asked, but he didn't give a response. He was satisfied that he was able to bring her out of the house, and out of her terrible mood.
"You will soon find out," he whispered back to her ear. "Come on," he took her hands, accompanying her to the front.
There were no new faces, everyone present in the festooned garden was known to her. Callan halted when they got to the middle, letting go of her hands.
She felt naked, exposed immediately after he dropped her hands, and at that moment, she realized he had been her cover all this while. All her life.
She looked up at him, clasping her arms around his again. "I don't feel safe here," she said, staring into his eyes.
"Relax, no one will hurt you here." He assured, smiling at her and everyone present there.
"Why are we here, Callan?"
"To do something that I never did, Orla." He turned around to face her, planting a soft kiss on her forehead. "I need one more person to be present, and we will proceed."
"And who is that?" She scanned the place, holding tightly onto him. "Who are you waiting for?"
"The man who refused to let me see you the day I chose you."
Her heart melted softly. She looked into his eyes, long enough to glimpse that she loved him and that he loved her so much, and nothing in the world would stop them.
Arnold Sullivan's presence was announced by the entourage that guarded him into the garden. He halted when he saw Orla, perceiving the apprehension in her eyes, she didn't want him to come too close at all.
"My dad?" She stared at Callan, surprised and mortified.
"I think we can start now," Callan nodded, stepping away from her.
Orla panicked. She was still oblivious to what was going on around her. Everyone had a smiling face on, aside from her and her father. She tried so hard not to stare at him, but the more she felt his presence, the more she burned with hatred within.
She didn't want to be in the same environment as him, it irritated her to the core, and she was mad at Callan for putting her in such a situation.
"Thank you all for gracing this small occasion of mine. I appreciate that you all made it here on short notice."
Orla felt someone's gaze burning her. She slightly raised her head to see her father still staring at her. What does he want from her now? The stares were getting unconventional.
More people trudged in, every one of them recognizable by Orla. The same set of people attended their wedding more than a year ago. Wiggling her head, she knew Callan had a lot to explain after they left there.
"I should have done this a long time ago, but I guess I didn't know that my wife is worth more than I thought she did," he turned to face Orla, "and for this, I apologize to you, my love."
She gazed at him, still lost.
No word left her mouth until Callan held her fingers and smiled. "Orla Barlowe." The gaze was intense, yet so soft. She felt the heat beautifully charring her.
"Callan Barlowe," she just felt the need to give a response, and only that seemed to be perfect at that time.
"I thought I was living, but I realized that I wasn't, and I had never really lived until I met you. You didn't have to do too much to melt my heart and make me fall madly in love with you, Orla."
He was staring deeply into her eyes, his hands still on her.
"I always ran away from love. I dreaded it, I never wanted it, but now, I don't want anything else but your love, my wife."
She smiled, nodding her head. She still didn't have the words to say.
"I guess I know why I was running away from love all this while," he bent a little to kiss her hand, "I was waiting for you to love me. You are the only one who can love me perfectly, and because of this, I want to ask you," he halted. Dropping his hand Into his pocket, he went down on both knees.
Everyone gasped, flashing their cameras at them. Callan didn't mention the main purpose of the event in the invitation, he just told them he wanted them around to honor Orla.
He brought out a small box decorated with ribbon, slowly opening the box. A diamond ring glistened, and that was when it finally occurred to Orla, and everyone around that he was about to propose to her. But they were married, and she marveled at his craziness.
"Orla, I know I married you many months ago, but right now in front of everyone who was there on our wedding day, I am asking you to be my wife again, and it would be an honor if you don't reject this proposal. I want you, I love you, and I want to be with you forever."
"Callan," she felt a contraction within her, but she hid the pain. She could barely breathe well. Callan had done the unexpected. What she never thought that he could do, and he just made her fall in love again.
Just how could she say no to something so beautiful?
"Oh my God, I love you, Callan."
"Will you be the mother of my kids?" He asked, stretching the ring forward.
"Yes, we have two on the way already." She responded, her face bright with smiles as the diamond dazzled in front of her.
"And eight more," he smiled.
"Callan,"
"I love you so much, Orla."
"I love you too," she flipped her finger in front of him, permitting him to slip the ring on it. He did, and it fit perfectly. "The things you do behind my back, Callan." She admired her ring, smiling at her husband as everyone erupted into a round of applause, cameras flashing and some were even walking towards them to congratulate Orla again.
Orla was still all loved up with Callan when she heard footsteps approaching them. Without looking up, she knew who it was and her breath seized up.
Callan noticed her uneasiness. He stayed beside her, watching as Arnold walked towards them.
"A good one you did there, Callan." Arnold smiled, patting Callan's shoulders.
It was strange to him, but he managed to smile. "Thank you for coming."
"Yes, I have to come for my..." He paused. To say the word felt too big. He wasn't sure he deserved to call Orla his daughter anymore. He had betrayed her and hurt her too much.
Orla remained rooted on the spot, not speaking a word to her father. She didn't know what to say, and where to begin from.
A sharp pain rushed through her. She didn't know if it was her father's presence that made her so uncomfortable she had to go through that pain or if it was something else that she hadn't taken note of.
She stood straight, but the pain struck her again, harder this time. She felt a contraction like something was about to come out of her.
"Callan," she cried out, drawing everyone's attention in the room. "Callan, our babies are coming." She felt it, she knew it was time. "The babies are coming, I need help."
Callan held her delicately. "How do you feel?" He loathed the pain that simmered in her eyes. She was already sweating profusely.
"Contractions, the twins are coming." She yelled again, louder and more painful this time. "Take me to the hospital. Our babies are here."
Her water broke at that moment. It was time. Callan got so nervous as he slung his arms around her neck, Arnold helping her on the other side. Other people who were present helped them to the car and rested Orla inside.
Arnold took the driver's seat while Callan and Elizabeth sat at Orla at the back. Callan's heart raised so bad with each speed that Arnold took towards the hospital.
He had never been there, it was going to be entirely new to him, but all in all, he prayed for the safety of his wife and their babies.
He couldn't wait to hold the little humans in his hands, and let the world know how much they meant to him.
This book is heading towards completion and I'm so excited about it.
I love this particular chapter so much. I wish Orla a safe delivery, and yeah, stay tuned for the gender of the twins!!!!!
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I love you all, thanks for reading.