Chapter 26 The Uninvited VIP
The morning sunlight streamed over the village set, casting golden light on the chaos that was about to unfold.
Arielle sipped her coffee carefully, pretending she hadn’t been up all night mentally rehearsing how not to die from embarrassment or transmigrator anxiety.
Her four sons were already awake, and their fiancées… well, they were the human embodiment of a PowerPoint on how to silently intimidate someone.
Clara Bennett had a notebook open. Notes.
Diagrams. Possibly battle plans.
Serena Rose was giving Arielle that I can see your soul and rate it from 1 to 10 look.
Elise Montague bounced in, bubbly as a shaken soda can, probably planning to spill cheer and accidentally coffee all over someone.
Fiona Drake… Fiona Drake had that I’m judging every move you make and I’m taking mental receipts stare.
They arrived last night...
Arielle clenched her mug.
Okay. Calm. Smile. Eat. Survive.
Enter the Dragon (aka Lucian)
A black SUV screeched to a stop behind the set. Dust. Panic. Birds flying. Cameramen yelling. Someone screamed, “IS THIS PART OF THE SCRIPT?”
The door opened. And out stepped Lucian Cross, as if he were strolling into his own living room, except everyone else was shaking in terror.
He didn’t announce himself. He didn’t nod politely. He just… appeared, dark suit immaculate, hair perfectly tousled, expression sharp enough to slice through steel.
Arielle froze mid-sip. Her mug made a faint clink as she set it down, hands slightly trembling.
“Oh no,” she whispered. “No. NO. This is happening.”
Darian groaned. “Mom… he’s here.”
Rhett raised a brow. “So… uninvited VIP?”
Zayden’s phone already out. “We’re trending in sixty seconds.”
Emrys… well, Emrys was already halfway under the table. Protective instincts fully activated.
The fiancées all blinked.
Clara muttered, “…he wasn’t supposed to be here today.”
Serena said nothing. Cold. Deadly. Just looked.
Elise squeaked, “He’s… tall. And scary. And wow.”
Fiona’s eyebrow shot up so fast it nearly detached from her face.
Arielle’s internal monologue:
Step one: breathe. Step two: pretend I’m calm. Step three: don’t faint. Step four: don’t throw Lin Yue across the room in jealousy panic.
Chaos Ensues
Lucian didn’t immediately look at Arielle. He scanned the room slowly, like a predator spotting… well, chaos.
“Good morning,” he said casually. Tone: I own this room, and everyone in it.
The sons stiffened. Protective mode: activated.
Darian muttered, “That voice… I can feel it in my bones.”
Rhett clenched his fists. “I hate him already.”
Zayden: calculating flight or fight probability…
Emrys: “Mom… what do we do?”
Arielle sighed, placing her hand gently on Emrys’s shoulder. “Nothing. Just… survive.”
Lu Wei Enters the Scene
And just when Arielle thought her life couldn’t get any messier, the director clapped his hands.
“Everyone! Special guest! Returning favorite! Lu Wei!”
A collective groan and shriek erupted.
Lu Wei strolled in like a romantic storm—hands casually in pockets, smirk teasing, eyes locked on Arielle.
Lin Yue stiffened.
Internal monologue:
Why is my chest suddenly on fire? Why is my stomach flipping? Who even invited HIM?!
The sons collectively thought: Threat detected. Immediate intervention.
Rhett: “He’s too close.”
Zayden: “Too close AND too smoldering.”
Darian: “Mom… protect yourself.”
Emrys: already plotting tactical tackle.
Dinner Table Mayhem
The table had barely been set when Lucian and Lu Wei started subtly (or not-so-subtly) encroaching on Arielle’s personal space.
Clara whipped out a mental map of safe zones for Arielle.
Serena whispered, “I can’t even. This is… insanity.”
Elise accidentally flailed a spoon at Zayden.
Fiona silently judged everyone and everything.
Arielle herself was holding the wine glass like it was a life raft.
“Mom,” Darian muttered, “maybe we start the evacuation plan?”
“Evacuation plan?” Arielle whispered.
“Yes,” Darian said. “Just… slide under the table when chaos hits.”
Jealousy, Flashbacks, and Sons’ Defense Squad
Lu Wei smiled at Arielle. A gentle, remember me? kind of smile.
FLASH. Library. Rain. Shared umbrella. Soft laughter. Notebook notes written together. First love memories spilling back like an emotional flood.
Lin Yue’s stomach: chaotic tornado.
Lucian, sitting unannounced, eyebrows knitting: What is happening here?
The sons immediately positioned themselves like tiny, perfectly trained bodyguards.
“Step back,” Rhett muttered to Lu Wei.
“Don’t touch Mom,” Emrys growled.
“Social media is watching,” Zayden hissed.
Darian… well, Darian was just silently plotting how to slice the tension without anyone dying.
Arielle: Please, everyone, just survive. This is literally the worst possible day.
Hints of Romance Chaos
Lu Wei leaned closer, low voice:
“I didn’t come back just to be on TV.”
Arielle’s hand twitched around her fork. FLASH. Heartbeat memory, old feelings, unexpected pangs.
Lucian narrowed his eyes, already drafting interrogations in his mind. Jealousy simmering. Possessive calculations fully online.
Lin Yue internally screaming:
I’m losing something I didn’t even know I had!
Fiancées recalculated. Respect. Fear. Extreme caution. Mom is not someone to underestimate.
Author’s Note ????
Hey loves!! ??
This chapter was chaos unleashed! The unannounced arrival of Lucian, combined with Lu Wei returning, turned our peaceful dinner into LOVE HEXAGON LEVEL: IMPOSSIBLE.
Highlights:
Sons went full protective mode ??
Fiancées activated fear/respect mode ??
Lin Yue internally combusted ????
Arielle trying to survive while looking normal-ish ??
FLASHBACKS hitting her like a tidal wave ??
Social media exploding in real time ????
?? COMMENT below your favorite chaotic moment
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Your brains will explode. Your hearts will hurt. Your funny bone will be simultaneously tickled and crushed.