"It must have been the best sex ever, even if you forgot to use protection?" Lisbeth's eyebrows rose as high as her parents had hoped, but Noreen saw the smirk at the corners of her lips.

Noreen curled her lip. She had already berated herself all day yesterday for realizing her stupidity the night before, and now Lisbeth was going to tease her to death.

"Oh, come on, Lis, don't make me dig up your yard to bury myself. Now you better go to the pharmacy and buy me some morning-after pills," Noreen said weakly.

"Okay," Lisbeth said. "But I don't think you need to worry. It's not your fertile period, and you've also had sex with Thomas, sometimes without protection, but you've never gotten pregnant."

"Hmm, yeah," Noreen murmured. Somehow, she felt a little reassured. "You're right."

Noreen spent three days at Lisbeth's house, not taking a single call or returning any of her parents' messages.

They called Lisbeth and asked about Noreen's whereabouts, but Lisbeth casually said she was calming down, feeling depressed due to the lack of moral support from those closest to her. This answer managed to silence Noreen's parents.

After returning home on the fourth day, having to work and all her clothes and work files at home, Noreen's relationship with her parents became cold and distant.

Noreen couldn't shake the hurt feelings from what had happened earlier, while her parents also felt regretful afterward.

Furthermore, not long after their marriage, Victoria and Thomas bought a house just two blocks from the family home, so they inevitably crossed paths frequently. It seemed deliberate, and Noreen's parents began to realize the gravity of the situation.

Not only that, like good neighbors, even though their homes weren't that close, Veronica and Thomas always found an excuse to come over to Noreen's house, visiting and showing off their affection.

"My mom made an apple pie. She told us to share it here," Veronika once said.  She held out her jam-stained index finger to Thomas, who affectionately licked it.

Noreen made a gag gesture at the sight. "I don't think I'm going to eat this apple pie. I'm afraid my stomach will rebel from the bacteria you put in the dough."

"Noreen," Maria reprimanded gently.

"What? It's true, just look at the way they act so disgustingly in front of other people," Noreen said defiantly.

"You're still mad at me," Veronica said, her eyes welling up. Thomas hugged her shoulders with fake sweetness.

Noreen grinned. "I can only be mad at humans, not at wild skunks who spread their stench everywhere. Ugh!"

Theodore and Maria could no longer stop Noreen from being mean to the couple and even to Merly, Veronica's mother, who, like her daughter, often tried to provoke them with her sarcastic words and behavior.

Instead of catering to their insanity, Noreen is now more focused on her work and isolating herself from her extended family, especially her mother's side, which is filled with toxic individuals who claim to be relatives and emphasize the importance of maintaining good family relationships despite problems.

"Well, Noreen, you did a great job again," said Daniel Wettish, Noreen's boss, after reviewing the dining room and kitchen set and furniture designs she submitted this morning. "These will definitely be approved by the client. After three projects that have achieved their targets, I'm sure your annual bonus will be the biggest this year."

Noreen was proud of herself.

After graduating from college with a degree in interior design, Noreen applied for a job at the largest real estate firm in the country, The Golden Moonlight Real Estate. It was every engineering graduate's dream company, and she was accepted because her test scores were excellent.

The company not only develops all things about real estate, such as houses, apartments, hotels, villas, and resorts, but also manages all design matters, from home furniture to electronic devices.

It's a full-stack business, and the company has grown significantly year after year. Now, as Noreen sits on the staff as a junior interior designer, the company has over 200 branches, including new ones in Ontario, London, and Melbourne.

"Daniel, if the client approves this, can I have your permission to supervise the work on-site?" Noreen asked sweetly, knowing how difficult it is to get Daniel to send his staff out into the field.

"Tsk, you're just looking for an excuse to get out of the office and play outside," Daniel chuckled. "Just for the finishing touches, okay?"

"Yes!" Noreen said cheerfully.

***

Noreen was supposed to be at the furniture factory this morning to supervise the finishing touches on the kitchen set she designed and the client approved two weeks ago.

But when she woke up this morning, her whole body ached as if someone had been beating her all night, her stomach cramping and her head aching.

Noreen went to the bathroom. She wanted to vomit, but her stomach was empty and there was nothing to vomit except saliva.

"Honey, your face is so pale," Maria said, surprised, as Noreen came into the kitchen and sat at the counter, massaging her head. "Are you sick?"

"I don't know," Noreen said quietly. "I think I'm just tired."

Maria's face showed concern. "You've been driving three hours to and from the factory all week, and of course you're exhausted."

Noreen sighed and took an apple from the fruit tray on the counter.

"You need to go to the hospital," Maria said, when there was no response from her daughter. "I'll take you."

"No need," Noreen replied quietly. "I'll call Lisbeth and have her take me to Dr. Mitha, her aunt who practices at St. Vincent Hospital."

Maria stared at Noreen's back as she exited the kitchen with an apple in her hand. Maria feeling distraught.

She shouldn't have listened to Merly's prodding that, as her only female cousin, Noreen should have been willing to be a bridesmaid at Veronica's wedding.

Even though Veronica had been having an affair with Thomas, Noreen's boyfriend, she hadn't done it on purpose, Merly had said. And as a family, they should have forgiven each other.

Now, because she was giving in to her sister's wishes instead of protecting her own daughter's feelings, Maria felt jealous of Lisbeth. She feels like lost her daughter.

"That's why Daniel doesn't like you going to the factory," Lisbeth said firmly, as they drove to St. Vincent's Hospital. "You're used to sitting in an air-conditioned room, with coffee and snacks readily available, thinking quietly and working with your hands on a computer, rather than being in a noisy, hot, and dusty factory area."

Noreen leaned limply against the car door, turning a deaf ear to Lisbeth's nagging.  She had heard the same grumbling from Daniel when she stopped by the office briefly earlier, before calling Lisbeth, asking to take her to the hospital.

Doctor Mitha is married to Lisbeth's mother's cousin. She is a beautiful, soft-spoken middle-aged woman of Indian descent. She welcomed Noreen and Lisbeth into her comfortable office and, after chatting briefly with Lisbeth, asked Noreen to climb into the bed behind the curtain.

After almost 15 minutes, Noreen returned to the chair in front of Doctor Mitha's desk.

"Noreen, dear, you're fine," Doctor Mitha said. "All your vital signs are good. But from now on, you need to take better care of your condition and health. No alcohol. No vaping or smoking. Eat well and get enough rest, and most importantly, no stress."

"Ugh, if I'm fine, why has my body been feeling so strange all day, Doctor?" Noreen complained. "It's like someone is trying to rewire me."

Doctor Mitha smiled gently and wrote something on a piece of paper with hospital letterhead.

"Those are just normal symptoms, dear. Therefore, I will refer you for further treatment to my colleague, Doctor Lucia Vermint, an obstetrician and gynecologist. She will be practicing this afternoon, and I will make an appointment with her for you."

Lisbeth grabbed Noreen's arm, who was now as pale as a ghost.

"Auntie," Lisbeth said hoarsely. "You mean, Noreen...?"

Doctor Mitha nodded and smiled. "Congratulations, Noreen, you're two weeks pregnant and the fetus grows very healthy."

Noreen's PoV

After the period of confusion and confession passed, I calmed down.

My parents were very supportive and showed their concern without hesitation.

"Why does Noreen look so fat now?" Aunt Merly asked when she came to my house to show off the new bag her beloved son-in-law, Thomas, had bought her. "Are you stressed, dear Noreen?"

I glanced at my mother, unsure of how to respond. I wanted to rebuke my nosy aunt, but I knew she probably wasn't happy because she loved her little sister.

"Of course she's fat; it's a sign she's taking good care of herself, for the baby's health," my mother said calmly.

Aunt Merly's eyes widened as if they were about to pop out of their sockets. "W-what? A  baby, you say? Is Noreen pregnant?"

"Yes. It's sixteen weeks now, and the baby is growing very fast," my mother replied proudly, patting my belly. "I'm going to be a grandmother soon."

I think Aunt Merly needed some time to process all of that, but a few minutes later she grinned.

"Did you get married secretly, Noreen? Who's your husband? Or... could it be that the baby doesn't even have a father?"

"Well, whatever you think will help you sleep soundly tonight, Aunt Merly," I replied calmly. "This has nothing to do with you at all."

Aunt Merly smiled slyly. "Of course it's my business too, honey. We're one family, so there's bound to be questions. So, what am I supposed to answer?"

"I haven't felt like a family to you since your daughter slept with my boyfriend, in broad daylight in public. I'm too embarrassed to acknowledge you as family," I said calmly. "So you don't have to worry about other people asking questions. Just tell them to ask me directly."

Aunt Merly's face flushed red. "At least Veronica and Thomas are finally married," Aunt Merly snapped. "You? Did you just have a one-night stand with a stranger and get pregnant?"

I smiled. "If so, does it harm you?"

Aunt Merly snorted. She gave my mother a sharp look. "Noreen has embarrassed you, Maria, why are you still defending her?"

"Didn't you defend Veronica when she was doing something indecent with her own cousin's boyfriend?" my mother snapped with a smirk. "That's a stupid question, Merly!"

"Huh," Aunt Merly snorted in annoyance. "You're both embarrassing."

"Come on, Merly, if you feel that way, I'd gladly ask you not to come here every time your son-in-law buys you something, because it's annoying. You don't have to show off, because if I wanted to, I could show off too. Noreen buys me nice things, too. She's my own daughter, not someone else's child who became part of your family through indecent means!"

I stared at my mother, dumbfounded. Wow! I didn't know she could say such cool things. I thought my mother would side with her sister, or at least keep quiet.

Aunt Merly looked as shocked as I was. My mother had always been the one to give in, and everyone knew how much she loved her sister, as they had been living alone since childhood, after their parents, or grandparents I never knew, died in an accident.

"You!" Aunt Merly snapped, glaring.

My mother put down the spatula in her hand and then placed both hands on her hips.

"Don't yell at me!" my mother hissed dangerously. "I could make Veronica and Thomas the butt of gossip, even more so than Noreen, if I wanted to."

She approached Merly, then whispered something in her ear, and Aunt Merly's face instantly turned pale. She then snorted, walked quickly to the door, exited, and slammed it so hard that the glass rattled.

"If any of my windows break, I'll break yours too!" my mother shouted at Aunt Merly, who immediately quickened her pace.

I burst out laughing at my mother's words. This was completely unexpected.

After that, of course, news of my pregnancy spread quickly. Neighbors gave me strange looks every time I passed, some even looking away or whispering while glancing at me.

My parents were unwavering. They would say things that would make anyone who asked questions feel uncomfortable, and if someone acted annoyingly like Aunt Merly, they would respond calmly until they finally fell silent in embarrassment.

Lisbeth was my biggest supporter. She had already declared herself godmother to my child even before the baby was born. Both of her parents were the same, showing great attention and enthusiasm.

The three of them, Lisbeth, her mother, and my mother, shopped for baby supplies, even starting to think about the name and design of her bedroom.

Daniel and my friends at work were also very helpful. They insisted that I stop going out into the field and only leave the office under their supervision.

In the first week of my seventh month, my stomach cramped so badly that I couldn't move from bed. I screamed loudly when I felt something stabbing me in the lower abdomen.

"Oh my God, your water has broken," said my mother, rushing into my room, still wearing an apron and smelling of vanilla.

My father frowned. "But, it's only the seventh month?"

"Quick, honey, get the car ready," my mother said calmly.  She grabbed the suitcase containing the birthing supplies she'd prepared earlier. "And call Lisbeth and Sandra."

I gripped my mother's hand tightly on the way to the hospital. My stomach was churning violently, as if the baby inside was struggling frantically, trying to get out. I felt aches and pains all over me, as if someone were beating me with a piece of wood.

I was already half-unconscious by the time I arrived at the hospital. Dr. Lucia and two other doctors were already waiting in the hospital yard when my father's car arrived.

I screamed loudly as I felt a sharp tear through my insides. My father held my hand tightly the entire ride on the gurney. I can still see his tears welling up before darkness finally overtook me, followed by the immense pain that devastated me.

I was in a large field in the middle of the night, where a large, round moon shone brightly, its light a golden hue.

I looked down at my body, amazed at my clothes.  A beautiful white dress with delicate gold threads, complemented by luxurious gold accessories.

Where am I? Who am I?

My surroundings were illuminated by moonlight, and as I looked down at my bare feet, I realized that the thick grass I was treading on wasn't green, but red.

Goosebumps rose up my spine. The wind that brushed against my skin was cool and carried the sweet scent of vanilla, mingled with the fresh scent of bergamot, the mysterious scent of pine forests, and the dominant scent of luxurious amber.

As far as the eye could see, the field was completely empty. I felt nervous. Where should I go?

I took a step forward, but before I could take three steps, I gasped as flashing red lights appeared all around me.

At first, just a few pairs, but then more and more, until I realized that the red lights weren't lights at all, but pairs of eyes.

My knees gave out, and I knelt in the grass, feeling fear paralyzing me.

Then, from a distance, I heard a long, drawn-out wolf howl, as if on cue, and hundreds of pairs of red eyes around me moved closer to me.

I screamed at the top of my lungs.

Everyone had the same opinion. Anyone who saw the baby boy would think he was incredibly handsome and adorable.

Not only that, for a baby born at 28 weeks, he was incredibly large, healthy, and perfect.

After being in a coma for three days after giving birth, Noreen suddenly woke up screaming, startling everyone who had been anxiously waiting for her. However, Noreen was fine, which brought them relief.

Then, Noreen saw her son for the first time and cried loudly with emotion. She named her son Jonathan Luke Winchester.

Jonathan had soft, buttery-white skin, jet-black hair that was slightly wavy, thick, and silky. Every aspect of his little face was exquisite and nearly perfect.

Thin red lips, a high nose, thick eyebrows and eyelashes, crowning almond-shaped eyes with caramel-colored pupils that shimmered golden in the light. He was truly handsome.

"Noreen, I think you're only getting a silver lining from this process," Lisbeth said, stroking Jonathan's sleeping cheek. "He doesn't look like you at all. But I'm sure whoever his father is, is incredibly handsome, right?"

Noreen grimaced. She remembered the man who had made her thrash about repeatedly in ecstasy.  Even though she wasn't fully conscious at the time and there was still some alcohol in her brain, her eyes saw clearly, and yes, he was the most handsome man she had ever seen in her life.

And now, his handsomeness was imprinted clearly, in miniature, on her baby.

"Well, while I have to admit your baby is very handsome, it still doesn't negate the fact that he doesn't know his father," Veronica said, visiting Jonathan two weeks after he was born.

Thomas touched Veronica's arm and shook his head. He glanced at Noreen, who looked calm and simply smiled in response to his wife's words.

"It's okay," Noreen said lightly. "He has a mother, grandparents, a wonderful aunt-not you, of course, but Lisbeth, and that's enough."

"What if he asks about his father someday?" Veronica asked sneeringly. "How unfortunate."

"Oh, Veronica, you should start thinking about yourself," Noreen said. "You haven't gotten pregnant yet, have you? Is it because you had an abortion before, making it difficult to get pregnant now?"

Veronica's face paled. "W-what are you saying? Noreen, are you slandering me?"

Noreen smiled softly. "Slander? For what? What do you have that I don't? A husband? Tsk! If only a husband like yours could be mine, I'd rather be single for life. I don't like keeping trash in my life."

Now, Thomas's face was bright red. "Noreen, what do you mean?"

"Nothing," Noreen said with a shrug. "Ah, it's my son's nap time. Can you guys please leave? I'm starting to feel like my house smells awful now."

Noreen grabbed an air freshener and began spraying it around her.

Veronica and Thomas quickly left, grumbling. Noreen closed the door after spraying the air freshener on them once they were on the porch. She laughed loudly after the couple left, making sure they heard her laughter.

Jonathan was growing up fast, surrounded by a huge circle of love.  He was a very healthy and strong baby, rarely sick, and his motor skills were very advanced for his age.

A few days after Jonathan's fourth birthday, Daniel called Noreen into his office. His face was very serious.

"Noreen, Mr. Trevor called me. They asked me to send an interior designer who can also design furniture to the Ontario branch," Daniel said.

"You mean Mr. Trevor Bradley, the owner?" Noreen asked, surprised. "Is there a problem at the Ontario branch?"

"Yes. Two weeks ago, a senior designer, who had just won a major project from noble society there, renovating 12 mansions and 16 private villas, suddenly had a heart attack. The problem is, Mr. Trevor himself appointed him to lead the project," Daniel said, rubbing his forehead. "So now, the team that had been so solidly assembled for the project has lost its leader, the person who played the most important role in it."

"Uh, that's bad," Noreen muttered. "Then why did you call me, Daniel? Don't tell me you're asking me to replace that senior designer? There's no way I can do it!"

"You do tend to belittle yourself sometimes, Noreen," Daniel said with a laugh. "Just listen to me. The project will be taken over, led directly by Mr. Thiery Bradley. He needs an assistant, and a few days ago, after going through a selection process, he chose your design, out of hundreds submitted by designers across our company."

"Mr. Thiery Bradley? The mysterious heir?" Noreen asked, her eyes wide. "Does he really exist?"

Daniel laughed softly. "Don't talk nonsense, you naughty girl! Of course he does. He's just been operating behind the scenes all this time because the Bradley family tradition doesn't allow a sole heir to appear in public until he's officially inaugurated."

"Uh, does that mean I have to move to Ontario?" Noreen asked again.

"Of course. You'll immediately assume the position of executive manager, reporting directly to Mr. Thiery. Your job will be to be his right-hand man throughout the project," Daniel said.

"Is that another word for secretary?" Noreen said with a grimace.

"Of course not. Mr. Thiery has two dedicated secretaries who have been with him since ninth grade. Your job is more project-specific. You'll create the designs he wants, refine them, or he might even ask you to oversee the design process until completion. You really enjoy being in the field, don't you?"

"Oh, that's interesting," Noreen said. "But what does this heir look like? I've only heard his name, but no one really knows what he looks like, right?"

Daniel laughed at Noreen's remark. "You'll have to start being more careful with what you say, Noreen, or you might get in trouble. Rumor has it that Mr. Thiery experienced several kidnapping attempts as a child, so his extended family agreed to keep his identity a secret until he ascended the throne."

"Ugh, it must be tough being the heir of a wealthy family," Noreen murmured pityingly.

"That's not just Mr. Thiery. Some of the people above him are, too, especially if there's only one heir in his generation," Daniel said. "Mr. Thiery is his parents' only child. Regardless, I heard there are specific criteria that make him the only worthy heir."

"Uh, too complicated," Noreen said, disinterested. "So, what's the technical side of things? I'll be moving to Ontario, for how long?"

"Your first contract will be according to the project plan, one year. After that, anything can happen. Maybe Mr. Thiery likes your work and wants you to be his Beta," Daniel said.

"His... What? His Beta?" Noreen asked, confused.

"Like in werewolf stories. Ms. Thiery is clearly an Alpha, and his confidante is usually a Beta," Daniel said with a laugh. "Don't you like reading werewolf stories?"

"I didn't know you were into such fantasy stuff, Daniel," Noreen frowned.

"My daughter. She loves reading online novels and is especially fond of werewolf ones," Daniel chuckled. "Get ready, Noreen. I'll contact HR immediately about your move."

"But, I need some time to sort things out first," Noreen said nervously. "This is too sudden. I have a son now, Daniel, and he'll be nearing school age soon. I need to make sure this move doesn't affect him too much."

"You don't need to worry about that. The company provides a three-bedroom apartment, child support, including school fees or daycare, and a certified nanny. Jonathan will be fine," Daniel said reassuringly. "I think it's me and your other colleagues here who aren't doing well after you moved."

"Huh? Why?" Noreen asked, confused.

"Why? Because we can't play with Jonathan anymore!" Daniel said gloomily.

Noreen's heart melted at her boss's words. She sometimes brought Jonathan to the office when Maria or Theodore had morning classes. Usually, five minutes after arriving in her office, Jonathan would disappear, "kidnapped" by another staff member.

Noreen was grateful because not only was he physically attractive, but Jonathan also had good manners, as a child. He was friendly and polite, not a crybaby, and intelligent, so no one could help but fall in love with him.

Coming home from work, Noreen found her son eating pudding.  Sitting in his chair, he neatly spooned pudding into his pink mouth. Maria was making something on the stove, which smelled like caramel.

"Hi, baby Jon," Noreen said, kissing the top of Jonathan's head. "Chocolate pudding?"

Jonathan smiled and lifted his spoon, trying to feed Noreen the remaining pudding on the spoon. Noreen laughed and took the spoon, making Jonathan smile broadly.

"Hi, mom," Noreen said to Maria. "What are you doing?"

"I'm making grilled bananas with caramel sauce. I took Jonathan to school this afternoon, and one of the teachers gave him some. He really liked it, so I asked my colleague for the recipe and am trying to make it now," Maria replied seriously.

"Nana is going to burn the bananas," Jonathan said suddenly.

Maria looked at the bananas in the pan and sighed. "Ugh, you distracted me, Noreen, so they're a little burnt."

Noreen sat on the counter, enjoying the warmth of her family's kitchen, which had been a part of her life since she was born.  Moving meant leaving all of this behind, and who knew when they would be able to enjoy it again.

That evening after dinner, Noreen looked at her parents seriously.

"Mom, Dad, I'm moving to Ontario."