S2 Chapter 45 : Where is she
The Ace and The Four Kings
Xyrine Jean's POV
I woke up feeling a chill on my stomach. Instinctively, I reached down to pull my shirt back into place—but I couldn't feel anything.
Wait… where's my shirt?
Panic surged through me as I bolted upright, realization hitting me like a tidal wave. I wasn't wearing anything. My hand flew to my forehead as flashes of last night's events started coming back.
"No… this can't be happening."
Slowly, I turned my head to confirm my worst fear, and sure enough, there he was—Spade, lying beside me, fast asleep on his stomach.
No way. This isn't real.
I turned back to him, hesitantly prodding his broad, bare back. My throat ran dry, and I quickly pulled the blanket tighter around me.
Acck! Xyrine, have you completely lost your mind?! You're pregnant! How could you do this to your baby?! To Spade's baby?!
A wave of guilt crashed over me, and I instinctively placed a hand on my stomach.
"Baby, are you okay? Did I squish you last night? Or… oh my god, are there two of you now?!"
I needed to get out of here before someone found us. But just as I was about to stand, a thought struck me—why am I acting like this? Spade is my boyfriend. So why does staying here still feel so wrong?
Brushing the thought aside, I tried to get up again, but before I could, a warm hand wrapped around my wrist and gently pulled me back. My breath hitched as I turned to find Spade watching me intently, his eyes still heavy with sleep.
"Uhmm… baby, where are you going?" His deep, groggy voice sent shivers down my spine.
Baby?! W-What the heck?! Has he lost his mind?!
My face burned, my heart pounding wildly at his words.
"Spade, I was just about to—"
Smack!
"Spade?!" I gawked at him, utterly stunned as he pulled away from a quick but firm kiss.
"Yes, baby?"
I was too shocked to answer, and before I knew it, he had wrapped his strong arms around me, pulling me flush against his bare chest.
I swallowed hard. "Spade… the baby," I murmured, suddenly shy and worried.
"Baby is safe. Don't worry, okay?" His voice was soothing, but his grip tightened around my waist as his hand slowly began to roam upward. My eyes widened in alarm.
"Spade, stop! What if someone sees us?!" I scolded, grabbing his hand to stop him.
To my surprise, he let go and sat up, running a hand through his messy hair.
"You're still thinking about Louren, aren't you?" His voice turned cold.
I froze. I knew he had every right to me, but something still didn't feel right. He hadn't regained his memories yet.
"You know that—"
"Then why do I have this nagging feeling that I'm the one who has the right to you, not Louren?" he interrupted, his intense gaze locking onto mine.
My heart pounded.
"It's strange," he continued. "But deep down, I feel like I'm the father of your baby." He paused, as if trying to piece together a puzzle in his mind. "Last night… it didn't feel like the first time. Holding you, kissing you, making love to you—it all felt so familiar, like I've done it before."
I stared at him, speechless.
He took a deep breath. "There's something wrong with my mind. Something missing. I tried to remember, but it only gave me a headache. No matter how hard I try, there's just… nothing. That's why we went to my neurologist."
I squeezed my eyes shut, gripping the sheets tightly. I couldn't be selfish. Forcing him to remember might only make things worse.
For now, I had to be content with this—at least he was listening to his heart, even if his mind was still clouded. But I had to leave before anyone found us like this.
I started to get up again, only to feel his fingers wrap around my wrist. Before I could react, he pulled me against him once more.
"But right now," he murmured, his voice low and firm, "I want to trust my heart."
I swallowed hard. "And… what is it telling you?"
Instead of answering, he gently pushed me back down onto the bed and hovered over me, his dark eyes filled with certainty.
"That you are mine."
"Xyrine, are you okay? You look tired."
I turned to Louren with wide eyes upon hearing his question.
"Why would I be tired? HA HA HA!" I asked, laughing awkwardly like an idiot.
"Maybe she was busy last night and this morning."
I automatically looked at Spade, who was now approaching the dining table. My mouth fell open when I saw him smirking.
What nonsense is he spouting now? he really lost his mind!
I chose to ignore him to prevent Louren from overthinking, but I was caught off guard when Spade casually took the seat across from me. Louren was sitting beside me, making the situation even more uncomfortable.
I decided to brush it off and continued eating. No one was speaking until I suddenly felt something against my foot, making me jolt. At first, I thought I was imagining it, but then it happened again.
"Ugh!" I muttered under my breath when I felt something move against my foot again.
"What's wrong, Xyrine?" Louren asked, concern evident in his tone.
"Huh? Oh, nothing. Just a stomach cramp. But I'm fine," I lied.
This time, I was sure I wasn't imagining things. I deliberately dropped my fork so I could check under the table.
And there it was—Spade's foot moving, his toes wiggling.
Seriously? What kind of madness is he up to now?
I shot him a glare as I sat back up, but the moment our eyes met, I quickly looked away.
That lunatic! Why is he grinning like that? Is he messing with me? Wasn't last night and this morning enough for him—wait, no!
I took a deep breath to calm myself and sat properly. We resumed eating, but not even a minute later, I jumped again when I felt his foot slide up against my leg.
"AAH!" I shot up from my seat.
Everyone turned to look at me—except Spade, who was still calmly eating with that infuriating smirk on his face.
This guy is so annoying!
"What's wrong?" Louren asked again.
"Uhm, nothing… I just, uhm… I need to go to the restroom," I stammered, staring at the floor.
"Do you want me to come with you?"
"No, I'm coming with her. I'm done eating," Spade cut in before I could answer.
I shot him a glare. "Uhm, why?" He just grinned at me, feigning innocence. I noticed everyone looking at us again, so I forced myself to stay calm.
Should I just strangle him now? He's making me look like a fool here.
"Nothing. Just going to the restroom," I muttered with a forced smile, even though I was already glaring at him.
Without another word, I hurried away from the table and walked toward the restroom, but I could feel him following me. I stopped abruptly and turned to face him.
"Are you messing with me, Spade?" I asked, my brows furrowed.
"Huh? Me?"
"Who else would follow me all the way here?" I snapped, frustration seeping into my voice.
"Hahaha, don't be mad. You're so cute! Keep that up, and I might not be able to hold back," he teased.
His words made my heart race like crazy. I quickly averted my gaze.
"If you don't stop, I swear I'll—"
Before I could finish, he suddenly stepped closer. Instinctively, I backed away until my back hit the wall.
"If you don't stop, I'll punch—"
"What are you going to do?" he murmured, his eyes locked onto my lips.
Ack. This is insane! Does Spade miss me that much? Is that why he's acting so flirty, even though he doesn't remember anything?
I was about to push him away when he casually placed his arm against the wall, caging me in.
"Spade! Are you out of your mind? Someone might see us!" I whispered furiously, glancing around the empty hallway outside the restroom.
"And do you think I care?" he muttered, still staring at my lips.
Ack. He's completely lost it.
Before I could protest further, I heard footsteps approaching. My eyes widened as the sound grew louder.
"Spade, someone's coming!" I whispered urgently.
Instead of looking concerned, he just smirked. And to my horror, he leaned in even closer, placing his hands on my waist. I had no idea what to do anymore.
"Xyrine!"
I squeezed my eyes shut when I heard my name being called.
Slowly, I turned to see Ella standing there.
"We weren't doing anything!" I blurted out, covering my face with my hands.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Ella asked, confused.
"I mean, we—" I stopped mid-sentence.
Wait… Where's Spade?
I turned back to where he was just standing a second ago, but he was gone.
Where did that devil go?!
"Xyrine, are you sure you're okay? You seem distracted," Ella said, eyeing me suspiciously.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine! My stomach just hurts, but I'm fine now," I said with a forced grimace.
"Uhm… okay. I'll just use the restroom," she said, walking past me.
I nodded absentmindedly and was about to leave when—
"Boo!"
"Son of a—!" I clutched my chest in shock. "What is your problem, Spade?! Are you on drugs?!" I yelled at him.
"Hahahaha, no, but maybe I've eaten something this early morning," he replied with a smirk.
Eaten?
I instinctively cupped my cheeks as I realized what he had just said.
"I don't know what's wrong with you, but you're insane! You've completely lost it!"
"Yeah, lost in you," he replied with a grin.
I was about to walk past him when he suddenly grabbed my hand and intertwined our fingers.
"Spade!" I protested, trying to pull my hand away, but he wouldn't let go.
"You know," he mused, lifting our joined hands in the air, "I just noticed how cute your hands are."
"Xyrine, are you still there?" My eyes widened in panic as I heard Ella calling from inside the restroom.
"Spade, let go!" I ordered, but he just smiled at me.
"Xyrine, wait up! I'm coming out," Ella called again, making my heart race even faster.
"Spade! Let me go!" I yanked at my hand, but he only tightened his grip.
"What are you two doing?"
Spade and I both turned to see Ella standing at the restroom doorway, eyeing us suspiciously. I nearly felt my soul leave my body.
"We were just playing rock-paper-sci—"
"He was trying to snatch my candy from me," Spade interrupted smoothly, holding up a piece of candy in his free hand.
I gawked at him in disbelief.
"Oh… I see. Sorry about that. She's pregnant, so she's been craving all sorts of things," Ella said, nodding in understanding. "Let's go, cousin." She took my arm and pulled me along with her.
I shot Spade a death glare as we walked away, but he only grinned wider.
I shook my head in exasperation.
Baby, I think you should start looking for a new dad. Your real one might be a lunatic.
We had just returned to our respective rooms when we were suddenly called in for a group photo. The nun lined us up in a straight row facing forward: from the right, it was Ten, Ella, Louren, me, Monique, Spade, and Ren.
Once we were properly arranged, I unintentionally glanced at Spade, who was smiling while staring at me.
Why is this guy smiling again?
I don't know why, but a sudden wave of nervousness washed over me. It felt like he was up to something mischievous again. Thankfully, Monique stood between us.
"Please smile after the count of three, okay?" the photographer instructed, and we all nodded in agreement.
"Alright, let's start... 1, 2, 3, smile."
As the camera flashed, I flinched.
"Uhm, please stay still. We have to retake the photo. Miss Montreal looks a bit startled here," the photographer said while inspecting the image.
I lowered my head in embarrassment. How could I not be surprised when this devil suddenly grabbed my hand?
"Sorry," I mumbled, trying to pull my hand away from Spade, who was holding it behind Monique's back.
He really gone mad. Monique is right between us!
When I glanced at him, he smirked and winked secretly.
What the heck?
After the photo session, we decided to meet the children living in the orphanage.
"Aww! You're so cute! What's your name?" I asked one of the kids at the feeding program. He caught my attention because he was sitting alone, without anyone to talk to. I don't know why, but I saw a bit of myself in him.
Wow, what a unique name! And he's such a beautiful child.
"How old are you?" I asked.
He raised three fingers.
Three? A pang of pain hit my chest. He was only three years old, yet he was already in an orphanage—abandoned, without a family. Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized the parallel to my own situation.
What if my baby is born and Spade still hasn't regained his memory? I don't want my child to grow up without a father.
I was lost in thought, holding the boy's arm, when someone suddenly lifted him up.
"From now on, I'll be your daddy, okay?"
I turned to see Spade, smiling warmly at the child.
It was heartwarming. He looked so good holding the little boy, and for a moment, I could already picture him being a wonderful father to our baby once he learned the truth.
I was caught off guard when he suddenly cupped my face.
"I don't want to see you crying for no reason again, okay?" he said seriously, his hand still on my cheek.
"Then… can you finally get your memory back?" The words slipped out before I could stop myself, making him stare at me in confusion.
"Get my memory back? Am I forgetting something?"
"SPADE!"
We both turned to the person who called his name.
It was Monique, her brows furrowed, fists clenched.
I averted my gaze.
"Xyrine, what is it?" Spade asked.
"Uhm, I wanted to ask Monique if she'd like to join the outreach program in the neighboring village. There are a lot of kids there, and it's a great opportunity to help," Monique said with a smile, though her hands remained tightly clenched.
I smiled at the idea. "Of course! Who else is going? What time are we leaving?"
"It'll just be us, Ella, and some of the nuns. We won't be bringing the boys since there's limited space on the boat."
"Alright, count me in. I'll just get ready," I said before turning away, sensing the awkward atmosphere between us.
What's her problem?
Two Hours Later
"Are you sure you want to go?" Louren asked, worried.
"Of course! I also want to meet the children in the other village. It wouldn't be fair if only the kids here got to enjoy the program," I replied with a smile.
"But you're pregnant," she reminded me, still concerned.
"I'll be fine, Louren. I can handle it," I assured her.
"No, I won't feel at ease unless you have a male companion there. I'm coming with you," she insisted.
"I'm coming too."
We all turned to Spade.
What is it with these two?
"No! You two are staying here! I already told you, the boat has limited space!" Monique snapped, her face tense.
"Then don't come," Spade replied bluntly, staring at me.
"I agree," Louren added.
I walked up to both of them and patted their shoulders. "I'll be fine, okay? Besides, I really want to bring joy to the kids over there." I smiled reassuringly.
"You don't understand, Monique. She's pregnant. It's risky," Ren chimed in.
"Yeah, just let your cousin with the thick sunglasses handle it. He can manage," Ten joked.
"You think that's funny, Tennessee?" Ella glared at him.
I chuckled. Something's definitely going on between those two.
"Come on, Monique, we need to go!" Monique called from the boat.
As I was about to step onto the boat, someone grabbed my arm.
"Don't," Spade said seriously, stopping me.
"I'll be back," I simply replied before gently removing his hand and boarding the boat.
Louren's Pov
I stared out the window, watching intently as the heavy rain poured relentlessly, driven by the raging storm. My eyes flicked to the clock hanging on the wall near me.
It was almost ten in the evening.
"What time were they supposed to be back?" Ten asked one of the nuns with us.
"If not for the storm, they would have arrived around six," she replied, her head bowed.
"Six? But it's almost ten!" Ren exclaimed in panic.
A sense of unease crept over me. I couldn't stand still any longer. My gaze drifted toward Spade, who remained silent, staring off into the distance, lost in thought.
Who was he truly worried about? Monique, whom he believed to be Xyrine, or Xyrine, the woman he actually loved?
And his actions earlier… Could it be? Had his memories returned?
I was starting to suspect that he was genuinely concerned about Xyrine when a nun suddenly cried out.
"Thank God! They're here!" she shouted, making us all jump to our feet.
I rushed to the window, squinting through the downpour as a boat pulled ashore. Without hesitation, we all ran outside despite the relentless rain, eager to meet them. As we neared the boat, my eyes darted around, searching for Xyrine—but she was nowhere to be seen.
A cold dread settled in my chest as Ella ran toward me, tears streaming down her face.
"Louren… XJ…" she stammered, her voice shaking.
"Tell me! Where is she? What happened?" Spade demanded, gripping Ella's shoulders.
"Can we all calm down and go inside first?" the elderly nun urged, shivering from the rain.
Despite our growing panic, we forced ourselves to comply.
"Now, tell me—where is she?" Spade asked again, his voice firm as he turned back to Ella, who was still trembling.
"She stayed behind," Monique answered flatly, her fists clenched.
Silence fell over us before it was shattered by the sharp crack of Ella's hand striking Monique's cheek.
"How dare you?! What do you mean she 'stayed behind'?! You forced her to stay!" Ella screamed, her voice laced with fury and grief.
"What are you saying, Ella?" I asked, stepping between them.
"When we were about to leave the village and return here, our boat got damaged. The boatman said it could still make the trip, but we had to lighten the load by one person," she choked out, covering her mouth as tears spilled over. "He said the nuns couldn't be left behind because they're too old. I volunteered, but that shameless woman—"
Ella broke off, turning to lunge at Monique again, but I stepped in front of her.
"We need to stay calm," I said, though even I struggled to steady my voice.
"Calm?! Tell me, Louren, how am I supposed to stay calm when we're all here, safe under a solid roof, while my cousin is out there, alone in the storm?! She's pregnant, Louren! Pregnant!" Ella's voice broke into sobs.
I clenched my fists, averting my gaze.
"What did you do?" Spade's voice was deadly quiet, his piercing stare locked onto Monique.
"I—I didn't do anything," she stammered, trembling.
"Liar! I told you over and over that I would stay, but you had the boatman pull me back! You forced her to stay behind, even though you knew she was pregnant!" Ella cried, her anger pouring out.
Monique opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Spade strode up to her and slammed his fist against the wall beside her face.
"This is the only warning you'll get, Monique," he said darkly, his voice laced with cold fury. "If anything happens to Xyrine… you will pay."
Wait.
Did I hear that right?
He called Monique by her name.
And Xyrine… by hers?