When Alaric did not rejoin their family members in the living room but went straight to the bedroom, Aleksis did not ask him anything. As a good host, she entertained their guests and took care of their four children with her mother and assistants.

Altair and Vega were older and they really liked baby siblings on their respective baskets, next to their mother. They constantly teased the three-month-old babies to make them laugh. Seeing how Ireland and Scotland have two older siblings who really loved them, London became sad for Lily.

Not only did his daughter not have any siblings, but she would even grow up sharing life between her father and mother.

The longer London stayed at Aleksis and Alaric's house, the sadder he became, thinking how his love for L was one-sided. Although the girl was willing to accept his proposal ... London felt that all this time, he was the only one who fought for their relationship. In the end, L still chose her career over him and Lily.

He saw for himself how his mother and father were always affectionate and loving each other, Alaric and Aleksis also seemed to love each other deeply. But, between him and L, he was always the only one who showered her with love and affection. L was not expressive with her feelings, and London often questioned if she actually ever loved him.

Now London understood that he made the right decision by canceling their wedding plans. Someday, he would only marry a woman who loved him as much as he loved her.

At the moment, L was not such a woman.?Not only L was very young, but she also had a complicated past that made it difficult for her to accept London as her husband.

London knew that L must have accepted his proposal for two reasons.?The first reason was Lily, and the second reason was that L already felt pressured. London never gave up in pursuing her and L assumed that she would be stupid if she did not accept a proposal from a man who was as wealthy and powerful as London, which is why she finally relented and accepted London's latest proposal.

But none those two reasons was love. He had to accept the truth and swallow the bitter pill.

London hugged Lily to his c.h.e.s.t while feeding her with a bottle and muttered softly, "Love. Trust. Honesty. Chemistry. Don't settle for anything less ..."

Don't marry someone if your relationship did not have all these four things.

Lily, who seemed to understand her father's sadness, was not at all fussy. She was the best baby in the world, according to London.

His daughter enjoyed her milk while playing with her father's fingers as if trying to distract the man from thinking about a certain cute but irritable woman in Berlin.

"Terry ..." Nicolae, who had just appeared in the living room, approached his friend and talked to him.

After leaving the Holodeck room, he decided to get some air. He let Alaric go to his room while he chose to go back to the living room, none of them said a word. Nicolae knew they both had different ways of expressing their sadness and anger.

"Hey, Terry... After the family event, I think I want to go to New York and find something new to do," Nicolae said, pouring wine into his glass. "What do you think?"

Terry smiled broadly at Nicolae's words. He was very busy with work, but if Nicolae decided to come to New York, he would definitely make time and invited his friend to mingle with New York's upper classes.

Nicolae did not know that while he was chatting with Aleksis in the garden, Altair and Vega took time to beg Uncle Terry to help find a girlfriend for Daddy Nic in New York.

Terry had actually planned to invite Nicolae to his place in the Big Apple before the man talked to him and asked his opinion about him moving to New York. Terry even made a list of places where he would take Nicolae and which beautiful girls he would introduce to his best friend.

"I'd be very happy if you want to go to New York. Do you want to live with me?" Terry asked Nicolae while taking the wine bottle from Nicolae's hand. He poured some into his empty wine glass.

Nicolae looked at Terry with amus.e.m.e.nt. "We are not students anymore ... The only people sharing a home are students because they couldn't afford to rent their own apartment ..."

"Hey, watch your mouth," Terry said irritably. "I've been independent since I was still a student and lived alone in my own house. I never shared a house with anyone."

Nicolae smiled slightly. Terry's words were not wrong. The man had lived in his own home in Joo Chiat during university, and Nicolae lived in his apartment on Robertson Road. Even as students, they never shared a flat with anyone.

So far, Nicolae only shared his home with Altair and Vega. Before, he sometimes stayed with the two children and Aleksis when they were traveling together.

"It will be fun. I can promise that," Terry said as if reading Nicolae's mind. "Come on ... you're acting like a boring old man. Stay with me and we'll have fun together ..."

"Uhmmm ... I AM old and boring," Nicolae corrected Terry. "I'll be 105 years old this year."

"Ish ... you know what I mean ..." Terry grumbled.

The two were 72 years apart but they looked like they were the same age. Both just laughed heartily at their own jokes. Nicolae finally nodded. He agreed to come to New York and find a new environment by living with Terry.

***

Aleksis put her children to bed before going into the bedroom to look for Alaric. She found the man sitting pensively in the massive lounge leading to their bedroom. He just sat transfixed on the sofa, not even holding a glass of drink in his hand or anything at all.

"Honey, what are you thinking about?" Aleksis asked softly while sitting next to her husband.

Alaric smiled slightly and touched Aleksis's hair slowly, but he did not answer.

Aleksis did not force him to speak. She just sat and leaned her head against the man's c.h.e.s.t and tried to listen to his heartbeat. Alaric's heart beat very slowly.

"Can I lay my head on your lap?" he asked softly.

Aleksis nodded. She immediately adjusted her posture and pulled Alaric's head to lie on her l.a.p.

She understood how her husband felt. Alaric's head must feel heavy and hurt - because of what Lauriel had shown in the Holodeck room. She could imagine how intense the experience was for him. That's why Alaric asked Aleksis' permission to lay his head on her l.a.p.

They stayed in that position for half an hour. Alaric just closed his eyes while Aleksis rubbed her husband's head lovingly.

"Thank you ..." Alaric whispered. He finally rose and pulled Aleksis' hand toward their bedroom. "Let's sleep. Tomorrow is a big day."

Aleksis followed her husband. They change into their sleeping attire and then lie in bed, spooning.

"Aleksis ..." voiced Alaric suddenly before they closed their eyes.

"What is wrong?" asked Aleksis.

"Please never keep your feelings from me. I cannot read your mind," Alaric said in a sad voice. "If you want me to do something, tell me. If there is anything you don't like about me ... please talk to me. I don't want to repeat my father's mistakes ..."

"I promise," she said firmly.

She then kissed Alaric's lips, as if to seal her promise to him just now.

Alaric kissed his wife lovingly. They finally sleep with a calm heart.