Page 154 of Secret Heir

Daniel nods. “I will, Mama. Come on, Seraphina! Come on, Nora! Let’s go play!”

The children disappear into the yard under Daniel’s supervision while the adults gather in the dining room.

The table is beautiful. I spent hours setting it earlier, wanting everything to be perfect. The food is laid out buffet-style since I’m too pregnant to manage formal service. Conversation flows easily as we eat and drink.

Almost immediately, the sibling dynamic between Leo and Valentina becomes apparent. They bicker with the ease of people who’ve known each other their entire lives.

“You’re still using that accountant?” Valentina asks her brother. “The one who can’t tell the difference between net and gross?”

Her brother rolls his eyes. “He’s competent, Val,” Leo says.

“He’s an idiot. I sent you three recommendations.”

“I don’t need recommendations from someone who thinks quarterly reports should include color-coded graphs.”

“Color-coded graphs are helpful! They make trends easier to identify!”

“They make you look like you’re presenting to kindergarteners.”

I’m trying not to laugh as I watch them bicker like one would watch a tennis match, but Emma has no such restraint. She’s grinning at her husband. “She has a point. Your last quarterly report looked like it was typed on a typewriter from 1987.”

“It was professional,” Leo says with dignity.

“It was boring,” Valentina and Emma say in unison, then laugh.

Cillian leans toward me and Maksim. “This is what every family dinner is like. They gang up on Leo. He pretends to be annoyed. Everyone has a good time.”

“I’m sitting right here,” Leo complains.

“We know,” Emma tells him sweetly then turns to me. “So, Aria, how are you feeling? Any signs the baby’s coming soon?”

“Not yet, thank god. I’m due in a week, but Dr. Petrov says first babies are often late.”

“I thought I was going to be pregnant forever with Sera,” Emma says. “It sucked.”

“You were unbearable,” Leo says, but his voice is fond as he looks at his wife with love in his eyes. “You couldn’t sleep or get comfortable. You cried at everything.”

Emma’s green eyes widen. “I was growing a human! I had every right to be emotional!” she protests.

“You cried because I brought you the wrong kind of ice cream.”

“It was mint chocolate chip! I specifically said cookie dough!”

“They’re both ice cream, Em.”

“They are completely different!”

The table erupts in laughter. Even Nikolai is smiling, which is rare for him.

“At least Emma had an excuse,” Valentina says to her brother, defending her best friend. “You were just as emotional and you weren’t even pregnant.”

Leo makes a face. “I was not emotional⁠—”

“You cried when Seraphina was born.”

“That’s a father’s prerogative.”

“You also cried when she took her first steps," Valentina reminds him.