229: Bear's strange and unplanned welcoming party

Bear's strange and unplanned welcoming party

"So, sis. How was the filming going?" Axel looked at Heaven with anticipation, blinking innocently. 

"It's okay." Heaven shrugged, leaning against the couch while sitting with Axel and Bear on the floor. "Nothing new."

"Are you still friends with that woman?"

Heaven furrowed her brows, casting him a look. "Who?" — she got no friends.

"Paula Shen."

Ah. Right.

Axel drew his lips into a thin line. "Sis, that woman is bad news!"

"Axel."

"I know she's your only friend, but it's better not to have friends if your only friend is like Paula Shen!" Axel went all defensive without any filter. "I only met her a few times in your previous home, but I don't like her. I'm not trying to put a wedge between you two, but I think she likes my brother!" 

"..."

"Stay away from her, sis." Axel let out a deep sigh. "She's no good. Moreover, I'm here! I'm your best friend now."

Wow.

Heaven just stared at her brother-in-law with an inexplicable expression with a tinge of exhaustion in her eyes. Why was she still surprised about this man's personality? Axel had no filter; if he were angry, one would know he was. He was a straightforward person, after all. 

Bear also had his eyes on Axel sitting across from him. He had no comment on that, knowing Heaven was aware of everything that Axel mentioned. It was just that Heaven was keeping Paula Shen around for some reason even Bear couldn't understand. 

"Axel." A brief smile turned up on Heaven's face. "Don't be like that to Paula."

Hearing her last remarks, Axel frowned. "Sis, I'm not judging her without any grounds."

"I know, but Paula Shen is just like that." Heaven shook her head mildly. "Please do not judge her."

"I already did," Axel mumbled before biting a huge bite of the hamburger. "I will not impose my beliefs on you, though."

Heaven cast him a side-eye and smiled. 'It's better to make him think I see Paula as a real friend.'

"Anyway, don't you have work tonight?" Heaven changed the topic, gulping down the food after chewing it thoroughly. 

"I already finished."

"So soon?"

Axel dead-panned. "Sis, after all the harsh words from your husband and son, do you think I won't do things to get rid of my heartache?"

"Make sense." Heaven rocked her head in understanding. "About your therapy? How was it?"

"Well, the first session is… alright?"

"What's with the tone?"

"Because I haven't decided on what to feel about it yet." Axel shrugged nonchalantly. "But I guess it's doing good since I'm not having nightmares."

"That's good, then." Heaven smiled in satisfaction, raising a hand to ruffle his hair. "Keep up the good work, Axel."

Axel pressed his lips into a thin line, lowering his shoulder as if a tamed puppy pleased by her petting. "Sis, do you have any plans tomorrow?"

"Hmm?" Her brows rose as she retrieved her hand. "Well, I don't know. Why?"

"I was invited to watch a race tomorrow and I'm thinking if you want to come." Axel moved closer to her, grinning. "Sis, let's watch it together!" 

"Take Bear with you. Aren't you two friends?"

Bear frowned at Heaven's suggestion. Since when did Bear become Axel's friend?

"But Bear just came back!" Axel frowned while Bear secretly sighed in relief. "If you don't want to, then I will not just go."

"You should go even if you're alone."

"But it's no fun…"

DING DONG!

Axel trailed off when the doorbell echoed in the living area. He turned his head back, arching a brow at the entrance. Bear and Heaven also shifted their attention to the entrance, tilting their heads, curious.

"Are you expecting a guest?" she asked out of instinct, moving her eyes to Axel. 

"Uh, no?" Axel cast her a quick look, only to hear the door unlocking from the outside. "Who the hell —"

His mouth fell open when the door flew open. Even though he couldn't see who was coming in, his heart was already thudding against his chest. For some reason, he could recognize the heavy steps approaching. When the "guests" turned up in the living area, Axel gasped as he instinctively jumped to his feet.

"What are you two doing in my place?" Axel pointed a finger at his brother and nephew. "This is trespassing!"

Dominic and Sebastian bore the same poker face, staring at Axel with sharp eyes. Seeing the look in their eyes, Axel instinctively took a step back.

"Sis!" Axel immediately sprinted over to the couch, hiding behind Heaven. He peeked his head to the side, only to hide again. "Sis, look at them. They're glaring at me with murderous intent — so wicked!"

Heaven blinked, trying to process her son's and husband's presence. "Dom, Basti, what are you doing here?"

Dominic didn't reply, realizing he didn't think of an excuse on his way here. All he could think of when he received her message was that Axel was truly testing him. Dominic had been busy and his only rest was during the night. How dare Axel butt in and divide Heaven's attention when it was barely enough for Sebastian and Dominic?

"Mommy~ I miss you~!" Sebastian smiled sweetly, running to Heaven and hugging her leg. "I miss Mommy, so I asked Daddy to take me here!"

"Aww. My baby." Heaven squatted down, leaving Axel behind her defenseless. "My baby is the sweetest."

Hugging Sebastian back, Heaven showered her son with kisses until Sebastian was giggling. 

"Have you eaten, baby?" she asked, smiling at her son lovingly. 

"Daddy and I were waiting for you." 

"Oh…" Heaven frowned, only for Sebastian to cheer her up by kissing her on the cheek.

"Mommy, we can just eat here! Can I have pizza?" 

"This is okay with you?" Heaven cocked her head to the side, watching Sebastian nod. "Okay then! But just this once, okay? It's not healthy for kids."

"Yey~!" 

"Dom, come, darling. Join us." Heaven then flashed Dominic an inviting smile. Dominic sported a momentary smile, trudging to his wife and son. 

"Sis!" Axel pouted, watching Dominic walk over to the couch to take the spot beside Heaven. He took a few steps back as his brother gazed at him coldly. Dominic didn't say anything, though. Even so, it was obvious Sebastian and Dominic came to monopolize her attention, sandwiching her, while Axel stood a few steps from them.

"Hey, this is my place," he muttered, only to see Sebastian glance at him.

"Sit beside Bear, Uncle." Sebastian looked at his uncle innocently. "Why are you standing there?"

"Maybe he doesn't want to eat anymore." Dominic didn't even cast his brother a look, helping Heaven with the food. "Don't worry, Axel. You can rest in your room. We'll clean this up when we're done."

"Hah!" Axel could only scoff, rendered speechless. "You two — aren't you being too much?! How can you make me an outsider in my own home?!"1

And just like that, Heaven wasn't able to fulfill her agenda about why she initially came to Axel's place. How could she? Axel berated his brother throughout the meal, only to get ignored. Meanwhile, Heaven just chose to ignore and tried to enjoy while Bear attempted to escape, only to fail countless times because of Axel. 

In the end, this strange dinner became Bear's welcoming back party, which was strange since the guests were his bosses. 

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