Faye was granted what she wanted and was given the chance to choose the games herself. She leaned back against the cushions of the couch, a triumphant grin spreading across her face as she gestured toward the table where the blank cue cards were stacked.

From 1 to 10, one had to choose a number, and a question would be asked. The team with the most points would win the third round.

Obviously, Faye knew what she was doing. She didn’t let her expression crack for a single moment, keeping her eyes fixed firmly on her own side of the room.

They were her questions. She had set them herself. They were easy, but only for those who knew the answers. She had specifically tailored every single prompt to pull from family history, ensuring that the opposing side wouldn’t have a ghost of a chance.

The game was called How Well Do You Know the Mommy-to-Be?

Giving Paye and Pali a huge advantage. The two young men stood side by side, their shoulders shifting slightly as they realized the game was entirely shifted in their direction.

Questions ranged from her favorite cartoon as a kid, which Paye answered correctly, SpongeBob SquarePants, to her favorite refreshment.

The other team got that one because Eriko knew Faye’s favorite drink. First, he guessed beer, which made Faye shake her head. She let out a loud scoff, waving her hand frantically in the air to shoot down his ridiculous suggestion.

There was no cheating because Faye had already written the answers on cards and would show them once someone guessed correctly.

Then Eriko got it on his second try. He snapped his fingers, a sudden spark of memory hitting his face.

"Popsicles." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Faye’s middle name was another question. The room buzzed with quiet murmurs as the kids frantically whispered to each other, trying to guess any name that sounded right.

Paye answered correctly again. He didn’t even hesitate, his deep voice cutting through their frantic muttering instantly.

He explained that their father had given her the middle name Jasmine, dedicated to the white flower and how their father had met their mother. He crossed his arms over his chest, a soft, brief look of remembrance passing through his eyes before he focused back on the competition.

The Jasmine incident.

Faye smirked every time her champions answered correctly. She tilted her chin up high, her teeth showing through her wide smile as she watched them guessed correctly.

Even when the other team couldn’t name the answer, her team could. Paye and Pali were moving like a synchronized machine now, tapping into decades of shared memories without even looking at each other.

She grinned at Kaye and Dina, giving them her victory face. She wrinkled her nose and stuck her tongue out slightly, letting them know exactly who was running the room now.

The kids shook their heads. Their small shoulders slumped down, their lower lips jutting out in pure irritation.

"As long as you’re happy, Mommy Faye..." Dina muttered with a smile, though her eyes were glaring. She rolled her pencil between her palms, her knuckles turning white.

"Of course I am. It’s all about me," Faye replied, glaring back. She rested her hands over her baby bump, her breath coming in a short, satisfied chuckle.

Faye’s champions won the third round, making the score 2–1. The room erupted into cheers, Haley throwing her hands up in celebration.

Just one more game and they would tie. The tension in the cottage was completely changing now, the competitive drive hitting everyone in the room.

The fourth game was a picture-and-guess challenge. A large white dry-erase board was dragged into the center of the room, the markers clicking against the tray.

One person had to look at a picture and draw it on a board while the other guessed what it was.

Eriko was good at drawing, and Henry recognized almost everything. His eyes would lock onto the blue lines the exact second Eriko’s hand moved away from the board. But the dude doesn’t know the names.

Why?

Faye had planned this with absolute precision, counting on a very specific detail about his past.

Because Faye was well aware that Henry had spent most of his life indoors. Inside his room.

He could recognize the drawings, but he had no clue what some of the items were called. But his brain worked fast enough to piece together the shapes before Paye could even figure out what the lines were supposed to be.

Faye’s champions won the fourth round. .

Faye was about to announce the fifth game when the kids interrupted. Dina stepped right in front of the white board, her hands planted firmly on her waist to cut her off.

" Not so fast, Mommy to be .. You asked for two games, not three. We’re the ones calling the shots. This round belongs to us," Dina said. Her voice was completely stern, refusing to let the game slip away.

"I recommend you seat tight, dear aunty," Kaye added. He pointed a small finger toward the cushions, trying to look as intimidating as possible.

Faye sat down back, pouting, while Sasha handed her a fruit punch. She took the cold plastic cup, the ice rattling against the sides as she took a deep gulp.

"You better not make it about strength or speed. No cheating." Faye pointed the straw directly at Kaye’s nose, her eyes narrowing into sharp slits.

The kids gave her a look. They stood shoulder to shoulder, their expressions completely deadpan.

A look that suggested she was the one cheating.

Making all the games favor herself. They were fully aware that she had completely hijacked the middle section of the tournament to save her own skin.

The kids had originally wanted simple fun games before Faye turned everything into a competition. They had envisioned a regular party with sweet moments before the stakes got raised.

Yes, it was her baby shower.

But once the punishment became wearing a puppy costume and barking online, it became serious. The entire mood had shifted from a casual family gathering into a high-stakes battle.

They had reputations at school. The weight of their social status was entirely on the line now.

They didn’t want their classmates mocking them. The thought of a viral video circulating through the hallways was completely horrifying to them.

They were about to enter first grade and didn’t need a terrible reputation. They needed to walk through those school doors with their heads held high.

Even if Dina was an Alpha, they still needed that reputation to survive grade school. The playground hierarchy was brutal, and a dancing puppy video would destroy them before they even started.

After deciding on a game, and completely ignoring their boss behind the camera watching everything, the kids made their choice.

No way Faye’s Champions was going to win this one. She could see the sheer confidence returning to Kaye’s face, his posture straightening up instantly.

Because win or lose, she was still going to see Princess eventually. It was just a matter of time before the front doors opened.

It wasn’t like Princess was going to play hide-and-seek forever. The baby shower had to finish at some point, and her girlfriend would have to face her.

The final game was a train puzzle challenge. Two large cardboard boxes were slammed down onto the middle of the ground with a heavy thud.

The kids chose something Henry was best at. Trains.

Each team was given a train set. The shiny plastic tracks were jumbled together in a massive pile inside the cardboard flaps.

The first team to unbox it, assemble the tracks, and place the train correctly would win. The click of the plastic latches filled the room as the timer began its final countdown.

The moment Faye heard the rules, she already knew she had lost. She slumped back against the cushions, a long sigh escaping her lips.

The kids’ biggest weapon had always been Henry. Not Eriko, he was just a stand in.

Faye had already accepted defeat. She watched Paye struggle with a corner piece, his large fingers fumbling against the plastic while Henry was already halfway done with his oval track.

She was mentally preparing herself to wear a puppy costume and bark. She could already feel the heavy fake fur scratching against her neck.

Though she had already decided that the other mom was going to do all the dancing, not her.

Then something unexpected happened. The entire room went completely quiet as Henry suddenly paused over his final bridge piece.

Just as Henry was about to finish, he suddenly scattered the tracks. With one quick sweep of his forearm, he pushed the entire structure across the floorboards, breaking the links apart.

Making Paye and Pali the winners. Paye snapped his final piece into place with a loud click, the small yellow train rolling smoothly along the line.

The kids shouted in frustration at the last-minute disaster. Kaye threw his hands up in the air, his scorecard fluttering to the ground.

They immediately turned on Henry, who looked completely innocent. He sat back on his heels, his face entirely calm as he brushed some stray confetti off his jeans.

"It’s my gift to my friend," Henry said simply. He looked up at Faye, his eyes soft and honest.

"Let her have her moment."

"Thank you, friend," Faye said with a smile. A massive wave of relief washed over her chest, her heart slowing down as she flashed him a grateful look.

Then she turned toward the defeated kids. She crossed her arms, a slow, mocking smirk returning to her lips as she watched them squirm.

"Please, Aunty Faye. We’ll do anything. Just don’t make us wear the puppy costumes and bark," Dina pleaded. She ran forward, her small hands clutching tightly at the edge of Faye’s clothe.

"Faye... I’ll buy you your favorite popsicles. Just don’t make us do it. Our reputation is at stake. I’m your favorite nephew... your only nephew," Kaye cried. He dropped to his knees on the ground, big fat tears swelling up in his eyes as he begged.

The kids’ confidence vanished instantly. All their tough talk disappeared into thin air the second the reality of the punishment hit them.

They acted exactly their age as they cried and begged, using every trick they knew to persuade Faye. Their voices turned into high pitched whines, their shoulders shaking as they tried to soften her heart.

While they were pleading, Alex and Ruger took pictures of Kaye crying, claiming they were going to show them to Kaye’s friends back in Redwood.

Dina ran to her father, Eriko, begging him to convince Faye not to ruin their reputation. She yanked at his sleeve, her voice cracking while Eriko just chuckled and patted her head.

Faye simply watched them, trying not to laugh. Her hand pressed flat against her mouth, her chest shaking with suppressed giggles as she watched the dramatic display.

Watching them cry and beg was far more entertaining than actually making them wear the puppy costumes. The pure satisfaction of seeing them completely break character was victory enough for her.

After exchanging the punishment for something less embarrassing, the kids finally calmed down and returned to character, though their faces were still swollen from the tantrums. Dina wiped her nose with a tissue, her small shoulders giving one last shudder before she straightened her shirt.

"Now everybody," Dina announced, clapping her hands.

"It’s time to go outside for the main concert." She pointed toward the door, with flashing lights.