CHAPTER XXI

Thi was still in bed, naked and tired. A migraine took over his head and every joint in his body ached. God, he didn't miss those heat cycles. His pharmaceutical enterprise spent millions of dollars in reproductive health, with the most advanced medicine to control heats and ruts - anti-heat and anti-rut pills, emergency inhibitors, anti-pheromone pills, and many others. Still, none of them could beat human stupidity, and he was stupid. God, how was he so stupid? He forgot the pills for three days in a row.

"What have I done?", he asked himself. "What have I done?"

He got up and went to the bathroom. Dev had left after making sure a hundred times that he was okay. The kids will be back soon, and their mommy should look alright for them, or they will worry. Mommy is alright, he would say when they arrived, Mommy is all better. He repeated those words to himself many times as he showered, trying to make them true. But every time his body ached, he knew he was not okay. He could lie to others, but not to himself. He was feeling like shit. Like a train ran over his body and little monkeys were hammering his head. And he was still a little horny - the remnants of the pheromones taking effect. He heard some noises downstairs as he left the bathroom to get dressed. The kids are here. He heard the dog barking. Collin must have gone to play with Jesse. He got to his closet and began to get dressed, some simple and light clothes. Then he went downstairs where his children and boyfriend were waiting for him.

"Mommy", the kids shouted and came running to Thi's arms.

"Hi, babies. I missed you so much".

"We missed you too". They exclaimed.

"How was it with uncle Nate and Cael?" He asked. Dev told him that he allowed the kids to spend the night with Nate and Cael. He wanted to take things slow, but he understood the situation. It was the best option, and he wouldn't have done anything differently.

"It was so much fun!", Collin said, recounting the events of the last days in a random order. Going to the park, watching a movie, playing jenga... They did a lot indeed, and the kids were happy. Thi was content with the result.

"But uncle Cael can't make chocolate popcorn. It's yuck". Killian said, frowning and making a disgusted face. Thi laughed.

"Okay. I will tell daddy Cy to make you chocolate popcorn tonight. Okay, Lian?"

"Popcorn!" He shouted, happily.

"Now, let's go sit down, because daddy said he would make us lunch".

"Daddy's food is the best!" Collin said, licking his lips.

"Yeah!" Killian agreed.

"Okay, okay. It seems it wasn't only me you missed", Thi laughed. "My little chipmunk boys", he pinched their cheeks and laughed again.

He sat the kids on their playing mat and went to scroll through his phone. Work, private messages, and social media. That's when he saw a photo from Dev's birthday taken by one of the guests. Olivia Sciacca, an incipient actress who came accompanying a famous director who helped a lot in the beginning of Dev's career. He personally asked each guest not to take pictures, for the safety of the children involved. Why can't some bitches listen? He asked himself furiously. She took a picture of herself, but in the background Cael was playing with the twins. That was exactly what he didn't want, a photo of Cael together with the twins circulating in the media. He didn't have the woman's contact, so he called the director who she was dating. The man tried to say it wasn't such a big thing, and he could just let her have that photo, as it wasn't that important. But Thi argued that he didn't authorize any photos of the twins, or the event, nor did anyone in the event authorize her to take pictures of them.

"I respect you a lot, Goretti. But I am a mother, first and foremost. I am politely asking for your girlfriend to take down the photo. I don't need to be polite. Remember that. I'll give her fifteen minutes or the first thing that will happen is I will block her from all social media. She doesn't want that".

"Alright. I will tell her. Jesus".

"Good. Fifteen minutes".

When he finished the call, he almost fell on the chair. Dev came running, asking what happened. He showed him the picture.

"I already solved it. She will take it down. But I don't know who saw it. Maybe no one important, she is just a nobody anyway. But what if..." Dev kneeled down next to him and held his hands.

"Let's not catastrophize, ok? First, breath. You're not breathing, love". Thi took a long breath and tried to calm down. He was shaking. "Even if you imagine the worst possible scenario, I know you will think of a countermeasure. I won't downplay your feelings or worries. I know there is truth behind each of them. But, please, don't let it take over".

"Okay". He said and took another long breath, counting backwards from 10 to 0, "Thank you".

"Now, I'll go back to making lunch. My hubby looks really hungry".

"I am", he smiled.

"Good. I'm making strogonoff".

"Tasty", he laughed. "Thanks, for making me feel better".

"Always, honey".

***

Time passed fast. After the sleepover during heat, Thi allowed the twins to spend the night with Cael and Nate once every fifteen days. The regular people came and went from the house - the IT techs, the gardeners, the maids, and other personnel. Thi was trying to impose more limits on his employees, and working a little less. Still, he felt like shit in most days. And the twins caught a virus, and ended up sick for a whole week. Vomit, diarrhea, and it affected their smell and taste too. When the twins recovered, he and Dev caught it too. Emile took care of the kids for three days while they recovered. Nate and Cael also took them in for two days. Still, he hasn't completely recovered his taste and smell, and some food just makes him want to puke. But it is good that the kids have recovered well.

A month and a half passed when the video appeared on the internet. It wasn't real, he knew it when he saw it, but it was a deepfake if he has ever seen one. When he watched himself screaming with the twins and hitting them and the words The Great CEO Of Ant. Is A Child Abuser, he felt sick. Before he could even think, he was on the ground, seeing black. Before he fainted, he could hear Dev calling him.

When he woke up, he was on a bed in a hospital. Dev was holding his hand and caressing it.

"Hey", he called his attention.

"You're awake", he said with a faint smile.

"What happened?", he asked with half a voice.

"You faint. Your pressure was low, and they guess your glycemia was also low. They are doing some tests now".

"Good. Did you see the video?".

"Yes. I've already called the IT team".

"Call Monroe too. He is the expert on the field. I want this done by this afternoon". His voice failed him.

"You need to worry about yourself first".

"I'm worrying about the kids. What if something happens to them because of this video? Being exposed like that they...", he coughed as his voice failed him again.

"I'll call Monroe. Just stay calm. You fainting again won't help us in anything".

"Ok", he said, knowing Dev was right.

A little after he left, the doctor came with the results.

"Hello, Dr. Tiedemann", Thi greeted him.

"It's good to see you awaken, Mr. Rayne".

"Thank you".

"Where is your husband?"

"He went to make a phone call".

"Hm. If you wish, we could wait for him" He said looking through the results.

"Is it serious?"

"Nothing to worry about". As he said that, Dev came through the door. "Ah, there he is".

"Dr. Tiedemann, are the results ready?" Dev asked.

"Yes. You can sit down". Dev sat next to Thierry and held his hand. "The glycemic levels are a little low, as we expected. But we also did a beta hCG test. The results were over 40.000. When was your last heat?

"Wait. Are you asking me...?", he didn't finish it, as Dev interrupted.

"Late april. April 28th to 30th". He answered, already guessing why the doctor asked it. Thi could feel his hand trembling as he held it. Dev had a long history of infertility that he has known since teenagehood. What was he thinking right now? Thi asked himself. That I cheated on him? That I lied to hm?

"Dr. Tiedemann, it's not what you think. We can't...". He protested.

"You have been my patient for a while now. I understand the situation. But mistakes happen. And doctors make mistakes. I recommend you to have a re-test". He said looking at Dev, knowing about his infertility history. "We re-did the exams twice, with the same results. You can still wait for the obstetrician, but he will probably tell you the same results. Congratulations, you're one and a half months pregnant". The doctor concluded.

"Dev, I swear... I never...", He said looking at Dev. Tears rolled over his eyes, as he looked straight at the doctor, baffled. "I love..."

"I'll let you talk", Dr. Tiedemann left. Thi's eyes accompanied him as he left. As soon as he closed the door, Thi looked at Dev, who was wiping his tears.

"Honey, I love you. You're the one and only man in my life. I promise you..." He was interrupted by Dev's laughter.

"I trust you, hubby. I know who you are and that you would never cheat on me. I'm just happy. I'll still see the urologist, but I can only imagine a miracle happened". He smiled, but tears still flooded his eyes.

"Are you alright?" Thi asked, wiping his tears away.

"I don't know. How are you feeling?"

"Alright, I guess. It doesn't seem real". He smiled.

"Yeah... It feels like a stupid prank, and on a day like this". He let out a short laugh.

Thi put his hand in his belly, caressing it slightly.

"A miracle you said. Our baby miracle", He smiled and placed one of his hands in his flat stomach, and the other in Dev's face. "Our. Baby". He emphasized.

"Yeah, our baby". Dev kissed Thi's hand that was in his face.

***

As Thi talked online with Monroe, who started to decrypt the video, Dev scheduled a consultation with Dr. Schulte, the urologist, for himself and with Dr. Melnik, Thi's obstetrician. Soon, Nate knocked on the door.

"Come in", Dev answered.

"I'm sorry to bother. I have the results of the analysis of public opinion on the video".

"And?", Thi said, asking Monroe to wait for a while.

"Many people asked you to be arrested for child abuse, and have already sent the video to the authorities. But some people claim the video is fake"

"Which it is". Thi commented, sarcastically.

"They say that some things are strange about the video, like how the kids don't move for a long time as if they are not breathing, or how the phrases seem scripted, or how people are not even sure that the man in the video is really the CEO of Ant. But others say that the identity of the CEO was kept hidden because he was a criminal who would hurt even his own kids".

"And the police?"

"They are still analyzing the video to check its veracity".

"Tell them to talk to Elijah Hersch. He works with the federal police. He is the specialist in video for them". The voice sounded from the other side of the computer, as Monroe, a faceless image on the screen, recommended.

"Do that", Thi told Nate.

"Alright".

"And contact Riley Banks"

"The influencer?"

"Yes. She likes gossip and creating stories. Let me race her to see who finds the culprit behind those videos first".

"As if a kid could really race you", Dev laughed.

"She can try", Thi laughed.

"I'll contact them and bring a new report later", Nate left.

"I will finish my work with the videos and talk to you later too". Monroe said and turned off.

"I scheduled the urologist and obstetrician for this afternoon". Dev said.

"Yeah... Until then I'd do like Jefferson, Madison and Burr and Follow the money and see where it goes".

"I didn't get the reference".

"I forgot we don't have a Hamilton in this world". He laughed. "I'll try to finish it before the time for the doctor".

"You really think highly of your own abilities".

"I have to, otherwise, who else would".

"Okay, I'll leave you to it. I'll send some messages to work".

He spent the rest of the morning using the information obtained by Monroe on the video to search all the hackers who could do it. He couldn't finish the job in one morning, so he had to suspend it as he accompanied Dev to his appointment.

Dr. Schulte was a long term acquaintance as he was not only a doctor in a hospital where Thi invested in, he was one of the researchers for Lilac, the pharmaceutical company the Bélanger family bought. The company specialty was reproductive health, and Dr. Schulte's main area was fertility. In the beginning of the consultation, Daniel Schulte asked Dev to fill a pot with sperm. An hour later, they called him back.

"The results are good. The mobility and number of sperms is a little below average for an alpha, but still normal. Compared to your previous results, it's a great improvement".

"So... Am I not sterile?"

"In the present, I'd say that no, you're not. You'd have no problem conceiving a child".

Dev held tightly Thi's hand that was resting in his thigh.

"And do you have any suspicion of the reason for such a change?" Thi asked.

"Well... It is still speculation, but recently some users of our anti-rut pills that were diagnosed with fertility problems have had similar changes. However, the numbers are low - fifty people so far. The results are not conclusive, and we couldn't identify the exact cause, or if the changes are temporary or definitive. I'm telling because it's you, Mr. Bélanger, but not even the CEO of Lilacs has this information. I only know it because they asked for my opinion on the research".

"Thank you, Dr. Schulte".

Dev never imagined that such a change might happen, such a miracle, as he would call. After the consultation, they sat together in the corridor, side by side, as they waited for the obstetrician. Thi held Dev's hand with a smile. He was happy for Dev, and happy for their child. Tears were in Dev's eyes, who was holding them as hard as he could. Thi held Dev's hand close to his lips and kissed it.

"My love, I'm so happy. Why are you crying?"

"I don't know", he let out a short laugh. "It's such an incredible thing. There is so much going on inside of me. So much that I can't understand it all".

"It's okay. Just take it slow. And remember that I'm here for you. Me, the twins, and this little muffin growing". He touched his belly.

"Thank you, hubby".

"Always", he kissed his hand again.

They waited for that closed door to open. Dr. Nayana Melnik was Thi's obstetrician during the twins' pregnancy. She knew everything about their relationship, since Dev acted as Thi's substitute alpha. When the door opened, she had a big smile stamped on her face.

"Hello, Mr. Bélanger and Mr. Deveraux. It's nice to see you". She said welcoming them in. "Let me take a look at your exams before we go to the chair". She looked at the documents that Thi brought. "Congratulations to you too. It says you're one and a half months along?"

"Yes".

"Well. We can already take a look at them. Let's go". She said and led them to the chair. Thi sat down and she brought the ultrasound machine. She asked him to open his pants and lift his shirt. After that, she spread a gelatinous liquid in his belly. "Let's see the baby", she said, smiley.

She used the ultrasound machine, passing it on Thi's belly. She wouldn't say anything, just kept looking at the screen. She would print many images and just stay in silence.

"Is everything alright?" Dev asked, apprehensive.

"Everything is alright". She smiled. "Just a little surprise". She proceeded to show a black spot the size of a pea. "This is your baby". She said pointing to the small spot. She then moved the ultrasound a little. "And this is your other baby".

"Twins?" Dev asked.

"Again?" Thi asked, and laughed. "A double miracle". He held Dev's hand tightly and Dev kissed his forehead.

"A double miracle". Dev laughed.

***

They decided not to tell anyone. The situation was already complicated, and they wanted to wait until their miracle became stable. Nate only knew that Thi went to the hospital for low pressure, so except for the doctors, they were the only one who knew. They left the hospital by the end of that afternoon, and Thi started working as soon as he got home. He decided to cut down the workload, but he had to first find out who did that. He worked all night with Monroe to identify the culprit for the video. Then follow all the money trails. Luckily, they were not smart enough to use cryptocurrencies - or better, they were stupid. Cryptocurrencies developed later than in his original world, and even now they were still incipient. And the people who hired him were not adept of the deep web world. When he finally got to the culprit, it was already morning and someone was buzzing. It was a man from the tribunal with an official letter. Someone was contesting the guardianship of the twins, and the names were the same as the culprits behind the adulterated video Gearalt and Patricia Delaney, Cael's parents.