Sweet Love 2x: Miss Ruthless CEO for our Superstar Uncle

Chapter 400: Finally Home

Arianne and Lexx were finally home.

The estate had been waiting for them. Aunt Estella had spent the morning preparing — fresh sheets on the bed, the nursery stocked and ready, a meal already simmering on the stove. The bodyguards Mira had placed were stationed at the gates and the entrances, visible and unmistakable. The house felt full in a way it hadn’t in days, the particular warmth of a family that had been apart too long and was now back under one roof.

Arianne was on the couch in the sitting room, resting. She was recovering, her body adjusting to its postpartum rhythms, every movement rationed, conserving energy the way you do when you know there is more to get through. Lexx was upstairs in the nursery with Franz, who had just finished a feeding and was letting the baby drift off against his shoulder. The afternoon light fell through the windows in long golden rectangles. The house was hushed except for the distant sound of Aunt Estella in the kitchen.

The front door burst open.

"Is Lexx awake? Can we see him?" Lily’s voice preceded her into the room, bright and urgent. She skidded to a stop in the middle of the sitting room, her school bag slung on her back, her cheeks flushed from the car ride. Leo was right behind her, the whale tucked under his arm.

"You need to change out of your school clothes first," Arianne said. "Both of you. And wash your hands."

"We will. We’ll be very fast." Lily was already backing toward the stairs. "Is he in the nursery?"

"Yes. Your Uncle Franz is with him. Don’t wake him if he’s sleeping."

"We’ll just look at him. That’s allowed." She grabbed Leo’s hand and pulled him toward the stairs. Leo went willingly, pausing only to glance at Arianne — a quick, checking look, making sure she was all right — before following his sister.

Kyle, who had come in behind them with Julian, stood in the middle of the sitting room looking around. "Where’s the baby? Lily said the baby would be here."

"He’s upstairs," Arianne said. "You can meet him too, but you need to wash your hands and change out of your school clothes first. Like Lily and Leo."

Kyle’s face fell. "I didn’t bring extra clothes."

"You can borrow Leo’s. You’re almost the same size."

Kyle brightened. "Really? I can wear Leo’s clothes?"

"Go ask him. He’s upstairs."

Kyle scrambled toward the stairs without another word, his footsteps thundering up to the second floor. A moment later, his voice echoed down: "Leo! Aunt Arianne said I can borrow your clothes!"

Julian sank into the armchair near the couch. "I’ve been hearing about this baby for three days. Kyle has told everyone at school that he has a new cousin. He made me call Ellie three times to confirm that Lexx was still at the hospital and we couldn’t visit yet."

"He’s excited."

"He’s relentless. I don’t know where he gets it."

"From you," Arianne said. "You once called my office seven times in one afternoon because you needed a signature on a contract."

"That was business. This is different."

"It’s exactly the same. You’ve just redirected the energy."

Julian opened his mouth to argue, then closed it. "Fair point."

Nate arrived not long after, carrying a gift bag with a stuffed white rabbit peeking out of the top. He set it on the growing pile near the couch and took the chair across from Julian.

"There are a lot of gifts," he observed, looking at the stack.

"They’ve been arriving all week," Arianne said. "Amanda started a spreadsheet so we don’t lose track of who sent what. She’s already cross-referenced it with a thank-you card list."

"Of course she has."

"She also sent a meal plan for the next two weeks. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. With dietary notes."

Nate looked at Julian. Julian looked at Nate.

"That’s very organized," Nate said.

"That’s Amanda," Arianne said.

"How are you doing? Really?" he asked Arianne.

"Better. Tired, but better." She paused. "Franz has been taking the night feedings so I can sleep. Aunt Estella has the twins in the mornings. I’m recovering faster than I expected."

"Franz is taking the night feedings? How is he functioning?"

"He’s not. But he won’t admit it."

"That sounds like Franz."

"He’s also learned how to change diapers."

"How is that going?"

"He put the first one on backwards. The baby didn’t seem to mind, but Aunt Estella made him redo it three times."

Nate laughed. "I would have paid to see that."

"He was very focused about it. Each attempt more determined than the last. By the third one he had the technique down. He’s been insufferably proud of himself ever since."

Julian shook his head, smiling. "Franz Rochefort, diaper technician. There’s a headline."

"If that headline ever runs, I’m dissolving the company," Arianne said.

"Relax. Sam’s not that brave." Julian glanced toward the door. "Where is she, anyway? She texted that she was on her way."

"She’s coming with Gilbert and Audrey. They were picking her up."

Nate stretched out in his chair and looked around the room: the gift bags stacked near the bassinet, the pale blue blanket draped over the arm of the couch, the baby monitor on the side table with its small green light glowing steady. "This place looks like a baby lives here," he said.

"A baby does live here."

"I know. It just — looks different. Good different." He looked at the bassinet. "I’m glad you’re both home."

Arianne looked at him. Nate didn’t make speeches. He didn’t frame things or reach for the right words. He said what he meant and left it there, and the people who knew him well had learned that was the fullest version of it.

"Thank you," she said. "For everything. The past few months."

"I didn’t do anything."

"You were there. That counts."

Nate nodded once and looked away, apparently finding the gift bags near the bassinet very interesting. Arianne let him have it.