"Oh my! That''s wonderful news!"


    Upon hearing it, Alyssa was so overjoyed she practically jumped with excitement. It had been a long time since there was anything worth celebrating.


    Lauren''s pregnancy swept away the gloom that had been hanging over her for far too long. She felt as if every cell in her body was rejoicing. "I have to share this good news with everyone!


    "Once the baby is born, I''m taking care of everything-meals, diaper changes, all of it! I''ll handle it until they grow up! I want to be the baby''s godmother!"


    Landon raised a brow, tightening his arm around Lauren in a possessive gesture. "I''m perfectly capable of taking care of my wife and child. But I do approve of you being the godmother."


    Lauren nodded, then blinked innocently. "Wait, that doesn''t sound right. You''re my sister-inw, so wouldn''t my child be your niece or nephew? If you''re also the godmother, wouldn''t that mess up the family hierarchy?"


    Everyone fell silent.


    Alyssa had been too excited. Now that she thought about it, Lauren had a point.


    Landon burst outughing. "That''s no big deal. People can hold multiple roles in apany-why not in a family?"


    "Have you decided on a name yet?" Julien asked with a smile.


    Lauren shook her head. "Not yet. We don''t even know the baby''s gender. We were thinking of naming the baby after it''s born. And we hope Grandpa Newton can do it for us."


    Landon''s eyes shone with anticipation as he gently stroked Lauren''s baby bump. "Grandpa Newton named both Jasper and Lauren, so we thought we''d ask him to name our child too."


    He had no other family left. Lauren was the family he had chosen. Deep down, he had always respected Newton, so it felt only right.


    Alyssa beamed. "That sounds like a great idea-as long as it makes you both happy."


    Jonah called for a medic to treat the cut on Julien''s hand.


    It had been a long time since they had all gathered like this. The room soon filled with lively chatter. Throughout it all Jonah Kept Julien close pinching his cheeks one moment and ying with his fingers next. The affection in his eyes was impossible to hide.


    "By the way, have you seen the newstely?" While peeling an apple for Lauren, Landon continued, "The Kontinian king''s only son-the crown prince passed away from cancer a few days ago, the entire country is in mourning The king has no other sons, only Princess Yuliana.


    "He wants to appoint another prince, but the royal family is small. There''s no one suitable to adopt from the extended family either.


    "Right now, the country is in chaos, and the people are unsettled. The royal family is also at odds over who should be named heir."


    Realizing something, Jonah said, "No wonder Miley and Jeremy rushed back to Kontina. Something serious really did happen."


    Given the gravity of the situation and Jeremy''s position as president, Alyssa couldn''t help but feel concerned.


    "The political climate in Kontina is vtile. There''s already tension between the presidency and the royal family. If this isn''t handled carefully, Jeremy''s career-and even his safety-could be at risk."


    Julien frowned slightly. "But isn''t Princess Yuliana still there? Plenty of royal families have female rulers. Queens can be just as capable and beloved. Isn''t the solution simple? Why not let her take the throne?"


    Landon fed Lauren a slice of apple, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "I heard something. But this is just a rumor, so don''t quote me Apparently, Princess Yuliana isn''t the king''s biological daughter they say she''s the result of an affair between the queen and a pce guard."


    Everyone gasped. "What?"


    "I''m just repeating what I heard. But like Julien said, if she were truly the king''s daughter, crowning her would solve everything. The fact that the royal family hasn''t taken that step... doesn''t that say something?"


    Landon''s reasoning was undeniable; after he spoke, a hushed stillness fell as his words began to sink.