Alex completely forgot and said, "Where's the baby shower cake?" before gasping.
"Miiine," Vicky said, taking his pin with a grin.
Cody stayed silent the whole time, eyes locked on Alva like she was a ticking time bomb.
But the most ruthless of them all was Vicky, who kept tricking people by saying things like, "Isn't this the cutest baby—oops! Gotcha!" even if she wasn't really slipping herself.
People kept falling into her trap.
By the end of the game, Jim rang a tiny bell.
"Time's up! Let's count those pins!"
Everyone showed how many they had. Most had one or none.
"And the winner is… Vicky! With seven pins!" Jim announced.
Everyone clapped as she strutted up to the front.
"What's the prize?" she asked.
Jim handed her a small bag. "A spa voucher. You earned it, queen of the trap."
Everyone laughed, even Brian, who shook his head and said, "I knew I shouldn't have trusted you."
Jim clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
"Alright, next up is a fun one! This game is called Pop the Reveal," he said with a mischievous grin. "Alva and Cody, step up front. Now, you both have to pick one balloon—either the black one or the purple one. But be careful… choose wisely. It's your baby's life at stake," he added with a dramatic laugh.
Alva and Cody stood up, exchanging glances as they approached the balloon display. Two balloons floated on a decorated board—one deep black, the other a glowing shade of purple."If its a girl, Alice "Cody said
"and if its a boy,Kai"Alva said
"Let's go for the black," Cody said, pointing casually.
"No," Alva replied quickly. "The purple one. I just… I feel it. We checked everything. I know it's a girl. Let's go for that."
Cody shrugged, a smile tugging at his lips. "Alright, anything you want."
They both reached forward, and with a quick pop, the purple balloon burst open—blue confetti scattered into the air.
"A… boy?" Alva whispered, eyes wide in disbelief.
Jim clapped. "Yes! It's a boy!" he announced proudly. "And his name is going to be… Kai!"
The guests erupted in applause, some cheering, others laughing. But Alva stood frozen, her hand over her heart. She hadn't expected that. Her eyes looked dazed, a little teary—but she smiled faintly.
Then Cody stepped forward, gently taking the microphone again.
"Hello, everyone," he began, voice calm but strong. "I'd like to say a few words—to the mother of my child."
Everyone quieted as Cody turned toward Alva.
"I wasn't always like this," he said. "I was distant, closed off. But then I met you, and you changed me. You made me laugh again. You made me feel like I mattered. And today, I want to show you how much you mean to me."
He paused, then turned to someone in the crowd. "Vicky, follow me."
Vicky blinked, surprised, but stepped up beside him.
"You made me who I am today—a guy who can laugh, who can love. You make me feel like I own the world, just by being with you."
In the crowd, Alva's grandfather wiped away a tear. "That's my grandson," he said proudly.
Alva's mom chuckled. "And that's my daughter."
They both shared a warm laugh as the room buzzed with emotion.
---
Later, in the guest parlor…
"So, hey Vicky," Brian said as he adjusted the decorations on a table.
Vicky rolled her eyes. "Stop acting weird just because you finally know my real name."
"I'm not acting weird. I just wanna know… when were you going to tell me?"
"I wasn't," she said, arms crossed. "I don't like people knowing too much about me."
Brian stepped closer. "So I'm just 'people' now?"
"No… you're not."
"Then what am I to you?" he asked, gently backing her toward the wall.
"You're… you."
"Huh?"
"You're Brian," she said softly. "The love of my life."
Brian leaned in, kissing her cheek. She turned her face just in time, and his lips landed on hers. She blushed and looped her arms around his neck as they kissed deeply.
Just then, Harper walked in.
"Uh, cough, cough," she said awkwardly.
They froze and pulled away quickly.
"I'm just looking for the bathroom," Harper said with a smirk before walking out.
Brian and Vicky dashed out of the room, their faces bright red.
---
Back at the baby shower…
Cody stepped forward again, holding a small box in his hand.
"There's one more surprise," he said. "Not just for the baby—but for you, Alva."
Suddenly, a soft hum filled the air. From above, a quiet whoosh as a drone hovered, releasing a gentle shower of flower petals over the crowd. Then, across the sky, glowing letters lit up in shimmering golden lights:
"Alva, will you marry me?"
Gasps echoed through the crowd. Music began to play softly in the background. The entire atmosphere shifted—calm, romantic, and filled with emotion.
Cody dropped to one knee, opening the box to reveal a beautiful diamond ring.
"I want to spend every moment of this life with you," he said. "Not just for me, but for our baby—for our future. You are the love of my life. Will you marry me and make our story continue?"
Alva covered her mouth, tears already spilling down her cheeks. She walked forward, hands shaking.
"Yes," she cried. "Yes! I love you with all my heart—I promise to be with you always."
He slid the ring onto her finger. She wrapped her arms around him, sobbing softly into his chest.
The entire crowd stood and cheered, clapping and shouting with joy. Petals floated all around them like confetti in a fairy tale.
"That's our children!" Alva's dad said proudly.
"Your brother's good at proposing," Brian said.
"And your sister's good at crying," Vicky added.
Sophie wiped a tear from her eye. "Your friend is amazing. I hope I'm next," she whispered to Kyle.
He gave her a quiet nod and smiled.