Page 71 of My Horrible Arranged Marriage (Bancroft Billionaire Brothers #20)

MINA

I saac left our bag in the car. We were going to wait until the right time to announce the pregnancy. I wasn’t really nervous about being around all of them. I knew several of the women now. And had spent some time with a few of his brothers.

The moment we stepped through the grand double doors of the Bancroft estate, I felt a wave of warmth and chaos hit me like a tidal wave. Laughter and chatter spilled from every corner of the sprawling property.

Isaac led me through the foyer. The kitchen and breakfast room were bathed in warm sunlight.

The doors were open to the backyard. I could already see kids darting across the lawn, their shrieks of joy mingling with the sound of adults talking.

I was surprised by the backyard. It looked like a park.

A nice park with an expensive playground, a princess castle that was every kid’s dream come true.

Bubbles were floating through the air from a bubble machine.

There was a legit ice cream cart with a bright pink umbrella in the corner.

A few of the older kids were in the pool that was surrounded by a fence that would make a maximum-security prison look like child’s play.

Isaac squeezed my hand. “Good?” he asked quietly.

“This place is incredible,” I said.

He chuckled. “Kathy is all about grandkids. Every time we come here, there’s something new. Wait until you see the playroom in the house. FAO Schwarz has nothing on Kathy’s playroom.”

I laughed. “I love it. This is amazing.”

Ever the perfect host, Kathy was the first to spot us. Her face lit up as she hurried over, her flowy summer dress billowing behind her. She looked effortlessly elegant, as always, her silver hair catching the sunlight like a halo. The matriarch of the family was in her element.

“Mina, Isaac!” She pulled me into a hug before I could even say hello, her embrace firm and motherly. “Look at you,” she said, holding me at arm’s length, her eyes scanning my face. “You’re glowing. Jamaica did you both a world of good, didn’t it?”

I felt my cheeks heat up under her scrutiny, but I couldn’t help but smile. “It was exactly what we needed,” I admitted, glancing at Isaac beside me. He was grinning like an idiot.

“Well, it shows,” Kathy said, patting my arm. “You look radiant. And Isaac—” She turned to him, raising an eyebrow. “You look less like a man who’s been living on takeout and regret.”

Isaac laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Thanks, Kathy. I think.”

She waved him off with a chuckle before looping her arm through mine. “Come on, let’s get you two something to drink.”

“Look who finally decided to show up!” Hudson called out.

“We were starting to think you two got lost in Jamaica,” another brother added with a grin.

Isaac rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his smile as he clapped Hudson on the shoulder. “Yeah, yeah. We’re here now.”

Kathy handed me a glass of sparkling water with a slice of lime before giving Isaac a beer. She gave me a knowing smile before slipping away to help one of her grandchildren wipe up a fallen ice cream.

The scent of grilled meat hung in the air.

I tightened my grip on Isaac’s hand as we stepped into the thick of the party.

It was like looking at the result of a human-sized copy machine.

There was no missing the fact the men were all related.

Even a couple of the ones that I knew were Isaac’s cousins.

The family resemblance was incredible. The kids were of similar looks.

It made me wonder what our baby would look like.

A few kids darted past us, soaked from head to toe, giggling wildly as they chased each other with neon water guns. Music thumped lightly from a set of outdoor speakers near the patio.

“Welcome to a Bancroft gathering,” Isaac said beside me, his mouth quirking into a grin. “This is about as intimate as we get.”

I looked around and let the word intimate sink in.

There were at least forty people already here, and more arriving by the minute.

I recognized most of them from social media or Isaac’s stories.

Marigold was slicing lemons and limes in a glamorous sundress and rhinestone sandals.

Zayn was pouring drinks with the flair of a Vegas bartender at a huge bar off to the side of the patio.

Kent was attempting to referee a football game between a gaggle of kids.

And Hudson was attempting to convince someone’s toddler that he was, in fact, a real superhero.

“I think I love it,” I whispered to him.

Isaac gave me a sidelong look. “You sure?”

“Very.”

He squeezed my hand, then leaned down to kiss my temple. “Good. Because they all love you. When shit went sideways, they were totally on your side.”

I grinned. “Damn right.”

I met more people. Cousins. Brothers. Sisters-in-law. Wives of cousins and a ton of kids. Did I remember all their names? No. But I would figure it out eventually.

The feast was absolutely insane. Several of the cousins and brothers were manning several grills.

I had never actually eaten a hot dog straight off a grill.

I had brats at baseball games and some boiled franks from street carts, but this was a novel experience for me.

I couldn’t believe all these billionaires were eating hot dogs.

I hadn’t grown up with barbecues like this.

There had always been too many cameras, too much etiquette, too many expectations. This was different. This was real.

“Hey, let’s go get our stuff,” Isaac said after we’d finished off our second plates.

I met him in the house. I put the shirt on over my dress while he peeled off the polo shirt he’d been wearing and put on the shirt. He pulled the polo shirt over it to hide it.

“Okay, you stay inside and I’ll tell people we have an announcement and then you’ll come out.”

I nodded. “Okay. Here goes nothing.”

I watched from the kitchen window as Isaac strolled back outside, looking suspiciously nonchalant. My heart hammered against my ribs. This was really happening. We were about to tell everyone about our baby. Our baby . The thought still gave me butterflies.

I smoothed my hands over the “Mommy To Be” shirt. In just a few minutes, everyone would know. I wondered what my father would say when he found out—I’d have to call him tonight. But first, the Bancrofts.

Through the window, I saw Isaac tap a spoon against his glass. The chatter gradually quieted as all eyes turned to him. Even the kids seemed to sense something important was happening, their wild games pausing momentarily.

“Hey, everyone,” Isaac called out, his voice carrying across the yard. “Mina and I have a little announcement.”

That was my cue. I took a deep breath, slipped the giant pacifier into my mouth, and pushed open the back door. The bright sunlight hit my face as I stepped onto the patio, one hand holding a comically large baby bottle.

For a moment, there was complete silence. Then someone—I think it was Kent—let out a whoop of surprise. Isaac pulled off his polo shirt to reveal his “Daddy To Be” shirt. I uncrossed my arms to show my matching shirt.

The explosion of noise was deafening. Kathy’s hands flew to her mouth, her eyes instantly welling as she rushed toward us. She opened her arms without hesitation, and I walked right into them. I was welcome here.

“You look beautiful,” she said, pulling back to look at me. “I would know that glow anywhere.”

“Thank you,” I said, cheeks warming.

She winked and turned to Isaac, cupping his face between her hands. “Congratulations,” she said. “I’m so happy for both of you.”

I never wanted to leave. This family was amazing. I loved the craziness. I was hugged over and over. Everyone had something nice to say.

Then Hudson came barreling in, draping an arm around Isaac’s shoulders.

“My man!” he shouted, then immediately pulled him into a headlock and gave him the most obnoxious noogie I’d ever seen. Isaac yelled, tried to wriggle free, and it turned into a full-on wrestling match in the grass.

I laughed so hard I nearly spilled my drink.

Hudson finally relented, clapping Isaac hard on the back. “You’re gonna be a daddy. Thank god you’ve got Mina to do the heavy lifting. Otherwise, that poor kid doesn’t stand a chance.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Isaac said. “Like you’re any better.”

“I have a perfect track record,” Hudson shot back, his smile broad. “My kid only fell off the swing set once this month.”

I couldn’t hold back my laughter as the brothers continued their good-natured ribbing. Marigold appeared at my side with a plate of fresh fruit.

“For the baby,” she said with a wink, handing me a strawberry. “Hudson ate nothing but fast food when I was pregnant. Our kid came out craving chicken nuggets.”

“That’s not scientifically possible.” I laughed.

“Tell that to my toddler who screams ‘nuggies’ in his sleep,” she replied dryly.

Someone handed out sparkling cider for a toast, and Kathy gave a tearful, completely unplanned speech about love, family, and how she always knew Isaac would eventually find love. Kent yelled something inappropriate. Zayn made a joke about babysitting for a hefty fee.

We settled into chairs a while later with plates filled with an assortment of desserts.

“I’m probably going to gain twenty pounds today alone,” I said.

“And you’ll still look beautiful,” he replied.

We watched all the life happening around us.

The laughter. The teasing. The babies in onesies and the many, many conversations.

I loved that they could all jump into a conversation and then move onto another.

Everyone was so close. So comfortable. They were all family.

It was chaos. Loud and messy and imperfect.

And perfect, too. I couldn’t believe Isaac thought he was the odd man out. They were all a little crazy.

I pressed a hand to my stomach. Our baby would have a family unlike anything I’d ever imagined. A family that would rally and roar and show up. A family full of warmth and madness and heart. Our child was beyond rich.

Not because he or she was born into wealth and power. But because of the people. I got to give my child all of this .

“You good?” Isaac asked.

I looked up at him. His hair was mussed from the noogie, his shirt damp from someone’s pool prank, and he had barbecue sauce on his chin.

He was gorgeous.

“I’m really good,” I said, meaning it with every piece of me. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy.”

Isaac leaned over and kissed me softly. “Me either.”

I settled back in my chair, watching one of the kids chase another with a water balloon.

Their squeals of laughter floated across the yard.

My hand absently drifted to my stomach again.

Our baby would grow up with cousins and aunts and uncles who would spoil them rotten.

They’d have summer barbecues and holiday chaos and never doubt for a second that they belonged.

“What are you thinking?” Isaac asked, his eyes soft as he watched me.

“That our kid is going to have the childhood I always wanted,” I admitted.

“Loud. Messy. Full of people who love them just because they exist. Promise me we will never make our kid dress up all the time. They don’t have to have impeccable manners.

Respectful but we’re not going to scold them for using their fingers to eat.

Our kid is going to get to live like this. Make mud pies and wear worn jeans.”

His expression turned serious. “You know your dad loves you like that too, right?”

I sighed. “I know he does. In his way. But this...” I gestured around us. “This is different.”

“Bancrofts don’t do anything halfway,” he said with a grin. “Especially love.”