Chprer 23

Alexandra Taylor-Bang Instagram

"From walking down the aisle to counting little kicks... life has been nothing short of magical these past few weeks. 💕 At 21 weeks, I managed to keep this little secret tucked away under layers of love (and a well-designed dress 😉), but now at 23 weeks... there's no hiding anymore. 😅We are so excited to finally share this journey with you. Thank you for all the love, support, and kind words—we feel it all.Baby Bang, we can't wait to meet you. 💖"#23Weeks #BabyBangOnTheWay #ChalexFamily #BlessedAndGrowing #PregnancyGlow #GratefulHeart

STAY Reactions:@SKZ_Happiness"SHE REALLY HID IT THAT WELL?! OMG YOU LOOKED AMAZING AT THE WEDDING AND NOW YOU'RE GLOWING EVEN MORE 😭💖"@Chan_Obsessed"You were 21 WEEKS at the wedding?? How did you even manage that?! You looked flawless 😭 So happy for you and Chan!!!"@JisungiesGiggle"The baby was already a part of the wedding and we didn't even know... I'm emotional 😭😭😭"@StrayKidsUpdates"WE WERE RIGHT ALL ALONG!!! Congratulations, Alex and Chan, you two deserve all the happiness in the world! 💙"@ChalexNation"The way you guys kept it under wraps so perfectly but now you're finally sharing it with us 😭 We love you so much!!"@FelixsDimple"I can't believe you pulled off the wedding looking THAT stunning at 21 weeks and no one suspected a thing. ICONIC."@StaySupport"Chan's been extra protective for a reason 😭 Wishing you a healthy and happy rest of your pregnancy, Alex! 💖"@HyunjinsHeart"I KNEW IT. THE HANDS ON THE BELLY WERE A GIVEAWAY! Baby Bang is already so loved 🥹"@LeeKnowLove"Time to prepare for the most spoiled baby ever. Hyunjin and Felix alone will make sure of it 😂"

"My wife. My love. My best friend. Every day I'm in awe of your strength, your beauty, and the love you pour into everything you do—especially now, carrying our greatest blessing. I took this picture because I wanted to remember this moment... just you, peaceful and glowing with our little one.And now, it's time to share our joy with the world...We're having a baby girl. 💕Our daughter is already so loved, and I can't wait to see you become the incredible mother I know you are. Thank you for giving me a love I never knew I needed, Alex. I love you both more than words can say."#BabyBang #ItsAGirl #ChalexFamily #BlessedBeyondMeasure #OurLittlePrincess #DadModeActivated #ForeverWithYou

Alex sighed, tapping her foot impatiently as she waited for the elevator doors to open, the cool air of the JYP lobby swirling around her. She adjusted the weight of the takeout bags in one hand while her other scrolled through her phone, her brows furrowing in disbelief."Christopher Bang, you sneaky little—" she muttered under her breath, staring at the screen.It had been a busy morning at Golden Stag, but she'd managed to squeeze in her lunch break to bring food to the boys at JYP. Walking through the city streets earlier, she'd felt the curious stares, more than she was used to. Unlike before, she wasn't trying to conceal her growing belly under oversized sweaters or strategically placed handbags. At 23 weeks, there was no hiding it anymore, and for the first time, she didn't care. Dressed in a snug, ribbed maternity dress layered under a cozy oversized cardigan, her bump was proudly on display. She had caught glimpses of recognition in passing faces—some whispering excitedly, others respectfully smiling, but she'd kept her focus ahead, head held high.The elevator doors finally dinged open, and she stepped inside, her heart still racing from the flurry of notifications flooding her screen. Chan's latest Instagram post—the one she hadn't approved—had blown up within minutes.The black-and-white photo of her sleeping, the gentle swell of her belly peeking out from beneath the sheets, had already garnered millions of likes and endless fan reactions. The caption, sweet and heartfelt as it was, made her heart swell—but the fact that he had posted it without telling her? That was a different story.She could practically hear his voice in the words."My wife. My love. My best friend. Every day I'm in awe of your strength, your beauty, and the love you pour into everything you do—especially now, carrying our greatest blessing..."Alex groaned, heat rushing to her cheeks as she read the part that had sent fans into a frenzy."We're having a baby girl. 💕 Our daughter is already so loved, and I can't wait to see you become the incredible mother I know you are."She huffed a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Of course he couldn't just say 'we're expecting.' Nope, he had to go full 'proud husband of the year' on me."Without thinking, her fingers moved quickly over the screen, typing a reply before she could stop herself."CHRISTOPHER! 😳 When did you take this!? 😤😤 Was this the morning after the wedding......? Sneaky bastard. 😭 You are so lucky I love you!💕"She didn't even have to refresh the page before STAYs were losing their minds in the comments section.The elevator doors dinged open, and she stepped inside, her cheeks flushed from a mix of annoyance and amusement. As much as she wanted to stay mad at Chan for posting the intimate moment, a small smile tugged at her lips. He was excited. He was proud. And, well... how could she blame him for wanting to show off their little miracle?By the time she reached the JYP Entertainment offices, her phone was buzzing non-stop with notifications. Fans were reacting to both their posts, and Alex couldn't help but laugh at some of the replies.

@STAY4Life"NOT ALEX CALLING HIM A SNEAKY BASTARD 😭😭 I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!"@ChanLuvsAlex"The way she knew EXACTLY when he took it 😂😂 True wife instincts!"@FelixsBFF"Chan being a whole simp while Alex is dragging him in the comments... this is peak couple goals 😩"@SKZ_Dreamer"A BABY GIRL???? 😭😭 I can already picture Chan being the softest, most protective dad ever!!!"@JisungSnaccs"Was this the morning after the wedding?! THEY REALLY SAID 'JUST MARRIED AND PREGNANT' I CAN'T 😭💖"

Alex shook her head, biting her lip to keep from grinning too much as she walked down the hallway toward the practice rooms. As Alex walked down the familiar hallways of JYP, she was immediately met with a few familiar faces from her past on the security team. Some of them gave her quick nods of recognition, others called out her name with wide grins."Alexandra Taylor-Bang," one of them greeted with a teasing smile, his eyes flickering down to her obvious baby bump. "Wow, I almost didn't recognize you without the earpiece and tactical stance."Alex laughed softly, adjusting the bags in her arms. "Yeah, I traded my radio for baby kicks and cravings. How's everything been?""Same old, same old. Keeping the kids safe and in line," he said, then smirked. "But looks like you've been busy with your own little security detail." He nodded towards her belly.She rolled her eyes playfully. "Yeah, this one's going to be a handful, I can already tell."Another security guard passing by stopped, offering her a warm smile. "It's good to see you around here again, Alex. Miss having you on the team."Alex smiled, appreciating the warmth. "It's good to be back, even if it's just as the wife bringing lunch."The guard chuckled, nodding toward the hall where her old office was. "Is it true you're finally stealing him away from us for Golden Stag?"Alex grinned, balancing the takeout bags carefully as she leaned against the wall. "It's true. His time at JYP is almost up. I gave him as much time as I could, but I'm not waiting any longer," she teased. "I need my FULL team on deck when this one decides to grace us with her presence."The security guard chuckled, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "We knew this day was coming, but it still hurts. Mac's one of the best."Alex smirked, shifting the bags in her hands. "Exactly why I'm stealing him. You know I don't settle for anything but the best.""Mac's in his office. I'll let him know you're here to say hi."Alex nodded in thanks, offering a warm smile as she adjusted the takeout bags and continued down the hallway. Each step felt heavier than usual, the extra weight of her growing belly making her more aware of her movements. She placed a hand on the small of her back, exhaling softly as she felt the familiar ache settling in. It was moments like these that reminded her just how far along she was—and how much things were changing.As she approached the practice room, the muffled sound of music and laughter filtered through the door. Alex paused for a second, savoring the moment, before nudging the door open with her hip, to find Chan sitting on the floor, stretching with the rest of the members, who were already giving him knowing looks."Hyung, you're in trouble," Jisung smirked, waving his phone at him. "Alex is coming for you."Felix grinned. "That comment was gold. 'Sneaky bastard?' I've never loved her more."Chan looked up sheepishly as Alex approached, holding up the lunch she had brought. "Before you yell at me... I love you?" he tried, flashing his dimples in an attempt to soften her glare.Alex narrowed her eyes, though the amused twitch of her lips betrayed her true feelings. "Nice try, Christopher," she said, stepping further into the practice room and setting the takeout bags down on the table. "I should make you eat last for that stunt."Hyunjin, already grinning from ear to ear, sauntered over and wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. "But you won't," he teased, pressing a playful kiss to her temple. "Because you love him, and because you're just happy he's so in love with you."Alex leaned back into him with a sigh, her hand instinctively finding his resting over her belly. "I am," she admitted, shaking her head. "But he could have at least given me a heads-up before posting my half-asleep self all over the internet." She shot Chan a pointed look. "You know how I feel about surprises."Chan laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck as he stood and made his way over to them. "I couldn't help it," he said with an apologetic smile, his eyes soft and full of love as they landed on her belly. "You just looked so peaceful... and beautiful. I wanted the world to see how amazing you are."Alex rolled her eyes but couldn't fight the warmth that spread through her chest at his words. Hyunjin, still holding her close, chuckled. "Nice save, hyung, but she's not letting you off that easy."Before Alex could respond, Hyunjin gently guided her to the floor where the others were sitting, carefully helping her ease down between his legs. She leaned into him with a sigh of relief, grateful for the support as her back had been aching more than usual. His hands instinctively found her belly again, thumbs tracing soothing circles over the curve."And here I thought you were coming to visit your husband!" Chan protested, though there was....a playful pout on his lips as he watched Hyunjin settle behind Alex with a little too much ease. The other members chuckled, exchanging knowing glances, but it wasn't until the door swung open again that the real show began."Did someone say food?" Beth's familiar voice rang through the practice room as she strolled in, carrying a bag of her own. She barely had time to register the scene in front of her before her eyes locked onto Hyunjin, comfortably wrapped around Alex like he belonged there. Her steps faltered mid-stride, her expression morphing from excitement to pure confusion.Alex, who had been leaning into Hyunjin's warmth, stiffened slightly. She glanced at Beth, the look on her face screaming oh, crap.Beth blinked, her eyes darting between Alex and Hyunjin, and then to Chan, who was standing there awkwardly, his face carefully neutral but the faintest hint of amusement tugging at his lips."Uh... what's going on here?" Beth asked slowly, setting the bag down on the table but keeping her eyes firmly on Hyunjin's arms around Alex's waist.Seungmin, ever the instigator, snorted and muttered under his breath, "And so it begins."Hyunjin, to his credit, didn't even flinch. Instead, he offered Beth his signature charming smile, resting his chin lightly on Alex's shoulder. "I'm just keeping her comfortable, Beth. Pregnancy's tough, you know?"Beth's mouth opened and closed, her brows furrowing in pure bewilderment. "I—Yeah, I get that, Jinnie," she said, her voice laced with suspicion. "But... you're holding my best friend like she's your wife. And I'm pretty sure she's married to someone else." Her eyes flicked pointedly to Chan. Chan, still standing a few feet away, cleared his throat awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck as he exchanged a glance with Alex. "Well... about that," he started, his voice laced with both amusement and mild panic.Beth's eyes narrowed, her gaze bouncing between them as if she were trying to piece together a puzzle she hadn't realized existed. "No. Nope. What's going on here?" she demanded, stepping forward and pointing at Hyunjin, whose grin hadn't faltered in the slightest.Alex sighed, gently patting Hyunjin's hand where it rested over her belly. "Okay, before you freak out—""Oh, I'm already freaking out," Beth interjected, crossing her arms. "You have exactly ten seconds before I start making my own conclusions, and you know how wild my imagination can get."Han, sitting on the floor nearby with a mouthful of rice, muffled a laugh behind his hand. "This is better than the drama I was binge-watching last night."Hyunjin, clearly enjoying himself, leaned in closer to Alex, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, "You want to tell her, or should I?"Alex groaned, tilting her head back against him dramatically. "I swear to God, Hyunjin, if you don't wipe that smug look off your face..."Beth's eyes widened, and she took a step closer, her gaze locked onto Alex's with the kind of intensity only a best friend could muster. "Alexandra. Taylor. Bang. You better start explaining right now, or so help me—"Alex sighed, pressing her fingers against her temples before looking at Chan, who was watching the whole exchange with a mix of amusement and mild concern. "Beth," Alex started carefully, choosing her words with precision, "there's... more to our relationship than what you know."Beth scoffed. "Oh really? You don't say!" She gestured wildly at Hyunjin, who was still holding Alex close, his fingers drumming lightly against her belly with an air of ease that spoke of familiarity. "Like what, exactly? Because last I checked, you're married to Chan, and now Hyunjin is sitting here like he's auditioning for 'husband number two.'"Hyunjin chuckled, nuzzling into Alex's shoulder with zero shame. "Actually, I prefer the term 'boyfriend,' but I appreciate the sentiment."Beth's jaw dropped. "BOYFRIEND?! Excuse me? Since when?!"Chan finally stepped in, holding his hands up in a placating manner. "Beth, take a breath. It's not as crazy as it sounds."Beth shot him a look. "Chan. Babe. Love of my best friend's life. IT SOUNDS PRETTY CRAZY."Hyunjin smirked, shifting slightly to drape his arm more comfortably over Alex's waist. "We've been together for about a year, Beth. Officially dating for months." He gave her a cheeky grin. "Welcome to the inner circle."Beth blinked. "A YEAR?! YOU'VE BEEN TOGETHER FOR A YEAR?! AND NO ONE TOLD ME?!"Alex held up her hands quickly, her eyes wide as she shot Beth a warning look. "Beth, keep it down!" she whispered harshly, glancing at the practice room door as if someone might burst in at any second. "We're in a JYP building, remember? Do you want this to turn into tomorrow's headline?"Beth's mouth opened and closed, her eyes still wide with disbelief, but she did lower her voice. "Are you kidding me right now? A year, Alex?" she hissed, leaning in as if getting closer would help her process it better. "And you didn't think to tell me? I'm your best friend!"Alex sighed, rubbing a hand over her bump as Hyunjin pressed a reassuring kiss to her temple, clearly unbothered by Beth's minor meltdown. "I thought you knew," she admitted, shooting a glare at Changbin, who was suddenly looking very interested in his food. "I was sure Changbin told you ages ago. I figured you were just being polite and waiting for me to bring it up."Beth's jaw dropped even further, and she turned on Changbin so fast he almost dropped his chopsticks. "Binnie! You knew?!"Changbin winced, holding up his hands defensively. "Uh... in my defense, I thought Alex wanted to tell you herself." He gave Alex an apologetic shrug. "I didn't want to overstep."Beth groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Oh my God. I cannot believe this." She shot a look at Chan, who had wisely stayed silent throughout the entire exchange, but his guilty expression said enough. "And you just went along with it?"Chan scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "I... may have assumed you knew too? I mean, you never acted surprised when they were together, so I thought you were just... cool with it?"Beth threw her hands in the air. "I thought they were just really comfortable friends!" She turned back to Alex, narrowing her eyes. "Okay, start talking. How did this even happen?"Alex sighed, rubbing her temples while shooting an exasperated glance at Chan, who was now conveniently studying his shoelaces like they were the most fascinating thing in the world. She shifted slightly, feeling Hyunjin's arms tighten around her, his breath warm against her shoulder where he rested his chin. His hands were lazily splayed over her belly, fingers tracing absentminded circles as he watched the exchange unfold with an amused smirk.Beth, still fuming, sat cross-legged on the floor in front of them, arms tightly crossed over her chest, her expression a mix of disbelief and impatience. The rest of the members were scattered around the practice room, pretending to mind their own business but clearly invested in the conversation."Alright," Alex finally relented, rubbing at her temples. "You know how Chan and Hyunjin have always been close?" She shot Hyunjin a pointed look, but he just smirked, staying comfortably tucked against her as he let her take the lead.Beth scoffed. "Yeah, I've noticed. But I didn't know this was happening behind the scenes." She waved a hand between Alex and Hyunjin, her frustration barely concealed. "When did this—" she gestured again, eyes darting between their casually entangled limbs, "—become a thing?"Alex hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip before glancing at Chan, who finally looked up sheepishly. "It kinda... started with them," she admitted, tilting her head slightly toward Hyunjin. "Hyunjin and Chan had a thing before I came into the picture."Beth's mouth fell open. "You're kidding.""Nope," Hyunjin piped up, his smirk widening. "We had a moment. A long moment."Beth's eyes narrowed. "Define moment."Chan, finally deciding to participate, sighed and ran a hand through his curls. "It wasn't anything serious at first, Beth. We used to have an on and off thing before Alex came into the picture. But when I met her it stopped. For a while anyway."Beth exhaled sharply, staring at Chan like he had just grown another head. "Stopped? For a while?" she repeated slowly, voice laced with disbelief. "So you mean to tell me you two were a thing, then you met Alex, fell in love, and what—Hyunjin just sat back and waited his turn?"Hyunjin snorted, his hold tightening around Alex just slightly. "I wouldn't say waited. More like... redirected my attention while watching them dance around each other."Beth's head snapped toward him so fast, it was a miracle she didn't get whiplash. "Redirected your attention?" she echoed incredulously. "Oh my god." She turned to Alex, waving frantically at Hyunjin like he was some unsolvable equation. "Are you hearing this? Are you actually hearing this?!"Alex sighed, rubbing slow circles over the back of Hyunjin's hand. "I am, Beth, and trust me, I had the same reaction at first."Beth scoffed, shaking her head as she processed this new information. "So, what? You and Chan were in your little honeymoon phase, and Hyunjin just... flirted his way in?"Hyunjin grinned, completely unashamed. "Basically."Chan let out a groan, tilting his head back against the mirror behind him. "Beth, it wasn't like that."Beth leveled him with a flat look. "Oh? Please, enlighten me, then."Chan sighed, crossing his arms. "It wasn't some dramatic love triangle, alright? It just... happened. I fell for Alex, Hyunjin and I stopped whatever we were doing, and that was that. But Hyunjin being Hyunjin—" he shot the younger man a pointed look, "—he didn't exactly keep his distance."Beth's lips parted slightly before she looked at Alex, eyes wide. "And you just let this happen?"Alex groaned, tipping her head back against Hyunjin's shoulder. "Beth. Do you know how hard it is to stop Hyunjin from flirting? I tried ignoring him, I tried setting boundaries, but it just... never felt wrong."Hyunjin nuzzled into her neck, voice low with amusement. "That's because we were always meant to be, baby girl."Beth gagged dramatically. "Oh my god, get a room."Felix, who had been quietly eating his lunch, finally spoke up with a grin. "They have a room. They just happen to share it with Chan."Beth groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "Why am I even surprised at this point?"Han grinned, tossing a piece of chicken into his mouth. "I honestly thought you knew."Beth shot him a murderous glare. "Excuse me?!"Han shrugged, completely unfazed. "They're not exactly subtle, Beth."Beth let out an exasperated laugh, shaking her head in disbelief. "Unbelievable. All of you. Just unbelievable."Seungmin smirked, leaning back on his hands. "Come on, Beth. If anything, this just proves Alex is the only person on earth who can handle both of them."Hyunjin grinned. "And she does it so well."Beth held up a hand. "Nope. Stop right there. I do not need to hear about what happens behind closed doors."Hyunjin pouted. "But that's the best part."Alex smacked his knee. "Hyunjin."Chan let out a loud sigh, clearly amused but also clearly wanting to salvage some of Beth's sanity. "Beth, look," he said, his tone turning more sincere. "I know this is a lot. But it works for us. We love each other. That's all that matters."Beth exhaled, her expression softening just slightly. She looked between them, watching the way Hyunjin cradled Alex so naturally, the way Chan looked at both of them with nothing but fondness in his eyes. Despite how insane this situation seemed, there was no denying it—this wasn't some messy love triangle. This wasn't a competition.This was love.Beth sighed, finally throwing her hands up in surrender. "Fine. Whatever. If this makes you guys happy, then who am I to judge?" She narrowed her eyes at Hyunjin. "But I swear to god, if you ever so much as think about causing drama, I will end you."Hyunjin gasped, clutching his chest dramatically. "Beth, please, have some faith in me!"Beth gave him a deadpan stare. "Hyunjin, I've met you."The entire room burst into laughter.Chan reached over and squeezed Beth's hand. "Thank you," he murmured, his eyes filled with gratitude.Beth rolled her eyes, but there was warmth in her expression. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't expect me to get used to this overnight." She pointed at Hyunjin. "And don't ever call yourself 'husband number two.' I will vomit."Hyunjin smirked. "Noted. But between us—" he leaned in closer, lowering his voice dramatically, "—we both know I'm the favorite."Beth groaned. "Oh my god."