Chapter 24: Do Overtime
I slept through the whole afternoon, tired from today’s event. Desmond decided to go to any establishment. He even went to speak with a party decorator and even asked for my opinion.
I was thinking by that time if he was preparing for Declan’s birthday or his nephew, Daniel’s birthday but I remembered that was impossible since the birthdays of those two were near the end of the year.
I only woke up when I was already in the arms of Desmond and smelled his scent as my… mate again.
I didn’t know why the Moon Goddess reconnected our mate bond again but I was not happy to learn about this fact.
“Put me down this instant!” I said, half-embarrassed as he was going upstairs. “People are watching!” I immediately hid my face and buried it in the crook of his neck because I saw people looking on our way.
That way, I came to smell the combination of orange, citrus, and cedarwood. With his scent, I could easily distinguish that he was really my mate.
Desmond chuckled. “Who cares?” I shivered when his lips landed on my head. I even heard him sniffing me. “Your scent… I can finally smell you again.”
My eyes widened when I heard his voice croaked. My wolf even purred when we sensed a longing in his voice. That also made me feel goosebumps because I sensed how he sounded happy and longing at the same time. It made my heart ache.
I looked up and saw his stern expression every time he would look at me was gone. His expression softened when our eyes met.
It made me recall the days we were happy. It also would lead us to talk all day. Those memories made my heart ache for some reason.
It made me succumb to the same feeling I first caught when he slept with a courtesan.
It was so painful that I couldn’t handle how broken I was by that time.
I snapped back when I realized that Desmond settled me in another chamber. I came to sniff his male perfume lingering around.
“This is my room. Stay here,” Desmond said after he placed me on his bed and went outside.
I stood up and looked at the luggage he had. I frowned seeing how messy it was. Damn this man… He never changed and didn’t know how to settle his things.
I picked up his indoor clothes, sighing, and folded them like I used to do before.
“Seraphina–”
“Until now, you still do not know how to fold your indoor clothes properly,” I said, scolding him. “What are you? A pup?” I snorted bitterly and looked at him.
Desmond looked surprised while he was holding a glass of water. I mean, his jaw dropped for some reason.
I stiffened when I realized something and stood up in no time, dropping the clothes I was holding. “I-It’s not what it looks like…” I gulped as I could feel my heart plummet up and down, being defensive right now.
Damn it… I acted in the same behavior when I was still living with him.
It was an instinct… when I was still his wife. I didn’t realize that I was acting right now. I didn’t expect that I would be like this regardless of what happened.
Desmond remained silent before his expression changed into a stoic one. “Here’s your water,” he said before he left.
I bit my lower lip and drank it. I felt embarrassed that I acted that way. I didn’t mean to be like that. I didn’t mean to act as his wife again.
“Darn it…” I mumbled, a little frustrated.
I took a rest and thought of my actions today before my eyes darted to the piles of clothes I took earlier. I looked away and left his room after I glanced at the wall clock.
I saw Desmond on the balcony having a cup of tea while Sir Elron was beside him. “I need to leave now,” I said.
I shivered when his cold glare landed on me. “No, you are staying here. You must continue your work.”
“What?” I parroted, wide-eyed. Then I looked at him in disbelief. “That is absurd! It is time for me to go home.” I felt pissed right now.
He scoffed a smirk. “You are not going home unless you complete the work hours you lose this day. Without rest this time, Seraphina.”
“I agreed with this setup and now, you are making me take the overtime?” I couldn’t help but raise my tone. “You took my whole day to go with you because you have been running errands! I cannot accept this! I have…” … someone waiting for me back home. I wanted to say but I couldn’t.
My wolf and I suddenly got worried for our son. We couldn’t just stay here to do overtime if he wanted me to complete more than eight hours of work. My wolf was raging in annoyance. Even though the mate bond had been healed and made us reconnected again, our bond between mother and pup should prevail over him.NôvelDrama.Org © content.
I flinched when Desmond threw his cup in my direction. It was lucky for me that I managed to evade it with my reflexes.
I clenched my hands, realizing he was returning to being a violent man again. I stared at the broken cup only to be picked up by Sir Elron.
“You are getting on my nerves today, Seraphina. You always talk back every single time and keep opposing me,” he said in a frigid tone. He reclined on his seat, looking at me.
“I need to go home. No one is going to take care of my…” I gasped and paused when I almost said ‘son’.
“Take care of what?” he asked suspiciously, arching his eyebrow.
“M-My home,” I said nervously. “I forgot to lock it…” I reasoned, trying my best to be reasonable.
Desmond didn’t say anything. I got nervous because the way he scrutinized me seemed like he was seeing if I was lying or not. I inhaled and exhaled slowly so I could hide how nervous I was right now.
“I shall have Elron go to your home and lock it himself.”
My heart dropped. “N-No!” I exclaimed, immediately shaking my head. “H-He must not do that!”
“And why not?” His arching eyebrow was making me more nervous than before. He was starting to get suspicious.
“My landlady shall not allow anyone she does not know,” I reasoned. My heart was pounding so fast. I hope he will approve of it. I must go home.
There was no one who would take care of Sander. He would look for me if I did not come home.
Desmond didn’t look convinced. That made me want to be buried six feet below the ground when he spoke, “I am certain your landlady shall understand that the safety of your home comes first. Tell us your address and I shall have-”
“No need!” I said, chiming in. “T-There is no need. I shall stay here… I-I will finish my work!” I mustn’t let them know that I had a son from Desmond.
As much as possible, Desmond and Sander must not meet, or else, he would take away Sander from me. That was for certain.
If he happened to know that he had a pup with me, he would demand his rights as his father.
I must not let that happen.
“Huh…” He stroked his chin. “Your heart keeps beating so fast. You know that I can hear it.” He slightly tilted his head, looking straight into my eyes. “What are you so afraid of, Seraphina? It is like you are hiding something from me, hmm?”
I scoffed, hiding how nervous I really was. “Do not be so absurd. I just do not want you to know where I lived.” I thanked myself because I did not stammer this time. I finally gained the confidence to talk back with him.
There was a sly smile lingered on his lips. “Oh? What if I know where you are living?”
My eyes widened. I could have sworn my face had gone color as well.
He knew where I was living? Did this mean he knew that we had a pup?
Shit… This was not good…
Desmond snickered. “I am just jesting, seraphim. Why do you look so frightened?”
Relief washed over me when he said that. I chuckled nervously and forced a smile. “I-Is that so?” I could feel how my heart was hammering inside of my chest. I knew he could hear it which was why his smile grew wider than usual.
He nodded. He looked amused as well. Perhaps because of the expression I was showing right now. “Now, go back to work and work overtime before I change my mind.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
I was certain that he was pleased to see that I behaved like this now.
I coerced a smile and nodded. “Yes… I shall do that.” I turned my back and secretly prayed to the Moon Goddess that She would take care of my son.
Please don’t think that I left you, Sander. Mama would be back at the daybreak. I swear…