“You’re my wife, so I must protect you at all costs,” Evan said.
“I understand everything now. I would like to ask Sir Musgrave why my mother was so fond of him, since my mother isn’t around anymore,” Nicole said, sighing.
“Alright then. I’ll keep you company tomorrow,” Evan promised.
“Sure,” Nicole said. “We should go home after this. Seet Group and Lane Corporation are still waiting for us.”
At that moment, Evan realized just how considerate of a person Nicole was.
In order to return home without any regrets, they absolutely had to settle things with Sir Stephan, Nicole’s biological father.
Evan had his suspicions that Nicole agreed to meet Stephen purely for the sake of their family businesses, but he decided not to dwell on that thought for too long.
He pulled Nicole into his embrace gently, as though she was some sort of precious treasure.
Nicole traced circles on his broad chest, sending shivers down his spine.
“Are you up for it?” he asked, grinning.
Nicole glanced at him and shook her head, pretending to be disinterested in what he had just suggested.
“Then why are you tickling me?”
“Let’s do it.”
Evan grabbed her wrist and stared into her eyes like how a predator would ogle at its prey. “You should have said it earlier!”
Huh?
The cold darkness outside contrasted greatly with the fiery atmosphere inside the bedroom.
Satisfied, Nicole fell asleep while leaning against his muscular body.
The next day…
She woke up abruptly when the sunlight trickled into the room. Her entire body felt like it was aching all over, but she managed to turn around and glance at the clock before closing her eyes again in defeat.
It’s still early…just give me ten more minutes…
Evan stared at her in mild amusement as he wondered if he should wake her up.
Never mind. I’ll let her sleep for a while more.
“Mommy!”
“Daddy!”
“Mommy! Daddy! Open up!”
“It’s time for breakfast!”
The four little ones clawed at the door and screamed at the top of their lungs, prompting Evan to open the door and shush them. “Mommy’s still sleeping!”
“Mommy’s still asleep?” they chorused before clambering onto the bed to stare at Nicole.
“Wait…what’s wrong with Mommy’s neck?” Maya asked, noticing the hickeys on Nicole’s neck.
Nina pushed the sheets aside and yelped in horror. “Look! Mommy’s injured!”
“D-Did Daddy do this?”
The four kids exchanged looks and turned around to glare at Evan simultaneously.
“Daddy! Why did you hit Mommy?” Nina demanded.
Even Maya, who had been the closest to Evan amongst the four of them, had puffed up her cheeks in anger. “Daddy! You’re the worst!”
The two boys studied Evan with much anger in their eyes, and it made Evan cower in fear.
I should have covered her up just now!
How the hell am I supposed to explain those hickeys to them?
“I-It’s not what you think…” Evan stammered, glancing at Nicole desperately. Wake up! I need your help!
Nicole, however, did not even stir.
The four kids continued to attack him.
“Daddy is a meanie!”
“Daddy! You can’t bully Mommy!”
“That’s not nice of you, Daddy!”
“You must apologize to Mommy!”
Nicole opened her eyes to the sound of her children snapping at their father. “W-What’s going on?” she asked, voice thick with sleep.
“Mommy! Daddy bullied you, didn’t he? We’ll teach him a lesson for that!”
Nicole scratched her head in confusion.
Evan glanced back and forth between the kids and Nicole, visibly panicking.
The kids held on to his arm, trying their best to force an apology out of him.
“Daddy didn’t bully me,” Nicole said, still confused.
“No, Mommy! You see those bruises? Daddy definitely beat you!”
Bruises?
Nicole took one look at the hickeys on her body and hid her face in her hands. No wonder they’re acting like this!
How did they see it? How careless of me!
