Chapter 109
SAGE
The journey ahead felt heavier than I expected, and it wasn’t because of the terrain. Kieran, the hunter, took the lead, guiding us through winding roads that grew narrower as we neared the mountain. Eventually, we had to park the car at the base, where three horses were waiting for us.
I should have known this wouldn’t be simple. With only three horses, pairing up was inevitable. Titus paired with Anna, his hand on her waist as he helped her onto the horse. My stomach tightened as I watched them–he was so gentle with her, so attentive. I hated the pang of jealousy that crept into my chest, but it was there, gnawing at me all the same.
Scott and Elara took the second horse, their easy banter a sharp contrast to the storm brewing inside me. That left me with Kieran.
“Guess it’s you and me, little lady,” Kieran said, offering me his hand with a playful grin.
I hesitated, my eyes flickering toward Titus. His gaze was fixed on us, dark and smoldering, jealousy rolling off him in waves. His jaw was clenched so tight I thought he might crack a tooth.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered, loud enough for me to hear but not directed at anyone in particular.
Kieran chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the tension. “Relax, Alpha. I’ll keep her safe,” he said, his tone dripping with mockery as he mounted the horse and reached out to help me up.
Iswallowed hard, not sure if the fire in Titus‘ eyes was going to ignite into an actual fight. Ignoring him was impossible, but I couldn’t let his reaction dictate everything. Taking Kieran’s hand, I climbed onto the horse behind him.
The ride was awkward, to say the least. I could feel Titus‘ eyes burning into my back the entire time, even as he rode ahead with Anna. She seemed to hask in his attention, her laughter carrying on the wind. Each giggle made my heart clench tighter.
Kieran must have sensed my tension because he leaned back slightly and whispered, “Jealousy suits him, don’t you think?”
“Don’t push it,” I snapped, but my voice lacked bite. I hated how easily he could read the situation, how amused he seemed by it all.
The trail grew steeper, the dense forest around us swallowing the sounds of our journey. I tried to focus on the mission, on the task ahead, but my emotions kept pulling me in different directions.
Titus‘ protectiveness over Anna. His anger at Kieran. The way he barely even looked at me after last night.
And then there was Kieran, his calm demeanor hiding the danger he represented and the secret deal hanging between us like a weight I couldn’t shake.
I exhaled a shaky breath and tightened my grip on the saddle, willing myself to focus. This wasn’t the time to let emotions take over, not when so much was at stake.
But as I caught another glance of Titus helping Anna adjust her position on their horse, a pang of bitterness twisted in my
chest.
The path became narrower as we climbed higher, forcing the horses to slow down. Kieran seemed completely at ease, whistling a low tune as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Meanwhile, I felt like I was walking a tightrope, balancing my own emotions while trying to ignore the tension radiating from Titus.
“Not much of a talker, are you?” Kieran broke the silence, glancing over his shoulder at me with a smirk.
“I don’t feel like talking,” I replied flatly, tightening my grip on the saddle as the horse navigated a rocky patch.
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“Suit yourself,” he said with a shrug, his tone laced with amusement. “But you might want to loosen up. You’re stiff as a board
back there.”
“I’m fine,” I muttered, but the truth was, every muscle in my body was tense. I couldn’t shake the feeling of Titus‘ piercing gaze every time I glanced his way.
Up ahead, Anna’s laughter broke the quiet again. I tried to tune it out, focusing on the steady rhythm of the horse’s hooves against the dirt. But it was hard when I saw Titus leaning toward her, murmuring something that made her smile.
1 gritted my teeth, the jealousy simmering beneath the surface threatening to boil over.
“Looks like someone’s jealous here,” Kieran whispered, his voice low enough for only me to hear.
“Mind your own business,” I snapped, my tone sharper than I intended.
Kieran laughed softly, but he didn’t press further. For a moment, silence settled over us again, broken only by the sounds of the forest around us.
When we reached a clearing, Titus brought his horse to a stop and dismounted, helping Anna down with practiced ease. The sight made my stomach twist, but I forced myself to look away, sliding off the horse with Kieran’s help.
Titus walked over calmly, but his eyes told a different story. They were dark and stormy, revealing the turmoil he was trying to hide. He stopped a few steps away and gave Kieran a sharp look. “Kieran, why don’t you scout ahead?” he said, his tone firm and leaving no room for argument.
Kieran raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, but didn’t argue. “Sure thing, Alpha,” he replied smoothly, a hint of mischief in his voice.
I shifted in the saddle, ready to get down by myself, when Titus moved closer and held out his hands to help me. His silent offer made me hesitate, confusion twisting in my chest. I stared at him, unsure. Accepting his hand meant feeling his touch, and that was the last thing Ineeded right now. My emotions were already all over the place.
Before I could decide, Kieran hopped off the horse with ease and turned back to me. He extended his hand with a casual grin, his teasing energy as present as ever.
Now I was stuck between the two of them–Titus, stiff and brooding, and Kieran, laid–back and playful, both waiting for me to make a choice.
My heart pounded, and I could feel Titus’s intense gaze burning into me, but I forced myself to look away. I didn’t want this tension, didn’t want to let things escalate. So, I made the easier choice.
I placed my hands on Kieran’s shoulder and leaned forward, letting him help me down. He placed both of his hands on my waist. His grip was steady but didn’t carry the weight of the emotions I was trying to avoid. As soon as my feet hit the ground, I could feel the heat of Titus’s glare, his silent anger filling the space between us.
Kieran, either unaware of Titus’s fury or just enjoying it, gave me a cheeky grin. “See? Easy as pie,” he said, brushing his hands off dramatically.
I nodded at him politely, but my attention remained on Titus. His jaw was clenched so tightly it looked like he might crack a tooth, and the tension in his eyes seemed to grow darker with every second.
I straightened my shoulders and turned away, refusing to feed into the unspoken battle. If Titus wanted to stew in his jealousy, that was his problem. I had enough emotions of my own to deal with without taking on his too.
Kieran then mounted his horse once again before he proceeded to scout the area to make sure it’s safe for us.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Titus turned his attention to me. “You really think riding with him was a good idea?” he asked, his voice low but laced with tension.
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“It wasn’t exactly my choice, I shot back, crossing my arms.
His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he was going to argue. But instead, he took a step closer, his gaze locking onto mine. “You’re playing with fire, Sage,” he said softly, the warning in his voice unmistakable. onto mine. “You’re playing with fire, Sage,” he sa
“Funny,” I replied, forcing a calm I didn’t feel. “I was about to say the same thing to you.”
His eyes darkened, the space between us crackling with unspoken words. Before either of us could say more, Kieran had already come back.
“The coast is clear!” he announced.
“We should keep moving,” Scott said, glancing between us with a knowing look.
Titus stepped back, his expression unreadable as he turned to help Anna back onto the horse. I bit the inside of my swallowing the words I wanted to say.
0
cheek,
Warren first mentioned the feinale housekeeper in his words, which initially indicated that there were other women in the house, so as to put Maeve at ease.
Furthermore, he invited her to help him taste the chefs‘ cooking It was like an elder inviting a junior home for a meal. It was easy–going and amiable, and it was diflicult to refuse.
Maeve felt that if she continued to refuse, it would be a little disrespectful. “Then I’ll have to trouble you shamelessly, Mr. Richard.”
Warren’s home is located by the lake behind the police station. It is a white modern–style villa with a garden. It looks like it has some history, but it’s not that dilapidated. From the diagonal direction, one can also see the playground at the back of the police station.
Maeve thought to herself, “The person who dared to live here must be someone who was honest. Otherwise, he would not dare to be so close to the police station.
As soon as Maeve arrived, she was warmly welcomed by the female housekeeper and the chef. They took out the tablet menu and let her order.
It was obvious that it had really been a long time since they showed their great cooking skills.
By the time Warren came downstairs after changing his clothes, the several desserts ordered by Maeve had already been prepared.
“Mr. Richard, would you like some?” Maeve politely asked Warren.
Warren sat down at the head of the table and said with a smile, “I don’t really like sweet food, but I think it should be good to eat it once in a while.”
After saying that, he told the female housekeeper a name of the dessert and asked her to give instructions to the kitchen.
Watching Maeve savoring the desserts carefully, Warren pushed up the gold–rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose, unable to conceal the smile on his face. “You like sweets?”
Maeve revealed a smile. “Sweet food will improve one’s mood.”
“So you’re not in a good mood today? Can I ask why?”
Maeve was silent for a few seconds. The silver fork in her hand gently poked the cheesecake, and her expression was a little lonely.
Warren immediately corrected himself. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. I’m not very good with words. My son always mocks me for only having a big mouth.”
Maeve immediately smiled. “That must be your son acting cute with you. In my opinion, you’re very good with words.”
“I see.” Warren finally understood.
The two of them chatted happily like old friends who had not seen each other for many years. No matter what topic they were talking about, they could continue and speak frankly. The female housekeeper could not help but reveal a heartfelt smile.
“I’m sorry, I need to go to the washroom.” Maeve felt a faint pain in her abdomen. She guessed that it might be her period, so she stood up and asked the housekeeper where the washroom was.
The housekeeper led her over and told her that there was something she needed in the cabinet.
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Maeve thanked her. When she was changing her sanitary pad, she realized that the back of her dress was dirty. No wonder the housekeeper kept blocking behind her.
She couldn’t help but wail in her heart. ‘I hope I haven’t dirtied Warren’s stool.
After she was done, Maeve walked out of the washroom with a red face. She saw that housekeeper was still waiting for her outside.
“Ms. Reese, I saw that your dress was dirty just now. Shall I bring you upstairs to change into clean clothes?”
“Would it be too troublesome?”
“Of course not. I’ve already asked Mr. Richard for instructions.” The housekeeper smiled considerately. “Since you’re here as a guest, we naturally have to do our best to make you feel comfortable.”
The housekeeper brought Maeve to a princess room on the second floor and took out a set of clothes from the cloakroom.
Maeve looked at the pink and exquisite decoration in the room and asked, “May I ask if this is the room Mr. Richard prepared for his daughter?”
“Yes.” The housekeeper said, “Everything in here was personally arranged by Mr. Richard. He loves his daughter very much.”
“What a good father he is,” Maeve sighed.
“He’s also a poor father.” The housekeeper sighed and handed the clothes to Maeve. “This set of clothes has been washed but has never been worn before. Try and see if it fits.”
Maeve changed the clothes and walked to the full–length mirror. She was stunned for a while.
This apricot–pink courtly retro long dress is quite unique. The hem of the skirt just reaches the ankles, adorned with delicate lace trim, giving the impression of flowers blooming with each step as one walks.
It was the first time she had worn such an elegant and elaborate piece of clothing, and she felt rather uncomfortable.
Maeve straightened her skirt and was about to go downstairs to thank Mr. Richard when she suddenly saw a huge photo hanging on the wall on the right.
She turned around and couldn’t help but walk in front of the photo.
It was a photo of a man and a woman. The man was Mr. Richard, and the beautiful woman standing beside him should be his wife.
‘Wait a minute, she looked a little familiar? Had I seen this beautiful woman somewhere before?‘ Maeve could not help but fall into deep thought. ‘I would not forget such a beautiful person if I had seen her before, but why couldn’t I recall it?‘
“Ms. Reese, are you done?” The housekeeper’s voice came from behind.
Maeve immediately came back to her senses and nodded at the housekeeper. “Alright, I’ll go down now.”
Maeve went downstairs and returned to the dining room. She thanked Warren. “Mr. Richard, thank you for lending me such beautiful clothes. I will definitely wash them clean and return them another day.”
Warren smiled and shook his head. “There’s no need to return it. This dress suits you very well. It looks very beautiful on you.”
“But this is what you prepared for your daughter…”
“This set of clothes might want to go home with you more than keep it in the closet. Please don’t refuse.”
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Maeve thought for a moment. “Thank you.”
“You’re too kind.”
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Warren still wanted Maeve to stay for dinner, but Maeve was worried that the two children were still at home, so she rejected his good intentions.
After she left, the housekeeper couldn’t help but laugh. “Mr. Richard, this is the first time I’ve seen a girl who doesn’t show any fear in front of you and has such a cute and funny personality.”
Warren smiled. “She’s indeed cute. I’m even a little envious of her father.
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Maeve picked up the hem of her dress and entered the Retro Apartment. The moment she entered, she caught a strong and overpowering aroma of the prepared dishes.
The two little ones heard the sound and ran out. When they saw their beautiful mommy, who looked like she had just sneaked out of the palace banquet, they were stunned and kept circling her.
Theo’s round eyes were sparkling as he kept praising, “Mommy, mommy! Where did you go just now? You’re dressed so beautifully! You look like a princess in the book!”
“The princess in the book is not as good–looking as Mommy,” Will said with a serious face. “Mommy is the most beautiful.”
Maeve was inflated by their praise. She lifted the dress and spun around. “Mirror, mirror, who is the most beautiful woman in the world?”
Will blushed and confessed, “Of course it’s my Mommy!”
The cute Theo next to her clapped his hands in a supportive manner. “It’s you, it’s you! Our great and beautiful hero mother!”
Maeve was left speechless by the cuteness of the two little ones and burst into loud laughter. As expected of you, the atmosphere was gone in an instant.‘
A low voice of cough interrupted their acting addiction. Byron leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. His glasses did not move at all. His thin lips moved slightly. “Two little bootlickers.”
Just because Maeve would fall for it.
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