Wolfram looked around as he skimmed through the life-sized dolls sitting in a corner. Eine was asking to store those for now because they scared her. They were beautiful, but she didn’t seem to feel safe around them. If Delta was going to hide, she should be hiding among those dolls.
However, that was too easy. That was why he turned to the bed, where more toys occupied a good third of the space. He walked toward it, the maids keeping an eye on him. The master stood at the side and watched the stuffed animals intently. When he spotted a strange fabric tucked underneath one, he already knew Delta was hidden underneath them.
His eyes then looked in the direction of the life-sized dolls. “Well, this is hard. I’m already exhausted from pretending I like going outside.”
“Can we recommend resting in your own room before dinner, Master?” the other maid asked, but she noticed how Wolfram removed his shoes.
“There’s already a bed here.”
Without another second for the maids to react, Wolfram jumped at the stuffed toys. Delta quickly rolled away to evade him, even dropping from the edge of the bed. There were two distinct thumps were heard, but only one of the people groaned in pain. Delta got to her feet with a giggle, while the man squirmed on the bed. The stuffed toys also buried him.
Soon enough, a wooden display rose from the bed, and Wolfram blindly tried to place it down on a drawer surface. Lena had to move in and help him with it as well as what happened to him.
“I’m sorry for taking the prank seriously…” Delta smoothed the dress she wore, hoping that her makeup stayed on her face.
“I took it seriously, too…” Wolfram sat up and slowly placed the stuffed toys back. However, he was holding onto his chest as if he was hurt.
Lena figured something happened, especially when Wolfram found a wooden block on the bed. “Erm, I will ask for someone to bring ice. I’ll get the kit, too.”
One of the maids joined her in raiding the estate for the needed items. The last maid in the room stayed until she walked out to greet Eine in the hallway. Strangely, the room was emptied—leaving Delta and Wolfram on their own.
Wolfram opened his button-up shirt and saw how big of a bruise he got. He even wanted to laugh at the stupid injury. It was partially his fault, anyway.
“That looks bad.” Delta sat closer and tested the tenderness of the bruise. Since Wolfram wouldn’t hiss, she figured it was not worth the worry. They only needed to press ice on it. She then met the gaze of the man… especially when she found the burn mark from the stun gun days ago.
“Are you making a scorecard on my body? Is this how you want to leave marks of ownership? I’m not even yours.” Wolfram snorted as his flawless skin now had another blemish. It was even caused by the same woman, one who was strangely brutal.
Delta brought her gaze back to the smooth chest in front of her. It still smelled of that body spray that reminded her of chocolates. Right, even from a closer sniff, it did give the same scent.
The skin was so smooth, and the bruise and burn mark was indeed hard to look at. It’s just that it had a different effect on Delta. The cream color was making her hungry. Before she knew it, she already planted a kiss just above his collarbones.
Wolfram was only focused on scolding Delta, but the woman stared at his chest so intently. When she moved closer to press her forehead and cheek against him, he didn’t even say anything. He was not angry; he was curious. More when she even moved her head again to kiss him above the collarbone.
“…” The man wanted to ask, but she shifted her weight to lean closer to him. Her arm reached behind him, and she pressed her breasts against his body. Then she started sucking on his skin.
“Will you wake up if I talk?” Wolfram whispered, his hand reaching to cup the side of her corseted waist. It was hard and boned, but he caressed it anyway.
Delta slowed down, realizing what she was doing. She would pull back from shyness, but the man was not even pushing her down. They were sitting on her daughter’s bed, and it was too easy for a man with that strength and body to overpower her. Nonetheless, he was not doing anything.
No, he couldn’t be uninterested. The way his hand stroked the side of her waist felt sensual. He was not saying anything, but he indeed liked the feeling.
“I’m awake.” Delta slowly got to her knees to balance her body better. She was still sticking close to Wolfram, one hand on his back and the other on his shoulder. The woman smiled a little before sending another kiss on Wolfram’s neck.
Wolfram chuckled, but he stayed unmoving. This woman was so strange. Did seeing the traces of her inflicted injuries turn her on? Then again, they were on her daughter’s bed. There was no way he wouldn’t throw it out if something got on it, right?
In the middle of his reverie, a sharp pain took him back to the room. Wolfram felt like something blunt was trying to rip a chunk off his flesh. When he moved his eyes to find Delta, he figured she was already biting his shoulder.
The pain was not the fuss, and it wasn’t like Wolfram didn’t find it stimulating. Her hot breath was pulsing against his skin, and she squirmed as if disappointed by what she was getting. Soon enough, the skin finally broke, and the taste of blood hit her tongue. Delta quickly latched off the shoulder, her saliva drawing a thin line from her lips to the bleeding skin.
“…if you stab me next, I swear I’m putting you in a straitjacket.” Wolfram only growled lowly. He wanted to wipe off the blood and the drool, but looking at it was making him freeze. The skin grew red from the injury and the heat. The woman in front of him wasn’t even trying to clean—
Lick. Delta grew closer again and began licking the blood as if her saliva would help the wound. It was just that Wolfram gently used a hand to push her face off. “You’re only infecting it. The maids will patch it up. You just need to think of an excuse.”
“An excuse?” Delta mumbled, her brows frowning in Wolfram’s presence for the first time. Then she relaxed them before smiling at the handsome man in front of her. “Isn’t it bad enough… that you’re almost topless next to me?”
“That’s not an excuse.”Knocks came to the door, and Wolfram darted a glare at Lena. The maid poked her head from the gap and asked, “M-Master? Are you finished? Miss Eine wants to see her dress.”Wolfram was wearing a maroon shirt, so he just closed his clothes to hide the injury. He got up from the bed and walked out to meet Eine. Delta was left there on her own, wiping her lips clean from her saliva and the blood. As her tongue glided across her teeth, she remembered how Wolfram’s tasted in her mouth. For some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to forget.“Mommy, are you okay?” Eine looked at her mother’s dazed eyes. She just saw how Wolfram patted her head and held onto his shoulder after.“Hmm? Yes, d
The limo continued to drive until they reached a seven-star hotel. The children’s eyes reflected the neon lights and the glare of the shine. This was the hotel under Colton Industries, but it belonged to the faction handled by the eldest son. This was also the place where the sick father was checked in for the weekend.“Mr. Colton, welcome to Rosa Bianca. I am Jen. Please follow me to your room.” The usherette picked them up after the limousine parked. She had a keycard for the express elevator to the VIP floors. “Your father is expecting you in the restaurant later at eight-thirty.”“Sure, we’ll be there.” Wolfram was used to this usherette. She was the one always assigned to Wolfram. After all, she knew well that this man wasn’t one to speak a lot.It’s j
The third brother stared at the others. His eldest brother, Yuri, came alone. His wife was too busy with her business affairs that she chose a business trip over this dinner. He appeared to be the most elegant and eloquent among them, and yet his veiny hands knew more hard work than all. On his face were a pair of thin glasses and their mother’s tall nose no one else inherited.Three chairs away was the second brother, Zenon. He arrived with his vain wife, even constantly retouching her makeup to appear the best. However, if one looked closer at her head, her blonde hair was nothing but dyed. As for him, he was also dyeing his hair. After all, he was too young to sport silver hair—one attributed to Yuri.Next to them was a young girl with a princess crown. She was so grumpy she was grumbling under her breath and sliding down her seat. However, when
The blonde woman snorted. “She’s not even sure about staying with him. Are you so desperate to marry you picked up a random woman, Wolfram?”“…” Wolfram continued to stay quiet. His gaze was not even stuck on anyone in particular.“Why do you always try to get my husband’s attention?” Delta turned to the woman. “Are you hoping to find someone more miserable than you? Leave him alone. You want him to come early, but this is all he hears. Perhaps he has good reasons to skip seeing you.”The woman lifted her brow. “And you behave like you’ll be here the next time we gather. Look here, pretty face. You’re not going to be Wolfram’s wife for so long. Women like you are like single-use table napkins—just good for one use and th
“Life had been quite hard for me when the father of my children kept on leaving us for his work.” Delta prepared a story for everyone to hear. “It came to a point where I started incurring debts. However, I ran into Wolfram, and something instantly clicked between the two of us. Since there were no troubles, we decided to get married.”Delta looked up at the father, hoping he wouldn’t make things difficult for her. “It wasn’t long before the new building was inaugurated and opened.”Trisha decided to interfere again. “No troubles? So, you have children with a man that was not married to you in any way? Kept on leaving you for work? Maybe you’re just stalking him in hopes to get his attention and make him responsible for your kids.”She then turned to
“You want to gamble with my seat on the board, Yuri?” Zenon hissed at his older brother. “Who gave you the right to award my spot to just some random woman Wolfram found on the streets?”Yuri didn’t drop his smile as he shook his head. “Zenon, you have been part of the board since you received the Rhea Faction. Your scores are beyond impressive in the first few years, but you’re clearly lagging. On the tenth-year mark of your acquisition, I only want to see Rhea hit 90%, just as any other member of the factions.“Since you continue to fail to improve, I merely gave you a nudge.” Yuri’s smile grew tamer. “Your household expenses kept on rising because of your daughter and your wife. You might as well contribute bigger. At least, take solace in the fact that I didn’t go through firing you as the President of Rhea.”“You’re really discussing things like this in front of strangers?” Janelle whispered as she glanced at Delta. At least, that other woman decided to be Wolfram’s wife.When sh
Delta’s eyes flickered. Wolfram drew an unbearable picture of Regina—the supposed bitch-princess daughter of his second-eldest brother. However, she clearly looked like a rather unfavored child. Could this child be the way she was because tantrums and screams attract the attention of her parents more?Came with this thought was a look she gave Wolfram. However, the man gave a head shake. Don’t be fooled, he implied. Delta then looked at the girl sitting on the twin’s bed, joining them in looking at the two adults. Everyone was waiting for Zenon to pick up his phone.The woman then turned to Wolfram. “Maybe he blocked you already? How come he’s not answering? If they had to fly somewhere, the operator would say something else.”“He just didn’t want to answer my call. Why would he after what happened earlier?” Wolfram finally stopped trying. The light in the eyes of the children grew duller by the second. He just dialed Yuri’s number, hoping to just pass the message.[“Did you run into
“Safer?” Delta echoed softly, but she figured it was a talk for later. She just turned to find Foxley and got him to stop plastering his face against the glass wall.Wolfram squatted down to see how it looked from Foxley’s eye level. He couldn’t even see the price as if it was not something a child should see. He then turned to Foxley, whose cheeks were being wiped clean by his mother. After all, he pressed his face against something other children must have pressed their faces as well.Foxley then hugged Wolfram’s leg. “Wolfie, will you buy it for me? Let’s play on it together. I already know a lot of games we can play together!”“Sure, but you have to be extra well-behaved to your mom. If you misbehave, she will take it away.” Wolfram laughed, patting the head of the obedient child. He then got to his feet. “Let’s go inside. Maybe you can find more games for it.”“Okay!” Foxley went to hold Wolfram’s hand instead. “Help me read instructions, too. I can’t read all words yet. Mommy sa
Feet shuffled as someone ran up to the main lobby. There were giggles in her mouth as she ran around like a small child let loose in their new house. It was just that… it was not their new house. Delta just incredibly missed the majestic visage of the Blue Moon Estate.Instead of having the honeymoon right after the wedding, Delta asked to have it moved to another month—or even at the end of the year. After all, Wolfram was still undergoing physical therapy for his body. She also needed to catch up with work to snatch Zenon’s seat on the board.Nah, Trisha knew how to be kind even if she was like an old witch. Delta long forgot to zero in on Zenon’s seat. Yuri should just pick someone else’s.“Delta, aren’t you a little too giddy?” Wolfram laughed a little as he called out from the door. He was also caught perusing the door of his real house. Ever since they received that threat toward Eine and Foxley, they had relocated to the Willow House. It was nothing but a safe house prepared f
Even though the newlyweds escaped the church, Trisha was sure that they would return for the reception. She was making rounds to see the food served to the guests, but she only heard everyone discussing a few things about the wedding. They talked about the venue, the other guests, Delta’s angelic entrance… the children, the wedding vows, and the willful escape.Some matrons and maidens gossiped about the children a lot. It was evident in their vows that Delta’s little angels were not Wolfram’s children. However, the two kids would say ‘Daddy Wolfie’ every time.“Trisha, when are they returning?” Janelle stealthily went to her side and offered her a drink as an excuse. “We still have to tell Delta about the thing.”“Psh, do you think I’m not ready? Delta already knows about the plan.” Trisha huffed and still took the drink Janelle gave her. She sipped on it and waved her hand to make Janelle scarce. They shouldn’t be caught talking, or else people might get the wrong idea.Just as Jane
Chatters returned with squeals and cooing as the flower girls and the ringbearers came. Eine and Regina were like little fairies scattering the flower petals. Even if guests could not bring their children, the bride and groom’s family still had theirs. After all, these three had a role to play.Foxley walked next to Gulper, the dog carrying a pillow on its back. Gulper even had a suit that matched its owner’s clothes. The rings were on the pillow, encased in a glass box for people on the aisle to see. It was a pair of white rings with diamonds and gold linings.The music soon died down before the bridal theme started playing. However, instead of the normal song, what played was an old song only a few could recall. Wolfram figured it was that one song Delta liked listening to while she was waiting for Carolus to come home when they were still children.“Here she comes…” “Oh, my God… her gown is so gorgeous…”The people stood for the coming of the bride. When the doors opened again, the
The wares vendor hid behind her stand, but Delta still came to hand one to her. She didn’t do much for Delta’s mental well-being, but she was the first one who would lend Delta money when she needed to loan some to make ends meet.Delta still smiled at her, so the third vendor only chuckled nervously. “I’m really sorry. I just thought you grew so ungrateful and left without a word…”“A wedding? I guess you’re doing well. That’s good.” The man was eating the strawberries he bought while listening to them. He even offered some to Delta. “I’m also happy for you… even if you don’t know me at all.”“Don’t know? But I remember all my repeat customers. Thank you for buying a crate every time.” Delta also smiled at the man. However, she didn’t have any invitation for him. It was not like he expected one as well. She just indulged him by asking for one strawberry.…Days after…Delta kept on twirling in her room as she waited for the ceremony to start. She was already suited in her wedding gow
The solemn greeting of the maids echoed to the stairwell where Delta was. Instead of heading back to the home office, she changed direction and went to greet her husband. She descended the stairs and found him walking home after another day of physical therapy.Unlike what Delta thought, even his blades burned against his skin that time. Not only the obvious spot had third-degree burns. For Wolfram to regain his ambidexterity and attack speed, he needed to do a lot of physical therapy. Of course, it came with frustration and exhaustion.Wolfram walked with his eyes closed, so it was fairly easy for Delta to catch him with her own body. When he bumped into her, he only gasped softly and whined upon seeing the bright smile on her lips.“Delta, have you finished with the guest list?” Wolfram wrapped his arms around her shoulders as she did the same on his waist. “You also look mischievous. Are you doing something strange?”“No, nothing strange.” She giggled as she then moved to show him
The sound of papers shifting conquered the room as two men were looking through them. Some were letters of congratulations as if hoping they would be invited to the wedding. Yuri had devised this thing when he married Mariska. Only those who could give the nicest wedding gifts were allowed to come to his wedding. Since Zenon did the same, everyone assumed Wolfram would not break tradition.Delta was working on customizing the letters to respond to the rest, while Finlay and Gendry were on the soft carpet. The two were going through the offers; one was grading their realism, while the other was running checks on whoever sent them. Delta could ask Angeline to go through them, but she needed that secretary to handle more things required by the company.She then chuckled as she took a break from typing. Delta gazed at the two working hard on drawing out a list of candidates. The woman would have to run it through Colton Industries afterward. After all, she needed to see which were blackli
Carolus glared at him before shaking his head in helplessness. These old people should just have their fun from time to time if they like. Shezmu just laughed at the poor person before looking at the tombstones. “So, this is where you always go to when you vanish. Sheesh, if not for Red Core, we won’t even find you.”Carolus turned to his other side and watched Khepri slowly sit down because of his awful injuries. Babi was also there, as well as three more older members of the House of Ra. He all remembered them as active operatives even before he became one—aside from Babi. They were also well-acquainted with Kathy as if they all grew up under her care.Babi hugged her knees and placed her chin on them. “What kind of lady is Ms. Kathy? Since you’re not going back here anymore, I think today’s the only day worth talking about her. Also, we still have a lot of time before the sun sets.”“Yeah, it’s better than you speaking to a tombstone… unless we’re actually imposing on you.” Khepri
Yuri was the first one to react and laugh while the rest of the men’s brows furrowed deeper. Trisha’s eyes bulged out on Delta, while Mariska went straight to pinching the woman’s face. Janelle only covered her mouth with a hand as if she knew what was happening.“It’s nice to find that Delta is indeed mentally sound as well.” Yuri only giggled as he saw what the women did to the spoiled little sister. “We’ll just leave when your friends start coming. For now, let’s discuss a few things.”“Foxley, Eine, Regina, let’s find pretty flowers for these two. Look at how sad their room is.” Trisha gathered the kids, who were also concerned about the lack of flowers. They left the room in an instant as if on a mission. The second Mrs. Colton just whispered a few things to her husband before she walked out of the door entirely.Yuri eyed the door close before assuming a seat on the visitor stool no one was using. “Congratulations on completing one of your most difficult tasks, Delta. Now that y
Delta moved her weak hands to hold the phone on her own. She wanted to get into a more comfortable position than straining her neck. “Wolfie, how are you? Does anywhere hurt more than your heart? You didn’t ask the children to visit you, right?”[“No, Sobek made the call to the Willow House earlier. I spoke to them like this.”] Wolfram made a helpless sigh. [“Delta, you come back here walking and well, okay? Five weeks might not be enough for us to recover fully. If anything, I want to get married without any IV drips anywhere.”]“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll make sure to hide those under your clothes.” Delta laughed and made Wolfram pout bigger. She then moved her hand in front of the screen as if caressing his face without touching the screen. “I can’t wait to come back to you…”Wolfram dropped his sour face and smiled at his wife. [“If I recover faster than you, can I visit you there? It should be safe enough, yes?”]Delta shook her head. “I don’t want to get stuck here for days. Maybe we