I awake to find myself alone. Alaric is already at work, and his absence is palpable. His decision to skip work yesterday still lingers in my mind, a subtle indication that something might be amiss.Sure, someone set fire to the cars, but he had always been in and out when it came to work. Yesterday, he barely even peered at his phone to check on work.I quickly shower and prepare for the day, making my way downstairs.Grabbing the bottle from my bag, I take a tablet and consider breakfast options. Thankfully, the medication seems to have quelled the worst of my morning sickness. I didn’t experience any discomfort during our dinner last night, which is a welcome relief.As I start cooking, I hear footsteps approaching. I turn to find Jake entering the room. He smiles at me before sitting down.“Care for some breakfast?” I offer, knowing he’s unable to fend for himself.He chuckles and takes a seat. “Sure, thanks, Ruby. You look different today.”His comment catches me off guard, and I
We sit together at the table and eat, but I know Alaric is about to speak, and I need to address something first.“Sir, why are you avoiding working?” I ask, knowing that he is.“I’m not,” his response elicits a chuckle from me. “Look, I’m still working. I’m still going to the business to help with issues,” he explains, and I nod.“You barely even looked at your phone yesterday,” I point out, a tinge of concern creeping in. I get he might be worried, but he still has to work.“Things were hectic that time because I pushed through a big change and didn’t monitor it. This is different. The businesses run smoothly from day to day, and the staff tend to fix issues. Sometimes, baby girl, I could go weeks without contact with them. I worked to pass the time, not because I had to,” his explanation leaves me puzzled.“I don’t understand. How can you not be needed at your businesses?” I inquire.“I could have retired years ago. That’s how well things are going. I chose not to; otherwise, I wou
As we step inside the club, I can’t help but smile at him, noticing how he keeps getting distracted by me.“I’m hating my choice in agreeing now, baby girl,” he remarks, his words eliciting laughter from me. “Come on.” He wraps his arm around my waist, guiding me further inside inside. I stand there, momentarily stunned; the club is nothing like the ones local to me.The foyer greets us with large desks for the receptionists, exuding an air of sophistication. To the right, I spot what appears to be a stylish bar area, complete with pulsating music and low lighting. To the left, a sleek restaurant beckons guests, its ambience distinct and almost seductive.I take in the surroundings, feeling excited and curious about this. This is a far cry from the usual place I visit, and I can’t help but wonder what surprises the night holds for us.“Alaric,” a woman’s voice calls out, and we turn to see her approaching. She moves towards us with confidence, wrapping her arms around him in a greetin
I stand before the mirror, my reflection simply a painting of nerves and uncertainty. Tonight is in my mind, and the weight of Alaric’s gathering feels heavy on my shoulders. There's so much unknown.What will his family think of me? The age gap is only one concern; my history with Jake adds another layer of complexity. Will they recognise me as Jake’s ex? The thought scratches at me, refusing to be ignored. I met his brother, and at that moment, I was dating Jake.As I descend the stairs, the sounds of conversation and laughter drift towards me. Alaric’s hand grasps my hip, grounding me with its reassuring grip.“Stop looking so scared, baby girl,” Alaric whispers, his breath warm against my ear.I force a smile, but it falls. “Easier said than done, Sir,” I admit, my voice hushed."It makes no difference. Nothing they will change, and their refusal to accept us won't stop me from loving you or wanting you." His hand moves to the base of my back, offering support and a silent reassur
Callum and Alex stand smiling at us. My eyes are on Alaric, and he appears to be arguing with his father; Jake joins them as well. I feel bad for running."You should really go help." I turn to Alex, or is it Callum? God my head hurts after five minutes, I feel for their mum."I agree. Grandad is never happy, but he was smiling at you, so he likes you. There's a chance he will stop picking on Uncle Alaric if you're there." One of them speaks, and I nod.Walking over, I reach them."Don't Jake." Alaric looks at him."They don't know the whole story." Jake looks at him. Are they arguing? I step closer, and they stop, and all turn to me."Hi, Ruby." William smiles at me, but his gaze slices towards Alaric."Oh, for God's sake, Grandad. I cheated on her multiple times, hurt her, and essentially used her to get money from Dad. It's not like I was a perfect boyfriend, and they slept together." Jake looks at him, and Alaric stares at Jake."You didn't say?" William looks at Alaric."Because
I look towards Alaric. "At sixteen, my parents told me I wasn't to see Beatrix again. I refused. She got pregnant, and I was told it was wrong. She was using me, and I was a fool. I refused to listen, so they cut me off entirely. No money, no contact."I had no idea. "Until when?" When did he finally contact them again?"When Jake was about six, my mum reached out, and I spoke to her. I'm sorry; tonight wasn't meant to be drama." He wraps his arms around me."Alaric, I don't care. Do you remember my parents?" I peer up at him. He nods and laughs. "Exactly, so don't worry, it won't scare me away. I do think you need to speak to him and tell him everything, Sir." Something tells me his dad is trying to make amends."It's his thing. He did it with Desmond when he announced leaving the country. For ten years, he refused to speak to him." He says it like it's nothing, but clearly, it hurts him."They are meant to stay for a few days here in the spare rooms. I might just tell them to go to
As the first rays of morning light filtered through the curtains, Alaric’s gentle voice stirred me from my slumber.“Good morning, baby girl,” he murmured, his words carrying a warmth that spread through me like sunshine. My lips curled into a soft smile as I turned to face him. He was already awake and grinning at me with that familiar twinkle in his eyes.“You have a busy day today,” he announced, his tone laced with excitement.“Why?” I queried, a hint of confusion tugging at the corners of my mind. After all, I hadn’t made any plans for the day, so why did it suddenly seem so full?Alaric set down a steaming cup of coffee before me, accompanied by a plate of breakfast, and then met my gaze with a knowing look. “Bex and Ivy are still here, and you’re going shopping,” he stated matter-of-factly.“Shopping?” I echoed, my mind racing to catch up with the unexpected turn of events. Shopping wasn’t exactly on my agenda—I had intended to head home and start packing for me to move in here
“I would rather accept you paying than risk my parents’ ulterior motives,” I confessed, the words heavy with resignation.With a sigh, Alaric nodded in understanding. “Then don’t let him pay,” he conceded, his voice soft. “But remember, their intentions may not be as bad as you fear.”I shook my head, unable to shake the nagging sense of distrust that lingered like a shadow in the back of my mind.“It’s too late for that,” I murmured, my heart heavy with the weight of unresolved tension.“From the conversation your father had with mine, your parents were against Jake because he tainted your innocence, and they sensed he was up to no good.”A bitter irony twisted in my gut at his words. Yes, my parents’ suspicions had been justified, their instincts honed to detect the negative that had infiltrated my life in the form of Jake.“That doesn’t remove everything else, Sir,” I interjected, my voice tinged with a hint of defiance. “Yes, they had a reason for objecting to Jake and disowning m