Free Web NovelChapter 388: Chapter 388
Aria’s POV
From the table, Chloe, the nanny, and I all looked up. Lana was in my arms, warm and sleepy.
Under our collective gaze, Patrick faltered.
“You’re all up early,” he said awkwardly. “I thought I heard a man’s voice...”
My eyes cooled.
Kara slammed her fork down. “What are you implying?”
The sharp sound made Patrick flinch. Kara always had that effect on people. I mean, she has had a brief encounter with Patrick in the past, I have no doubt that memory still lives rent free in his head.
“Aria,” he said, trying to sound authoritative, “you can’t let your help behave like this.”
I almost smiled.
“Kara isn’t my help,” I said lightly. “She does as she pleases.”
His face darkened. “You’re part of the Darvin family now. Act like it.”
My wolf stirred, annoyed.
“If the Darvin family is like this,” I said calmly, “maybe I don’t belong there. What kind of father visits his daughter and first asks about men in her house?”
That hit.
His anger cooled into calculation. I watched it happen, the shift behind his eyes. He needed me now afterall. I wasn’t the quiet girl from years ago.
“Aria, you misunderstand. I’m just concerned,” he said, changing tactics smoothly. “You’re newly divorced. If you date, I support you. But rumors—”
“Right,” I said flatly.
He hated that.
“So,” I asked, meeting his gaze without blinking, “why are you here?”
He reset his mask. “You said you’d return to the Darvin house. You haven’t. I came to check on you and maybe find out why.”
That was obviously a lie. My wolf smelled the real reason, he came to search for Tyler and his wife.
“I don’t like the rooms,” I said. “When the new furniture arrives, I will come back.”
He nodded, pretending that made sense, his eyes roaming the house, looking and searching for any trace of them. He sniffed the air. I could tell from the way his face squinted that he was disappointed he couldn’t smell their scents.
“Mind if I join breakfast?” he asked.
I leaned back in my seat after a pause. Appearances mattered, at least for now.
“There is not much for an extra person,” I said.
He sat down, scanning everything. The plates, chairs, doors. Scenting the air again like a clumsy animal pretending it didn’t have a nose.
“You’ve prepared a lot,” he said, glancing at the different meals on the table. We were just about to eat before he arrived.
“I’m a mother now,” I replied, adjusting Lana in my arms. “I can’t afford to be underweight.”
He watched quietly. Then his gaze sharpened.
“There are four extra place settings,” he said slowly. “Why?”
Four extra place settings.
Even I had to admit — it looked bad. How did I not remember to put them away? The mistake had already been made.
I kept my face calm, though my wolf was already alert, her tail low, watching.
“Lana can have soup now,” I said evenly.
Patrick didn’t blink. His gaze stayed locked on me like he was trying to peel back my thoughts. I kept my heart steady, made sure he could not detect any sign of unease from me.
“And the other three?” he pressed.
What a persistent pushy bastard. He was like a scavenger trying to nose into a carcass that didn’t belong to him.
Inside, my wolf gave a low warning growl.
I pressed my lips together. “Mr. Darvin, you’re overstepping.”
That should’ve been enough.
But suspicion had a scent too, and it was pouring off him.
Still, he backed off. I knew that was only on the surface. freёweɓnovel.com
“I was worried all night,” he said, pushing a plate aside. “I do not even have an appetite.”
Liar.
His eyes slid toward the staircase. My spine stiffened.
“Shevron Estates... I haven’t toured your home yet. You all eat. I’ll just take a look upstairs.”
He stood.
Amelia and Chloe went rigid. I could almost hear their heartbeats spike.
My wolf rose to its feet inside me. One more step, and this would turn ugly.
“The dishes are for the two of us, of course.” A voice came from the door. We all turned to see that the front door had opened.
Jonathan and Williams stepped in. Relief washed through the room like warm sunlight.
Williams spoke first, smug pride rolling off him. Jonathan stood beside him in an off-white suit, calm, elegant and dangerous.
“Mr. Darvin,” Jonathan said smoothly, “it’s not polite to wander through someone else’s home.”
His smile didn’t reach his eyes. He almost looked like a predator disguised as a gentleman.
Patrick actually stepped back.
Then another scent hit the room. It was bright, energetic and confident.
“Well, you started without me?” Rowland’s voice chimed in. He appeared at my side like he’d always been there.
I had contacted the three of them as soon as Francis announced that Patrick was at the door. I knew I would need them if I was to prevent Patrick from searching my home. fгeewebnovёl.com
It was a good thing also that I had told Jonathan and Rowland my door passcode so they didn’t need to knock to be let in. They were two men I have come to trust. They have proven themselves trustworthy on several occasions.
Just like that, the extra plates made sense.
Patrick’s face darkened.
“Why the long face?” Rowland teased. “Disappointed?”
Patrick’s shoulders sank in submission.
“No, no,” he said quickly. “You misunderstand.”
But my wolf knew the truth. He’d come sniffing for secrets. And now?, he had found himself surrounded by wolves who didn’t bother hiding their teeth.
“Indeed,” Rowland said, flipping his hair back like he was on stage, “come to think of it, what right does a father who disappeared for years have to comment on his daughter’s life now?”
Chloe almost choked trying not to laugh.
Only Rowland could say something that dangerous with that grin.
Patrick’s scent soured instantly with a mix of anger and humiliation, but he swallowed it. He had to. The balance of power in this room wasn’t in his favor anymore.
“Alpha Rowland,” Patrick said stiffly, “that’s quite the statement.”
Rowland gave him a lazy look. “Isn’t it just the truth?”
The air thickened.
