Contract Marriage After a Crazy Night

Chapter 260: ~ 260

Chapter 260

~Octavia~

The transition from the intense, exhausting whirlwind of labor into quietness and peace, it felt like stepping into an entirely different world. The room was massive, looking more like a presidential suite at a five-star hotel than a hospital room.

The walls were lined with towering floral arrangements of white orchids and pale roses, filling the air with a soft, sweet fragrance.

I leaned back against a mountain of plush pillows, a deep, contented sigh escaping my lips as I looked down at the tiny miracle resting soundly in my arms.

Baby Lael was swaddled in the vintage blanket my mother had given me, her tiny, perfect face completely serene as she slept. She was a little angel, a beautiful blend of the two of us.

"She is just an absolute dream, Octavia," Victoria whispered softly, leaning over the side of the bed with a wide, glowing smile.

Our close circle of friends had arrived the next day after I woke up, bringing a beautiful, lighthearted energy into the room. Annie was already busy arranging an obscene amount of baby gifts on the side table, laughing quietly as she held up the baby shoes and clothes and how tiny they were.

"I still can’t believe the terrifying, untouchable Franklin Flemington was brought to tears," Annie teased playfully, glancing over toward the wide window. "The nurses are still talking about how the great CEO looked like a panicked mess during the delivery."

I chuckled softly, my eyes automatically drifting to where my husband was standing. Franklin was currently talking to my mother and dad by the window. Even though he had spent the entire night awake, he still held himself with his usual, commanding strength. He had changed into a fresh white dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms as he listened to my father speak.

My dad reached out, placing a warm, proud hand on Franklin’s broad shoulder. "You took incredible care of her, Franklin. I knew my daughter was in the safest hands in the world, but seeing how you protect her... you have my eternal respect."

"Thank you, sir," Franklin replied, his deep baritone low and respectful. "Octavia and Lael are my entire world. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to ensure their peace."

My mother walked over to the bedside, her eyes shining with happy tears as she gently touched Lael’s tiny velvet cheek. "She has your nose, Octavia. But those dark, fierce eyes are definitely all Franklin."

The atmosphere was incredibly sweet, filled with soft laughter and deep family warmth. Frederick and Clinton stopped by briefly as well. For the first time in our lives, we were allowed to just be a normal, deeply happy family without any corporate shadows looming over us.

By the afternoon, it was finally time for us to be discharged and head to our brand-new estate.

Franklin refused to let me walk a single step, despite my playful protests that I felt perfectly fine. He carefully lifted me into a wheelchair, putting Lael securely in her own stroller and wheeled us down to the private, VIP exit of the hospital.

When the doors opened into the warm air, I expected to see our usual car waiting for us.

Instead, my breath caught completely in my throat.

Parked right at the curb, gleaming brilliantly under the New York sun, was a brand-new, custom-ordered, ultra-luxury Mercedes-Benz SUV. The paint job was a stunning, metallic mist-blue, my favorite color. A massive, elegant white silk bow was fastened perfectly across the hood.

I blinked in shock, turning my head to look up at my husband. "Franklin... what is this?"

Franklin’s lips curved into a devastatingly handsome smile. He leaned down, dropping a heavy, platinum key directly into my palm before pressing a tender, lingering kiss against my forehead.

"Your push present, my queen," he murmured, his dark eyes melting with an intense, profound devotion. "I had it custom-made and fortified with top-tier security glass and luxury maternal comforts just for you and our daughter. A queen deserves the absolute best ride when she brings the princess home."

"Franklin, it’s absolutely breathtaking," I breathed, completely touched by his endless, ridiculous spoiling.

The interior of the Mercedes was pure luxury, featuring plush, heated massage seats and a custom climate-control system that kept the air perfectly tailored for a newborn. The drive through Manhattan and up toward our private estate was incredibly peaceful.

I sank into the soft leather, holding Lael close to my chest as Franklin drove with extreme care, his large hand resting protectively over my knee the entire way.

We were finally going home. Our baby was healthy, and we had a beautiful new sanctuary waiting for us.

The massive, iron security gates of our new estate opened smoothly, allowing the new Mercedes to enter. The property was beautiful, surrounded by towering, lush green trees and state-of-the-art security cameras monitoring every single square inch.

As the car finally pulled up to the grand, entrance of the mansion, I smiled, ready to start this new Chapter of our lives.

But then, my eyes caught a detail that made my smile instantly freeze.

Standing right at the top of the grand stairs, casually leaning against one of the massive white pillars right beside our front door, was a person. It was a young, well-dressed man, wearing a sharp, tailored coat that looked like a designer. He didn’t look like an intruder; he looked entirely at ease, casually holding a vintage, unlabelled bottle of wine in his hand as he watched our car approach.

A sudden, intense curiosity flared in my mind. Who is that? How did anyone manage to bypass the outer gates and the elite security detail without triggering a single alarm?

Beside me, the entire energy in the car shifted to absolute zero.

Franklin’s posture went completely rigid. His jaw clenched so hard the muscles jumped, and his dark eyes went completely pitch-black. The peaceful, doting father vanished in a fraction of a second, replaced by the cold look. He shifted the car into park but didn’t turn off the engine.

"Franklin?" I whispered, my heart suddenly beating a little faster against my ribs as I looked from him to the stranger. "Do you know him?"

Franklin didn’t answer. He didn’t take his eyes off the man on the porch.

Before I could say another word, the strange young man calmly pushed himself away from the stone pillar. He stepped forward, walking down the grand stairs with a slow, arrogant grace that mirrored Franklin’s own movements.

He stopped just a few feet away from the driver’s side window. A dangerous, incredibly sharp smirk spread across his handsome face as his eyes locked onto Franklin’s icy glare.

"Hello, cousin," the young man said smoothly, his voice dripping with an elegant, wealthy arrogance.