Chapter 39: From Now On, She’s Your Mommy
The mirror clearly reflected the ambiguous marks all over her body, which were almost unbearable to look at. Kayla quickly lowered her head and splashed cold water on her face.
Was she really with Ethaniel now? It felt so unreal.
After the heat on her face subsided, Kayla remembered the clothes Ethaniel had given her last night. It was a casual outfit, clearly Ethaniel’s, as it was far too big for her. Her lips curved upward involuntarily-there were no other women here.
Wearing the oversized clothes, Kayla dawdled downstairs. As soon as she reached the kitchen door, she was hit by the aroma of food. Ethaniel, dressed in a light-colored fitted suit, held a frying pan in one hand. With a slight flick of his wrist, the golden pancake flipped perfectly in the air. His elegant movements, highlighted by the morning sun, gave off an air of gentle warmth, making Kayla stare in a daze, a lovesick expression on her face.
Just then, Oliver came downstairs. Kayla, who had been leaning on the kitchen bar, suddenly sat up straight, stammering, “Oliver… long time no see, you’re up already? I just got here to take you to school.”
“Hmph!” Oliver walked to the dining table, pulled out his chair, and tried to hide his disdainful look. He thought to himself, with her psychological quality, she shouldn’t be a police officer.
Kayla buried her head in her food, her ears turning red, not daring to look at the father and son. Ethaniel sipped his coffee, glancing at Kayla’s head almost buried in her bowl, a faint smile in his purple eyes.
“I’ve finished eating. You two take your time; I’ll wait outside!” Kayla found the breakfast unbearably awkward and left the dining room before Ethaniel could respond.
“Stupid woman…” Oliver muttered, looking at her retreating figure.
“Ollie,” Ethaniel’s tone carried a subtle sternness, “from now on, she’s your mommy. You must respect her.”
Oliver’s head snapped up, eyes full of surprise. Did this mean Dad was really going to marry her? What should he do?
“You are my son,” Ethaniel closed the newspaper and stood up, ruffling Oliver’s hair. Knowing what his son was thinking, his voice softened, “You will always be my son.”
Oliver quickly lowered his head, biting his fork, almost moved to tears by this rare show of affection. In six years, this was the first time Dad had said something like this. Was it because of that woman?
If Dad liked her, then he could… accept it.
Kayla was relegated to the passenger seat, and uncharacteristically she complied without a fuss. The night before had been too intense, her whole body ached, especially her waist. But how could Ethaniel look so effortlessly handsome even while driving her old police car? Maybe because they had slept together, she found him more agreeable now.
“We’re here, Ollie.”
“Mm,” Oliver got out of the car, hesitated, and then said softly, “Miss Green, goodbye.”
“Oh… goodbye! Goodbye!” Kayla hadn’t expected Oliver to bid her farewell.
Ethaniel’s lips curved slightly as he drove towards the northern district police station. “I’ll drop you off first.”
Kayla hurriedly said, “I’m not going to the police station. You go to the meeting, and I’ll take the car.”
“Hmm?” Ethaniel raised an eyebrow.
“…I need to go home first. Last night…” Ethaniel could guess what she was thinking. Worried about not having returned home and her mother’s condition, he offered, “Where is your home? I’ll take you.”
Kayla wanted to refuse at first, but refusal meant enduring another of Ethaniel’s intense kisses that left her breathless. Giving in to Ethaniel, who had a habit of kissing her into submission, she finally relented and gave him her address.
Throughout the ride, Kayla was very uneasy. She knew Ethaniel had investigated her and understood her family situation. But if her mother had a relapse, what would he think? It wasn’t about feeling ashamed of her mother’s condition; she just didn’t want Ethaniel to see such a distress side of her.
Ethaniel, seemingly oblivious to her worries, parked the car in front of Kayla’s house. The alley was old, with an uneven road surface and dilapidated houses nearby. For all of Sam’s wealth, this was where Kayla and her mother lived. This made Ethaniel frown with displeasure.
Ethaniel’s refined presence contrasted starkly with the surroundings, making him appear out of place.
“You can go now, I…” Kayla began to shoo him away, but the rusty iron gate suddenly opened.
A shout followed, “Kayla, you still remember to come home!”
Kayla quickly turned around to see Viola storming out, her beautiful face full of anger.
“Where were you last night? Why didn’t you call? Aren’t you worried about your mom? You… oh my God!” Viola’s eyes landed on Ethaniel, her scolding words stuck in her throat as she stepped back in shock, “Ethaniel!”
Ethaniel’s purple eyes narrowed dangerously. How did this woman know who he was? She seemed quite familiar with him…
At the moment Viola recognized Ethaniel, Kayla had the urge to flee. She had sworn to Viola she would stay away from Ethaniel, and now, just a week later, they had already slept together. How shameful!
Facing Ethaniel’s sharp gaze, Viola grabbed Kayla and whispered, “What are you doing? How did you end up with him?”
“I…” Kayla was embarrassed and guilty, “It just happened… nothing really.”
Given the oversized men’s clothes she wore and the faint marks on her body, even a fool could tell what had happened. For the first time, Officer Kayla felt the pressure of a suspect, unable to meet Viola’s eyes.
Ethaniel took a step forward, pulling Kayla behind him and blocking Viola’s view. He raised his chin slightly, his tone icy, “She’s with me. Do you have any objections?”
As a former head of an intelligence organization, Viola knew exactly how to speak to such a person. She smiled ingratiatingly, “Mr. Han, I have no objections, but Kayla might have some things she hasn’t told you… Kayla, right?”
Ethaniel turned to look at Kayla, his cool, refined purple eyes making her want to run away. At that moment, a voice called from inside the house, “Kayla! Kayla!”
Kayla’s expression changed, and she immediately ran inside, leaving Ethaniel and Viola at the door.
Without Kayla, Ethaniel’s gaze turned more piercing as he looked at Viola. Viola sighed, her earlier panic gone, replaced by composure.
As expected, this woman was extraordinary-Ethaniel’s purple eyes narrowed coldly. “I detest people who think they are smart the most. ”
“My intelligence is not something I define myself by,” Viola smiled, her eyes full of allure, “I’m truly smart. I know exactly what kind of person Mr. Han is.”
Ethaniel sneered, “If you’re really that smart, you’d better not encourage her to make the wrong decision.”
Viola smiled playfully, “Mr. Han, don’t underestimate Kayla. If you do, you might regret it. I consider myself very clever, but I still lost to her.”
With that, she added with a smirk, “Let me give you a piece of advice, Mr. Han. With your status, you can have any woman you want. But Kayla is somewhat important to me, and I won’t allow anyone to hurt her.”
Having seen through Viola, Ethaniel’s expression softened slightly. “She’s fortunate to have you as a friend.”
Viola burst into laughter, “Who’s her friend? That fool, huh.”
“She’s not a fool,” Ethaniel’s sharp gaze fixed on Viola’s face, his voice calm, “From now on, she’s mine.”
Viola’s smile froze, staring at Ethaniel’s handsome face, unable to speak for a long time.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
This man… was serious.