My attention falls on Jeremy, who’s wearing his blank expression like a second skin.
“What did you say your family business was?”
“I still didn’t say.”
“Go on then. Get on with it.”
“My father is one of the biggest shareholders in a corporation. We have countless subsidiaries in every field, including but not limited to imports and exports, electronics, medical research, cars, and investment.”
Cecily slowly relaxes, and Kim smiles. “That sounds huge.”
“It is. As my father’s heir, I’m expected to take over those responsibilities sooner rather than later.”
“But you’re still so young,” Kim says. “Don’t you want to live your life first?”
“Age is just a number. I’ve been ready to serve this role since I was a child.”
My wife strokes our daughter’s hand. “Cecy has also wanted to enter the field of psychology since she was a kid. She said she wanted to be able to listen properly to those who have no one who listens to them and to be able to give them the help they need but don’t know how to ask for. I guess being responsible is something both of you have in common.”
“I know.” He stares at my daughter, whose eyes glitter at her mother’s words. “She listened to me like no one else has.”
Cecily lifts her head and they maintain eye contact for a disgusting amount of time before I slam my glass of water on the table.
“You’re just shamelessly exploiting my daughter, aren’t you?”
“Papa!” Cecily chastises me with that pleading look in her eyes, and Kim strokes the back of my hand, asking me without words to stop being an arsehole.
The fact is, these two know all too well that I can’t say no to them.
Not even if they ask me for the impossible.
So I try to keep my scathing remarks to a minimum as I watch him effortlessly bewitch my girls.
I’m going to unmask this psychopath so they’ll see him for his true self, even if it’s the last thing I do.
After dinner, they show him around the house, play a board game. Not only does he subtly lose like some chivalrous bastard, but he also welcomes and answers any questions Kim has for him.
My wife is officially a lost cause when it comes to this Jeremy. Maybe he brought some mojo with him and put it in her drink.
That’s the only explanation for why she’s fawning over him when she’s never been a big fan of Cecily being in relationships.
She stays by his side until I nearly throw her over my shoulder and take her to our bedroom.
But first, I escort the wanker to his room because, despite my objections, he’s spending the night. Kim said it’s nonsense to send him to a hotel when we have plenty of space, and that traitor Cecily naturally agreed.
So I had the housekeeper put his backpack in the farthest room from Cecily.
He steps inside ahead of me, casting a fleeting glance at the place before he looks at me. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
“I’d rather you were on the streets, so let’s spare each other the bullshit.”
He physically forces his body to relax, and I know there’s forcing involved, because he’s always stood like an erect wall.
“I understand that you find it hard to accept me, considering your tight relationship with Cecily, but I mean her no harm, so for her sake, can we compromise?”
“I’ll compromise you to hell is what I’ll do.” I make an ‘I’m watching you’ motion. “If I see you near my daughter’s room, I’ll bring my shotgun, loaded this time.”
He nods, and I start to leave but then slide back in. “I’m watching you, boy. Any funny business and you’re out, got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
I finally leave but remain in the hallway to test the arsehole. I even sit on the classical sofa at the end, across from his room, to keep an eye on him.
In fact, I don’t mind sleeping here tonight.
Yes, they’re probably at that stage in their relationship, which I don’t want to think about, but nothing will be happening under my bloody roof.
After some time of glaring at his closed door, I retrieve my phone and text in the group chat I have with my friends.
Xander:Cecily brought some fucker home.
Levi:I told you this day would happen. I lost Glyn to some arsehole, and now, you’re losing Cecy.
Xander:I didn’t lose her. By the time he leaves my house, he’ll be her ex-boyfriend.
Levi:That’s what I said, too, about Glyn’s tool of a boyfriend, but he’s more pasted to her side than superglue.
Aiden:The fuck is wrong with you two? It’s time to stop treating your girls like they’re nine-year-olds.
Levi:No daughter. No opinion.
Cole:What Captain said, King.
Aiden:I’m here with the popcorn for the double trouble both your daughters will bring you, Nash.
Cole:There will be no trouble if you keep Eli away from my Ava. One of these days, I’ll get something on him. I have people working on it.
Aiden:Good luck trying, you poor cunt.
Xander:Hello? I’m telling you that I’m losing my daughter, and her mother, too, since she’s team arsehole, and you’re joking?
Ronan:Wait a fucking minute. Cecy is really not going to be my daughter-in-law? Aw, I thought she was always meant to be with Remi.
Levi:No ‘one’ is meant to be with Remi. He needs a harem.
Xander:The Remi who fucks every girl in a skirt like his father once upon a time? No, thanks.
Ronan:Don’t act high and mighty when you were the same, Xan.
Cole:He was not.
Aiden:Yeah, Astor. Remember that human rights violation case? Oh, wait, you were the last to know.
Ronan:Very funny. Not. I’m still revoking friendship rights for that.
Levi:My condolences, Xan. It’ll only get worse going forward.
Like fuck it will.
I’m about to reply back before the chat is buried in Ronan’s dramatics when I feel a soft, warming presence.
Kim sits beside me, a dark green sleeping robe tied around her middle and her hair falling to her shoulders. “You’re not going to sleep?”
“I’ll do it right here, so the little twat doesn’t try anything funny.”
“Oh, Xan.” She strokes my cheek. “You need to let her go. She’s not so little or under your protection anymore.”
“She’ll always be under my protection.”
“Okay, okay, she will. But you must let her fall in love and do what she wants. Our baby is a responsible adult, and we need to trust her choice.”
“That wasn’t what you said about Jonah. I don’t understand how you can change your mind like this.”
“Jonah was a fucker who’s locked up for it.” Her voice hardens before it lowers to her usual melodic tone. “Jeremy is the man who helped Cecily fight her demons.”
“What demons?”
“You’re well aware of how much she changed after secondary school. She hasn’t laughed this openly or smiled this freely in a long time. Our dads even suggested we take her to therapy due to her zoning out episodes, but she refused and waved us off. We should be glad that she found someone who can help her heal.”
“You and I could’ve done that just fine.”
“Sometimes, we’re not enough, and that’s okay, Xan. Letting her go is okay.”
I close my eyes and release a long sigh. “I don’t know how. It took so much in me to even let her study at a faraway university and now this. It’s like we’re losing her.”
“We’re not. We’re just letting her spread her wings and be her own person.” She kisses my cheeks. “Besides, we’ll always have each other.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure, considering how the bastard easily seduced you.”
“Aw, are you jealous of a twenty-four-year-old who happens to be your daughter’s boyfriend?”
I wrap my arm around her waist and she gasps as I slam her to my side. “You know I don’t like it when you’re close to any other man.”
“Aside from our dads and Kir.”
“Even they get on my nerves when they confiscate your time.”
“Xan!” She laughs, running her fingers over my stubbled chin. “You will never change, will you?”
“Not in this lifetime, Green.”
“Good. Because I love you just the way you are.”
I groan, each of her touches causing a zip of pleasure that ends in my cock.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re seducing me to distract me from the unwanted presence under our roof.”
She bites her lower lip and brushes a kiss against my mouth, then whispers, “Is it working?”
“You know it is.”
“Then what are you waiting for?” She leans over, her voice dropping to a seductive drawl. “Take me to our bedroom, husband.”
“You’re killing me, Green.”
I fall straight into her trap and carry her to bed. Not only will I never be able to resist this woman, but I’ll also never get enough of her.
Even though I still can’t come to terms with losing my daughter, Kim will eventually make me see reason.
She always does.
She’s been my home, my peace, and the love of my life ever since we were children.
Not everyone gets to call their childhood friend the love of their life, but I do, and I’ll spend the rest of my days showing her exactly how lucky I am that she’s my Green.
Once upon a time, she picked me as her knight, and I chose her as my queen.
CECILY
Ican’t sleep.
After what seems like hours of tossing and turning, I throw off the covers and jump out of bed.
My visit home has been entirely hijacked by Jeremy, and despite the initial shock, having him here, seeing him with my mum, and actually taking Papa’s non-subtle threats has made my heart so full.
I never thought things would go like this, but a part of me is rejoicing at the sudden turn of events. The part that’s been squeezed to death for missing him since I left him and only started breathing correctly when I saw him standing in our house.
Instead of going straight to the door, I smooth my sleeping shirt, pat my cheeks, and spray on some perfume from my vanity.
I stare at my face in the mirror, and for the first time in years, I don’t look away in disgust. I don’t see my reflection sulking back.
In fact, I feel pretty and I smile, and that appears soft under my side lamp’s light. My room is the inspiration for the one on Brighton Island. Manga pages cover the walls and the ceiling, torn in places from when Papa wasn’t careful. We didn’t have outside help when we decorated my room. One weekend, Mum and Papa wore their goofy overalls, posed at the door like wannabe decorators, and said we’d do this shit.
We spent the whole day rearranging and pasting pages. Mum giggled at some clichéd scenes and said I take loving romance stories after her. Papa frowned at some of my manga choices.
That’s one of my favorite memories.
After making sure I’m presentable enough, I head to my door. It’s late, so hopefully, Papa is asleep. If he’s not and is watching over Jeremy’s room, I’ll just pretend that I need something from the kitchen.
Jeez. Who knew sneaking about in your own home would be this nerve-racking?
I’m about to open the door when a dark shadow slips in from the open balcony. I’m frozen in place for a fraction of a second before I run toward the door.
I haven’t made it two steps when a large hand wraps around my mouth, and the familiar voice drops near my ear.
“Shh. Don’t fight me tonight. As much as I would love to chase the fuck out of you and make you scream as I tear through your pussy, your father wouldn’t appreciate it.”
I breathe him in for a minute, trying to calm the sudden spike of nerves.
His warmth envelops me as he slides his hand from my mouth to my middle. The weight of his presence surrounding mine coupled with his leather scent drives my body into hyperaware mode.