Chapter 17 17

Chapter 17 17

Aria POV

I quietly took the package from him after inserting my signature in the necessary place. 

I closed the door and walked back toward Kane, who looked curious.

“What’s that?” Kane asked me.

“I- I think it’s from Derek.” I didn’t know when I stuttered so hard just to pronounce Derek’s name.

Even though I was the one who sent the message first, I was terrified of receiving a response. I knew what Derek was capable of. My hands shivered as I held the parcel. I quietly took a seat beside Kane. Ignoring my shaky hands, I carefully unboxed the parcel Derek had sent. The moment I finished, I was shocked. I read Derek's message, and my jaw dropped. Strangely, he had agreed to the court summoning without any commotion. 

Does Derek really agree to that?

I wasn’t expecting that. I wasn’t expecting him to be gentle. I was expecting something entirely different.

“What is it?” Kane asked me.

“Derek agreed to the court summoning,” I told him, glancing up at his surprised face. 

I could see the little happiness on his face, even though he was still shocked hearing that. Compared to mine, he looked happy.

For me, Derek’s silence made me uneasy. What is he planning?

What is he planning to do? What if he is planning something dangerous and this is just a mere trap?

I mean, there is no way he will easily agree to it while I’m trying to get Lily away from him. He clearly told me the other day that he won’t allow anyone to lay their fingers on Lily.

“You don’t look good. Are you okay?” Kane asked me, and his voice managed to jolt me out of my thought. 

Of course I wasn’t. How will I? 

“Do you think this is good news?” I asked him.

“Of course.” Kane raised his shoulder.

“Or don’t you want Lily home?” He asked me. 

“I’m scared, Kane. I feel bothered seeing this reply from him. I mean, Derek isn’t the good and gentle type.” I told Kane. I was just so scared.

“Or is there a mix-up? What if Derek didn’t send this?”

“Just think of this as your lucky day. I’m sure the heavens also want you to get your daughter back.” Kane mumbled.

Even though I wasn’t really that convinced, I nodded.

Kane took the parcel from me, and he dropped it on the table.

“Don’t you think we should celebrate this?” He asked me.

“Let’s do.” I smiled this time.

“Let’s go out,” Kane told me, and I nodded. 
“You should get dressed. I will be waiting outside,” he told me. I got on my feet and walked into my room. I stepped out of my casual wear and was left in my undies. Just then, a knock came on my door. “Who is it?” I inquired. “It’s your maid, Grace,” a familiar voice came from outside. Hearing that it was Grace, I immediately directed her in. “Come in,” I mumbled. 

The door opened after a few seconds, and Grace strode into my room.

“Is anything wrong?” I asked her. I couldn’t recall calling for her.

“Alpha Kane asked me to dress you up for your outing,” Grace told me.

I didn’t think that was necessary. I could easily choose my dress, but since Kane insisted on it, I didn’t object. 

Grace helped me choose my dress. She picked out my purple favourite dress that I had only worn once. I stepped into the dress with her help. 

I sat in front of the mirror while she helped me style my hair. When she was done, I stared at my reflection, and I was nearly blinded by my beauty. I smiled softly, but my soft smile gently disappeared the moment my mind went to Derek.

“Alpha Kane is waiting outside for you. Don’t keep him waiting.“ Grace's voice managed to jolt me out of my little thought.

I forced a smile across my face and got on my feet.

I walked out of the house, heading towards his car. Kane was busy on his cell phone when I got outside, but the moment he heard my light footsteps as I approached him, He glanced up at my face. Seeing me, he looked completely dumbfounded, like he was struck by a wave of lightning. 

“Is something wrong? You don’t like my dress?” I asked a little surprised at his reaction.

“I don’t mean that, Aria; you look so stunning and breathtaking.” He told me, and my face flushed red.

I doubted if Derek ever complimented me in such a manner. 

Kane opened the car door for me politely, and I stepped in. He got into the driver’s seat and stepped into the quiet street.

“Where are we heading?” I asked him, looking out of the car window. 

“You don’t like surprises?” He asked me

“Not that I hate one.” I shuddered.

After the long drive, the car finally stepped in front of a building. It was a restaurant.

Kane alighted from the car first, and he came to open up the door for me. I stepped out of the car in my black heels. 

Kane took my hands, and we walked into the restaurant.

“Welcome.” A group of staff immediately welcomed us with a bow the moment we stepped into the restaurant.

I gasped softly seeing how the whole restaurant had been decorated in my favourite olor. There was no single person around except for us and the few staff. Kane bought out the whole restaurant for me?

We sat down, and our meal was brought to us at once.

“When did you prepare all this?” I asked him, smiling.

“I had always wanted to do this, but you are always sad because of your daughter. But today I got the perfect opportunity, and I didn’t want to miss it.” He winked at my face.?

I smiled even more. 

We had hardly taken a few spoons when heard a little commotion from outside. The workers seemed to be arguing with someone.

“Is something wrong?” I raised my brow at Kane.

“I will go and check.” He wiped his lips clean with the tissue and got on his feet.

The moment Kane left, I got on my feet and went after Kane. I decided to check what was going on by myself.

“We are sorry, but the restaurant is closed at the moment.” I heard one of the staff tell a man who seemed to be in anger.

I couldn’t see the man properly. He had his back to me; all I could see was his black hair shimmering under the light. But strangely, I felt he looked a little familiar.

“I just need to grab something real quick!” The man said angrily as he stomped his feet, clearly frustrated.

Hearing that familiar voice, I was dumbfounded. I was left completely speechless. The familiar voice had only belonged to one person. 

“What’s going on here?” Kane interrupted the scene, and the man finally turned his face to our side.

Clearly accessing his face, I was taken aback. It was really Derek. I could hear my heart racing so fast just at the sight of him. 

“What is he doing here?”

“This man insisted on getting something at the restaurant even after we informed him that we were closed.” One of the staff explained to Kane.

Seeing Derek, Kane scoffed

“Just get him whatever he wants… free of charge,” Kane mumbled, and his eyes scanned through head to toe in disgust.

“I don’t need it anymore,” Derek mumbled.

He took a glance at my face before he walked out of the restaurant. Strangely, he doesn’t seem offended or talk about the previous situation.

His silence makes me so uneasy again.

“Let’s go continue our meal,” Kane said to me.

I nodded and followed him back to our table. I took my fork, but I ended up nibbling on the meal.

“Are you okay?” Kane asked me.

He must have noticed my sudden change.

“I’m fine.” I lied. 

“Is it about Derek?” He asked me.

I took a glance at his face, trying to deny it, but it wasn’t working.

“I’m just so scared, Kane. His silence is really killing me.” I told him.

“You should be rest assured, Aria. Our victory is certain,” he told me. 

“What do you mean?” I asked him.

He sighed and gently dropped down his spoon.

“I told you to be rest assured because I have my reasons.” He began. 

"Aria, as the mother, you have an upper hand compared to him. Plus, you’ve been the one taking care of Lily since she was born. We will win this case, Aria,” Kane reassured me. 

“Does that really work?” I asked him.

He nodded firmly.

“It’s done. We are winning this, no doubt!” Kane looked so confident, and I like that. Chapter 17