~Celine~
After I finished in the bathroom, I heard a knock on my door.
“Who is it?” I asked, fastening my short towel around my chest firmly as I walked to the door.
“Kilhan.” He answered and a wide smile automatically lit up my face. I opened the door and our gazes met.
“Good morning,” I uttered, while his eyes lingered on the towel around my body.
“We are not doing it this morning,” I added, leaving the door as I walked to my closet.
“But you look so sexy in that towel. I can’t stop staring at your smooth thighs.” He answered, embracing me from behind. His hands smoothly glided through my waist, down to my hips.
“Alpha Kilhan,” I called, rolling my eyes as I grabbed his hands and got them off my body.
“C’mon, just one round.”
“Oh please, we’ll end up doing it the whole day. You’re the horniest Alpha I’ve ever met.”
“What?” He laughed.
“I need to say Hi to your mom this morning, okay? We are not doing it.” I responded, turning to look at him.
He heaved a sigh and nodded, taking two steps back and raising his hands in the air as an act of surrender.
“I was going to tell you she said she’d love to take a stroll around the garden with you. But then I saw you in that towel and I almost lost it.”
“A stroll round the garden?” I creased my brows and he nodded.
“Yes. I get you haven’t been there too. My mother loves taking a stroll there almost every morning. She loves the atmosphere there.”
“Really?” I smiled.
The last thing I wanted was to leave a bad impression and ruin her mood. ‘I need to watch how I act and talk to her.’
I looked into my closet, unsure of what to wear. Just then, Kilhan moved closer and touched a blue floral dress.
“My mother’s favorite color is blue. This would lighten up her mood even better.” He told me, and without hesitation, I reached for it and put it on.
Its length stopped right above my knees and its sleeves were puffy. “It makes me look like a little girl,” I muttered, admiring myself in the mirror.
“Well, you are my baby girl. So what can go wrong?” He planted a kiss on the back of my neck after speaking. I smiled faintly and moved away from the mirror.
“Are you not coming?” I asked him, and he shook his head.
“She wants you there, not me. I’ll be in the office, finishing off some paperwork.” He answered, planting another soft kiss on my cheek before walking out of my room.
Heading out too, I approached Mrs Anna’s room, only for me to see she was headed out too.
“Mrs Anna!” I called with a large grin. She looked up and when she saw me, she chuckled and waved at me.
“Jessica! You look so beautiful!” She complimented, causing my face to flush. That was what I loved the most about her. She loved throwing compliments.
‘She does love me so much, doesn’t she?’
Shortly, we hit the road to the garden. At first, we were both silent. I was unsure what to say to her, so I just waited for her to start the conversation.
“You know…” she started and I turned my head to look at her. “My husband and I loved strolls like this every morning in our house.
“We’d hold hands, steal glances from each other, he wouldn’t stop praising me and throwing compliments that made my feet wobble. Every day seemed like we were newly married couples.
“He was the perfect husband until…” she took a pause and I watched her gulp hard as the words she wanted to say got stuck in her throat.
“I’m so sorry for your loss, Ma’am,” I answered with great remorse. She nodded and forced on a feeble smile.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get over his death. Maybe it would have been much better if it was a natural cause, but then it wasn’t. His death was even staged like a suicide. Kilhan told you, right?” She asked, and I nodded.
“Yes, he did. It hurts so much to hear this.”
“True. Maybe I’ll feel better when Kilhan lays hands on whosoever murdered him.” She answered with clenched jaws.
“But… I have a question.”
“Of course, sweetie.”
“Why are you so sure he was murdered and his death was staged? Do you have suspects?”
“No, I don’t. But I’m very sure because my husband was genuinely happy. It wasn't camouflage. I know he loved me so much and wouldn’t just kill himself without leaving a goodbye note stating the reason why he’d do such.” She explained while I nodded in understanding and agreement.
“Someone did it, and when the secret is exposed, not only the culprit will suffer but also his or her loved ones shall be punished.” She added with all seriousness.
I understood the anger and pain she felt so much because I felt the same way when my father killed my mother.
And if I had the power to fight back all the years I spent in his house, I’d have killed him without remorse.
“Yes, they should be punished,” I answered with a firm tone.
“Enough of my husband, let’s talk about you. About your parents' death, how did you cope? Do you have any siblings?”
“No, I don’t. I’m an only child. And how did I cope? Well, I’m a pretty strong woman. I did whatever I could to survive. I’m glad I met Alpha Kilhan though, he made life so easy for me.”
She spanked my hand playfully after hearing the last part, tears rolling down her eyes unforced.
“Your love makes me remember my husband. I wish you well, darling. I can’t imagine any better mate for Kilhan. You’re the best for him.” She held my hands in her and kissed it.
This was a sign of her giving us her blessings.
“Thank you, Mrs Anna,” I answered with excitement in my heart.
“Oh please, call me Mom.”
*
For about another hour, we kept admiring the beautiful and colorful garden, discussing many things before we finally headed back to the house.
After getting her into her room and laying her to rest, I walked to Kilhan’s office with a satisfied smile. I couldn’t wait to share my wonderful time with his mother.
His office came into sight and as I drew closer, I saw the door open. An unfamiliar man walked out and headed down the stairs.
Looking past him, I saw Alpha Kilhan behind him. I smiled immediately and was about to wave at him when I saw his countenance.
He had a fierce look on like the man had just given him bad news. He raised his head to look in my direction and just when I was about to get to the door, he shut it against my face, and I heard him turn the key from behind.
‘What?! Didn’t he see me coming?’ I thought in awe. “Alpha Kilhan!” I called, knocking on the door but I got no response.
“What the hell is wrong with him?” I muttered, feeling very offended and angry.
“You should let him be.” I heard the voice of the last person I wanted to hear at that moment. Damn Betty.
I rolled my eyes and turned to look at her.
“He isn’t in the mood to talk. He’ll be fine in about an hour or two.” She answered, folding her arms around her chest.
‘Now she knows how long it takes for him to cool down?! What doesn’t she know about him?! The size of his winny?’ Kiara expressed her disgust, but I ignored her.
‘Not now.’
“Why? Do you know what is wrong with him?” I answered her, and she shook her head.
“No, but I know anytime that man comes to see him, he is always not himself until a few hours later.” She answered.
“Who is the man anyway?” I inquired, and she shrugged.
“No idea either. Don’t worry, you’ll have his attention back. For now, let’s make breakfast together.”
“What? Me and you?!” A part of my face curved up in disgust.
“Of course, don’t worry. I won’t piss you off. I’ll teach you some of Kilhan’s favorite dishes.” She answered, grabbing my hand and pulling me away.
As we walked away, I turned to look at his door again. For some unknown reasons, Kiara was disturbed and so was I.
“What could have happened?”