Chapter 42 I HAVE TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON KADE.

Chapter 42 I HAVE TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON KADE.
XAVIER POV

I stepped into my car and drove out of the Velmora estate, the heavy gates closing silently behind me. 

My stomach growled again, still haunted by the rich scent of layered cheeses and that perfectly seared king crab. I tightened my grip on the wheel. Pathetic.

Everything about today felt pathetic. Camila on her knees, offering herself like some desperate prize. The fake innocence, the seductive voice, the way she tried to force a reaction out of me. It was all so damn predictable. And the worst part? My own father had trapped me in this nightmare years ago by forcing that sham of a marriage on me. He thought he was securing alliances and power, but all he did was chain me to a spoiled, manipulative woman who brought nothing but drama and lies into my life.

I was done waiting.

Without hesitation, I picked up my phone and dialed my lawyer directly, no longer bothering to go through Kade.

“Mr. Cross,” the lawyer answered on the second ring, sounding surprised. “Good evening, sir.”

“Evening. I want the divorce process with Camila Xial started immediately. I don’t want any more delays from your end. How fast can we move?”

There was a short pause on the line. “Divorce with Camila? This is the first I’m hearing of it, sir.”

I frowned, my grip tightening on the wheel. Surprise hit me hard. How the hell does he not know? I was certain Kade would have informed him weeks ago.

“You’re telling me Kade never contacted you about this?” I asked, voice low and controlled.

“No, sir. Not a word.”

I exhaled slowly, keeping my tone steady. “Alright. Start the process today. Draft the papers, handle the asset division carefully, and push it through as fast as legally possible. I don’t care what strings you have to pull or how much it costs. Make it fast.”

“Understood, Mr. Cross. I’ll get the team on it right away and give you an update by this weekend.”

“Good.”

I ended the call and placed the phone on the custom carbon-fiber console beside me. My hand moved to my jaw, rubbing it slowly as I drove through the city streets. Why had Kade lied? He told me the divorce filing had been pushed to the end of the month. Yet the lawyer knew nothing. And why the hell did Kade suggest Camila move into the Velmora estate in the first place?

Something wasn’t adding up.

I made a mental note to start watching Kade more closely. Trust was becoming a luxury I couldn’t afford right now.

A few minutes later, my stomach growled again, louder this time. I pulled up to one of my favorite private restaurants — an exclusive spot known for discretion and world-class food.

The valet rushed forward the moment my car stopped. “Good evening, Mr. Cross.”

I nodded once and stepped out, adjusting my suit jacket. Inside, the hostess and two waiters greeted me immediately with respectful bows.

“Mr. Cross, welcome back, sir.”

The manager appeared within seconds, a polished man in his late forties who knew exactly how to handle high-profile guests. “Good evening, Mr. Cross. Your usual private suite is ready. Would you like the regular menu or shall I have the chef prepare something special tonight?”

“Regular menu is fine,” I replied, voice calm but authoritative. “And a bottle of the ’98 Brunello.”

“Right away, sir.”

He led me through the elegant main dining area toward the secluded private wing reserved for VIPs. The soft lighting, dark wood panels, and quiet hum of classical music created the perfect atmosphere — exclusive, calm, and far away from the chaos Camila had tried to create tonight.

I settled into the plush leather seat overlooking the city skyline, finally allowing myself to breathe.

But even as the first dish arrived, my mind kept circling back to one question:

What was Kade really up to? I would deal with that soon enough.

I ate in silence, the food excellent as always, but my thoughts kept drifting. Halfway through the main course, I caught myself wishing Veronica was sitting right across from me. I could already picture it — her pretending she didn’t like the rich meal, only to finish every single bite. I’d slowly add extra portions to her plate just to watch that little spark of annoyance.

She would roll her eyes at me, but she’d still eat it all.

The thought brought a rare, small smile to my lips.

I wasn’t ready to go home yet. I needed to do something that actually felt right tonight.

After settling the bill, I drove to one of the city’s most exclusive lifestyle boutiques that stayed open late for clients like me. The moment I stepped inside, the manager recognized me and cleared the floor discreetly.

I picked out a huge, luxurious flower bouquet — a beautiful mix of deep red roses, soft pink peonies, elegant white lilies, and delicate orchids. It looked rich and romantic without being over-the-top. Next, I chose an expensive box of artisanal chocolates from Switzerland, the kind with gold dust and rare fillings.

For Adrian, I got a large, high-end Lego Technic set — a sleek black sports car model that I knew would excite my little boy.

For Agatha, I selected a premium princess dress-up kit complete with a sparkling tiara, a soft velvet cape, and several elegant gowns with matching accessories. 

I didn’t forget Natasha. I added a beautiful cashmere scarf in a soft neutral tone and a gift card to a popular high-end spa — she deserved something for putting up with everything.

Security quietly pushed the cart behind me, loading everything into the trunk of my car with efficiency.

Once the last bag was secured, I slid back into the driver’s seat and drove straight to Veronica’s house.

I parked outside her building, grabbed the gifts from the trunk, and walked up to her door. The large bouquet rested in the crook of my arm while I balanced the bags in my other hand. I took a steady breath and knocked firmly.

A few seconds later, the door opened.

Natasha stood there, her expression neutral at best. She didn’t look particularly excited to see me.

“Oh, Mr. Xavier,” she said, her voice polite but lacking its usual warmth.

She widened the door open for me to enter without saying much else. I stepped inside, scanning the living room quickly.

The kids were in the living room. The moment they saw me, they froze.

Adrian’s eyes went wide. Agatha’s mouth fell open in pure shock, her small hands pausing mid-air. 

Then they exploded.

“Birdie man!!!” they screamed at the top of their lungs.

“Mommy! Mommy, look! Birdie man is here!!” Agatha yelled, jumping up and down.