Chapter 516 Octavius: Others Are Eager to Play Father to Elspeth 2
Octavius turned around and froze in place.
Two former spouses, each with their new companions, had crossed paths in the most unexpected way.
His gaze first landed on Calliope, then shifted to Eldric with the calculating scrutiny of a man accustomed to power—and clearly displeased by what he saw.
Beside him stood a rising starlet, barely past twenty—at that vulnerable age when her beauty seemed almost fragile. She immediately sensed the tension in the air. Her slender hand came to rest on his shoulder as she asked, her voice soft with concern, "Darling, do you know these people?"
'Darling?' Calliope's lips curved in a cold smile. How intimate indeed.
She tightened her grip on Eldric's arm, her expression serene with anticipation. She was curious to see how Octavius would explain this to his precious companion.
But Octavius handled it with practiced ease. "My ex-wife, Calliope Lark."
Then, with equal composure, he introduced his companion, "Calliope, meet my girlfriend, Seraphine Vey."
Seraphine carried herself with the casual arrogance of celebrity, confident in her hold over Octavius. This ex-wife posed no threat—especially since she'd clearly moved on as well. She extended a languid hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Lark."
Calliope matched her coolness perfectly.
She wouldn't go out of her way to please her. With practiced poise, she addressed only Octavius, "Congratulations on finding such lovely company. Perhaps I'll host a dinner for you both sometime."
Octavius accepted with a smile.
Throughout the entire exchange, he made no effort to acknowledge Eldric—a petty masculine impulse, born of either disdain or refusal to accept another man's claim on what he still considered his territory.
They had been married for years.
Despite their divorce, some primitive part of Octavius still regarded Calliope as his wife, intolerable for any other man to possess. Of course, he remained free to pursue other women—such was the convenient hypocrisy of masculine pride.
But such dark thoughts rarely saw daylight.
The two couples took separate tables.
Octavius made no attempt at discretion with his starlet, their intimacy deliberate and pointed. Part of it was genuine affection, but part was calculated provocation—he wanted to gauge Calliope's reaction, to see jealousy flicker across her features.
But Calliope refused to give him the satisfaction.
Even as Octavius's table grew increasingly heated, she remained unmoved.
A lasting relationship demanded respect above all else. She maintained perfect composure throughout her dinner with Eldric, never crossing any lines. Eldric found her restraint enchanting, his attentiveness growing by the hour as he practically wore his heart on his sleeve.
He pulled out every charm in his considerable arsenal, determined to coax even the smallest smile from her.
Calliope glowed with satisfaction.
Octavius's mood darkened considerably. 'It's just paperwork for the child's registration,' he told himself. 'Does she need to look so bloody enchanted? Surely she's not actually falling for this man?'
His displeasure must have shown, because even the oblivious Seraphine noticed the connection to his ex-wife. With practiced skill, she pouted prettily and declared herself full, then issued a sultry invitation to continue their evening in her hotel room.
The implication was crystal clear to every adult present.
The atmosphere grew thick with unspoken tension.
Octavius set down his utensils, glancing first at Calliope—who continued her animated conversation with Eldric as if her ex-husband's sexual escapades were beneath her notice.
His blue eyes darkened.
He dabbed his lips with his napkin, voice edged with spite, "Let's go. It is getting late."
They rose together, Seraphine triumphant on his arm.
Despite her fame, the recent industry crackdowns had left her financially vulnerable beneath the glamorous facade. Octavius represented the connections and status she desperately craved—a prize she'd worked considerable effort to secure.
Her motivations were transparent enough.
In his current mood, Octavius naturally favored Seraphine's attention over his ex-wife's indifference.
He escorted his companion toward the exit.
But he couldn't resist one final glance back. Calliope never even looked up. He hadn't accepted her invitation to the party—he'd chosen the beautiful actress instead. Why should she bother looking at him now?
Calliope believed the greatest act of self-love was simply loving oneself.
Her indifference infuriated him. If she'd shown even the slightest displeasure, called his name, made any gesture of protest, the starlet would have been forgotten instantly. There could still be a path back for them.
But Calliope wanted no such thing.
She refused to settle for being anyone's option rather than their priority. Without loyalty, without exclusivity, she wanted nothing—not even for their child's sake would she endure a rotten marriage. She'd made her decision: find a man of substance if possible, but if not, she would become that substance herself. She would be Elspeth's foundation.
The child could take her surname if necessary.
A flicker of fierce determination crossed Calliope's elegant features.
That flash of resolve, on such a sensual face, was utterly captivating.
Octavius lingered for one more look before finally departing with Seraphine. As he reached the restaurant's entrance, he thought he heard someone call his name.
He spun around, heart lurching.
But there was nothing. Calliope continued cutting her steak, deep in conversation with Eldric, as if he'd never existed at all.
Octavius's jaw twitched as he stalked out, barely containing his frustration.
Minutes later, settled in his car, he tried to prove his indifference by pulling Seraphine into a heated kiss. Their bodies pressed together with rising urgency—if there'd been a bed available, they would have made love immediately. Even without one, she moved against him with practiced skill, stoking his desire.
Since the divorce, Octavius had been with several women. He and Seraphine had been intimate multiple times.
But his most intense experience remained that night with Calliope.
The memory still left him breathless.
The car rocked gently as Octavius explored his companion's body—these physical diversions had always been his preferred stress relief, free of moral complications. Just harmless pleasure between consenting adults.
He genuinely enjoyed Seraphine's company, though marriage had never crossed his mind.
After their passionate embrace, Seraphine straddled him, slowly unbuttoning her white blouse.
Her cheeks flushed with desire as she suggested they make love right there in the car.
The privacy partition was already raised.
But when Octavius checked his watch—nearly ten PM—his thoughts immediately turned to Calliope. 'What is she doing right now? She wouldn't actually sleep with that man, would she?' At her age, she must crave physical intimacy. The thought of her in another man's bed was unbearable.
He hastily rezipped his pants.
Seraphine, still flushed with arousal, pressed her lips to his throat, "What's wrong? Are you uncomfortable here? We could go to my place. Let me help you relax."
The actress was undeniably alluring.
But Octavius couldn't stop thinking about Calliope, terrified she might be intimate with Eldric at this very moment.
His expression grew stormy.
He gently moved her aside, his voice deceptively mild, "Be a good girl. I have some business to handle."
Seraphine suspected the truth but held her tongue. She'd observed Calliope's temperament—even if Octavius wanted reconciliation, his ex-wife might not be interested. Patience would serve her better than confrontation.
Despite the cold night air, Seraphine found herself dismissed from the car.
The moment she stepped out, Octavius barked at his driver, "Calliope's house. Now."
The driver chuckled, "Ah, Ms. Lark. Saw her tonight myself—with quite the distinguished gentleman. Looked like things were getting serious between them."
Octavius's face darkened ominously.
Recognizing his employer's mood, the driver fell silent and pressed the accelerator.
Thirty minutes later, they pulled up outside Calliope's townhouse.
She hadn't returned yet.
Rather than wait in the car, Octavius strode inside like he still owned the place.
His thunderous expression deterred any interference from the staff, who recognized him as Calliope's formidable ex-husband—the man who'd shared her bed and knew every intimate detail of her body.
Octavius climbed to the second floor and pushed open the master bedroom door.
Little Elspeth slept peacefully in her crib.
The nanny immediately rose, whispering, "Mr. Everhart."
He waved her away, claiming he'd watch the child himself. She didn't dare argue and hurried out.
Octavius was seething.
His offer to "watch the child" was pure pretense—he knew nothing about infant care. He collapsed onto the bed, studying the sleeping baby's delicate features. The longer he looked, the more she resembled Calliope.
He snorted softly, pillowing his head on his arms and closing his eyes.
Strangely, though he usually suffered from mild insomnia, the baby's milky scent and gentle breathing seemed to work like a sedative. He drifted into unexpected sleep.
Later, the sound of a car engine jolted him awake.
Calliope had returned.
Octavius had no desire to witness any romantic farewell between her and Eldric.
He remained motionless, ears straining for sounds from below while mentally preparing a arsenal of cutting remarks.
Downstairs, Calliope immediately spotted Octavius's car.
Fortunately, Eldric didn't recognize it.
She'd maintained perfect propriety throughout their evening together, refusing to let Octavius's presence influence her behavior toward any inappropriate actions.
After bidding Eldric a proper goodnight and watching his car disappear, Calliope pulled her coat tighter and headed for the entrance. A servant immediately approached, "Ms. Lark, Mr. Everhart is here. He's upstairs."
Calliope's expression turned glacial.
She climbed the stairs with measured steps.
The light caught her silhouette, highlighting every elegant curve.
On the second floor, she opened the master bedroom door. The room lay in darkness, filled with the faint scent of alcohol mingled with the baby's sweet, milky fragrance.
Calliope switched on a reading lamp.
Soft light revealed Octavius lounging against the headboard, watching her with the dark suspicion of a husband who'd caught his wife in adultery.
Calliope smiled with cool amusement.
She checked on Elspeth first—the baby slept soundly, undisturbed. Not wanting to wake her daughter, Calliope settled at her vanity to remove her makeup, speaking with casual indifference, "Shouldn't you be enjoying your starlet's company instead of lurking here? If you're hoping to catch me in some compromising position, I'm afraid you're out of luck. We're not married anymore, Octavius. You've come to the wrong address."
Octavius knew he was in the wrong.
He rose and moved behind her, encircling her slender waist with a roguish grin, "So now that you have a new man, you've forgotten the old one? How did your date go tonight?"
"Wonderfully."
Her prompt response caught him off guard.
Calliope continued applying her skincare routine, meeting his eyes in the mirror with cool defiance, "Eldric treats me with genuine respect. He considers my feelings in everything he does. You declined my invitation for after New Year's, which I assume means you're no longer interested in our arrangement. You've found yourself a young, beautiful actress, yet you're bothered when I pursue my own happiness?"
She added, "Did you really think I'd wait for you forever? I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not that selfless. I'm not just going to find someone new—I'm going to build a good life for myself, to live with dignity. That's simply how it is. Now, you can leave."
Octavius glared at his ex-wife with barely contained fury.
That damned stubborn streak of hers!