Chapter 115 Cookies
Verena
It was 2:45 a.m. and I couldn't sleep. I sat at the end of the kitchen’s table, circling my finger on my temple, the glow from the laptop illuminating my face as I grabbed my pen and scribbled notes into my small notebook.
Vitamin D.
Keeping the lights on.
Talking and listening.
Keto Diets.
Even though I knew they would do little to help. I sincerely hoped it would make a difference in helping Daxton sleep better.
My mind circled back to when a sharp pain from my sleep had forced me awake—only to wake up to him holding me so tight, his fingers digging into my back as his lips trembled with incoherent words leaving his mouth.
I had never seen him so tense, scared, and vulnerable.
Since that time, I’ve been awake scouring the internet for possible options on how to help Daxton. Those pills he mentioned he was using didn't seem to help and I really needed to know what they were but when I returned to the house office and checked the drawer, they were gone.
And that meant he had hidden it better or it was with Josh.
For a second, a thought crossed my mind but I shoved it immediately. If I asked Josh, he would definitely tell Daxton.
I pushed my hand into my hair, about to grab the sandwich for a quick bite when the light flicked on.
My heart lurched and I almost dropped my sandwich as an awkward laugh rang out of my mouth to see Daxton standing at the doorway in his black shorts, looking as confused as ever.
His hair was a beautiful mess, his voice still heavy with sleep. “What are you doing?”
“Working,” I lied, snatching the note only to notice his eyes narrowed on my hand as I tucked the note into my pocket.
Nothing could actually get past him.
I forced out an awkward smile as he stepped further into the kitchen. “I know what you are doing—”
Shit!
“—You are working. Verena, I thought we talked about working over the weekend? You are starting to become a worse workaholic than me?”
I flashed him a sheepish smile, instant relief crashing through me. What if he was so embarrassed about the situation that he stopped snuggling up to me in my bed or cuddling me to sleep because of the fear of hurting me?
I shut my laptop, pushing it to the side. “Isn't that a good thing?”
He shot me a look just as he moved to the fridge to grab water. “Good thing? Weren't you the same person who complained about how much time I spend working?”
I grinned. “So, were you looking for me?”
He downed the bottle, water spilling down his jaw as my lips parted at how gorgeous and hot that was. “Yes. On top of that, I was thirsty. And hungry,”
“I can share my sandwich with you, if you want,”
“If I want?…” he laughed softly, rounding the table to grab a plate when his movement suddenly ceased, a chill slithering down my spine from the feeling of his eyes on my back.
Fuck! He had noticed.
Before I could let down my hair, he was already behind me in three strides—on his knees as his fingers ran through my back.
“Who did this to you?” His voice shook with panic.
I closed my eyes briefly, twisting to look at him. “It is nothing. They are insect bites,”
“Insect bites? This doesn't look like insect bites. Did anyone touch you?”
I heaved an exasperated sigh. “Okay, I lied. They are not insect bites, I had this bad scratch on my back and you know…I just did my nails?”
His eyes held mine for a long minute as I watched the tension loosen from them. “You scared me,”
The way he blinked at me slowly was so cute as he straightened to his feet, applied ointment to it, and now ate a sandwich with me.
“I plan on baking cookies tomorrow…with you so will you be at home tomorrow? Pleaseee”
My lips had already formed a pout as he turned to look at me, still chewing while I blinked at him, his eyes softening as they drank me in. “Stop looking at me like that…you’re so manipulative,”
I dropped my jaw in my palm, not breaking eye contact. “How am I manipulative?” My lips curled in a smile.
His breath ceased for a second. “Because when you look at me like that, my brain just stops working. You know I have to be in the club tomo—”
“Pleaseeeeeee,”
His lips parted. “Fuck…” he muttered under his breath. “I can't say no to you,”
“So cookies tomorrow?”
“Yes ma’am” he did a mock-bow that sent a small laugh spiraling out of my mouth.
“Watching you bake wouldn't be so bad after all. My mum used to bake cookies, she would make these cute little shapes—stars, hearts, bear faces,”
My heart slowed. The mention of his ‘mum’ was always a sensitive topic and this would be the first time he would actually talk about her willingly.
“Really? That’s cute. You must have loved them a lot,”
A strange light sparked in his eyes. “A lot. I used to take them to school. She would give me so much to share with my friends in school,”
“I can still remember her smile. She used to be so beautiful and perfect until that evil man took her spark away,”
This was the longest he had ever talked about her. I shifted closer to him, hand on his shoulder. “Your dad?”
Daxton nodded. “Yes. I’m sure he’s burning in hell and my mum is…” he paused, his eyes growing cold as he muttered a string of curse words.
Before I knew it, he was already steering me back to the previous conversation. “So, we will spend time baking tomorrow, yeah?”
I didn't push further.
“Yes, and I will make a small Vlog and upload it so everyone can see the cold Daxton baking cookies,”
“Don't you dare!”
I was already rising to my feet. “I will. Trust me…”
“You are impossible Verena, if anyone teases me, I will come for you!” he hid his smile.
“What would you do to me?” I leaned over the counter.
“Force my dick into your mouth,”
My eyes widened, heating pooling between my thighs as my cheeks flushed red. “Fuck you!”
“Gladly,”
“Anyways, we have a wedding to attend next month. Riley, Laufey’s mum. She is getting married and has been waiting to meet you.”
Kian’s P.O.V
This man didn't deserve her.
They didn't even look good together.
I watched Verena’s Vlog with my uncle with a scowl on my face. She never did this with me when we were still married. . And now I was more than determined to put an end to Versna’s fairytale.
“Are you still watching that?” Jaden leaned in, his shoulders brushing against mine.
I have watched it over eight times already.
“Look at him…see his ugly smile,” my voice dripped with disdain, face scrunched in obvious disgust. “See those evil eyes. Look at the way he is looking at her with hate in his eyes,”
“Mr. Kian, he isn't looking at her with hate in his eyes. He is looking at her like he is absolutely smitten by her,”
I shot him a glare.
Jaden straightened immediately. “Yeah…he is looking at her with hate in his eyes,”
Better.
“I look better than my uncle, right?”
“Yes…” Jaden flashed me a smile. “You are better looking than him in all aspects. So, Mr. Kian, I looked into the information you sent to me about your uncle and his mum…” he sat opposite me.
My eyes piqued with curiosity as I leaned forward. “Did you find anything substantial?”
“I didn't. There is no information to prove that the opera singer is dead and your uncle had something to do with it,”
My face fell as I pushed my hand through my hair. “So, there is nothing?”
“Nothing,”
What should I do? If I did not act fast, Verena would sink deeper into his manipulation and it would be too late to save her by then.
“If there is nothing,” I said slowly. “then we create something,”
Jaden cocked a brow. “What do you mean?”
“Listen. What if we push a narrative that he is a psychopath and that was the reason he killed his mum?”
“Hold up, Mr. Kian. You told me your dad said he is responsible for her death—not killed!”
“Isn't that the same thing? And who cares if it is true and not true? Plus I am certain it is true. I mean, that could be the reason everyone trembles around him. Because he is a monster! As you said, we need to create a wedge between them and there is no better way to create one than this,”
Jaden’s eyes narrowed in slits on me. “Assumptions are dangerous and pushing a wrong narrative like this will backfire. I will advise we dig deeper and find—”
I cut in, irritation dripping from my voice. “I don't have a lot of time, Jaden,”
“So, what do you suggest,”
“Messing up with Verena’s mind at first. I have this incredible plan that will work this time. I am confident it will work,”
Jaden heaved a tired sigh. “Mr. Kian, one piece of advice, if it doesn't work please give up on winning her back, move on, and let them be,”
It would work. It had to.
I created an email account with the name—Purple Tamara. Jaden had advised me to activate a VPN before logging in and reroute the location to North Serbia just in case things don't go exactly as planned.
“Hi. My name is Tamara, you are a good woman and I don't want to see you get hurt. Please distance yourself from Daxton Cooper while you still can.”