Chapter 75 Minimize The Risk

Chapter 75 Minimize The Risk

EILEEN POV:

He was genuine in his approach. He wanted my opinion.

“Half a million dollars is beyond the question, but I want to get rid of him forever. Can Mr. Gardener get a better price?”

Dominic mulled over the possibility. “From the recording alone, I can tell Arthur isn’t the type to back down easily. If we give him money once, he will come back to ask for more.”

“So, we shouldn’t give him money?” I whispered. Wouldn’t the case be dragged to court then?

“I also want him to lower the amount. And I will ask Gardener to push for it.” He sighed. “Arthur doesn’t want to parent Bethany at all, so we can convince him in a few ways. But don’t worry…”

How could I not?

“I will make sure he signs over all his parental rights at the end of this.”

He sounded confident but I didn’t think it would be as easy as he made it out to be. “How will you do it?”

He patted my shoulder. “Leave it to the professionals, Eileen.”

Harry unlatched, and I handed him to Dominic before covering myself up quickly. Dominic walked around the room, rocking Harry around and speaking to him in soothing tones while I fed Bethany after a long time.

She had gotten less messy in the last couple of days, but the urge to spoil her arose within me. My girl was quickly growing up and with the looming threat of her departure, I found myself wanting to shower her with affection.

Did it really matter if she was spoiled?

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DOMINIC POV:

The tug of water for Bethany’s custody had taken a toll on Eileen. No matter how much the others tried to cheer her up, she was on edge.

That night, I pushed her down by the shoulder, demanding she take the evening off while I put the kids to bed. She looked reluctant and almost protested until I saw pity flash in her eyes and she nodded.

Having put the kids to bed, I returned to our bedroom and found her seated in the same spot I had left her. She was on her phone, checking an email from school and frowning.

“Homework?” I inquired, startling her.

She looked up and smiled. “Yeah. I might need to finish this quickly. Maybe you can watch the kids?”

I scrutinized her expression. “They are already asleep.”

Eileen bit her lip.

“Are you worried Bethany will leave and I won’t see her again?” It was like she was giving me as much time with Bethany as she got.

My stomach fluttered. A part of her trusted me to love Bethany like my own. I had not doubted that until recently. All thanks to Arthur. But he showed me exactly where our relationship would falter down the line.

I had to thank him for waking me up from the haze of happiness and slapping me with the reality of the world. If I wasn’t on my toes, I could lose Eileen easily.

“I know I am being irrational, but I can’t shake the feeling off that something will happen.” She shook her head, trying to compose herself. “I trust you. I do!”

I knelt down in front of her. “I know, baby.” I gripped her knees, not knowing what to say next. “I am a little scared too. I sometimes wake up at night and worry Camille will somehow take Harry away.”

Her eyes widened at the possibility and I smiled. “There is always a chance something will go wrong, but I will minimize the risk.”

That offered her more security than anything else I had said. No one seemed to feel the anxiety we did.

Her shoulders relaxed. “Do you still have to finish homework?” I asked.

She gulped. “It’s not that urgent,” she said softly. Her lashes flickered and she looked at me expectantly.

“I see.”

I pushed off the floor and walked to the door. I turned the lock and looked over my shoulder, finding Eileen’s chest rising and falling heavily. With a small smirk I walked back to her and hitched my fingers under her pants.

“Lift your hips up, sweetheart.”

She gulped as she leaned down, resting on her elbows. She lifted her hips slowly, allowing me to tug her pants down. She fell to the bed at the intensity of my pull, and whimpered. I pulled the fabric down, revealing her smooth thighs.

Oh, how I wanted to run my tongue over them.

And I would.

I pried her legs apart and ran my finger up her thigh. She shivered, attempting to close them again. I positioned my shoulders between them, stopping her.

No sooner had I reached the apex of her thighs than she whimpered in anticipation. I pushed her panties to the side and lowered my head. Her legs jerked and her head fell back as my breath fanned over her mound.

Her moans filled the room and I watched her from where I belonged, a bubble of happiness coursing through my veins.

“What about you?” she asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.

I wiped her thighs with a tissue and shook my head. “Today is about you.” I tossed the tissue into the bin and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“No–” she protested.

I kissed her lips, cutting her off.

“Sleep. When you wake up, I will be all yours to do with as you please,” I offered.

She turned to her side and cuddled, happy with that assurance. Her eyes drifted close and the frown that had taken residence between her brows for the past few days finally eased.

I smoothed it over and sighed once her breathing evened out.

I picked my phone from the bedside table and walked out. Once I was seated in the nursery, I dialled Gardener and waited.

“Mr. Presley, has Miss Sharp decided on how she wants to proceed?”

“Don’t give them a response for now. When Arthur’s lawyer calls in a few days, inform him that the asking price is too high and we are ready to fight for custody in court.”

Gardener was silent for a moment. “I fear this will aggravate Arthur and make him ask for more.”

That was exactly what I wanted. I wanted to rile him up and make him wonder if he had played the wrong game. He dared to toy with Eileen, making her unable to sleep or be at ease. He didn’t deserve to feel any joy as he waited.

“Let it.”

“Understood, Mr. Presley.” There was a pause. “The other party is calling me already.”

“Ignore it,” I said with ease. “If he wants something, he can beg me himself.”