Chapter 90

The king-size bed right in the middle of the guest room was the comfiest she remembered beds to be. Her stomach leaped when she saw the grand chandelier and top to bottom windows overlooking the green fields.

“Damien is in for a great surprise,” she muttered.

Soon enough, she got tired of the beautiful room she was put in and decided to explore the palace. With Alex fast asleep, it was going to be very easy. Careful not to startle him, she shut the door gently before plodding along the passageway.

Delphine was still not feeling right long after Katherine and her son had been kee to their rooms. She paced across the room she and Damien shared. Delphine resisted the urge to ransack his side of the wardrobe, she didn’t want to seem insecure about their relationship.

“Everything is fine with Damien,” she said to herself over and over again.

Damien would not hide something as huge away from her. She was starting to look at the possibility that Katherine might be lying. Daciana had said Katherine had an affair with Stephen while still with Damien. Maybe it was Stephen’s child and this was all a big misunderstanding.

Yes, they had to take a paternity test as Ruby had suggested. Ruby had said she’d seen situations like this before where women tried to push their children on other men, most especially sons to get a piece of their fortune. She was sure Katherine was one of those women. Ruby did not trust her, she had tried to convince Delphine to trust Damien as trust was important for their already shaky relationship.

Deciding to take a break from her worries, Delphine headed out. She was going to get something to eat.

What she did not expect to see was Katherine tracing her fingers over the statues on the passageway. Instinctively, Delphine decided to walk away before Katherine sighted her. She decided to avoid anything and everything Katherine before Damien returned but it was too late Katherine had sighted her.

“Delphine?” she called ready for another verbal showdown. She planned to break Delphine with her words.

“Yes. Katherine,” she said as she walked towards her.

“Fancy seeing you here at this time.” Once again, the smirk on her lips didn’t vanish.

“Of course, I live here.”

“Oh, I know. I’m not disputing that. I just thought, after the news you heard earlier, you’d want to take a rest and prepare to be shown the way out.” Katherine folded her arms, hoping her stance would intimidate Delphine.

Delphine matched the wicked smirk Katherine had on her lips, “Why? Prepare to be shown the way out? Katty, I own this place and you and your bastard child can’t take anything away from me.”

Katherine was surprised and her response, she didn’t expect Delphine to deliver such a statement without batting her eyelid. “Oh yeah? Let’s wait and see. I mean, there’s no rush. By this time tomorrow, we’ll know who really owns this place.”

“There’s no use fighting for what doesn’t belong to you. You’re an imposter. None of your schemes will work.” Delphine said, proud of the look on Katherine’s face.

“Imposter? If anything you’re the imposter. Did anyone tell you that I was Damien’s mate but when I got pregnant for him I decided to deliver the baby somewhere else, far away from evil? Seeing you here is a great surprise. I thought Damien would wait for me but I guess not. If he isn’t a good mate at least he has to be a good father to his son.”

“Save the story for later. You’d really need it when you face a judge.”

With that, Delphine sashayed out of her presence. All Katherine had said sent shivers down her spine but she decided to keep her thoughts to herself. Women like Katherine fed off other people’s fears. She wasn’t going to let Katherine see her as weak.

“As we wish.” The finality of Katherine’s tone made Delphine stop in her tracks but she recovered immediately.

Katherine was sure Delphine still had doubts concerning Damien and if she continued giving her reasons to doubt him more everything was going to go super well.

Just before settling in her room, Daciana asked to see Delphine. Daciana thought it was important to warn Delphine about Katherine since they were once close friends. “With Katherine, never back down.”

“Oh, she said some hurtful things. Did she really leave because she got pregnant for Damien?”

“Never believe a word she says.” Daciana embraced her, willing to give her all the support she had.

Delphine let out a ragged sigh, “I guess I have to prepare for tomorrow. Seeing Katherine has mentally drained me.”

“Yes, yes, take a rest. I’ll be in my way.”

* * *

To Damien, the palace seemed a bit duller than he had left it. Even Delphine didn’t seem excited to see him. Ryan thought it was the stress of travel that worried him.

Lucio had been tasked with the job of announcing Katherine’s presence. “There’s a woman with the name Katherine in your quarters.”

“Katherine.” The only Katherine he knew was his long-dead ex, he wondered who this woman was.

“Katherine? Isn’t Katherine your ex?” Ryan voiced his thoughts.

“No, she’s dead. Remember?”

“You know, we were never sure, it was a rumor,” Ryan said as they moved to his quarters.

True. At that time Damien heard the rumor over again that he strongly believed it. He was at first heartbroken that she had died but later started to deal with the possibility of life without her hands constantly choking him. During the period of her initial disappearance, he was free as a bird.

“Damien. Ryan.”

“Daciana.” He noticed the dullness also in his sister. Could this Katherine be the same Katherine he knew?

“Katherine is here. Katherine, your ex.”

Katherine?

“What?” Damien and Ryan say in unison.

“Yes, Damien. In fact, she brought a little gift for you.” With that Daciana left their presence.

Katherine sensed Damien’s presence before she exited her room. “We’re going to see your father now,” she informed Alex.

“Yay!”

Katherine’s knees weakened the moment she saw Damien’s broad shoulders. It was one he caressed many times while in his embrace. Damien still had that effect on her. His tousled hair did her number on her stomach. Never did he look as good as this, even muscular than she remembered him to be.

“Is that father?”

“Oh, yes that’s him, Your very beautiful father.”

Damien turned around to see a red Katherine holding her son. It was really Katherine. “Wha– Katherine?”

“Oh, Damien!” She pulled him for a tight hug, sneaking a caress on his shoulder.

“Father!” Alex jumped in too, excited to see him.

“Father? I’m a father?” Damien stared at the blue-eyed boy wrapped around his legs. Katherine lived for this moment where all Damien’s attention was on her and his son.

“Yes, Damien. I’ve missed you a lot.” She pulls him in for another hug, one which Damien holds her gingerly.

Still fazed by the revelation he ruffled Alex’s hair. On one hand, he was a bit pleased to see Alex but on the other hand, he knew this might be a play on his intelligence. This was Katherine. “We all thought you were dead. After that night, no one saw you again.”

“I had to leave because of our son.” Damien dragged Katherine away from everyone else. Stopping only when he reached her room.

“Why are you here, Katherine?” He demanded.

“What? I figured it was the best time our son knew you.”

“What son? Katherine… As much as it’s pleasing to have a son, I know that boy isn’t mine.”

“Now, don’t say that. He could be listening, you know?”=Alex was lured inside the room.

“Gosh. Katherine, you caused so much misery to my life earlier… What do you want from me again?”

“Misery?” She placed a hand in her chest, feigning hurt.

“Yes, with the affair you had with Stephen and all.” He gritted his teeth, flexing the muscles in his defined jaw. That action also weakened Katherine. She wasn’t so over him like she thought.

“You know those were lies. I was afraid you wouldn’t want your son so I ran off, then came back now realizing you might require an heir. I didn’t want to keep your son and only child away from you. Forgive me, Damien.” She walked closer to him and traced her fingers along his jawline, “You’re even more beautiful than I remembered. I love you, Damien. Whatever happened in the past was me being immature but now with the time I’ve taken off, I understand.”

Damien wasn’t fooled by the act, he had fallen for it one too many times. He stepped away from her burning touch and without a glance headed to Delphine. She must be feeling distressed with Katherine around. True to his thoughts, he met her hunched at her side of the bed.

“Delphine, my love.” He wasted no time and pulled her in for a hug.

“You have seen Katherine, haven’t you?” She ignored his greeting.

“Oh don’t mind her words, Delphine.”

“Things have been shaky with us lately, of course, I’d mind her words.”

“Trust me, Delphine. It’s all lies, that boy isn’t my son and Katherine was supposed to be dead.” He pushed his hand through her hair, willing her to see his side of the story.

“But what does she want from us? Why is she pushing the innocent boy to believe you’re his father?” She settled into his arms.

“I don’t know. Katherine has always been like that. Always scheming and plotting.”

“Ruby suggested we take a test. Since Katherine has been blabbing all around the palace, everyone believes that he is your son. In fact, you should be with the priest settling this issue.”

The issue was bigger than Damien thought. Now they had to bring the priest into all this.

“Katherine might be losing some nuts in her head.”

“Tell me about it.”

* * *

A sword could cut through the air. The tension was higher than Damien had ever experienced. Everyone was present as demanded by the priest.

Delphine held onto the Alpha tight. As much as she believed him she couldn’t help but feel that Katherine was right. Maybe Alex was indeed his son?

Daciana and her mate, Luca pitied the couple. This one could build or destroy their relationship further.

Katherine’s smirk never left her lips. She pitied poor Delphine as she was going to be heartbroken by the result of the test. After the test, Damien had insisted that Alex should be kept in the custody of a nanny for the time being so as not to experience the drama that would unfold. It showed that he still cared for the boy. Her heart warmed at his gesture.

“Damien. Katherine.”

The result was out.

Delphine gripped Damien’s arm so hard he thought it would fall off. He didn’t understand why she was so worked up about it. Alex was definitely not his son and Katherine was a liar sent from hell to torment him.

The result was handed to Damien and a copy to Katherine. She waited until he opened it before the read-through hers like she didn’t know what was in it.

There, it was. Alex was his son.

Shock colored Damien’s face. He could not believe it. His mind raced back to the last night they had been together.

Delphine stared hard at his face. Did this mean Alex was his son? “Damien, what does it say? What does the result say?” She whispers.

Before Damien could have a reply, Katherine’s voice echoed throughout the room, “We would like to move into the palace first thing tomorrow morning… As the heir and the mother of the heir.”

Delphine’s knees weakened. She is heartbroken.

“Katherine, we will discuss this later.”

“Damien, at least tell everyone the result of the test,” Katherine said like she didn’t just reveal it herself.

Damien’s jaw hardened and he cleared his throat. “The result says… Alex is my son.”

Hearing Damien say it sent Delphine crashing down. Everything she was willing to push back came clogging her mind. She should have known better than to think otherwise. Alex indeed resembled Damien, especially the blond hair.

Daciana and Ruby were equally shocked.

Katherine gave everyone a long look and then finally walked up to Damien. She ran her hand over his jawline, something she loved doing. She loved how his eyes twitched, which means she still affected the Alpha. Ignoring Delphine, she took her lips to his ears. “See you in our bedroom soon,” she whispered, seductively drawing her words. She let her fingers linger on his chest and blew a kiss before leaving the room.

Not a word was uttered after she left. Damien was still lost for words. He didn’t know what to say to Delphine but he knew something must have been messed up somewhere. Like a flash, Delphine marched out of the room. He followed her, calling after her.

“Delphine, wait. This is a big misunderstanding!”

Delphine ignored him and continued to their room. She locked the door behind her, leaving a weary Damien at the other end. “Delphine, please let me in. I want to see you.”

She being very upset paid no heed to his pleas.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know why the result is positive. I’m sure Alex is not my son. Katherine is hiding something. I love you…”

Dejected, he resigned to the priest as he summoned him.

The news the priest broke was one he feared. Katherine was to be taken as his second wife since she was the mother to his heir. This would break Delphine the more.

“I’m sure Alex is not my son, isn’t there something we can do about it?”

“What do you mean Alex isn’t your son? We had a test and the result came positive. You of all people should know this, according to the law you ought to take Katherine as your second wife. She is the mother to your heir. You should be thankful she brought him to you and you have an heir.” The priest’s tone discouraged him, there was nothing he could do about the law.

“Okay. The preparations will begin.”

“Of course. Talk to Delphine too.”

“I will.”

Delphine realizing the law was even more devastated. She couldn’t bear seeing Damien with another woman, most especially one with his son. The knock on the door jolted her. The clothes in her hands dropped on the carpeted floor. She had planned to leave the palace for a while. At least, until the dust settled. Her bag was almost packed.

“Delphine opens the door. It’s me.” It was Damien.

“I think I need to be alone for now,” she finally replied.

“Alright, if you need me I’ll be by the door.” The gesture warmed her heart and then she knew he still loved her but she still needed to leave the palace.

Katherine pulled her son into her arms. She could hardly believe everything turned out fine. “Mummy, can I see father again?” the boy asked.

“Of course, you can see him again and again because this is your house and he is your father. Everything will be fine.”

Alex couldn’t contain his excitement. Katherine couldn’t wait to move into the main area of the palace.

The more time Delphine spent packing her bags the more anxious she became. She was sure her actions would break Damien’s heart but it was a decision she had decided to make since Katherine broke the news.

At the door, she put a hand in her chest and heaved a sigh.

“Delphine?” She opened the door to reveal a distressed Daciana.

“Daciana.”

“I’ve been worried about you. Damien left some minutes ago to settle some issues. Oh, I’m sorry you have to go through this.”

“It’s fine.”

Daciana’s gaze went to the small bag sling over her arm. “What’s in the bag?”

“Just a few changes of clothes. I need to be alone to clear head Daciana, it’s no cause for alarm.”

“No, you can’t run away at this time. Damien needs you. The place needs you…”

“I can’t stay here. Please respect my choice.”

“…but Katherine…” Daciana held on to her, her eyes pleading.

“Katherine has every right to stay here, she is the mother to the heir. We can’t ignore the law.”

Daciana knew her mind had been made up, there was nothing she could do to change it.

“At least tell me where you’re headed.”

“Now that I can’t say.” Delphine let a small smile danced on her lips.

“Be careful.”

“Of course.” Daciana pulled Delphine in for one last hug.

Unknown to them, Katherine had been watching their exchange. That even delighted her the most. Delphine was leaving the palace for her to take over. Could this get any better? She didn’t think Delphine would give up so soon. Her life was set.

Damien could not concentrate on the task given to him. Katherine and Alex’s presence had disrupted the balance. He blamed himself for believing Katherine had died.

Delphine gave one last look at the palace. The memories she made blinded her vision. Now was not the time to fight, now she would lay low and come up with a definite plan. Katherine would not know what hit her.