"No argument? Really?"
Adrian scratched his head, trying to recall, and answered truthfully.
His mom was always so mild-tempered. The only time he saw her get upset was when he spent too much time with Giselle.
It made him nervous to even mention ying with Giselle around his mom now.
"Giselle, you said you had a misunderstanding with my mom and that you''d talk it over. When are you going to make up?"
It was such a hassle to keep avoiding his mom.
"Soon, soon."
Giselle chuckled softly, gently patting the child''s head, masking the shadow of resentment in her alluring eyes.
"It''s great your parents aren''t arguing. But, Adrian, have you been keeping your mompany andforting her?"
She asked with feigned concern.
"Yes, yes."
Adrian nodded vigorously, his eyes crinkling with his smile. "I''ve been a good boy, listening to Giselle''s advice, and I keep my mompany every night. It makes her happy."
Giselle''s lips curved into a satisfied smile, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
It was worth the trouble of keeping Adrian at the Montgomery family for a few extra days. Originally, after Lysander agreed, she could have taken the child to her ce to y.
But she changed her mind, deciding on a little mischief in the Montgomery household while she had the chance.
She couldn''t quite figure out Lysander''s sudden change of heart, but he had agreed. She wouldn''t tolerate her man being with another woman, even if it was his ex-wife!
For the seven years of their marriage, she could pretend nothing happened, but from now on, Lysander was hers alone!
Tonight, she would take Adrian to meet her parents, reassure them, and then return him.
Giselle pondered this, her eyes sparkling with a hidden light.
The next morning.
M woke up in the arms of her husband, brushing away the arm draped over her waist as she attempted to get up and head to the bathroom.
But the arm tightened, pulling her back, and carried her into the bathroom.
These days, with a hand injury and Lysander''s usual assertiveness, she had to let him help her brush her teeth and wash her face. It was unusual patience on his part, and she couldn''t figure out what had gotten into him.
In the bathroom, even with the heater on, the tiles felt cool underfoot.
M stood barefoot on Lysander''s feet, not in the best of moods so early in the morning. She took a deep breath, dodging the toothbrush he offered, already prepped with toothpaste.
"My hand''s better," she insisted.
The man seemed half-asleep, his eyes partly open with a dreamy, unfocused look, just holding up the toothbrush.
"I said, my hand''s better!"
M repeated through gritted teeth. The man finally focused his gaze on her, handed her the toothbrush without further argument, but kept his arm around her waist, evidently not intending for her to put on shoes.
So M had no choice but to stand on his feet and brush her teeth quickly.
Just a few strokes in, she felt a sudden weight on her shoulder. His tousled ck hair brushed against her cheek, surprisingly soft, as he leaned on her, half-awake and sleepy.
M paused, then sped up her brushing.
Once she was done, she called out a few times before he lifted her back to bed, looking to nap a bit more. But M wriggled free, heading to the closet to pick out clothes.
She had promised to visit the family estate today.
...
After breakfast.
M stood at the entrance of the vi, gazing at the broad space outside, feeling momentarily dazed.
Though it had been just a few days, it felt like years since she had seen the outside world. It was overwhelming, her chest tight with emotion.
"Having second thoughts?"
Lysander''s voice came from behind, his hand resting on her waist.
M quickly stepped away, distancing herself from him, striding over to the ck car waiting at the entrance.
Lysander chuckled lightly and followed her.
Leonard was driving today. He nced in the rearview mirror at the contrasting emotions of the pair in the back seat, then started the car in silence.