Chapter 2105
Obsidian Enterprises had been brewing new endeavors recently.
Chloe was meticulously packing Damon''s suitcase for his business trip. "I''ve squared away the
essentials with Nate already. Here''s the medicine pouch. If you feel a colding on, remember to
take a couple of these powdered mixes. I''ve also packed antacids and hangover pills. I included
three sets of clothes for you, and I''ve ordered some outfits to be delivered directly to you over there
in a couple of days."
As Chloe bent over the suitcase, sorting through items with great attention to detail, familiar
garments suddenly appeared on the surface of the luggage. Upon closer inspection, she realized
they were her own clothes. Lifting her eyes, she watched as the tall, broad-shouldered man knelt
before her, his defined fingers carefully folding her clothes and cing them atop his own. "What
are you doing?"
"Coming with me on the trip," he said, his voice firm and unyielding.
Chloe sighed with a hint of resignation and began removing the clothes from the suitcase, "I can''t
go with you. I need to stay home and take care of the kids."
Damon''s expression darkened a shade, "They have grandparents, nannies, and housekeepers."d2
"But I''ll miss them. I need to see them every day to feel at peace."
Damon took the clothes back from Chloe''s hands, pressed them into the suitcase, and then silently
stood up and left the dressing room. She was sure of it – he was upset.
Chloe pondered how to soothe himter, but before she could act on it, Damon re-entered, one
child in his arms and another dangling from his hand, both as beautiful and delicate as dolls.
Chloe was clearly familiar with Damon’s way of holding the babies, especially when she saw the
little babies being lifted and kicking his tiny legs, giggling happily. She couldn''t help but feel a sense
of helplessness. She remembered vividly how her heart had leaped the first time she saw her
precious son treated in such a cavalier fashion.
Over time, she''de to question what exactly constituted a man''s idea of "romance."
"What are you—"
Before Chloe could finish, Damon bent down and ced the little one inside the suitcase. Chloe
stared in astonishment.
With a grunt, Damon nced at the little creature reaching out cheerfully for Chloe from within the
suitcase and said, "Pack him up and bring him along."
Startled, Chloe quickly scooped her son out of the suitcase. She knew Damon wasn''t serious about
shipping their son off in a suitcase, but seeing him now, doting on his soft, sweet daughter with nose
rubs and kisses, Chloe couldn''t help but feel even more protective of her son.
The disparity in affection was striking.
She had once discussed this favoritism with Damon quite seriously, but in the end, she somewhat
agreed with his conclusion: Their son would also have to spoil his sister unconditionally.
With a silent apology in her heart, Chloe held her son close and kissed him again and again.
In spite of this tender moment, Chloe didn''t agree to join Damon on his trip.
Soon after, Nathan''s boisterous voice echoed from downstairs. "I''m here to see you!"
Sometimes Chloe thought Damon was so lucky to have a brother like Nathan – despite taking his
fair share of beatings, Nathan''s uncanny timing often rescued her from tricky situations.
His reasons for showing up were seldom what one might call "normal" though.
Descending the stairs with a face like a thundercloud, Damon saw Nathan had arrived with his
entire family in tow. The butler had already directed the staff to serve tea and refreshments in an
orderly fashion.
Nathan''s bright smile was hard to miss as he admired the familying down from the upstairs.
He had learned a thing or two about sweet-talking, and without making a fuss, he nced at
Damon''s sour expression before turning his attention to the baby girl in his arms. "Wow, isn''t my
niece Little Moon bing more beautiful by the day? She''s starting to look so much like her
mommy."
Damon was a known doting father, especially when it came to his daughter. His preferential
treatment was no secret in the household.
Nathan''sment was strategic, ttering both Damon''s treasured daughter and his beloved wife,
Chloe. Though Nathan often came off as unreliable at home, this time he had made the right bet.
Damon''s face remained stoic, but his slight nod was a grand concession to Nathan. Clearly, he was
susceptible to ttery.
Yulia hid her amused smile behind her hand, while the staff lowered their heads to conceal their
grins.
Anya, somewhat intimidated by Damon, nced at the beautiful girl in Damon''s arms and scurried
to Chloe''s side, resting her chin on Chloe''s knee and gazing at her handsome cousin with sparkling
eyes. "Chloe, Little Sun is so handsome."
Chloe smiled and watched as Anya gently touched Little Sun''s cheek, "Anya, you''re beautiful too."
Little Sun''s chubby hands grasped Anya''s, and he tried to bring them to his mouth. Anya''sughter
made her eyes crease into happy crescents.
"No, although I''m very clean, Little Sun, you still need to pay attention to hygiene." Anya chided,
taking on the role of a caring older sister.
Chloe stroked Anya''s hair, her eyes filled with warmth. "Anya is such a good big sister."
Anya beamed even brighter. "I''ll always protect Little Sun and Little Moon."
Every visit, Anya made the same earnest promise, and each time, Chloe felt a deep sense of
warmth and joy. The pure, unblemished affection Chloe had once envied now surrounded her
completely.
Sometimes, she questioned it all. Even the Summers family was only considered a minor
aristocracy, the cutthroat struggles for power and profit seemed to strip them of their humanity. They
measured kinship in dors and cents, turning affection into something as transactional as a
business deal. If this was the case in the Summers household, she could only imagine the
emotional void in the grander Harper family, where any genuine sentiment must have felt like a
burden, something to be disregarded andcking. Yet, clearly, she had been wildly mistaken.
The Harpers, for all their conflicts, had proven to be an exception to her cynical expectations. They
trusted her, acknowledged her, loved her, and respected her.
She thought her life wasplete with Damon, but he gave her so much more.
"Anya is such a great sister," someone noted, warming Anya''s heart further.
Damon settled Little Moon onto hisp, encircling her tiny frame with his arm, his fingers toying with
her small hand. He watched contentedly as the little hand grasped his finger before he cheerfully
asked, "What brings you here?"
C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.
Nathan, draping an arm around Yulia as they sat opposite on the couch, grinned, "We''re about to go
on a business trip, so I asked Yulia and Anya to keep Chloepany."
Chloe smiled demurely, her lips barely parting. Clearly, fatherhood was doing wonders for Nathan''s
communication skills.
Damon barely nced at him, unimpressed. "Another babysitting job for us?"
Nathan touched his nose, his embarrassment fleeting before he leaned back with a defiant air of
resignation. "Just thought they''d keep herpany, bro. Besides, Yulia''s carrying your nephew in
there. Can you really leave them alone at home?"
Damon was silent. What was there to worry about? Were the housekeepers merely ornaments?
And their mother... Well, best not to go there.
As long as their mother didn''t stir up trouble, she would be doing him a favor.
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The Diaz residence.
In the dimly lit bedroom, a mess of sheetsy on therge double bed.
A cascade of dark hair spread over the pillow, and faint marks dotted the smooth shoulders. Strands
of hair partly concealed a tired andnguid face.
The bedroom door swung open, and the light from the hallway spilled in.
Seth, dressed in a simple loungewear, approached the bed, bending down to ce a ss of water
on the bedside table, then sat down beside the sleeping woman, watching her in silence.
Minutester, Cicely turned away from him, grabbing the nket in a huff.
Seth''s lips curled into a slight smile as he slipped under the covers, nting a gentle kiss on her
exposed shoulder before wrapping an arm around her.
"Don''t touch..." Her voice trailed off, hoarse from difort, and she pinched the hand wrapped
around her waist fiercely.
Her resistance was met with a low chuckle from the man behind her. "Sorry," he whispered, his
breath warm against her ear.
Cicely yanked the nket over her head, muttering, "Get lost."
Seth stopped her, sitting up and scooping her into hisp with a fluid motion. She could feel every
bone in her body soften, toozy to resist as he wrapped them both in the nket.
His hands kneaded her sore back, the tension slowly easing until Cicely sighed in rxation. After a
while, Seth handed her the water. "Honey lemon," he offered.
She drank quietly, his hands continuing to massage her back as she rested lethargically in his
embrace, her scent filling his nostrils as his kisses peppered her cheek and neck.
"Are you ever going to stop?"
Cicely felt more spirited after the rest. Pushing his face away, she murmured, "You always look so
polished and gentlemanly, but it''s all an act, isn''t it? Your recent beavior makes me doubt that
you''ve ever abstained from women."
Seth''s brow twitched slightly as he replied, "I''ve saved it all for you."
Cicely''s confusion was evident, but as understanding dawned, her cheeks flushed, and she found
herself speechless. After a moment, she whispered usingly, "You''re shameless."
Seth brushed her hair aside, his gaze intense. "I have to travel soon. You''ll wait for me at home,
won''t you?" His tone was serious, his expression unreadable.
Cicely''s heart fluttered slightly as she could clearly sense his unease. No, his unease was just too
obvious to ignore.
She watched him silently, her pride preventing her from reciprocating with sweet nothings. "Are you
not leaving a bodyguard or a maid to watch over me, then?"
His lips formed a tight line. "The bodyguards will protect you, and the maids will care for you."
He seemed to avoid the topic, carrying Cicely into the bathroom without another word.
He hadn''t received the answer he wanted, and pressing the issue might have led Cicely to dredge
up old grievances. He knew he was at fault for the past.
All he wished was for her to stay with him willingly, out of love, but what if she was only
compromising?
Her ability to be with him now was simply a result of her unteral decision to let go and
compromise. It wasn''t him forcing her; it was her insisting on it for herself.
He could only pretend to be oblivious, keeping her by his side. Some truths are better left unsaid.
Even if she wanted to leave, he wouldn''t let her go. He wasn''t a noble man, and he was fine with
being the viin.
The conversation ended without resolution. He dared not, and she did not wish to revisit the past.
After all, who says that crossing a hurdle erases it?
Life moves forward, and no one desires to tread the same path twice.
After Cicely drifted off to sleep, Seth made his way downstairs where he gathered his security team,
the house staff, and the chauffeur. He meticulouslyid out instructions to ensure Cicely and Hugo
were protected and cared for.
"Give her whatever she wants, and let her do whatever she pleases," he started, his voice steady
but firm. Seth paused for a moment, his gaze drifting towards the staircase as he wrestled with his
thoughts. When he spoke again, his voice was tinged with a somber resolve. "Just make sure she''s
safe and always within your sight."
"Understood," came the collective response.
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