Chapter 25
Chapter 25
Willow
With my eyes closed, I felt it once more-the sensation of a touch, of someone tenderly brushing
away the fallen strands of hair from my face and delicately tucking them. behind my ear. The touch
was so tender and soothing that it felt almost surreal, until it began to caress my cheek.
“Mmhmm, I couldn’t help but murmur, drawn toward the unexpectedforting warmth, leaning in
and brushing my cheek against it. At that moment my phone rang, jolting me awake from my
slumber.
My weary head rested on the desk where I had toiled through the night. Slowly, I opened my eyes
and straightened up in the chair, ncing towards my closed bedroom door. Once again, my room
was empty and I was alone. Was I dreaming again? But that touch, that warmth-it had felt too real
for it to have been a dream that had been recurring for the past four days. While sleeping, I’d sense
someone’s presence, even felt a gentle touch on my face. Yet, whenever I’d stir and open my eyes,
the room would remain empty, the door closed as it had been before I sumbed to exhaustion at
my desk.
“Could it be..” Ceri’s voice echoed in my mind, suggesting we were both thinking along the same
lines. However, I shook my head to clear my thoughts, until my gazended on the wall clock.
“8:00 a.m?!” I gasped. “Da mn!” Grabbing my phone, I hurriedly dashed out of my room and
downstairs. It was time for the children to go to kindergarten! How could my rm have failed me
today? As I entered the dining area in haste, I paused abruptly at the sight that greeted me-three
pairs of eyes staring in my direction. My hair and clothes
were a mess.
Blinking in surprise, I found Wyatt and Lori seated with Reuben at the dining table, happily chatting
and enjoying their time together.
“Mommy, good morning,” Lori greeted me with a bright smile,
“Why are you….” I looked at them in confusion.
“Mommy, what’s wrong?” Wyatt blinked up at me, looking concerned. “We already brushed our
teeth and took our baths.”
“It’s Sunday,” Reuben suddenly exined, seemingly aware of the reason behind my frantic
morning rush. I blinked in response before sense was knocked back into me.
1/6
The Secret to Malding More Money with Less Effort Laser Cutting
13:07 Thu, 29 Feb B.
Chapter 25
Wait! Yes, it was Sunday, and the children didn’t have kindergarten today.
Reuben looked at me with a hint of amusement in his eyes. The corners of my lips. twitched in
embarrassment. Ignoring him, I attempted to make a quick exit.
“Mommy, let’s eat. We’ve been waiting for you,” Wyatt halted me.
“Why were you waiting for me?” I turned to examine the tes in front of them. None of their food
had been touched, especially Reuben’s, and the children had been. nibbling on fresh fruit until my
arrival.
“Daddy said he was going to wait for mommy, so we were waiting with daddy,” Lori exined in her
innocent voice.
Subconsciously, I locked eyes with Reuben. Why was he waiting for me? His entire day. was usually
meticulously nned and he despised waiting especially for food.
“Let’s eat,” he invited me to the table, setting a pre-prepared te next to his. Did not that mean I
would have to sit beside him?
“I’ll eatter,” I replied.
“Why?” he frowned, unustomed to receiving a refusal.
“I just want to…”
“Are you scared of me?” He raised an eyebrow, leaving me speechless for a moment. Wyatt and
Lori nced between us.
The corner of my lips twitched bitterly at his deliberate provocation in front of the kids. “Why would I
be?” I retorted in a controlled way.
“Thene and have a seat,” his eyes were lit with the desire to argue with me.
I couldn’t help but re at him. I knew I did not want to be around him. I was more likely to ignore
him. Why the hell was he so obsessed with me eating with him? Under Wyatt and Lori’s watchful
eyes I couldn’t refuse otherwise they might think I was genuinely scared of Reuben.
With a deliberate motion, I took a step forward, pulled the chair slightly away from him, and settled
beside him./Staring at my food, Ipletely ignored him. Even without looking at him, I could sense
the smug satisfaction on his face.
“Yay! We are finally eating with both mommy and daddy,” Wyatt and Lori stated happily. “The two of
them look so beautiful together.”
The Secret to Making More Money with Less Effort Laver Cutting
Chapter 23
10, 29 Feb
My hand stopped on the fork as I listened to their innocent remarks. I nced at
Reuben from the corner of my eye only to find he had never looked away from me. He looked
somehow happier listening to Wyatt and Lori, “Did you teach them to say all of this?” I stared at him
with an emotionless gaze.
“The truth can not be taught. They realized it on their own,” he remarked, his eyes sliding down from
my eyes to my lips.
I tore my eyes away from him and focused on my food. If I argued then he was going to say
something that would only make me speechless. I just wanted to eat quickly, get up from this table,
and escape this awkward situation. Once I began eating, he also picked up his fork and knife, and
we all started our meal. Both children animatedly shared stories about their kindergarten
experiences, friends, games, and other activities while. we ate. It warmed my heart to see Wyatt
and Lori enjoying themselves and feelingfortable at the shifters kindergarten. Surprisingly, this
time, there hadn’t been anyints from the kindergarten, which was a relief. Thankfully,
everything seemed to be going smoothly, thank the goddess.
Reuben was deeply engrossed in their stories, showing a level of interest that made it seem as if he
had been the one raising Wyatt and Lori all along. Ceri and I shared a mirrored concern about
Reuben’s strong influence over them. They had grown remarkably attached to him. In three months,
when we eventually left the Emerald Bright Pack to return to our previous lives, exining things to
Wyatt and Lori would be incredibly challenging.
I tightened my hand slightly on my fork. I had to stop it before it was toote.
“Mommy, I don’t want to drink my milk,” Lori whined like always.
“Lori, you have to drink your milk. Otherwise I will only be taking Wyatt for ice cream today,” I told
her a little sternly. Every Sunday I usually take them out to y, shop, and get ice cream.
“Mommy, I want ice cream too!!” She looked at me with big shimmery eyes.
“Alright, quickly finish your milk and once we are done with breakfast we will go shopping for ice
cream okay?” I smiled.
“Okay,” both the children happily started finishing their food. They were always eager to go out and
that’s why they would dress up from the day on Sundays.
That’s when my phone rang next to my te on the table. Reuben’s gaze immediately flickered
towards my phone. L’s name shed on the screen-it was my assistant calling.
13:07 Thu, 29 Feb G.
Chapter 25
Answering the call, L’s excited voice came through, “Willow, I have good news for you!”
“What is it?” I responded casually, rising from my seat to walk over to the children’s side to pour
them some water.
“The grand runway event of the year that you had declined to participate in because you couldn’t
return to Britain anytime soon, is now being organized in America!” L announced eagerly.
I paused abruptly, taken aback, “Really?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
The grand runway event urred just once a year, it was an eagerly awaited event for all fashion
designers, including the top-tier ones. Being invited was an honor reserved. for a select few and
renowned designers. Despite receiving an invitation this year due to my growing reputation in the
industry, I had to decline due to my current circumstances. However, it seemed that fate was
unexpectedly on my side this time.
“Yes, Walter personally came to the office to invite you to the event. He was truly disappointed at
not being able to see you,” L’s words sent a chill down my spine. My eyes immediately darted to
Reuben. His hand froze on the fork at the mention of Walter. He didn’t raise his head or meet
anyone’s gaze, yet I sensed the air around him turn frigid, as though a dark storm was brewing
within him.
“And you know what? When I exined to Walter that you wouldn’t be returning to Britain due to
personal reasons, that crazy guy decided to move the event to America,” L continued, oblivious
to the effect her words were having. Herughter filled the air, unaware that every word she uttered
was triggering a reaction in Reuben, darkening his aura like a devil from hell.
I swiftly muted L, excused myself from the dining table, then left the packhouse all together to
continue the conversation. My heart raced wildly, but I regained control as I spoke, “Alright, I will
participate in the event. Send me the details through email, and I’ll start working on the designs.”
“Great! Then I’ll organize the models and everything for you then send the details,” L eximed
cheerfully. I shook my head at her enthusiasm, chuckling softly until E’s voice interrupted us.
“Willow,” E called out to me, standing a small distance away from me. “You’ve really be a
fashion designer,” she smiled warmly. Back in school, we had all shared our aspirations for the
future. I aimed to be a fashion designer, while Reuben hadn’t had any specific dreams other
than wanting to be with me. However, E’s dreams were affluent, much like her bloodline and
status. She aspired to be a Luna and lead the
The Secret to Making Mars Mons
13:07 Thu, 29 FebrB.
Chapter 25
pack. Considering that she was now Reuben’s fiancée, we both had achieved our dreams. Of
course, the path she was on had once been solely mine.
I swiftly ended the call with L and turned to leave, as had be my routine but this time E
blocked my path. “Willow, wait!” she pleaded. “I want to talk to you all the time but you have been
ignoring me,” I stared at her inplete silence, refusing to say a word for the time being. Ceri had
be rtively violent in my mind since our best. friend had dared to turn our soulmate into her
fiance so I was specifically avoiding E.
“Why… Why did you never tell me you were Reuben’s soulmate?” she quietly questioned.
“Does it really matter?” I countered. “Who my soulmate is, who I’m mated with? Why should that
affect anyone or anything, right?”
She bit her lip, visibly distressed, “But we were best friends…”
“So you knew…” A cold smile formed on my lips. “Yet you conveniently forgot about it when you
became my lover’s fiancee…”.
Herplexion paled slightly, “Willow, I can exin everything,” she stammered, moving closer to
me in a state of panic, “I was coerced into signing those papers for the sake of my pack by my
uncle…”
“Coerced?” I asked, unable to control the small giggle from escaping at the hint of amusement her
words caused.
“Yes, I…”
“Was someone holding a silver knife to your throat, forcing you to sign?” I questioned.
She fell silent for a moment, then shook her head, “Well, no…”
I nodded, continuing, “So, were you in a life-or-death situation where signing was the only way to
survive?” I raised an eyebrow.
She hesitated, unable to respond. “No,” she finally managed to say.
“Then I fail to see a reason for you to sign a marriage contract with Reuben,” I stated tly, drawing
closer and intently meeting her gaze.
“I was forced by my uncle, Willow…”
“An uncle you could have easily refused,” I interjected, catching her off guard. “Even if my life were
in danger, I’d never sign a marriage contract with my best friend’s lover
13 08 hu, 29 Feb JO
Chapter 25
日常76%日
unless…” I paused, peering deeply into her eyes. “Unless I were in love with my best friend’s lover
and my best friend’s absence provided the golden opportunity.”
E’s eyes shimmered upon hearing my words. She took an abrupt step back from me, her face
drained of color, speechless. I held her gaze until she turned on her heel and walked away. Material ? N?velDrama.Org.
Clutching my fists at my side, I tasted the bitterness of betrayal once more. I had hoped. she’d deny
my suspicions. I had hoped my suspicions were wrong, but they weren’t…
At that moment, I finally realized-E loved Reuben.
色
SEND GIFT
0
COMMENT