In the dimly lit study, the air was thick with tension.
Chloe, fresh from a soak in the tub, was once again drenched in sweat. Caught by a man starved for months, she knew the outcome would be memorizing.
Whenever she hesitated to compromise, she worried that Damon would strain her physically. The pain of childbirth had scarred her heart, and the stitches that followed haunted her with every pull and twinge, making it an indelible memory.
She was, in truth, frightened of that pain. Thus, it had become a no-go zone, both physically and psychologically. But she couldn't let her fear stop him forever.
It had indeed been too long.
At first, she was too shy to let him touch her because of her insecurity about her body, but as time dragged on, she worried that he would only grow more fierce. And so, she had steeled herself for this encounter.d2
Thankfully, the anticipated pain never came.
Damon was relentless. Cradled in his arms, utterly spent, Chloe's voice was a mere whisper, fragmented almost beyond coherence, "Enough... it's... time for... dinner."
Damon, seemingly deaf to her plea, scooped her up and carried her back to the desk, where he pressed the intercom button.
The phone was quickly answered.
"Hello."
"Dinner is postponed by thirty minutes."
"Alright."
The maid hesitated before complying, then swiftly relayed the message to the kitchen.
Chloe cursed inwardly, regretting letting his desire build for so long. "The babies will probably start fussing soon."
"There are plenty of people to tend to them."
"But..."
"No excuses, you're mine right now."
He'd stressed this point many times, and she never took him seriously. Today was a lesson in action.
Resigned to her fate, Chloe clung to Damon's shoulders, pressing her body against his, murmuring softly, "Be gentle."
His grip tightened at her words.
Noticing the sudden change in his expression, she instantly regretted her plea. "Don’t go too hard please."
"I'll try." His response was terse, his passion unleashed.
Chloe bit her lip. This was going to be intense.
--
The celebration banquet was a hive of activity.
Employee after employee called, each eager to attend the twins' celebration.
Chloe was initially hesitant, fearing too many guests would lead to chaos, but once Damon said he'd handle the arrangements, she gave her consent.
Elizabeth, ever the worrier, wanted the twins' celebration to be grand and had spent days overseeing the plans. Naturally, the children's care fell mostly on Yasmine and Chloe.
...
At three in the afternoon, Yasmine entered Chloe's bedroom with two bottles of formula to feed the little ones.
The weather had cooled, but the sunlight was warm. Chloe placed the babies by the window, basking them in the gentle rays.
Yasmine's demeanor had softened over the months of caring for the twins, no longer the icy figure she once was.
"Presley will probably want to get involved in the celebration. What are your thoughts?" Yasmine asked suddenly.
Chloe remained unfazed. "He's their great-grandfather. If he insists on coming, I can't stop him."
Yasmine wiped a dribble of milk from her grand-daughter's mouth. "He probably won't cause any trouble. I've thought it through for him, and he really doesn't have much to gain."
Little Sun found a comfortable position, hugging his bottle contentedly.
Chloe, supporting with one hand, gazed out the window before turning back with a small smile.
"I can't think of anything either."
Ever since her hospital stay, she'd heard about Presley's frequent visits to see the children. But until her discharge, Alyssa had barred him from so much as holding them. He could only look on from a distance, getting close now and then, only to be chased away by Alyssa.
The great-grandfather's reputation was terrible in Chloe's mind, but on this issue, Yasmine seemed to have inadvertently spoken on his behalf.
"Shouldn't you at least make a gesture?" Yasmine teased.
"An invitation?" Chloe replied noncommittally.
Chloe continued, "With his personality, he wouldn't accept such courtesy. In his eyes, attending his great-grandchildren's celebration banquet is his right, and an invitation would be an insult."
Yasmine smirked, "Right, then don't insult him. On the day, Alyssa will probably know how to 'insult' him better than you."
Chloe had wondered why her mother had brought up such a redundant topic, so that was the reason. But what did it have to do with her, the villain?
She wouldn't invite, yet he would come of his own accord, so why bother with such a thankless task?
"That's between them, then."
Yasmine fell silent.
Chloe tested letting go of the bottle, only to find her Little Sun still too small to hold it, and so she continued to support it.
Leaning back in her chair, her gaze returned to the window.
"Once the celebration banquet is over, are you planning to leave?"
Yasmine's smile faded as she faced Chloe, her expression growing displeased. "What, you're tired of me staying at your place?"
"Is it not long enough?"
Yasmine glared at her.
"You have your own property, and if that's not enough, I'll get you another place."
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