Chapter 255: ~ 255
Chapter 255
~Franklin~
I had planned out another surprise for today. I had ordered the complete closure of L’Enfant Doré, Manhattan’s most exclusive luxury baby boutique. The heavy glass doors were locked to the public, the blinds drawn to shield us from the paparazzi, and the entire staff stood at a respectful distance.
Today was entirely about my wife.
I stood near the center of the showroom. Octavia moved through the aisles of cashmere blankets, imported wooden toys, and delicate silk garments like a goddess entirely at peace.
She was wearing the soft, oversized sweater I loved so much, the fabric draping beautifully over the undeniable, swelling curve of her stomach. The faint, rosy flush of pregnancy warmed her cheeks, and a soft, radiant smile played on her lips as she ran her fingers over a set of tiny, hand-knit socks.
Seeing her like this, safe, glowing, and deeply maternal, sent a fierce, possessive ache straight through my chest. Looking at her now, picking out baby clothes with a look of pure joy, I knew I would burn the entire world down a thousand times over just to keep that smile on her face.
"Franklin, look at this," she called softly, holding up a tiny, incredibly soft plush bear. "Do you think it’s too small?"
"I think we should buy the entire shelf," I replied, my voice a low, warm rumble as I walked up behind her. I wrapped my arms around her waist from behind, pulling her back flush against my chest, and rested my chin on the crown of her head. "Whatever you want, sweetheart. The entire store is yours."
She giggled, a breathless, beautiful sound that vibrated against my chest.
Suddenly, the sharp chime of the front door shattered the quiet intimacy of the room.
My head snapped up instantly, my relaxed posture turning into rigid, impenetrable stone. The boutique manager gasped, rushing forward apologetically as a man pushed his way past the private security velvet ropes.
I recognized him immediately. It was Luis De’Mont, an arrogant, loud-mouthed commercial real estate mogul who had recently inherited his father’s portfolio. He had an appointment scheduled for after our private booking, but clearly, the entitled bastard thought the rules didn’t apply to him.
"I don’t care if the store is closed, I just need to pick up a registry gift—" He started, his loud voice cutting off abruptly as he looked up and realized exactly who was standing in the center of the room.
He saw me. But then, his gaze shifted.
He looked at Octavia.
His eyes widened slightly, completely ignoring the massive diamond on her finger and the fact that she was wrapped in my arms. His gaze shamelessly dragged down the length of her body, lingering with a filthy look. He didn’t look away. He actually had the audacity to let a slow, arrogant smirk touch his lips as his eyes raked over my pregnant wife.
"Excuse me for a moment, sweetheart," I murmured to Octavia, my voice entirely calm, betraying absolutely nothing to her.
I released her waist and stepped forward. Luis’ smirk faltered as I stopped barely an inch from his face. I towered over him, using every ounce of my height and my dominance to completely threaten his space.
"Mr. Flemington, I—" Luis started, taking a nervous half-step backward as the temperature in the room plummeted to absolute zero.
"Keep your voice down," I whispered. It was a low, terrifyingly quiet command, laced with a venom so pure it made the blood drain entirely from his face. I leaned down, my dark eyes boring into his terrified pupils. "If your eyes linger on my wife for one single fraction of a second longer, I will not just blind you. I will tear apart your entire inherited real estate portfolio. I will strip your family name down to the studs, bankrupt your holdings by tomorrow morning, and ensure you spend the rest of your miserable life begging for scraps on the street. Do you understand me?"
Luis began to shake visibly. The arrogant mogul was completely gone, replaced by a trembling, terrified boy who had just realized he stepped into the cage with a monster.
"I-I’m sorry," he stammered, his voice cracking violently. "I apologize. I’ll leave."
"Get out of my sight," I commanded softly.
Luis didn’t even turn around. He scrambled backward, practically tripping over his own expensive loafers as he shoved the glass door open and fled away.
I took a slow, deep breath, smoothing down the lapels of my dark jacket. I completely shoved the dark, violent alpha instincts back into their cage and turned around. When I looked back at Octavia, my expression was entirely soft again. She was looking at me with a raised eyebrow, a small, knowing smile on her lips.
"Everything alright over there, husband?" she asked.
"Just a minor scheduling error," I replied smoothly, walking back to her side and kissing her temple. "Are we ready for the next surprise?"
I didn’t let the pathetic interruption affect the rest of our morning. My security detail loaded the mountain of luxury baby purchases into the second SUV, and I guided Octavia back into our car.
I gave a silent nod to the driver, and we headed out of the chaotic, claustrophobic grid of Manhattan. We drove for less than an hour, heading toward a highly exclusive, heavily wooded enclave not far from our current estate. The trees parted, revealing a massive, towering set of wrought-iron gates bearing a custom crest.
"Franklin," Octavia breathed, her eyes widening as the gates silently swung open, revealing a winding, perfectly manicured driveway. "Where are we?"
"Our current estate is beautiful, Octavia, but after everything that happened... I realized it wasn’t enough," I explained, my voice steady as the Maybach pulled up to the front of a breathtaking, sprawling modern mansion. It was a masterpiece of architectural security and luxury stone, floor-to-ceiling reinforced glass, surrounded by acres of private, impenetrable land.
I turned to her, reaching into my inside jacket pocket, and pulled out a heavy, sealed legal envelope, placing it gently into her lap. "I commissioned this property months ago in absolute secret. It is equipped with military-grade biometric security, entirely off the public grid. And the deed... is entirely in your name."
Octavia stared at the envelope, her lips parting in absolute shock. "My name?"
"It is yours. A fortress for my queen," I murmured. I didn’t wait for her to process it. I stepped out of the car, walked around to her door, and opened it. Before she could even step onto the pavement, I leaned in and effortlessly scooped her up into my arms, carrying her bridal-style.
"Franklin, I can walk!" she laughed, wrapping her arms securely around my neck as I carried her up the grand, sweeping stone steps.
"Not across this threshold," I insisted, my chest swelling with absolute pride as I pushed the massive double oak doors open.
The foyer was spectacular, flooded with natural light, but I didn’t stop to show her the grand staircases or the living spaces. I carried her directly down the right wing of the estate, stopping in front of a room. I gently set her down on her feet, keeping one arm securely wrapped around her waist.
"Open it," I whispered against her ear.
Octavia reached out, her hands trembling slightly, and pushed the doors open.
She gasped, her hands instantly flying to cover her mouth.
It was the nursery. But it wasn’t just any room. I had flown in the finest interior designers in Europe to build a breathtaking, custom-designed masterpiece.
"Franklin..." Octavia whispered, her voice breaking completely. She stepped into the center of the room, spinning slowly to take in the sheer, overwhelming love poured into every single square inch of the space.
When she turned back to me, thick, heavy tears of pure joy were spilling over her eyelashes, tracing down her radiant cheeks. She didn’t say another word. She practically threw herself into my arms.
I caught her instantly, wrapping my arms entirely around her frame and pulling her flush against me. I buried my hands in her hair, tilting her head up, and brought my lips down onto hers. The kiss was deep, consuming.
As our lips moved perfectly together in the center of the ash-colored nursery, the baby gave a sudden, strong kick right against my stomach.
I pulled back just an inch, resting my forehead against hers, my breathing ragged.
"Are you ready for our vacation now, Mrs. Flemington?" I whispered, my thumb gently wiping away her happy tears.
"Take me away, husband," she smiled, her eyes shining with pure, absolute love. "I am entirely yours."
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