Chapter 264: ~ 264
Chapter 264
~Octavia~
The nursery was warm, quiet, and filled with the sweet, clean scent of baby lavender. A small pink basin sat on the changing table, filled to the brim with warm water. A soft space heater hummed gently in the corner, keeping the room perfectly cozy for the baby.
Franklin leaned over the table, looking incredibly massive against the delicate white furniture. His huge hands were currently holding a tiny, damp washcloth with absolute care. He looked so focused, like he was handling the most fragile piece of glass in the world.
"Is the water too hot, sweetheart?" Franklin asked. He turned his head to look at me, his deep, rumbling voice dropping to a very soft whisper. "Check it one more time for me. I am so terrified of hurting her."
I smiled softly, stepping closer to him. I dipped my fingers into the clear water and swirled it around. "It’s perfect, Franklin. Just warm enough. Don’t worry so much. Look at her, she’s already awake and watching you."
Baby Lael lay flat on a plush, dry towel right next to the basin. Her tiny arms blinked open and shut in the air, and her dark, clear eyes blinked up at her father. She let out a tiny, soft coo, her little mouth forming a perfect ’O’ shape.
"Hi, beautiful," Franklin murmured, his face softening completely.
In an instant, the cold, terrifying billionaire vanished. He was replaced by a man completely wrapped around his daughter’s tiny finger. He gently pressed the damp, warm cloth against her little chest, squeezing just a few drops of water over her skin. "You’re doing so good, Lael. Daddy’s got you. I promise you, I’ve got you."
"She absolutely loves the water," I said, leaning my head against Franklin’s broad, warm shoulder. I watched his large fingers carefully clean between her tiny toes. "Look how quiet she is. Usually, newborns cry a lot during their very first bath."
"Because she knows her dad won’t let anything bad happen to her," Franklin said. A proud, genuine smile broke across his handsome face. He looked down at me, his dark eyes filled with absolute devotion and love. "And she knows her mom is right here protecting her, too. You look beautiful today, Octavia. You’re doing an amazing job with her."
"We both are," I whispered back, reaching out to gently stroke Lael’s soft, dark hair. "Seeing you like this with her... it makes me feel a very deep sense of peace, Franklin. It feels like we are completely safe here in this new house. Like nothing outside these walls can ever touch us or ruin our happiness."
"Nothing will," Franklin promised firmly. His tone shifted for a second into that protective, unyielding register that I knew so well. "No one gets to threaten my family anymore. Now, pass me that big dry towel, sweetheart. Let’s wrap our little princess up before she gets cold."
I quickly handed him the fluffy white towel. Franklin lifted Lael up with perfect ease, wrapping her up like a little burrito and bringing her close to his chest. He rocked her back and forth gently, humming a low, wordless tune until her tiny eyes started to flutter shut again.
"Go sit down and relax, Octavia," he murmured, leaning down to kiss my cheek. "I’ll lay her down in the cot and stay right here with her. The doctor said you need to keep resting as much as possible."
"I will," I nodded, feeling a sweet, deep sense of comfort as I watched him walk over to the crib.
Later that evening, the entire house grew completely still. Franklin was still inside the nursery, keeping a watchful eye on our sleeping daughter. I woke up from a short nap in our bed feeling a bit hungry. I remembered that Olga had mentioned earlier that she left a plate of warm food for me in the kitchen, just in case I needed a late-night snack to keep my strength up.
I slipped on my soft, cream-colored robe and quietly stepped out of the master suite. The grand hallway was dimly lit by a few wall sconces, wrapping the giant estate in a heavy, expensive silence.
I walked down the long corridor, my bare feet making absolutely no sound on the thick, luxury carpet. But as I neared the grand staircase landing that led down toward the kitchen, a sharp, cold voice sliced through the darkness.
I froze instantly, my breath catching tightly in my throat.
The voice was coming from the deep shadows right near the balcony railing. I took a slow step closer, hiding myself behind a large marble pillar. My eyes strained in the dim light to see who it was.
It was Flynn.
But the goofy, playful, and clumsy cousin from this morning was completely gone. He was leaning heavily over the wooden railing, his jaw clenched so tightly that I could see the sharp line of his bone in the dark. He was gripping his phone with white knuckles, his entire posture looking rigid, angry, and dangerous.
"Mum, stop calling me," Flynn snapped into the phone. His voice was a low, terrifyingly cold hiss that echoed slightly against the walls. "I told you, let me deal with Franklin myself. Just stay out of it until I give the word."
He paused for a long moment, listening to whoever was speaking on the other end. His eyes scanned the dark, empty foyer below with an expression that made my blood run completely cold.
"I don’t care what you think, Mum," Flynn whispered harshly into the receiver, his tone full of annoyance. "I’m already inside the house. He allowed me to stay here. Just leave it to me. Goodbye."
He clicked the phone off roughly, shoving it deep into his pocket. He ran a hand through his hair and let out a dark, frustrated sigh, staring out into the empty space.
My heart hammered violently against my ribs. My hands began to shake beneath the sleeves of my robe. The beautiful, peaceful bubble we had built just hours ago during Lael’s bath burst into a million pieces. Flynn wasn’t just an annoying, goofy houseguest who wanted to buy big toys. He was planning something. He was hiding a massive secret from us.
I turned around as quietly as I could, my mind spinning into pure panic. I practically ran back down the long hallway, forgetting all about the food in the kitchen. I didn’t care about being hungry anymore. I didn’t care about anything except getting back to the safety of my husband.
I burst into the master bedroom, the heavy double doors swinging open with a sharp, sudden click.
Franklin was standing right by the white crib, his large hand gently resting on Lael’s back to comfort her as she slept. He jumped slightly at the sudden, loud noise of the door opening. His dark eyes instantly flashed with a fierce, defensive instinct, ready to attack, before he realized it was just me standing there.
"Octavia?" Franklin whispered loudly. He stepped away from the crib quickly and rushed right over to my side. He caught my trembling hands in his large, warm palms, his face filling with immediate worry and fear for me. "Sweetheart, what’s wrong? You’re shaking. You are completely pale. Are you in pain? Do we need to call the doctor?"
I looked up into his handsome, worried face, my breathing completely ragged. The fear, confusion, and anxiety from what I had just heard completely took over my mind. I couldn’t hold it back inside anymore. I needed to know the truth.
I looked directly into his dark eyes, my voice cracking with raw emotion. "Franklin... What is really the deal between you and Flynn? Tell me the truth."
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