Chapter 58: Chapter 58
The children settled into their seats while a waitress helped arrange their napkins and menus.
As the restaurant manager stepped forward to pull out Fleur’s chair, Christian raised a hand and stopped him.
"I’ll do it."
Before anyone could react, he moved behind Fleur and personally pulled out the chair for her.
Fleur arched her brows. For a second, she wondered if she was hallucinating.
Christian Wayne pulling out a chair for a woman?
The same Christian who had built a reputation for being cold, impatient, and utterly indifferent to social niceties?
The man she remembered had never bothered with gentlemanly gestures.
Yet here he was.
Fleur sat down slowly, still staring at him in disbelief.
The room tilted slightly. She instinctively reached for the edge of the table to steady herself.
Christian noticed immediately. Concern flashed across his face as he crouched beside her.
"Are you alright, sweetheart?" His voice was low and unexpectedly gentle.
Fleur nearly groaned aloud.
Was this some elaborate torture? Was he deliberately trying to destroy her sanity?
Because the man standing before her bore little resemblance to the Christian she had known years ago.
It felt as though someone had replaced him with an entirely different person.
Had time truly changed him that much? Or was all of this merely another mask?
More importantly... Could she trust it?
The thought alone made her chest tighten.
No. She couldn’t afford to trust him. Not when revealing the truth could change everything.
Christian carefully took her hand and guided her fully into her seat.
The tenderness in his actions made it seem as though she were something precious and fragile, something he felt personally responsible for protecting.
Nearby, the manager and waitress exchanged stunned glances. Neither could hide their shock.
Christian Wayne was a familiar face at the restaurant. He hosted business dinners there, entertained influential guests, and occasionally dropped in for private meals whenever he was in Paris.
But no one had ever seen him behave this way.
Not once.
The feared alpha king was famous for many things: merciless business tactics, a terrifying temper, a ruthless reputation.
Compassion had never been one of them.
Yet tonight, he looked less like a feared mafia boss and more like a devoted husband.
Once everyone was seated, Christian turned his attention to the twins.
"So," he said with a smile, "who’s ordering dinner tonight?"
Chloe and Gabriel immediately looked toward Fleur. Before either could speak, Christian chuckled.
"Don’t worry. Tonight is my treat. Order anything you want."
The twins exchanged excited looks. Within seconds, they were pointing enthusiastically at dishes across the menu.
Pasta. Steaks. Desserts. Specialty drinks.
By the time they finished, Fleur was convinced they had selected nearly half the restaurant’s offerings.
She rubbed her forehead in frustration. This man was going to spoil them beyond repair.
Across the table, Chloe leaned toward her brother and lowered her voice.
"See?" she whispered. "Now do you agree that Mr. Wayne would make the perfect dad?"
Gabriel narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "I know exactly why you’re saying that."
Chloe gasped dramatically. "No, you don’t."
"I do." He pointed accusingly at her. "You want Mom to marry him because you like him."
Chloe immediately looked away. A guilty smile tugged at her lips.
"Well..."
Gabriel groaned. "I knew it."
Chloe glanced toward Christian.
He was speaking with the waiter, his black suit perfectly tailored, his powerful frame commanding attention even while sitting.
The restaurant’s warm lighting softened his sharp features, making him appear surprisingly approachable.
"He is handsome," she admitted quietly. "And nice."
Her voice softened further. "He’s exactly what a dad should be."
For a brief moment, sadness flickered in her eyes.
No amount of gifts or luxury had ever filled the empty space left by growing up without a father.
But somehow, Christian was beginning to mend that missing piece.
As if sensing her gaze, Christian looked up.
His eyes met hers. He smiled. The warm expression instantly brightened Chloe’s face.
Beside her, Gabriel rolled his eyes.
"You’re impossible."
Chloe grinned mischievously. "You like him too."
"No, I don’t."
"You called him Dad."
Gabriel nearly choked. "That’s different."
"Oh really?"
"It is."
Chloe folded her arms smugly. "Then explain."
Gabriel huffed. "I only called him Dad because you did."
Chloe burst out laughing. "That’s not a real excuse."
Gabriel groaned dramatically. "You are so annoying."
The smile never left Chloe’s face.
Across the table, Fleur noticed the animated conversation.
"What are you two whispering about?"
Immediately, Gabriel pointed at his sister. "Mom, Chloe’s teasing me."
Chloe’s mouth fell open. "I am not!"
"You are."
"I’m not!"
"Kids," Fleur sighed. "One of you come sit beside me before this turns into a courtroom drama."
"You go," Gabriel said.
"No way." Chloe hugged her chair possessively. "I’m staying right here."
The argument resumed instantly.
Fleur rubbed her temple again. How did every conversation between her children become a debate?
Her gaze drifted toward Christian.
This was all his fault.
One afternoon with him, and her children were already impossible.
As she prepared to stand and separate them herself, a warm hand covered hers.
She froze. Christian’s fingers rested gently over hers.
"Stay." His voice was calm. "I’ll handle it."
Fleur snorted. "You don’t know how to handle my children."
She emphasized the word my.
Christian caught the challenge immediately. A slow smile spread across his face.
"Maybe." He leaned back comfortably. "But why don’t you let me try?"
Fleur folded her arms. "Go ahead." Her tone dripped with skepticism. "I’d love to watch this disaster unfold."
Christian laughed.
Then he rose smoothly from his chair, adjusting the sleeves of his jacket. Before walking away, he paused beside her.
"And what do I get if I succeed?"
His eyes gleamed with mischief.
Fleur narrowed hers. "Excuse me?"
"If I manage to solve this situation." He leaned closer. "What reward am I getting?"
The look in his eyes immediately made her suspicious. Heat crept into her cheeks.
"You’re unbelievable."
"I’ll take that as a negotiation."
Fleur lifted her chin defiantly. "We’ll discuss rewards after you prove you can survive five minutes with them."
Christian chuckled softly. "Deal."
His gaze lingered on her a moment longer. "Just remember your promise."
His voice dropped lower. The masculine scent of his cologne drifted toward her, making her heart skip despite herself.
Before she could respond, he lightly tapped the tip of her nose. The gesture was playful. Infuriatingly playful. Then he turned and headed toward the twins.
Fleur watched him drag a chair between Chloe and Gabriel before sitting down.
A smug smile tugged at her lips.
This should be interesting.
Her children were clever. Neither of them was easy to manipulate. If Christian thought he could simply charm his way into managing them, he was about to receive a painful reality check.
Settling comfortably into her seat, Fleur crossed her arms and prepared to enjoy the show.
Sooner or later, the mighty Christian Wayne would discover that negotiating with werewolf rivals was far easier than dealing with two determined children.
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