"Are you sure?" Emline asked, her eyes red with frenzy.
The maid cowered where she stood, shaking as she looked back and forth for help, only to find none. What help was she going to receive when it was just her and Emline, in the guestroom ant for the latter? No one else would co here other than the master and mistress of the household― and they were out for the night.
"Y-Yes, Miss Emline," she said, her lips wobbling. It was difficult to even maintain a proper tone. "Soone at the hospital saw Miss Kentwood present as well. She was prescribed so dication and vitamins for natal healthcare― ah!"
A scream tore through the maid’s throat when the vase shattered right at her feet, so of the shards scratching her skin enough to draw blood. Thankfully, it wasn’t a serious injury, but the maid still fell to her knees in fright.
"Get out!" Emline hollered, her shoulders heaving up and down as she paced the room.
Her eyes rapidly turned to observe her surroundings, searching for a new object to toss at the maid. When she found none, she clenched her fists tightly.
The maid didn’t need to be told twice. She quickly scrambled back up and left the room, running for her life as though Emline was a murderous demon on a rampage― though she might as well be.
Whenever the master and mistress weren’t ho, Emline would act as though she was the true mistress of the household. At first, the staff working for the Montgory residence didn’t care much for Emline’s ridiculous requests― they kept up with the news and knew that Emline was nothing more than a fallen heiress.
But ti and ti again, they were proven wrong. Even without Horace Hawthorne’s backing, Emline still had the support of Mr. and Mrs. Montgory. The servants that Emline didn’t like were quickly fired. So even had to pay a hefty contract severance fee, while others simply disappeared without a trace.
As such, no one dared to misstep around Emline Hawthorne any longer.
It took Emline a few seconds to calm down. Even so, it was just a calm expression that masked the storm that brewed deep within her.
Curse this Alia Kentwood. Just as Emline thought she had gotten rid of her, she returned and this ti with a baby of her own― a baby that was actually recognized by Matteo as his child!
Just the thought of it made Emline’s skin boil. It was unfair. She was here first― she loved Matteo first! She should’ve been Mrs. Matteo Montgory if it weren’t for Alia’s sudden intrusion into the equation.
And Aiden... he was another useless pawn in her ga of chess. Or more accurately, he was the joker in her deck of cards.
Emline mistakenly thought he would be helpful, only for him to also fall into the palm of Alia Kentwood’s hand so easily. It had been days and he still hadn’t replied to her despite their prior agreent.
Emline’s eyes turned cold.
She decided. That baby needed to go. Only her child could remain as the sole Montgory heir if she was to win this duel.
***
"I’ve missed this," Matteo murmured against the crook of Alia’s neck, nuzzling against her skin as they were cuddled in bed. Even just the act of holding her close to his chest felt so intimate — so wondrous — that it felt like a drug.
The days they spent apart were painful, though Matteo supposed he deserved it. Now that she was back again and he had cut ties with the Montgory family, there was almost nothing left chaining him down.
Except...
"I’ve missed you," Alia countered, looking up at him. She pressed a kiss to his lips, one that Matteo returned. This was nice. In Matteo’s arms, she felt safe, sothing she desperately craved after everything that had happened.
"Maybe you should quit working at X’el," Matteo said. "I can cover the contract severance penalty."
"No!" Alia said, alard. "I know you have a healthy amount of savings, but you shouldn’t be squandering it like that when it’s obviously ant to con you!"
"Alia," Matteo said, but he was ignored.
"We need to be saving money during this ti. And now that you don’t have a job, I need to make sure that we still have a steady flow of inco―"
Instead of calling her na a second ti, Matteo leaned down and sealed her lips with another kiss. That effectively choked all her words back into her throat, shutting her up.
"I have investnts that are making a very comfortable amount every month," Matteo said. "Just because I am not the CEO of X’el anymore doesn’t an I am bumming around."
Alia pinched her lips together and flushed. She hadn’t thought of that.
"Besides," Matteo continued, "I do have a job."
"You do?" Alia asked, surprised. "But..."
"Ronan and I have been busy the last few weeks. More accurately, months, even before I stepped down as X’el’s CEO," Matteo continued.
He pressed another kiss to the top of her head, smoothening her hair down.
"Even if you and I laze around for the rest of our lives without a job, we would have a very sizable fortune that can last us a few generations," Matteo assured. "Our children’s children wouldn’t need to worry about their quality of life."
"But you can’t sit still," Alia said with a knowing smile. Matteo said nothing, but there was a sparkle in his eye. "When were you going to tell ?"
"I didn’t want to tell you until the company pulled so results, but since you’re so worried, it needn’t be a secret," Matteo said. "I can bring you around the new office when you’re free, give you a tour. We’re currently already discussing so partnerships with Solara’s top companies."
"That’s amazing!" Alia cried out, sitting up in her excitent. Matteo sat up along with her, his eyes widening.
"Careful!"
"Oh, I am not that fragile," Alia said, swatting his worries away. "It will take more than that to do harm."
His frown didn’t lighten one bit, but Matteo only let out a sigh of defeat.
"You’re still returning to X’el, aren’t you?" he asked.
"Of course," Alia said. "Aiden still needs my help. And truthfully, even though his parents want him to take over, he doesn’t seem all too interested." She shrugged. "X’el might just end up back in your hands, and I think it would be better if it returned to you in one piece. Don’t you?"
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