Chapter 220
+25 BONUS
Chapter 220
Sarah’s POV
Aria’s defensive posture faltered, confusion replacing jealousy. “Who’s Uncle Alex?” she asked, looking between Thea and me.
I felt my heart stutter in my chest as Thea’s innocent observation hung in the air between us. Suddenly I was acutely aware of how much my daughter truly resembled her father–from the striking blue of her eyes to the determined set of her jaw when she was being stubborn.
Thea looked equally confused now. “Uncle Alexander,” she clarified, as if it should be obvious. “The big wolf who gives me piggyback rides. He’s the Alpha.”
Panic flared in my chest. I needed to change the subject before Thea could say anything else that might unravel the careful life I’d built.
“Thea, sweetie, you’re quite tiny for your age,” I said, gently touching her shoulder. “Are you a picky eater? Not finishing your meals?”
The little girl barely had any meat on her bones–what little she had seemed to be all in her cherub–like cheeks.
Thea’s brow furrowed slightly. “I’m not picky. The food at home just doesn’t taste good. I can never finish it.”
“That can’t be right,” I said, genuinely surprised.
I remembered how particular Alexander had always been about food. Every chef in the Blackwood mansion had been personally vetted by him before being hired.
How could the food there possibly be bad?
“It’s true,” Thea insisted, her eyebrows scrunching together like little caterpillars. “It’s really, really not good.” She didn’t look like she was lying at all.
This little princess–could her palate possibly be even more refined than her uncle’s?
“Did you eat breakfast before coming to see me today?” I asked.
Thea sighed dramatically. “Just two bites. I couldn’t eat any more.”
“My mom is an amazing cook!” Aria chimed in proudly. Thea’s eyes immediately lit up like Christmas lights as she turned to me.
“Big sister, you can cook?” she asked, hope filling her voice.
“I’m pretty decent at it,” I admitted with a small smile. Even Alexander had once acknowledged my culinary skills.
So perhaps I could satisfy Thea’s refined palate.
“If you like what I make, I could cook for you more often,” I offered.
“No!” Aria interjected immediately. “Mom only cooks for me.” Her possessive tone made it clear she wasn’t
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ready to share me just yet.
I felt a twinge of exasperation mixed with affection.Leaning down, I whispered in Aria’s ear.
“Sweetie, Thea lost her mother when she was very little. She’s never had someone cook special meals just for her. Can we be kind and share our food with her today?”
It was just a guess on my part. Alexander had always appeared as Thea’s guardian, and I’d never once seen Lyra
with her.
I suspected something had happened to Lyra, though I knew she wasn’t dead–if the sister of North America’s most powerful Alpha had died, the entire werewolf world would have known about it.
Aria’s expression softened immediately, her natural compassion winning out over jealousy. “I’m sorry,” she whispered back.
Then louder, to Thea: “My mom can make you whatever you want.”
“Thank you, sister!” Thea exclaimed, throwing her arms around Aria’s neck and planting a big, sloppy kiss on her cheek. Aria blushed, looking both pleased and embarrassed.
“You shouldn’t call her sister,” Aria corrected gently. “You should call her Aunt Sarah.”
I couldn’t help but smile seeing the two girls already getting along. The territorial tension from earlier had completely dissolved.
“Aunt Sarah, can we go home now?” Thea asked eagerly, practically bouncing on her toes. “I really, really want to taste your cooking. I bet it’s super delicious!”
Jeremy, who had been waiting patiently nearby, stepped forward. “Ms. Winters, I leave the young miss in your care then.”
“She has some health concerns,” he added in a lower tone. “Please keep a close eye on her.”
I nodded, grateful for the information. “Don’t worry, I will.”
The butler bowed slightly. “Thank you, Ms. Winters.”
“I won’t intrude any longer,” Jeremy continued. “I’ll be back at six o’clock sharp to pick up the young miss.”
“Bye, Uncle Jeremy!” Thea called out cheerfully, waving as the butler departed.
Back at my hotel suite, I immediately headed to the kitchen. Glancing at the clock, I realized it was already approaching noon, so I decided to make lunch instead of breakfast.
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Chapter 222
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