Chapter 21
“Thank you,” Kate said, not hesitating to take a seat. She faced Cynthia’s unabashed scrutiny with calm composure, waiting for Olivia to start questioning her.
Kate’s match with Alfred had been entirely Olivia’s doing. Rumors were swirling that Alfred was impotent, and since he never bothered to deny them, even the Davidson family wasn’t sure if he could perform.
Olivia, eager to ensure Alfred had proper care, believed that no bodyguard could match the attentiveness of a wife. She thought marrying him off would dispel the rumors and prove he was a real man.
And if it turned out Alfred truly couldn’t perform, she thought having a live-in caregiver wasn’t the worst that could happen.
After scouring the eligible ladies of high society with no success, Olivia’s attention had settled on Kate, the legitimate Sutton family heiress.
But deep down, Olivia looked down on Kate. Despite her pedigree, Kate’s rural upbringing had left her lacking in the qualities Olivia valued.
“I heard Alfred brought you here and moved you into his place. I was curious, so I called for this meeting,” Olivia began, her voice still deceptively gentle. “Did Alfred tell you why he brought you back?”
Kate was confident that neither she nor Alfred had revealed their marriage to the family. Only his closest bodyguards were likely aware that she was Alfred’s wife.
Without his explicit permission, even the mansion’s residents remained in the dark. She couldn’t help but admire Alfred’s talent for keeping secrets.
“I pissed him off, and he brought me back to teach me a lesson,” Kate lied, deciding to play along with their secret marriage.
It wasn’t entirely untrue. ‘Isn’t that why Alfred brought me back and put me in my place? But surely he doesn’t expect me to play the dutiful wife, does he? Is he even capable of that?’ Kate wondered mischievously.
She planned to tease Alfred later that evening; cracking his icy exterior would be amusing.
Olivia seemed dissatisfied with Kate’s response but didn’t press further, instead glancing at Lisa Davidson, her second son’s wife.
Lisa picked up the cue and sneered, “Ms. Sutton, you tried to slit your wrists to avoid marrying Alfred, humiliating him deeply. Of course, he’d want to teach you a lesson.” Then, shifting gears, she added, “I heard you were head over heels for some Cohen boy, Chris. You even went on hunger strikes and threatened suicide just to marry him.”
Kate remained unruffled. She replied calmly, “Ma’am, as you said, it’s all just hearsay. I never claimed to be in love with Chris or desperate to marry him.”
Lisa scoffed. “If it wasn’t for him, then what was all that fuss about refusing marriage and trying to off yourself? Our family can dig up these things easily.”
Kate had no intention of elaborating; those were actions from the past. Her only concern now was avoiding marriage to Chris, no matter what.
“Ms. Sutton, you should know your place. If it weren’t for Alfred’s accident, do you really think you’d be good enough to marry into our Davidson family? We consider this alliance to be a sign of respect. Not every family has the standing we do. The Cohen family? You couldn’t even get your foot in the door,” Lisa snapped.
Kate smiled. “Thank you for the reminder, Ma’am. I may not have much, but I do have some self-awareness. As for the Cohen family, I have no desire to be involved with them.”
Lisa huffed, “If it’s not about Chris, then what’s your problem with marrying Alfred?”
Kate met her gaze. “I’m not afraid of dying; why would I be afraid of marrying Mr. Davidson?”
Lisa was taken aback, momentarily at a loss for words. Suddenly, Cynthia interjected, “So, Ms. Sutton, does that mean you’re willing to marry my brother now?”
Before Kate could answer, Olivia shot Cynthia a sharp look and scolded lightly, “Cynthia, your brother isn’t so desperate that we need to force Ms. Sutton into anything.” There was a hint of sarcasm in her tone.
Cynthia opened her mouth as if to retort but thought better of it and stayed silent.
Kate guessed she had wanted to bring up Alfred’s rumored impotence and the fact that no one would want to marry him just to live as a widow.
“Alfred is a good man; there’s no need to worry about him finding a wife,” Kate remarked. At that, both Olivia and Cynthia gave her a strange look.
Kate blinked, wondering if she’d said something wrong.
Outside, Alfred overheard Kate’s words, and his eyes flickered before he wheeled himself forward.
The sound of the wheelchair alerted Cynthia, who rushed out. Kate soon heard her sweet, clear voice. “Alfred, what brings you here?”
“Why? Can’t I be here?” Alfred responded.
Cynthia pouted. “That’s not what I meant. Don’t twist my words.”
Alfred was in a foul mood, and Cynthia was the only one who dared speak to him like that. She moved behind him, pushing his wheelchair, while his bodyguards tactfully stayed back, not following them into the main hall.
Everyone in the room smiled upon seeing Alfred, but there was a cautious edge to their expressions.
Despite time traveling, Kate had limited interaction with Alfred in her previous life and wasn’t sure how he fit into his family dynamics. Watching the scene, Kate felt a twinge of sadness.
Alfred, disabled and clearly troubled, naturally had a volatile temper. When he needed support and encouragement the most, his closest family members avoided him, which only deepened his inner turmoil. But Alfred kept his emotions well-guarded, making it difficult to read him.
As Cynthia pushed Alfred next to Kate, he patted his wheelchair, signaling her to stop.
Turning his cold gaze to Kate, he said, “Your face is swollen like a goddamn balloon. It’s disgusting. Just standing here ruins my mood, so get lost.” His harsh words cut deep.
Kate felt a momentary sting but quickly reminded herself of his past behavior. Without a word, she turned and walked away.
No one dared speak while Alfred was talking, not even Cynthia, who shrank back slightly.
Stepping out of the mansion’s understated luxury, Kate felt a wave of relief. Facing so many hostile women at once was overwhelming. These were all her in-laws.
Before her time travel, as a daughter-in-law in the Cohen family, she had been tightly controlled and mistreated, which made her instinctively wary of dealing with in-laws. The Davidson women were clearly no pushovers either. Looking up at the blue sky, Kate reminded herself that she had chosen to repay Alfred for his small act of kindness in her previous life by dedicating herself to him. She had to endure these challenges unless Alfred himself sent her away.
‘Kate, keep going! Stay close to Alfred, and protect those you care about this time,’ she resolved silently.
Chapter 22
At Starbucks, Kyla stirred her coffee gracefully.
“Kyla!” Chris burst in, a bouquet of roses in hand.
Kyla paused, glancing up as he approached. Chris handed her the roses, and she accepted them with a gentle smile, taking in their scent.
The gentle expression on her face softened Chris’s own as he pulled up a chair to sit down. Noticing the slight swelling on her face, he asked with concern, “What happened to your face?”
Kyla’s good mood soured at the reminder. Setting down the bouquet, she replied irritably, “Your soon-to-be fiancée slapped me.”
“Kate? That bitch had the nerve to hit you? I’ll make sure she pays for this,” Chris promised, his voice low with anger. “Make her pay double,” Kyla demanded.
Chris didn’t hesitate. “Alright, double it is. I won’t stop until her face is just as swollen.” He reached out to gently touch Kyla’s injured cheek. “Why didn’t you dodge?”
“If I had dodged, my father wouldn’t see the marks and take my side,” Kyla explained, her tone calculating.
Chris felt a pang of sympathy. “You don’t need to hurt yourself just to get his attention. Mr. Sutton’s always had a soft spot for you. Even if you’re not his biological daughter, his attitude towards you hasn’t changed.”
Kyla’s eyes gleamed with a shrewd glint. “Until I secure those shares in Sutton Group, I have to keep things as they are.”
Leland might trust and rely on her, but Kate was the true heiress of the Sutton family. That reality gnawed at Kyla because all her efforts could ultimately benefit Kate instead.
“I called you here to dig into something. What really went down when Kate went to the Davidson family and pulled that wrist-slashing stunt to refuse the marriage? I get the
feeling Mr. Davidson treats her differently,” Kyla asked, her tone serious.
Chris thought back to their encounter on Elite Street. “
Today, I saw her on Elite Street buying men’s clothes. For a second, I thought they were for me, but she said they were for Mr. Davidson.”
“What, jealous because they weren’t for you?” Kyla teased, though a hint of jealousy crept into her voice as she noticed Chris’s disappointment.
“What? Jealous? Over her? No way. I just can’t wrap my head around why she’d buy clothes for Mr. Davidson.” Chris took Kyla’s hand, sincerity in his eyes. “You know I’ve only ever had eyes for you.”
Kyla pulled her hand away, still a bit wary. “Who knows if your heart matches your words.”
“Want me to prove it to you right now?” Chris asked, his tone suddenly serious.
Seeing the anxious look on his face, Kyla finally softened, a smile tugging at her lips. “Alright, I was just messing with you. We’ve known each other for so long; I trust you. We just can’t let Kate get under Mr. Davidson’s protection.” Chris nodded. “Once I find out more, we’ll figure out the next move. Don’t worry. Someone like Kate isn’t going to win Mr. Davidson’s protection. The guy is no pushover; even Belinda couldn’t get him to back her. What chance does Kate have?” He tried to reassure her. “Maybe we’re just overthinking this.”
Kyla started to feel more at ease. In her mind, Kate, who had grown up in the countryside, wouldn’t be someone Alfred would protect -unless he was completely blind. The support she thought she saw must have been a misunderstanding. ‘Yeah, it’s just an illusion. Maybe Mr. Davidson plans to deal with Kate himself and doesn’t want to use us, so he said those things to throw us off.
*****
When Kate returned to the caregiver’s room, she noticed a small table had been added, set with four dishes, a soup, and two bags of ice.
As she got closer, she spotted a note on the table: Eat the food, then put the ice on your face. She didn’t have to ask to know it was from Alfred. It rattled her, making her question whether he was as cold-hearted as she’d always thought.
Kate pulled up a chair, sat down, and while silently cursing Alfred for being all tough on the outside but soft on the inside, she dug into the warm meal.
She wasn’t particularly picky, except when it came to spicy food, especially since the Davidson family’s chef was top-notch. Starving, Kate quickly polished off her plate -not because she had a huge appetite, but because the portions were pretty modest.
With her belly full and her mood lifted, Kate applied an ice pack to her face. Just as she started to relax, there was a knock at the door.
“Who is it?” Kate asked.
“Mrs. Davidson, I’m here to clear the dishes,” a bodyguard outside responded.
Kate acknowledged, “The door’s unlocked.”
The door opened a moment later, and a bodyguard in a black suit walked in. He greeted Kate respectfully and began clearing the table, taking the small table away as well.
As he was leaving, another bodyguard, dressed similarly, came in with a plate of fruit, setting it on the bedside table. “Mrs. Davidson, these are some post-meal fruits,” he said. Kate thanked him politely, but he seemed almost flustered, replying quickly, “Just doing my job, no need for that.”
After placing the fruits, the bodyguard quietly exited the room.
Having been back in the mansion for over a year, Kate couldn’t help but notice that although the Sutton family had servants, they couldn’t hold a candle to the staff in the Davidson household.
‘No wonder so many girls dream of marrying Alfred; being his wife does have its perks, she thought.
After applying the ice for a while, Kate noticed the swelling on her face had gone down, and she started feeling sleepy. She set the ice pack on the bedside table and drifted off without even touching the fruit.
When she woke up, the softened sunlight told her it was nearly dusk. She instinctively reached for her phone on the bedside table but instead touched something hard, warm, and clothed.
‘What the…?’ She turned her head, only to find herself inches away from Alfred’s handsome face, his dark eyes locked onto hers. Before she could react, his thin lips moved as he coldly asked, “Have you touched enough?” ‘What the hell?’ Realizing she’d been resting her hand on Alfred’s chest, Kate quickly pulled it back. Then she sat up abruptly, instinctively reaching for the blanket to cover herself, only to realize her clothes were perfectly intact. ‘Ugh, I overreacted. Alfred’s practically a damn neutered puppy; what am I even worried about?’ she thought.
She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and then confidently placed her hands on either side of Alfred’s head, leaning over him. Careful not to put any pressure on his useless legs, she decided to take her time admiring his annoyingly handsome face.
“Mr. Davidson.” Kate teased, enjoying the moment. “How did you end up in my bed?”
Alfred, allowing her to lean over him, coldly corrected, “This is my room; you are in my bed.”
口
Chapter 23
“Your room?” Kate’s voice came out in a soft exclamation. Isn’t this the caregiver’s room?”
She had wandered around the second and third floors, finding every door locked, before reluctantly settling on this one. And now Alfred was claiming it was his.
“The entire house is mine,” Alfred stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Kate was momentarily speechless.
“How long do you plan on lying on top of me? Trying to get another feel?” Alfred asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I’m not heavy; what’s the harm in staying a bit longer? You’re so damn beautiful; I just wanted to admire you properly,” Kate shot back playfully as she rolled off him.
If he hadn’t spoken up, she might’ve stayed pressed against him for a while longer. But since he’d complained, she wasn’t about to push her luck. Getting tossed to the floor would be beyond humiliating.
Alfred glared at her. “Men aren’t supposed to be called beautiful.”
“But you are beautiful,” Kate countered.
Alfred was left speechless. Kate leaned in closer, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Mr. Davidson, may I touch your face?”
Alfred immediately slapped her hand away, coldly rebuking, “Don’t get ahead of yourself. Get lost!”
“You’ve got mood swings like a damn rollercoaster,” Kate muttered as she quickly scrambled off the bed.
In her haste, she actually rolled right off the bed, landing flat on her face.
“Ouch,” Kate yelped softly.
Alfred sat up abruptly, a flicker of amusement in his eyes as he took in her awkward position. By the time Kate managed to stand up, he had already reclined back on the bed, his expression unchanged, but his thin lips twisted into a mocking smirk. “A grown woman rolling under the bed? Aren’t you embarrassed?”
“It… it was an accident,” Kate stammered, her face flushing red.
Rolling under the bed in front of her former benefactor- now her husband and an attractive one at that was beyond humiliating.
Every time she interacted with Alfred, she ended up in some awkward situation. ‘Maybe we are just not meant to be,’ she thought.
“Help me up,” Alfred commanded.
“Can’t you do it yourself?” Kate shot back.
Alfred’s glare made her retreat instantly.
She moved closer and helped lift his arm over her shoulder, muttering, “Hold on tight so you don’t flop back into bed and blame me for not doing it right.”
Alfred didn’t even try to help, leaving Kate struggling to support him. After a lot of effort, she finally got him sitting up, panting heavily. Now she understood why his caregivers were bodyguards.
Thank God for her training -if she hadn’t been stronger
than the average woman, lifting him would’ve been impossible.
“Bring my wheelchair over,” Alfred ordered.
“Oh.” Kate hurriedly fetched the wheelchair. “Do you need help getting in, or can you manage?”
Alfred replied, “I needed your help just to sit up.”
Kate fell silent. Gathering her strength again, she helped Alfred into his wheelchair.
Once he was seated, she knelt in front of him, gently touching his legs as she looked up with concern. “Is there still hope for your legs?”
Alfred’s expression darkened.
“I didn’t mean anything by it; I’m just worried about you. If there’s a chance, you should keep trying rehab so you can walk again, like before,” Kate explained quickly.
“Are you disgusted by my disability?” Alfred asked coldly. “Not at all!”
Alfred sneered, “Even if you regret it now, it’s too late. I gave you a chance that day, but you didn’t take it.”
Kate avoided his gaze, continuing to massage his legs as she said softly, “No matter what you think of me, I’ll never regret the decision I made that day.” Even if he wanted to punish her, she had no regrets.
Staying by his side for life was her way of repaying the kindness he’d shown her before.
Alfred stared at her for a long moment before saying calmly, “No need to massage them; just push me outside for some fresh air.”
“Okay,” Kate agreed softly, standing up and moving behind him to push the wheelchair out of the room.
At the door, they encountered Alfred’s mother, Lena Davidson, who was about to enter.
Lena’s gaze at Kate was as cold as Alfred’s, making Kate feel even more unwelcome than their first encounter.
“Hi, Mrs. Davidson,” Kate greeted nervously.
Ignoring her, Lena looked at Alfred, her face softening with concern. “Alfred, where are you going?”
Alfred noticed Lena’s hostility toward Kate and chose not to explain. “Just going out for some fresh air, showing her around.”
“You’re really planning to keep her? She-” Lena began, but Alfred cut her off.
“Mom, this is my business, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t interfere.”
Lena took a deep breath, her tone resigned. “Fine, I won’t interfere as long as it makes you happy.”
Then, turning a cold glare on Kate, she warned sternly,” Kate, whatever tricks you used to get my son to take you back, let me make one thing clear: if you ever try to pull a stunt like that again and drag my son’s reputation through the mud, I will not spare you -or the Sutton family.”
‘Disabled or not, no one insults my son’s dignity like that again,’ Lena thought to herself. ‘If it weren’t for my son’s physical state, Kate, you wouldn’t even be worthy to stand before him.’
“Mrs. Davidson, experiencing death once gives you a lot of clarity. I won’t make the same mistakes again,” Kate assured her.
Lena snorted. “Then you’d better take damn good care of Alfred if you want to make things right.” With that, she turned on her heel and walked away.
Kate watched her leave, wondering, ‘What the hell did Alfred tell his family after I left the main house this afternoon? What does that mean by ‘make things right’?”
“Come on, I’ll show you around,” Alfred said.
Whatever he had discussed with his family, it was clear he wasn’t going to share it. Kate knew better than to ask- Alfred was tight-lipped as hell. If he didn’t want to tell one something, no amount of prying would get it out of him. The Davidson mansion was massive. Even with Alfred guiding her, Kate felt overwhelmed, completely unable to keep track of all the places they visited. Left on her own, she’d definitely get lost.
There was also a stunning garden behind the mansion. As Kate pushed Alfred along the flower-lined paths, she wanted to stop and admire the blooms but didn’t dare, worried it might irritate Alfred.
As the sun began to set, painting the sky in fiery reds and oranges, Alfred suddenly said, “Push me outside for a walk.”” “Okay,” Kate muttered, resigning herself to the role of Alfred’s “nanny.” She didn’t really have a choice. They walked in silence until Alfred suddenly told her to stop.
“What’s wrong?” Kate asked, puzzled.
Alfred turned his head and ordered, “Bend down.”
Kate hesitated, not sure what he was up to. She leaned down cautiously, keeping an eye on Alfred, ready to defend herself in case he tried to pull something. The last thing she wanted was to be knocked out again.
Seeing her defensive stance, Alfred’s expression darkened, and he raised his hand.
Kate instinctively straightened up. “You’re not gonna knock me out again, are you? That hurt like hell last time.”
Alfred grabbed her, forcing her to bend over, and then flicked her forehead hard enough to make her wince. He had zero concept of being gentle
“You’re such an idiot,” Alfred snapped. “You can’t even remember a path after walking it once?”
Chapter 24
Kate rubbed the spot where he had flicked her, looking up at him with wide, innocent eyes.
She retorted, “I’m not familiar with your place, okay? It’s huge, and all these little paths twist and turn everywhere. How am I supposed to remember them all? You know, some signs wouldn’t hurt. A stranger could totally get lost here.”
Alfred glared at her, his face darkening.
Kate pursed her lips. “Just point me in the direction of the front gate, will you? And stop flicking me-it freaking hurts. You try it and see how you like it.”
“For every word I say, you’ve got ten more,” Alfred said, clearly annoyed.
“It’s not ten,” Kate retorted.
Alfred’s gaze sharpened, and Kate quickly backpedaled, spinning his wheelchair around to head in another direction.
“Wrong way,” Alfred corrected her instantly.
“Then where do we go?” Kate asked, exasperated.
Alfred reminded himself not to be too hard on Kate; after all, she was new here, and the Davidson mansion was absurdly big. It was normal for her to get lost; not everyone had his freakishly good memory.
He pointed in a direction, and Kate quickly pushed him that way.
With Alfred’s constant instructions, Kate finally managed to navigate the mansion’s labyrinth and get them both out, despite Alfred’s annoying habit of flicking her forehead whenever he felt like it.
“Go to the lawn, to watch the sunset,” Alfred suggested.
About 300 feet away lay a vast expanse of lawn, surrounded by numerous trees, creating a lush green view from a distance.
Alfred commanded, and Kate dared not disobey.
In the distance, the sound of a car approaching could be heard.
Just as Kate pushed Alfred to the lawn, a familiar car came into view, bathed in the setting sun.
The person in the car must have seen Kate and Alfred too, as he quickly found a place to park. It was Chris.
After parking, Chris immediately got out of the car and walked briskly toward them.
Alfred turned to look at Kate and was shocked to see her gripping his wheelchair tightly, her eyes blazing with hatred as she stared at Chris. If it weren’t for her obvious effort to hold herself back, Alfred was certain she would have rammed the wheelchair straight into Chris.
‘Alfred’s mind raced, a dozen questions flashing through his thoughts in an instant. ‘Didn’t she fall head over heels for Chris the moment she saw him? Wasn’t it because of him that she refused to marry me?
‘I even heard she went on a hunger strike at home over him. In the past, whenever Chris was around, no one else mattered to her; everything was about Chris. So why does she look like she wants to kill him now? What the hell happened between them?’
“Hello, Mr. Davidson. Kate.” Chris approached with a smile.
Kate suppressed her hatred and casually lowered her gaze, meeting Alfred’s intense eyes. She blinked, wondering,’ How long has he been watching me like this?’
Alfred turned his head away nonchalantly, his handsome face tense, ignoring Chris’s greeting entirely.
“Mr. Davidson.” Chris stopped a few steps away from Alfred, aware that Alfred didn’t like people getting too close – a well-known fact around Sherpsel.
Alfred gazed at the sunset on the horizon, its beauty tinged
with the sadness of an impending end.
Without looking at Chris, he asked in a cold tone, “Mr.
Cohen, showing up uninvited-what do you want?”
Alfred’s arrogant dismissal made Chris uncomfortable, but he didn’t dare show it.
Chris turned to Kate, his expression softening. “I heard Mr. Davidson took you away, Kate, and I was worried that your straightforwardness might have offended him. So I rushed over, hoping to take you back. Mr. Davidson, if Kate’s done anything to upset you, I hope you’ll let it slide for my sake.” Alfred finally looked at him, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “For your sake? And just how important do you think you are?”
Chris suddenly found himself at a loss for words.
Kate didn’t even glance at Chris. Her tone was flat as she said, “Mr. Cohen, whatever’s between Mr. Davidson and me is none of your damn business. Stay out of it and leave the way you came.”
“Kate,” Chris called softly, his eyes still gentle as he tried to win her over. “I know you’re still mad at me. I’ve just been really busy lately and haven’t had much time for you. I’m sorry. After we get back, I’ll take you to pick out some jewelry as an apology. Come home with me.” He reached out to take her hand.
Kate slapped his hand away, her face cold as ice. “Mr. Cohen, are you deaf? I told you to get lost!”
“Kate!” Chris was stunned. He’d come all the way to the Davidson family to bring her back, and yet her attitude was still cold, even rude. ‘What did I do to make her change so suddenly?’ he wondered.
“Mr. Davidson, I’m sorry you had to witness this. Kate and I just had a little misunderstanding,” Chris said, his face flushed with embarrassment, silently cursing Kate for humiliating him in front of Alfred.
Alfred asked with a hint of interest, “What kind of misunderstanding brings you to my home to take her back? And on what grounds do you think you can take her?”
“It’s just… a minor issue. Mr. Davidson, Kate and I are engaged to be married. My family is already picking an auspicious date. Once that’s settled, I’ll go to the Sutton family to formalize the engagement. When that time comes, Mr. Davidson, I hope you’ll honor us with your presence at the celebration,” Chris explained.
“What bullshit are you spewing? Who’s getting engaged to you?” Kate was furious at Chris’s words.
She glanced at Alfred, who seemed to be smirking at her. Though his expression wasn’t cold, it made her anxious; she would have preferred if he’d been indifferent.
“Alright, when you and Miss Sutton get engaged, just give me a heads-up, and I’ll make sure to come bearing generous gifts and have a drink at your engagement party,” Alfred replied, leaving Chris both surprised and elated. He’d mentioned it casually, not daring to hope for Alfred’s attendance, but to his shock, Alfred agreed.
“Mr. Cohen, if you’re done here, please leave. I want to enjoy the sunset, and your presence is ruining my mood,” Alfred said politely, then glanced at Kate before adding, “Miss Sutton owes me a debt, so I brought her back to work it off as my live-in caretaker.”
Chris nodded obsequiously. “Of course, paying off a debt is only fair, and working it off as a caretaker makes perfect sense.”
Kate cursed silently, ‘I must’ve been out of my mind in a past life to fall for a man like him. Acting all high and mighty in front of me, but groveling in front of Alfred like a damn lapdog.’
“Mr. Davidson, sorry for disturbing your sunset viewing. I’ll be on my way,” Chris said, then turned to Kate, his tone still gentle. “Kate, take care of that debt, and once it’s paid, I’ll come to take you home.”
“Fuck off!” Kate didn’t bother saying anything more.
Chris wasn’t offended. He said goodbye to Alfred a few more times before finally leaving, seemingly pleased with himself.
Once his car was out of sight, Alfred turned to glare at Kate.
Kate quickly blurted out, “I’m not engaged to him! I… Okay, I admit I used to like him a lot, but that was then. Now, I don’t like him at all. Not even a little.”
Now, she only harbored hatred for Chris, a desire to grow strong enough to deal with him and Kyla, and to avenge Rowena.
“Lower your head,” Alfred ordered.
“Why?” Kate asked, not sure what he was up to now.
Chapter 25
‘How the hell could she have fallen so hard for a guy like Chris?’ Alfred thought. He couldn’t wrap his head around it. He tapped his long fingers sharply against her forehead, his cold words cutting into her like shards of ice. “What a mess you’ve got in that head of yours.”
“Mr. Davidson, I-” Kate barely got the words out before Alfred cut her off.
“Get lost.” His mood shifted instantly, his face darkening, his eyes like ice, and his words freezing her to the core.
Kate swallowed whatever she was going to say and quietly moved to push Alfred back home. But before she could touch him, he swatted her hand away.
It finally clicked-he wanted her to go back to her own family.
“Mr. Davidson?” she asked, her voice tinged with worry. Without the bodyguards around, she was afraid that Alfred would be unable to go home on his own.
“Get the fuck out of here!” Alfred snapped again.
Kate bit her lip, hurt flashing across her face. Without another word, she turned and started to walk away.
She assumed he meant for her to go back to her house, so she kept walking, only to be stopped by Alfred’s cold voice barking at her, “Who said you could go back to your own place?”
She turned to look at him, confused. ‘Does he mean the Davidson family mansion? Why can’t he ever just say what he means?’
Feeling a confusing mix of relief and joy, she gave a quick nod and headed toward the mansion.
After she disappeared from sight, Alfred slammed his fists against his wheelchair, his anger bubbling over as he struck his useless legs. ‘Damn it, Kate! You swore you’d take responsibility for me. You’re married to me, yet you still can’t let go of Chris.’
Alfred wasn’t sure whether he was angry or jealous.
Kate couldn’t relax, knowing Alfred was still out on the lawn by himself. Back at the mansion, she found the two bodyguards who usually shadowed Alfred and sent them to take care of him.
Alfred stayed outside until nightfall before the bodyguards finally wheeled him back in.
Kate waited for him at his residence. When she saw him, her face lit up with a bright smile. “Mr. Davidson, you’re back.”
“Quit smiling. That grin of yours…” Alfred started to warn her, but the words stuck in his throat when he saw her sweet smile.
He was afraid to be too harsh; hurting her might come back to haunt him.
“Push me inside,” he said.
“Sure.” Kate quickly stepped forward, taking control of the wheelchair and guiding him into the house.
Once inside, Alfred demanded to go to his room to shower and asked Kate to help him.
Kate, pushing him toward his room, was so shocked by his last request that she forgot how to walk.
She stammered repeating his words, “Mr-Mr. Davidson, you want me to help you shower?”
“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” Alfred snapped, clearly irritated.
Kate hesitated. “I’m a woman… Isn’t it kind of inappropriate for me to help you shower?”
Alfred let out a cold laugh. “You’re my wife. What the hell is inappropriate about it?”
“Well, alright then… I’ll do as you wish,” Kate replied with a pleased smile, pushing him forward.
Noticing her sudden change in mood, Alfred glanced at her a few times. ‘She was shocked at first, but now she’s all smiles? She’s got mood swings like me.
Back in the room, Kate eagerly went into the bathroom to prepare the shower for Alfred, the thought of seeing a gorgeous man naked making her hum a little tune.
Hearing her humming from the bathroom, Alfred furrowed his brow and wheeled himself to the bathroom door, watching her, filled with joy. It reminded him of the way she had smiled when they first got their marriage license.
“Mr. Davidson, the bath is ready,” Kate said, turning to him with a sweet smile.
Alfred didn’t say a word, just silently wheeled himself inside.
Once they were in the bathroom, Kate didn’t hesitate. She started stripping off his clothes, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “You’ve got some solid muscles,” she said, her hands roaming over his torso as she undressed him.
Alfred realized his plan wasn’t intimidating her-instead, it felt like he was walking right into her trap.
When Kate’s delicate hands reached his pants and started unbuckling his belt, Alfred quickly caught her hands. They were small, soft, and nice to hold.
Alfred told himself he was only holding her hands to stop her from undressing him, not because he wanted to.
“Mr. Davidson?” Kate was interrupted in her actions and looked at him puzzled.
“I’ll do it myself. You can leave now,” Alfred said coldly, releasing her hands. “And close the door on your way out.”
“You’re having trouble moving, let me help you. No need to be shy, we’re married. We’re the closest people to each other,” Kate insisted, trying to undress him again. But Alfred quickly grabbed her wandering hand.
He frowned, his tone serious. “Kate, I’m telling you, get out.”
“Fine.” Kate reluctantly pulled back her hand and left, closing the door behind her.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Kate covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. “Trying to mess with me? Let’s see who really comes out on top.”
When Alfred finally came out of the bathroom, Kate was lounging on the bed, happily eating fruit. Seeing him, she smiled, “Want some fruit?”
Alfred ignored her and wheeled himself closer to the bed.
Kate quickly got up, put the plate of fruit on the nightstand, and moved to help him onto the bed, but he brushed her off. Watching him struggle to get up, Kate couldn’t hide her worry. “You need to keep up with your rehab. Practice walking more so you can recover. Sitting in a wheelchair all the time will cause muscle atrophy.”
Alfred still ignored her, lying down on his own.
Kate pouted, watching him for a couple of minutes before shamelessly inching closer, a mischievous smile on her lips. “Mr. Davidson, are you still mad at me? I admit I used to like Chris, but that’s in the past. I don’t like him anymore; now I only like you.”
She gently touched Alfred’s face and laughed sweetly when he glared at her. “Mr. Davidson, I know you don’t actually like me, but that’s okay. We’ve got a whole life ahead of us. I’ Il make you like me.”
Alfred finally spoke, his voice icy. “Shameless.”
“Thank you for the compliment,” said Kate.
Alfred was speechless.
“How about we sleep together tonight?” Kate suggested with a grin.
“You’re welcome to sleep on the floor. I won’t stop you,” Alfred replied, turning his back to her, hiding the twitch of a smile threatening to break free.
Kate was getting bolder by the day, and yet, Alfred found himself oddly tolerating it. ‘Unbelievable! We just got our marriage license a few days ago, Alfred thought.
Kate cheerfully slid off the bed. “Mr. Davidson, wait for me. I’ll be quick in the shower.”
Alfred frowned. ‘She makes it sound like we’re going to do something afterward.’
After Kate grabbed her clothes and headed into the bathroom, Alfred turned over, thought for a moment, and then struggled to get back into his wheelchair. He needed to get out of there.
Thinking she’d get to share the bed with the big shot of Sherpsel’s business community, Kate emerged from the bathroom, only to find the bed waiting for her -empty, with Alfred nowhere in sight.
“Not going to fight me for the bed?” Kate muttered to herself. “Such an easy surrender… I’m almost disappointed.”
If Alfred had heard her, he probably would’ve been furious, thinking Kate was truly a cunning devil.
Chapter 26
In a dimly lit room, sprawled on a large bed, a man and a woman were tangled up in raw passion.
Alfred jerked upright, drenched in sweat. ‘That dream again, he thought.
For months now, he’d been haunted by visions of being intimately entwined with a woman, but no matter how hard he tried, her face remained a blur.
It didn’t make any sense. Alfred wasn’t interested in women -he was practically a monk by choice. ‘So why the hell is this dream on repeat? What the fuck is it trying to tell me?’ he wondered.
Reaching for the tissues on his nightstand, Alfred wiped the sweat off his forehead. He flicked on the main light, fully awake now, and heaved himself out of bed. With effort, he settled into his wheelchair, then rolled over to the desk across the room.
He opened a drawer and pulled out a roll of sketches. As he unfurled them, the drawings revealed a woman without a face, conjured from the fragments of his dreams. Every time, he tried to capture her, but he couldn’t do it as her face was always just out of reach.
“Who the hell are you? Why do you keep fucking with my sleep?” Alfred muttered under his breath.
This dream had been messing with him for far too long, screwing up his nights.
“I’ve never wronged anyone in love, so whatever grudge you’ve got, let it go,” Alfred said, rolling up the sketches and shoving them back in the drawer.
He sat there in the quiet for a good ten minutes before forcing himself back to bed. But sleep didn’t come easy, and when he finally woke up, it was with a stormy look on his face.
Kate, ever perceptive, kept her distance, not wanting to become collateral damage in his foul mood. But she couldn’t help wondering what had him so pissed off since the crack of dawn.
Alfred went through the motions of breakfast in his usual spot, then, flanked by bodyguards, headed out to work. “Mr. Davidson!” Kate’s voice rang out just as Alfred was being helped into the car. She hurried over, clutching a small box, and knocked on the window.
It took Alfred a full two minutes to finally roll down the window, his face a cold mask. “What do you want?”
Kate handed him the box, but Alfred just raised an eyebrow, not taking it.
“Mr. Davidson, this is the gift I made for you. Didn’t you say you wanted me to give you a present every day starting today?” She pushed the box into his hands. “Please, check it out when you get to the office. Don’t toss it-it’s not worth much, but I put my heart into it.”
Alfred’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn’t throw the box away. Rolling the window back up, the car sped off.
The Davidson family mansion was only a half-hour drive from Regency Group headquarters. The office tower, standing sixty-eight stories tall, was like a shining jewel in the heart of the Sherpsel business district.
Getting a job at Regency Group wasn’t easy, only the best of the best made it in. And while Alfred, the CEO, had a reputation for being an icy bastard, the company’s benefits and opportunities were top-notch.
Everyone at Regency dreamed of catching Alfred’s eye; just getting noticed by him could fast-track anyone’s career. Alfred’s office was on the top floor, the sixty-eighth, and no one but his secretarial team worked up there. For most employees, the sixty-eighth floor was like a myth; many had been with the company for years and had never even caught a glimpse of Alfred.
When he got back to his office, his secretary had already set out his coffee, perfectly brewed and at the right temperature.
He placed Kate’s little box on the desk and picked up his coffee, sipping it with practiced ease.
Halfway through his coffee, instead of diving into work as usual, he reached for the box.
A knock came at the door.
“Come in,” Alfred called out, his tone gruff as he began to unwrap the box.
The office door swung open, and a man around Alfred’s age walked in, carrying a stack of documents. He dropped them on Alfred’s desk and flopped into a chair, saying, “Mr. Davidson, these are critical documents that need your personal attention.”
Alfred paid him no mind, focused entirely on opening a box in front of him. ‘What kind of gift has she prepared for me?’ he wondered.
Noticing that Alfred was ignoring him, Oswald Gordon stood up, finally realizing that Alfred was unwrapping a gift. Curious, Oswald asked, “Mr. Davidson, who gave you that? It takes some serious guts to hand you something directly.” He was genuinely surprised that Alfred had accepted the gift at all.
Having worked alongside Alfred for seven or eight years, helping to guard and expand the company, Oswald wasn’t just an employee. -he was also a friend. He knew Alfred’s personality inside out.
Still, Alfred didn’t say a word.
Kate was always so playful. After unwrapping the large box, Alfred found several smaller ones inside. When he finally got to the last box, he discovered what Kate had sent him: two little mice-or rather, two cotton mice.
The tiny mice were like small bags made in the shape of mice, stuffed with cotton and meticulously crafted to look almost lifelike.
“Who sent these?” Oswald was both intrigued and amused. Despite their intricate design, they clearly weren’t expensive.
‘He couldn’t believe someone had gifted Alfred two little cotton mice. ‘Alfred, a billionaire, receiving a gift worth just a few bucks… Unbelievable!’ he thought.
Alfred remained silent, squeezing the little mice, which unexpectedly emitted tiny squeaking sounds from hidden speakers. The sound made Oswald burst out laughing.
“Keep laughing and get the hell out!” Alfred snapped.
Oswald quickly covered his mouth. “Alright, alright, I’m done. But seriously, Mr. Davidson, who gave you these little mice? The craftsmanship is impressive-they look so real, even if they can’t move.”
He reached out to take one of the mice from Alfred, but Alfred slapped his hand away.
“Mr. Davidson?” Oswald stared at Alfred, astonished by how protective he was of the little mice. ‘He’s guarding them like they’re precious. Who on earth gave him these?’ he wondered.
Oswald sensed there might be some romantic intrigue but had no clue who could be involved with Alfred.
Leaning back in his black swivel chair, Alfred cradled his half-empty coffee cup in one hand and squeezed the little mice with the other. The soft squeaks echoed through the office as he sipped his coffee.
‘Kate sent me this little trinket? That’s something I never would’ve expected, Alfred thought.
‘She must’ve made it herself, he realized. From what he’d gathered, Kate used to run an art training center. -she was talented and crafty.
Admiring the detailed work, Alfred, who had woken up in a foul mood after a restless night, found himself unexpectedly cheered up.
Chapter 27
After finishing his coffee, Alfred set the cup down and noticed Oswald still staring at him. Frowning, he asked, ” Why are you still here?”
Oswald replied, “I’ll leave once you’ve handled these documents.”
Alfred pursed his lips, positioned the two little mice on his desk so they were facing him, picked up a pen, and, after reviewing a document and asking Oswald a few questions, signed it.
“Tell Thorin to call me at eleven thirty. I’ve got something for him to do,” Alfred instructed.
Oswald glanced at Alfred’s hair and remarked, “Isn’t your hair still short? Calling Thorin again?”
Thorin Moore was a famous hairstylist in Sherpsel and Alfred’s go-to guy.
“You’re running your mouth today. Want me to cut your tongue out?” Alfred shot back.
Oswald quickly covered his mouth. “No thanks, I’m good.”
After processing another document, Alfred suddenly said to Oswald, “I got married.”
Oswald stared at him, seriously questioning whether he’d heard correctly.
“The two little mice are the first gift from my wife,” Alfred added.
‘No wonder he is so protective of them,’ Oswald thought.’ But wait-who the hell is his wife?’
With a hopeful look in his eyes, Oswald turned to Alfred, eager to find out which woman had the nerve to marry this version of him. But Alfred, completely ignoring Oswald’s gaze, just kept working on his documents.
Kate had no idea what Alfred was up to at the office. After he left, she planned to visit her parents but was caught off guard when her mother unexpectedly showed up at her place.
However, Celia was stopped at the gates of the Davidson family mansion.
The Davidson family had a ton of strict rules and tight security. Anyone visiting had to be approved by the owner before being escorted inside by a servant. Once inside, guests could only visit the person they were there to see and weren’t allowed to wander around the mansion, to respect everyone’s privacy.
Celia had come to see Kate, who lived with Alfred, so she needed Alfred’s approval to get in. But Alfred wasn’t home.
Ironically, Kate didn’t even have Alfred’s phone number. It was pretty laughable-they were legally married, and she didn’t even have her husband’s contact info.
Alfred knew everything about her-he’d investigated her past, her phone number, her whole life. Yet she knew nothing about him, and he saw right through her. The whole thing was just unfair.
Since she couldn’t get into the mansion, Celia called Kate, who quickly rushed out.
Unfamiliar with the mansion’s layout, Kate got lost and had to ask several servants for directions before finally finding her way out of the maze-like estate.
“Mom,” Kate called out as soon as she saw Celia.
“Kate!” Celia hurried over, grabbing her hand. After making sure she was okay, Celia let out a sigh of relief, then lightly scolded, “Why didn’t you tell me? I came home last night and didn’t see you. Your father had to fill me in, and I was scared to death. I wanted to call you, but your father said it was too late and I shouldn’t disturb your rest. I didn’t sleep a wink all night.”
Kate apologized, “Mom, I’m sorry. I should’ve called you.” She had been too busy sparring with Alfred yesterday and completely forgot.
“Has Mr. Davidson been giving you a hard time? Your father just stood there and let him take you away.” Celia’s words had a hint of blame toward Leland for not protecting Kate better.
“No, Mom, Mr. Davidson won’t do anything to me. Don’t worry,” said Kate.
“Kyla mentioned that Mr. Davidson wants you to take some responsibility. What did you say to him that day? He even came to our house to take you away.”
Kate hesitated but decided not to spill the truth. Without the marriage license in hand, she thought Celia probably wouldn’t believe her anyway.
She replied, “Mom, I’ll explain everything when the time is right. For now, don’t worry about me; I’m fine. By the way, your timing is perfect. I’ll ride with you to get my car and bring it back here.”
The Davidson family had plenty of cars, but since she was still an undisclosed wife, she wasn’t given one for her own convenience. She had to fetch her own car from her parents’ place.
“Kate, why don’t you come back home with us?” Celia suggested, her worry evident as she helped Kate into the car. “You don’t have to tell me everything, but living with the Davidson family doesn’t seem like a good idea.
“They must be holding a grudge after what happened at the wedding, and Mr. Davidson isn’t easy to deal with. I’m afraid… Before I left, Mrs. Cohen called to set a date for next month, on the sixth, to come over with a proposal.”
After fastening her seatbelt, Celia turned to Kate and asked, “You said you don’t want to marry Chris anymore. Is that true? If so, I’ll turn down Mrs. Cohen’s offer right now.”
“Mom, turn it down. I’d never marry Chris in a million years,” Kate said firmly.
Celia was surprised. “Do you realize what you’re saying?”
“Mom, I’m totally clear-headed and I know exactly what I’m saying. I used to like Chris, but now I see he’s not someone worth committing my life to. I’ve been recovering at home for so long, and he hasn’t even bothered to call, let alone visit me. He doesn’t care about me. If I married him, I’d be miserable.” Kate’s tone was serious.
Celia’s expression softened, and before driving off, she
took Kate’s hand and said, “I’m glad you’ve realized this. The Cohen family is deep water; it’d be tough for you to handle. Chris might be accomplished and seem to treat you well, but based on what you’ve told me, he doesn’t really care about you as much as it seems. Alright then, we won’t marry him. I’ll let Mrs. Cohen know.”
Celia gently touched Kate’s face and said tenderly, “Kate, you’re so wonderful; you’ll definitely find someone better than Chris.”
Little did Celia know, Kate had already found someone better and even married the most exceptional man in the city. It was just that, for now, their marriage was a secret, and Alfred wouldn’t even let her call him “honey.”
They left the Davidson mansion together. Halfway through, Kate changed her mind and decided she wanted to go to Sutton Group.
“You want to go to the company?” Celia asked, surprised. After glancing at Kate, she looked back at the road ahead. ” Why the sudden interest in going to the company? You always refused when we suggested you work with your sister, saying business wasn’t your thing.”
Since then, Celia and Leland have stopped pushing her to work at the company, relying more on Kyla.
Celia felt a bit uneasy about it. She always thought that the sisters seemed to get along well and Kyla looked after Kate, she thought that when she and Leland were too old to
work, they’d give Kyla some shares in the company. This would keep Kyla motivated, but most of the shares would go to Kate.
In Celia’s mind, with Kyla supporting Sutton Group, Kate’s future would be secure. Thinking she had paved the way for her daughter, Celia never again pressured Kate to take over the company.
But now, out of the blue, Kate was suggesting they go to Sutton Group.
“Mom, it’s our family’s company. Can’t I show my face there?” Kate said with a playful grin.
Celia chuckled and said, “Of course you can. I’m just surprised because, usually, when I ask you to visit the company, you’d rather be a piano teacher than go there.”
Kate felt a deep pang of guilt. She had always avoided getting involved in the family business because she didn’t understand it, and that had let her parents down.
But at this time, things had to change. She had to learn. Only by understanding and empowering herself could she take over Sutton Group and keep it out of Kyla and Chris’s hands.
Chapter 28
“Mom, I want to learn how to manage the company now. Do you think Dad would be willing to teach me?” Kate asked.
Celia laughed even harder. “Of course, he would! We were mostly worried you wouldn’t want to learn. If you’re really interested, I’d even come back to the company myself to guide you.”
When Celia first married into the Sutton family, she joined the Sutton Group to help Leland with the business. But after Kate was born, her attention shifted entirely to her, and she gradually settled into domestic life.
“Are you really serious about learning to run the company?” Celia asked, her tone suddenly more serious. “Taking over a company isn’t as simple as it sounds. Without a solid foundation, it’s going to be tough. Make sure you’ve really thought this through before you ask your dad for anything.” Kate responded with determination, “Mom, I’m not afraid of hard work. Just give me the chance, and I’ll learn. If Kyla can do it, so can I.”
Celia looked at Kate, feeling pleased by her sudden determination. Without hesitation, she changed their route and headed toward Sutton Group.
“Kate, what’s been going on between you and your sister lately? Ever since you turned down Mr. Davidson’s proposal, you’ve been calling her by name and not treating her with the same respect and affection you used to,” Celia said. As a mother, Celia was sharp. Even though Kate tried to hide her resentment, Celia could sense the change.
She thought it might have something to do with the incident where Kyla had reported back to them and said, ” Kyla is like a daughter we raised ourselves; we’ve put a lot of effort into her. Even though she’s not your blood sister, getting along with her as before, maintaining a close bond, would be good for you in the future when we’re gone. Don’t let something small drive a wedge between you two.”
After a moment of silence, Kate asked, “Mom, do you really think she cares about me?”
Celia was caught off guard by the question but quickly laughed it off. “You’re my own daughter. If anything serious ever happened, of course, Mom would be on your side.” Her vague response made Kate’s eyes well up with tears, but she quickly turned her face away to avoid Celia noticing, staring out of the car window instead.
‘Before my time travel, Mom and Dad died because of Kyla’s schemes. She probably knew they would always side with me,’ Kate thought.
Sutton Group wasn’t far from Regency Group, just a few minutes’ drive, and their route would take them past Regency Group.
As they passed by, Celia suddenly pointed out, “See that tall building? That’s Regency Group. Right now, Mr. Davidson is still in charge. If you’re serious about getting into business, you’ll need to be careful of them. One wrong move and they could undo everything generations of our family have built.”
Kate looked up at the building; she knew Regency Group wasn’t just a giant in Sherpsel’s business world-it was a national powerhouse. The sixty-eight-story tower gleamed like a beacon.
Alfred must be busy inside right now, she thought.
Unaware of Kate’s connection with Alfred, Celia continued driving, talking about Regency Group’s influence and Alfred’s ruthless reputation.
She finished with, “Purchas Group has tried teaming up with others to take down Regency Group, but they’ve always failed. Elijah Purchas, their leader, isn’t someone to mess with either. Kate, you should watch out for him; he and Mr. Davidson are bitter rivals, but he’s no friend to us, either.”
‘If Elijah dares to go up against Alfred, he’s definitely not someone to underestimate, Kate mused.
In the past, she had crossed paths with Elijah a few times.
He was around Alfred’s age and just as handsome, but it was his captivating eyes that had left the deepest impression on her.
“Mom, I’ll remember,” Kate said. She thought even if she weren’t Alfred’s wife, she wouldn’t dream of provoking him. Celia and Kate chatted and laughed as they made their way to Sutton Group.
The security guard at the entrance recognized Celia’s car and waved them through. Celia drove straight in and parked in front of the twenty-eight-story office building. Kate hopped out of the car.
Right in front of the building was a small garden-not large, but with winding paths, rockeries, fountains, and shady trees. It had everything one could expect, originally designed as a relaxation spot for the staff during breaks. Unexpectedly, it became one of Sutton Group’s standout features, with every client praising its design.
Kate wasn’t new to the company and had already explored the small garden. She waited for Celia to get out of the car before following her inside.
Kate’s phone suddenly buzzed.
“Mom, I need to take this call,” Kate said, already reaching for her phone.
Celia glanced back. “Is that Xena?” she asked with a smile.
Xena Phillips was the only friend Kate had made since returning to the Sutton family.
Kate checked the caller ID. “No, it’s an unknown number. I have no idea who it is. You go ahead and find Dad. I’ll catch up after I take this.”
“Okay.” Celia gave Kate space.
Kate answered the call. “Hello?”
When there was no immediate response, she tried again,” Hello? Who’s this?”
“Where are you?” A cold voice came through, and Kate instantly recognized it as Alfred’s.
Her expression grew serious as she quickly answered, “I’m outside.”
There was silence on the other end. Kate didn’t dare to hang up, so she waited, tense, for him to say something. “Why aren’t you talking?” Alfred finally asked.
Caught off guard, Kate let out a small laugh. “I thought you had something to say, so I was waiting for you.”
‘So he expects me to lead the conversation? I didn’t even make the damn call; what does he want me to say?’ Kate thought, frustrated.
Alfred finally spoke again. “Be home by noon. Someone’s coming over to do your hair.”
“I don’t need my hair done,” Kate replied, almost without thinking. She was perfectly happy with her naturally blonde, smooth hair.
There was a pause before Alfred’s tone turned icy. “Just a touch-up to make it look better. Relax, they won’t cut it short.” He liked her long hair too but thought her style was a bit outdated.
“You’re going to the Weaver family’s party this Saturday, right?” he asked.
“You know about that?” Kate asked, but immediately realized how pointless the question was. If Alfred wanted to know something, he would…
She knew he had looked into her plans. The power imbalance between them hit her once again. “Alright,
thanks for thinking of me, Mr. Davidson. Will you be home for lunch?”
“Yeah.”
“Fine,” Kate replied, and suddenly, the conversation stalled. Kate felt like Alfred was terrible at small talk, which always led to these awkward silences. “I might not make it back for lunch. Is that okay with you?”
“Do whatever you want; it’s none of my business. You don’t need to update me on your every move,” Alfred said, his tone detached.
His indifference made Kate bite her lip. “Anything else?”
“Don’t like taking my calls?”
There was a dangerous edge to Alfred’s question, and Kate had the distinct feeling that if she said yes, he might just lose it.
Chapter 29
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Kate shot back.
Alfred snorted, clearly doubting she would. “This is my number. Call me if it’s an emergency,” he said, really laying into the word “emergency.”
Noticing that Alfred had finally given her his number, Kate said, “Alright, thank you, Mr. Davidson.”
To her surprise, Alfred stiffened at her thanks. He snapped,” Don’t ever call me that again.”
Kate was taken aback by his reaction.
“We’re married,” Alfred pointed out sternly. “Cut the formal bullshit unless you’re still hung up on marrying Chris.”
“Alfred, are you jealous?” Kate teased, knowing it would get a rise out of him.
Alfred didn’t see that coming. His eyes darkened, and without another word, he hung up on her.
Confused by the sudden silence, Kate pulled the phone away from her ear and realized he’d ended the call.
‘He’s so damn unpredictable. No wonder everyone in the Davidson household walks on eggshells around him, she thought.
Kate didn’t dwell on it. She caught up with her mother quickly.
“What did Xena say? You haven’t been seeing her much lately. You two have a falling out or something?” Celia asked, brow all furrowed with concern.
“Nah, Mom, we’re just fine. Xena’s off on a trip and won’t be back for a few more days. Guess we’ll see her at Grace’s birthday party,” Kate replied.
“You and Kyla should go making some friends at the
Weaver family’s party. The more friends you have, the bigger your network. In our circle, everyone’s got powerful connections. Making friends can really help with the Sutton Group,” Celia advised.
The moment Kate had expressed her interest in working at the company, Celia just figured Kate was a shoo-in to be the successor.
The Suttons had poured everything they had into grooming Kyla for that role. But they had never expected their real daughter, Kate, who knew about the business, to come waltzing back in.
Celia had a really deep-seated resentment toward whoever it was that swapped her girls, even though they’d already faced the consequences.
“Yeah, Mom, I’ll do that,” Kate replied. She kept to herself the fact that as long as Kyla was around, those high-society ladies weren’t likely to give her the time of day. They would just team up with Kyla and set traps to humiliate Kate.
Then Celia and Kate took the elevator to the top floor.
“Mrs. Sutton, Ms. Kate,” Leland’s secretary greeted them with a warm smile and led the way to the CEO’s office. “Ms. Kyla’s already in there. Want to hang out in the VIP lounge while you wait?”
Celia shot back, “When have I ever had to wait to see my husband?”
The secretary glanced at Kate and gave a quick, apologetic smile. “Sorry about that, Mrs. Sutton.”
At the office door, the secretary gave a knock, and Kyla’s voice rang out, “Come on in.”
The secretary opened the door and announced, “Mrs. Sutton and Ms. Kate are here.”
Both Leland and Kyla were surprised, then stood up and walked out.
“Honey, Kate, what brings you here?” Leland beamed, looking at Kate with tender eyes.
“Dad, are we interrupting anything?” Kate asked gently. “Not at all. We just wrapped up. Perfect timing, actually. How about lunch at Cheval Blanc?” Leland suggested. Cheval Blanc was the top spot in Sherpsel, run by the Davidson family. Theo, Alfred’s younger brother, was the current manager.
“Why Cheval Blanc today? You usually go to the Ritz Carlton,” Celia asked casually.
Leland turned his gaze to Kate, smiling warmly. “We don’t often get to have a family meal together. Especially with my girl Kate here today, we should go to the best place for lunch.”
In Leland’s eyes, Kate, being Alfred’s wife, was supposed to dine at a Davidson property. He believed in keeping things in the family.
“Alright,” Celia said, figuring Leland’s gesture was his way of making up for Kate.
They settled onto the couch, and Kyla came over with four glasses of water. “Mom, did you two just decide to drop by after shopping?” she asked.
Kyla took a quick look at Kate, noticing her face had healed and she seemed upbeat. ‘She doesn’t look like she had a rough time, thought Kyla.
“No, Kate wanted to check out the company, so we came by,” Celia said. She sipped her water and then turned to Leland. “Leland, Kate wants to work here. Can you arrange for her to work with you?”
A flicker of something passed over Kyla’s face, but it was gone as quickly as it came. Leland looked at Kate seriously and asked, “Kate, have you been talking to Alfred about this? Does he give his approval for you to be working?”
The Davidsons had strict rules: women who married into the family were expected to stay at home, manage the household, and raise the kids. Working outside the home wasn’t allowed or necessary, since their husbands were the ones bringing in the money. Their role was simply to enjoy the wealth their husbands provided.
“Why does Kate need Alfred’s approval to work?” Celia snapped at her husband. “This is our family’s business. If you give the green light, that’s all that matters. Sure, we might have turned down that Davidson marriage offer initially, but Alfred’s not holding onto that anymore. So Kate doesn’t owe him anything.”
Leland shot Celia a sharp look. “You don’t get it.”
Celia’s expression darkened. “What’s there to get?”
“Just drop it,” Leland said. Alfred had made it clear he couldn’t discuss it, so he wasn’t about to spill the beans, not even to his wife.
Turning to Kate, he said, “If you want to work at the company, I’m all for it and happy to mentor you. But you’ll need Alfred’s okay first.”
Kyla, clearly not thrilled about Kate joining the company, jumped in quickly. “Kate, Dad’s got a point. Alfred might not be too happy about you coming and going as you please. It’s probably best to get his okay, just to avoid any friction.” Kate met Kyla’s gaze with calm resolve, knowing full well Kyla’s opposition. Then she turned back to Leland. “Dad, I agree with Mom. This is our family’s business. If you’re on board, that’s enough. We don’t need to drag Alfred into every detail.”
Chapter 30
Alfred had told Kate that even if she didn’t want to compete, as long as she was their biological daughter, Kyla would always see her as a rival.
‘So Joining the company means going head-to-head with Kyla. Alfred will back me up if I decide to join the Sutton Group, right?’ Kate thought.
Leland shot Kate a stern look. He wanted to bring up the Davidson family’s rules, but with Celia and Kyla in the room, he bit his tongue.
“We’ll discuss this later,” he said, deciding to consult Alfred first before making any arrangements for Kate to join the company. He didn’t want to risk any unnecessary marital strife.
“Leland…” Celia started to say more, but Kate gently squeezed her hand, signaling her to drop it. “Mom, let’s listen to Dad.”
Kyla secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She was determined to find a way to keep Kate out of the company.
Despite the trust the Sutton family still placed in her, she was acutely aware that she wasn’t their biological daughter. If Kate joined the company, Kyla knew the family’s attention would inevitably shift toward grooming her, leaving Kyla feeling sidelined.
Kyla had always regarded everything within the Sutton family as her own, and she was not willing to allow Kate to take it away.
Suddenly, Kate’s phone rang again. She glanced at the caller ID, her expression shifting subtly.
“What’s wrong?” Celia asked with concern.
“Mom, Dad, I need to take this call.” Kate didn’t tell her parents it was Alfred calling.
“Alright,” Leland said warmly.
Kyla noticed that since Leland had personally driven Alfred and Kate out of the Sutton house the night before, something about him had changed. She wondered what Alfred had said to him.
Ignoring the thoughts swirling in the room, Kate stepped out and moved toward the VIP room entrance, far enough from the secretary’s desk, and answered Alfred’s call.
“Did you grow a turtle’s ass or something? Took you long enough to pick up the damn phone. I’m swamped over here, and you’re wasting my time. You owe me for this,” Alfred snapped as soon as she answered.
Kate responded softly, “Alfred, you’re so fierce. My poor little heart almost jumped out of my chest. You should compensate me for the emotional distress.”
Alfred tightened his grip on the phone, his icy facade cracking slightly. ‘She has a remarkable tolerance. No matter how I treat her, she always comes back with a smile. Does she really not regret marrying me?’ he wondered. “Alfred, do you miss me?” Kate laughed sweetly. “You’ve called me twice in an hour. You must be missing me. I’m at the Sutton Group right now. How about I stop by later when I’m back?”
Alfred wanted to deny missing her, but the words got stuck in his throat. He couldn’t bring himself to be harsh. Her sweet voice made him feel warm inside, and he wasn’t about to turn down anything that made him feel good.
His tone softened. “You need to be home for lunch. I’ve arranged for a hairstylist to come to our place. Don’t keep him waiting. It’s Thorin Moore.”
Kate knew Thorin well. He was the top stylist in Sherpsel, with people practically begging to get on his schedule.
She thought, ‘In my past life, I could never even dream of booking Thorin. The elite always got first dibs, and as the overlooked daughter-in-law of the Cohen family, I didn’t stand a chance. But now, Alfred has him coming to our home.’
Kate couldn’t help but smile, feeling the perks of being tied to Alfred. Her laughter echoed through the phone, and Alfred couldn’t help but think of the joy she’d tried to hide when they first got their marriage certificate. He was beginning to realize his little wife had a tendency to laugh often.
“What time will Mr. Moore be there?” Kate asked.
“Twelve-thirty. You need to be home by twelve,” Alfred replied.
Kate glanced at the time. “Can I make it back by twelve-thirty? My dad’s taking me to lunch at Cheval Blanc-it’s the best hotel in Sherpsel.”
‘In both my lives, no one’s ever taken me to eat at Cheval Blanc. I really am a failure as the Sutton family’s daughter,’ she mused.
Alfred, noticing her hesitation, softened his tone further. “If you make me happy, I could arrange for you to stay in the presidential suite at Cheval Blanc every day, with all the top-tier service.”
Kate paused, then teased, “Oh, right, your family owns that place. Alfred, do you like that little mouse? And I can make you a pair of oxen when you get home later. I can sculpt any animal you want.”
Alfred chuckled, raising a hand to stifle his amusement. Cheapskate,” he teased. He couldn’t believe she would offer him something like that.
“It’s the thought that counts, and I made them myself. Even if others want them, they can’t have them,” Kate shot back.
Feeling amused, Alfred asked, “Besides animals, what else can you make? Can you do people?”
“Yeah, but making human figures is more complicated and takes a lot more time,” Kate replied, a sudden unease creeping in. ‘Is he gonna to ask me to make a whole set of figures in his likeness?’
“Since you can make figures…” Alfred began.
Kate cut him off, cursing him internally for being so sly.’ Alfred, if you really want one, I’ll do it. But I’m not very familiar with you yet. To make a realistic figure, I’ll need time to study you up close.”
Alfred laughed again. “Kate, I think you’re trying to flirt with me.”
“Alfred, even if I wanted to flirt with you, would it work?” Kate quipped, thinking, ‘He’s impotent; what’s the point of flirting with him?’
Alfred’s tone suddenly turned icy. “Go home. Now.”
“But it’s not even noon yet,” Kate protested.
“Can you find your way to my place? If not, leave now so you have enough time. If you still get lost, I’ll cut your hair when I get back,” Alfred ordered.
“You’re so damn fickle!” Kate muttered angrily.
“What did you just say?” Alfred’s voice grew sharp.
Intimidated by his tone, Kate quickly changed her words. “I said you’re incredibly handsome. I love you more than words can say.”
“Kate.” Chris’s voice suddenly interrupted their conversation.
Kate turned to see Chris approaching with a bouquet, while the secretary stood by, indifferent and uninvolved.
The moment Alfred heard Chris’s voice, he abruptly ended the call.
“Alfred…” she called out but was only met with a busy signal.
“Well, hung up on me again. Just wait. One day, I’ll hang up on you too,” Kate grumbled as she shoved her phone into her pocket and turned to face Chris.
金
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