At the Phillips mansion, someone received an unexpected question: "What are you doing?"
Beatrice Phillips felt a gentle pressure on her fingers, and she turned around at the sound of an accusing voice. It was Jared Phillips, her husband, a tall man dressed in dark clothing. The afternoon breeze softly whispered through the room's curtains, creating a comforting murmur.
Neither of them appeared sympathetic.
Jared promptly pulled up a chair and sat down in front of Beatrice. The creak of the wooden furniture filled the room, and the rough texture of the chair brushed against his skin as he settled in.
"What are you trying to achieve?" he asked, his voice low and threatening.
Jarod continued straightforwardly: the illusory façade of goodness, pretending you don't care?
"What did you discuss with Sarah Campbell? I hope you haven't caused any trouble—I don't trust you, and I won't tolerate any issues with the Campbells," he added. The tension in the air was palpable, like a storm on the verge of breaking loose.
Beatrice responded with a refinement that barely concealed the sharpness in her voice and words: "I'm delineating my social territory. And, Jarod, perhaps you should focus on the economic and political domains."
Jared smiled, but it was far from pleasant. "You're playing with fire," he warned. "Don't forget who's in charge here."
Beatrice stood up, her dress flowing around her. "I'm not your subordinate," she asserted. "I'm your wife."
"It's a pity that you're not the Alpha who married me years ago, Jared. Our marriage didn't turn out as we both hoped; we're not happy," Beatrice sighed. The setting sun casts a warm amber hue in the room, creating a melancholic atmosphere.
Continuing, she brought up the past: "The burden of proof lies with the one making the claims. So, the one who alleges must prove. The ticking of the clock on the wall seemed to amplify the tension in the room.
"So many years have passed, and you've never proven anything. My word was never good enough."
Silence... Jared looked at her but remained silent.
"I apologize," Jarod said, breaking the silence, and he left the room. The sound of the door closing reverberated down the corridor, leaving an emptiness in the small, private space.
Alone and filled with anger, Beatrice said to herself, "I will do exactly as I please, and I'll see it through to the end!" The fragrance of fresh flowers in the vase in front of her filled the air with a sweet, determined scent.
( *^-^)ρ(*╯^╰)
When Damián returned to the Kadman mansion that night, his mind was filled with a flurry of thoughts, akin to bees bustling around, searching for nectar. However, as soon as he entered, he was greeted by a mansion employee. The employee's footsteps echoed through the grand entrance hall, creating a solemn, reverberating soundscape.
Shortly after, Lord Cecil, the impeccably dressed butler of the Kadman family, made his appearance. He carried an elegant shopping bag in his hands, a surprise from Damián for the scheme he would unfold that night.
In his polite tone, he informed Damián that the package had been delivered in his name a few hours ago.
Before the butler could take his leave, Damián decided to provoke him, almost daring him, as if to show that he wouldn't bow to anyone. "Stay, Mr. Cecil," he suggested, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Don't rush off. Look at what I've purchased!"
The butler, Lord Cecil, maintaining his icy composure, inquired directly and crisply, "For what reason?"
Damián retrieved the elegant bag, revealing its contents to the astounded butler. An exquisite box of a world-renowned brand, with over a century of history, emerged from the shadows of the bag.
With the enthusiasm of a child marveling at a new toy, Damián withdrew a watch as rare as a unicorn from the elegant case. It was the sole existing example, an exclusive model of the Cosmography Daytona, featuring an 18-carat white gold bracelet.
With a mischievous yet mocking smile, Damián gazed directly into the butler's eyes, Mr. Cecil, and declared, "It cost only 2.8 million. I found it exquisite, fit for royalty, don't you think?" The watch's brilliance shimmered.
In light of the circumstances, it became evident to the butler, Mr. Cecil, that Damián was directly challenging him. As the words hung in the room's air, tension crackled, much like electricity building up before a tempest.
For Damián, this moment was merely another act in his role as an opportunistic omega—a hierarchy-defiant, a wolf in sheep's clothing.
The unflappable Mr. Cecil responded with his usual icy composure, saying, "I find it rather curious how you've become close to Lord Adam, given your life story. Or perhaps it's a mere coincidence."
Damián retorted with a wry smile, his words dripping with ambiguity, "Life is full of surprises, Mr. Cecil. I have nothing to hide."
The butler, still unwavering, responded enigmatically, "Very well, as my loyalty lies entirely with this family."
Given the circumstances, Damián, still grinning, playfully challenged with a touch of acerbic humor, "But we can continue being friends, can't we?"
The butler, Mr. Cecil, unemotional, replied with his characteristic coldness, "I believe there's nothing more to be said."
The room was heavy with tension, mystery, and a sense of challenge, like a storm that refused to dissipate.
In his bedroom, Damián found himself absorbed in his thoughts. After a few minutes, a soft knock on the door interrupted his contemplation. He hurried to open the door and was surprised to find Lady Elizabeth standing there.
She smiled and said, "I came home and didn't see you, so I came to check if you're okay."
Damián responded sincerely, "I'm fine, I just got back from work."
Lady Elizabeth asked gently, "May I come in for a little chat?"
With few options, Damián relented, allowing her to enter. He watched intently as she walked toward the window, briefly parting the curtains to peer outside into the night.
Damián arched an eyebrow slightly, silently questioning whether the butler, Mr. Cecil, might have reported him.
To his surprise, Lady Elizabeth started discussing her day and her work at the gallery, even extending an invitation to collaborate on musical performances.
She shared information about the Kadman Foundation, explaining the projects she sponsored and developed. Damián listened attentively, impressed by her commitment and passion.
Damián gazed in awe at Lady Elizabeth. He had already researched her and watched many videos of her musical performances, but witnessing her skill up close was truly remarkable.
After some time, she declared, "Well, I suppose I should."
As she walked past Damián toward the door, she suddenly turned and added, "Take a day off tomorrow. We can plan something. What do you think?"
Damián considered the proposal and replied, "I need to do some shopping. Would you like to accompany me? I think it would be wonderful to have your company for an afternoon of shopping. Invite Aster and the three of us can go together."
However, Lady Elizabeth asserted with determination, "I'd like to go with you."
Damián nodded with a smile and watched her as she disappeared down the corridor.
In the dimly lit room, Damián drifted into a deep slumber on the bed. By the time Adam arrived, night had enveloped the Kadman mansion, and a sense of serenity hung in the air. The moon's rays, filtering through the curtain's gaps, painted patterns of light and shadow that gracefully danced around the room.
Adam pondered silently, "Is he all, right? Has he already fallen asleep? Why didn't Damián wait for me?" Arms crossed; Adam contemplated the situation. When he spotted a familiar object on a nearby piece of furniture, he couldn't resist the temptation to open it. He already knew what he would find: a watch, even more elegant and valuable than the one he had seen at Damián's apartment.
The following morning...
Damián came downstairs with a smile on his face, ready to join Adam for breakfast. Thanks to the therapeutic effects of Adam's pheromones, Damián's sleep quality had significantly improved.
As they made their way to the garden, where they would be served breakfast, Damián realized they were not alone.
"My favorite nephew." Uncle Adam, Lady Elizabeth's brother, greeted Adam warmly.
Adam teased, "You have only one nephew, uncle, and of course, that's me. But tell me, what brings you here?"
Damián was in high spirits and extended his hand to greet his uncle, Lady Elizabeth's brother. Over coffee, he listened to Adam's business updates, with his uncle and Taylor accompanying him closely.
Damián invited Aster to join him and Lady Elizabeth in his private studio, where they spent the morning.
In the afternoon, as they traveled by car, Damián, Aster, and Lady Elizabeth engaged in a relaxed conversation about clothing, shoes, fashion, and music. The atmosphere was light, and Lady Elizabeth seemed like an older sister or a caring aunt to both of them.
When they arrived at a store, Damián was taken aback by the choice: Vhecda Luxury, synonymous with ultimate luxury. It was evident that Lady Elizabeth was rapidly gaining prominence.
Upon entering the store, an impeccably dressed woman and a few employees greeted them with warm smiles. She introduced herself as Lilly and made herself available to assist them.
Impressed by Lady Elizabeth's kindness, Damián surprised everyone by giving her a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. This outpouring of affection made him feel cherished and special.
"Thank you, Lady Elizabeth."
In return, she kissed him on the forehead, her eyes brimming with tears of joy from being treated so graciously. Being in Damián's company was a reward for all her efforts.
Then, Lilly took the lead, eager to showcase what she had prepared.
"Please, follow me."
They entered a modern and opulent environment, with an "L" shaped sofa at its center and a coffee table adorned with a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket.
"Enjoy yourselves, kids. Take whatever you like. It's all on me today!"
Next to a large window with a breathtaking view of the winter garden, various garments were displayed. The setting delighted Aster, adding to his good mood. He commented to Damián:
"Wow, it's so magical... She's like our Fairy Godmother!"
Lady Elizabeth, seated on the sofa, received a glass of champagne from a gracious young lady.
Both Aster and Damián decided to make Lady Elizabeth happy. Each outfit they tried on, they modeled in front of her, as if they were walking on a runway.
However, Aster had chosen not to accept gifts. He appreciated Lady Elizabeth for bringing a touch of humanity and warmth to this unfamiliar world. Little did he know that Lady Elizabeth had arranged for all the clothes he had tried on to be delivered to the Campbells' residence.
The shopping afternoon reached its pinnacle when they met the designer and owner of the Vhecda Luxury brand.
Lady Elizabeth, over the years, had often heard her friends share stories of extravagant shopping sprees with their children. She had yearned for those joyful moments she hadn't experienced yet. The prospect of joining these conversations and contributing her own stories had seemed like a distant wish.
However, everything had changed now. The recent "moment" she had shared with Damián had allowed her to partake in future conversations with enthusiasm and pride. She could proudly declare that she had indulged in luxury shopping and that the results had left her brimming with happiness.
In recent days, a string of happy moments had accumulated in her life, bringing joy and a sense of fulfillment. Now, she had countless stories to share and a sense of contentment that made her smile every time she thought of those special moments.