Chapter 569 – I love you
Corvine froze for a second, but he pulled himself together fast.
"No, you’re reading her wrong," he defended, jaw tight. "She’s just grateful because I saved her once."
The only thing that came to his mind was the incident with Olivia.
Corvine had spoken up for her then, refusing to stand by and watch her take the fall for something that wasn’t entirely her fault. To him, Jasmine’s behavior had always been nothing more than gratitude, simple and clear.
Athaliah didn’t feel comfortable with his answer, but she knew one important thing. Never force someone to see a point when their mind was already made up.
She kept her expression warm, even as something uneasy settled low in her stomach. "Alright, I believe you."
Still, something about the way she said it made Corvine’s chest tighten hard. He couldn’t explain it. Before he could figure out what felt off, Athaliah turned and climbed into the jet, the door sealing shut behind her with a soft hydraulic hiss.
The moment she disappeared inside, it felt as though she had taken something important with her. His heart.
Corvine stood there for a few seconds, staring at the jet as an emptiness slowly settled inside him, heavy and cold. He had gotten used to waking up and finding Athaliah sleeping in his bed.
Somehow, he had even gotten used to giving up the bed and spending his nights on the couch just so she could have all the comfort she needed.
But now that she was leaving, even though it was only supposed to be for a few days, the thought of waking up without her in the same room made those few days feel unbearably long. Like years.
By the time Corvine returned to the SUV, he pushed those feelings down and gave the driver his next instructions.
"Take us to the office."
At the office, he spent more than three hours putting things in order for the upcoming investor meetings.
He also met with his deputy CEO after making sure the kids had snacks to keep them occupied.
With Seraphine’s condition, Corvine knew he had to take on even more responsibility so she would have less on her shoulders.
He was also surprised to see that Tallulah, Emery, and Zane had all come straight to the office.
Soon, they would have to return to the pack again, which meant there was a lot that needed to be handled now while they still had the time. Everyone seemed to understand that.
From there, Corvine instructed the driver to take them to a restaurant. They all ate together, and once the meal was over Esperanza immediately insisted on going shopping, her eyes already bright with ideas.
That was when Corvine remembered something. Voren’s mansion didn’t have a room designed for a boy Bryan’s age the way his parents’ mansion did.
At his parents’ place, there were rooms decorated and prepared for children, both boys and girls, making sure they always had a comfortable place to stay. He looked at the excited children and smiled, the tension in his shoulders easing a little.
"Yeah, let’s go shopping."
They headed to the children’s section, where Jasmine began picking out things for Bryan’s room, bedding, posters, little touches that would make it feel like home. By the time they finished and returned to the mansion, the sun had already gone down.
Corvine had the maids help him decorate Bryan’s room while Jasmine supervised the kitchen staff and got supper started after making sure the kids had showered.
Later, they all sat down and ate together, the easy chatter of the children filling the quiet spaces.
Once dinner was over, Corvine looked at Bryan, a small smile already tugging at his mouth. "Bryan, I hope you’ll like your new room."
Bryan’s eyes widened with excitement, pure and unfiltered. "Uncle Corvine, will it be like the one at your mansion?"
He still hadn’t forgotten the room he had slept in at Corvine’s parents’ mansion. Corvine let out a soft breath, amused by the anticipation written all over the boy’s face.
"Come and see."
Everyone followed him upstairs. The moment Bryan stepped inside, he stopped in his tracks. His mouth fell open, the Spider-Man posters and the sharp new bedding hitting him all at once.
"This is so cool! I love Spider-Man, and the bed is stunning."
Corvine watched the excitement spread across Bryan’s face, and the sight warmed something inside him that had felt cold since the airport.
"Yeah, this is nice," Esperanza agreed, already drifting closer to the desk.
Bryan suddenly threw his arms around Corvine, small and fierce. "Uncle Corvine, I’m glad we’re together again."
Corvine’s expression softened. He reached up and ruffled Bryan’s hair, the simple contact grounding him more than he expected.
"Same here, champ."
Bryan pulled back and turned toward Espe, already bouncing on his feet. "Pretty sis, can I see your room?"
Esperanza beamed, immediately grabbing his hand. "Yes, come and see."
Bryan followed her eagerly. When they reached her room, his eyes moved around the space before his brows lifted in surprise.
"This is so cool."
Corvine and Jasmine exchanged surprised looks as Espe eagerly began showing Bryan her drawings.
She even volunteered to teach him how to draw, happily pointing out the different pictures she had made, her voice bright and nonstop. For Corvine, seeing them get along so easily was more comforting than he expected.
With the children happily occupied, he quietly excused himself to answer a few emails from Zane concerning the software they had prepared for Liah. After testing it himself, Corvine was certain Athaliah would be happy with it.
Yet something else kept pulling at his thoughts. More than eight hours had passed, and he still hadn’t heard from her. Not a call, not even a message.
His brows drew together. He called the pilot and was informed that Liah had arrived safely. That should have eased his mind.
Instead, it only made the silence feel stranger. She was safe, so why hadn’t she called?
Corvine tried her number, the call went through, but she didn’t answer. Worry settled heavily in his chest, thick and hard to ignore.
Unable to sit still any longer, he went back to check on the children and found Bryan and Espe asleep together on the same bed, their breathing soft and even under the soft glow of the night-light.
Jasmine stood nearby, her expression carrying a little guilt.
"I tried to get Bryan to his room, but Espe insisted that he sleep there beside her, and Bryan didn’t seem to want to leave."
Corvine only smiled at the peaceful sight before him, the worry in his chest easing a fraction. "It’s alright. Their peace is what matters."
He looked at them for another second, then added, "I’ll go shower."
As Jasmine watched him walk out of the room, an idea slowly formed in her mind.
She waited until he was gone, then quietly made her way toward his room. The sound of running water soon reached her ears, steady and warm against the quiet of the bedroom.
Without wasting another second, Jasmine undressed and moved toward the shower room. Her fingers closed around the handle, and she pushed the door open without knocking.
Steam rolled out, carrying the clean scent of soap. Corvine stood beneath the water, completely unaware of her presence, the heat washing over his shoulders.
Then suddenly, he froze. Soft palms wrapped around his bare body from behind. Every muscle in him went rigid.
"Corvine," Jasmine breathed against him, her voice trembling with emotion. "I love you."