Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 324

"Panic?" he asks.

"She'll keep trying to cook you things."

Horror flashes through his brown eyes just as Michael rounds the corner.

"Did it grow back yet?" Michael asks.

Onai's eyes stay in that horrified state as they flash to Michael. Michael raises an eyebrow. I look away.

Suddenly, Megan comes down the steps, afro fluffed, cute pink top on. She walks down the steps gingerly, batting her eyes. Her brown eyes slide to Onai. Then they look all around him. She frowns.

"Is it... just you today?" she asks.

Onai blinks. "Yeah. For now."

Her frown deepens. She sighs, going back up the stairs. "Oh. I'm gonna change, then."

Onai cocks his head back for the second time today. Poor guy.

Two knocks hit the door. This time, I know it's the brothers. I reach to open it, but Dad barrels down the hall. "Don't!"

Oml. I step out of his way. He stands tall, pulling the door open. "Cars..." He falters.

Carson walks in, smirk on his face. "Pops."

Dad looks at him for a second, but then he stares at the two figures behind Carson. "You didn't say you were bringing your brothers."

Brothers. Like clockwork, Mom flies out of the kitchen. When she sees Aiden and Axel, she gasps, covering her mouth. Aiden averts his eyes.

Charlie trails into the hall after Mom. His little brown eyes light up when he sees Axel. "Can we fix another window?"

Mom gawks at Axel. "Have you no shame?" She braces herself on the wall, back falling against the sunset orange paint.

Dad looks at her. "What?"

I wave my hand in front of my neck, willing her not to say anything.

She gives me the most disappointed look. Then, she turns to Dad. "Nothing, dear." She narrows her eyes at Axel, not Aiden. "It's just nice to meet everyone again. At a decent time."

"I'm sorry, ma'am...?" Axel furrows his brow, clearly confused, but Mom looks determined as she marches straight up to him. My blood runs cold. Aiden keeps looking at anything but my mother's power walk.

"Well, don't be a stranger." She grabs Axel's arm. "There's more than enough food for everyone."

Axel reaches to me for help as my mother drags him towards the kitchen. Charlie follows. She's got the wrong man, but Aiden says nothing, easily slipping his sneakers off.

"Well." Carson chuckles. "Shall we?" He reaches his hand out in my direction. Before I can take it, Dad puts his hand in Carson's.

"We shall." Dad narrows his eyes, grabbing Carson's arm before dragging him away.

Aiden and I walk side-by-side. I whisper to Onai as I pass him, "Just push what you can onto my plate if you have to."

"I might have to take you up on that offer," he whispers back.

"What's the issue?" Dad asks.

If Michael's breathing, I can't tell. He scratches the back of his head. "Onai's, er, family is coming."

Dad raises an eyebrow.

"I can tell them not to," Onai says.

Michael nods vigorously.

Mom waves him off. "No, please. It's fine."

"It's not, actually," Michael says flat-out.

"Yes, it is. It's not everyday you invite guests."

"Mom." Michael groans.

"I'm just saying." She smiles. "It's nice to know you have friends besides your sister and Suzie." There's a way she says Suzie's name.

Michael groans as he walks towards the garage. Onai follows to help, and Carson follows too, right after pulling a chair out for my mom and then me (I may swoon just a bit at the fact that I know this isn't just a show he's putting on for my family). When Axel tries to follow the others to the garage, too, Mom smacks the chair beside her. "Oh, don't worry. I saved you a seat."

Tears are metaphorically running down Axel's face as he lowers himself into the chair.

I'm not even sure if he knows about the night that Mom caught Aiden and me. Yet here he is, paying for it. Aiden shoots me an accusatory glance like I'm the one to blame. I sigh, knowing we'll both come clean before the night ends.