Bound By A Broken Night novel Chapter 20

Chapter 20

“Dithy, Kai, Dada… dithy… Kai,” he complained dramatically, pressing his small hands to his head -yet smiling so wide it gave him away.

“My silly, adorable boy…”

Still laughing, Drie pulled him close, wrapping him in a warm hug to steady him while Kai rested against his chest, giggling softly as the dizziness passed.

And for a fleeting moment, watching them like this–father and son in everything but blood–the world felt almost… perfect.

But our world was far from perfect.

I knew it. I lived with that truth every single day.

With Kai growing up as someone else’s son–someone who wasn’t Zandrie–nothing about our carefully constructed life was truly safe. Each passing day felt like walking on glass, beautiful and fragile, one misstep away from shattering.

“Mamo brought your favorite.”

Drie’s announcement snapped me from my thoughts.

Kai’s eyes widened instantly, bright with excitement.

“Donut?!” he squealed.

“Lots of donuts,” Drie confirmed, nodding with an infuriatingly smug smile.

“Donuthh!”

Kai wriggled impatiently, and Drie laughed before setting him down. The moment his feet touched the floor, he bolted toward the door.

“Mamo! Eat Kai donut!” he shouted happily as he disappeared outside.

I watched my son’s small figure vanish, my chest filling with a complicated mix of gratitude and dread. I was proud of how he was growing–too proud. And terrified, all at once.

“So,” Drie said casually behind me, “when are we giving Kai a brother or a sister?”

The words barely finished registering before my palm connected solidly with his gut.

“Aww-!”

He doubled over dramatically, wheezing. “You are so violent, Cassidy Greene.” “Then don’t spout nonsense,” I shot back, glaring as he straightened and rolled his eyes. “You’re too rigid,” he scoffed. “That’s what happens when you lack a healthy-”

+25 BONUS

“Finish that sentence,” I warned, arching a brow.

He grinned anyway. “-lubricated lifestyle.”

I smirked coolly. “And you’re screwed in the head from screwing around too much.”

“Sex keeps you young and energized,” he countered without missing a beat. “You should try it sometime.”

“No, thanks,” I said flatly, turning back to my half–packed luggage.

“I can volunteer,” he added, plopping onto the edge of my bed. “I’ll even tolerate your awful mood.”

That did it.

“Say one more ridiculous thing,” I said sweetly, crossing my arms, “and I’ll tell your mom you’re still seeing Nissa.”

His face drained instantly. He shot a nervous glance at the door, as if Zabrina Wallace might appear at any second.

“You wouldn’t,” he said, suddenly sulky.

I smiled. “Try me.”

We both knew how much his mother despised Nissa Loew.

“That model is only after your money,” I muttered, shaking my head as I continued packing.

“I know,” he replied promptly.

And that was Zandrie in a nutshell. Fully aware. Fully complicit. He let people use him—as long as it suited him.

“Every penny I spend on her,” he continued, his tone deceptively casual, “she pays back with interest. I mean, the way she moves her hips, that tightness… godness, how does she even do that? She’s a goddamn expert.”

“Are we seriously discussing your sex life now?” I cut in, giving him an unamused look.

“Well, yes,” he shrugged. “I thought it might spark your interest.”

“You’re disgusting. Get out.”

I grabbed the nearest item and hurled it at him, but he laughed—and then froze.

“Oh,” he drawled. “So this is how small you are.”

My blood turned to ice. He was holding my lace underwear.

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