Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 292

I usher Onai to the door. "Do what you need to do. Keep him quiet."

The beta nods, stalking towards the door.

As Axel tries to figure out what just happened, I turn to Shen. I know Axel has no intention of helping her anymore, and I think she knows it too. She won't let Dr. Janice touch Fei. It's completely understandable, but if things keep going like this, neither one of them is going to get help.

I look into her eyes. "You know how Axel has two brothers, right?"

"Yes." She nods. "The three alphas of Silvermoon."

"Exactly. There's three of them," I say.

She raises an eyebrow, so I elaborate. "They've got a two-thirds policy when they make decisions."

"Who told you that?" Axel asks.

I have my sources. CoughCoughDante. "Until the other two alphas come to take a vote, nothing's going to happen to you." I don't even believe my own words. If Axel wants to take action, he will, but, she doesn't need to know that. "So now would be a good time to get Fei checked."

Shen bites her bottom lip, looking at Fei. She's worried. She should be.

Dr. Janice has no compassion. She lifts the end of her stethoscope, asking, "Can I check her lungs now?"

Shen relents.

As Dr. Janice silently turns the baby this way and that, two voices become prominent outside.

"What do you mean I can't say anything?" Ethel's muffled voice bleeds through the door. "Dude, you're freaking me out."

"It's nothing." Onai opens the door, but stands in the way.

A cranky Fei comes to life, swatting at Dr. Janice. "Col'." She glares at the stethoscope.

"I just want you to go into this with a level head," Onai says. "If you start... spazzing out-"

"I don't spazz out." Ethel uses air quotes, but there's a nervousness in his voice. Whatever it is, he seems eager to get past Onai. That surprises me. I would've expected him to say something like, 'Oh no. No, don't tell me. Keep my name out of it!'

"Well, if you do..." Onai walks through the door.

Ethel waves him off.

Once Fei's watery eyes land on her applesauce provider, Onai, she becomes even more distressed. "Apsauce." Her feeble hands reach in indignation.

"Stop it, Fei." Shen pushes her hands down. "He gave you enough."

"That's what it is? You're a father?" Ethel gasps, looking between the little girl and Onai.

"No." Onai smacks his forehead. "We're harboring Dawn rogues."

"Ethel."

She fidgets with her hands.

He messes with his, looking everywhere but her. He doesn't seem to know how to handle the silence. The stillness. The shift in her shoulders or movement of her eyes. "I'm..." she says.

"You're...?" he asks.

Maybe she's forgotten her name, or doesn't realize she's staring at him like he... put the stars in the sky. Or at least is the next best thing since sliced bread.

She hesitates, then reaches for him with her free hand. It's a tentative gesture. Completely unsure. Almost regretful the second it's done, but she still reaches for him. She doesn't have to wait at all. He's already at her side, touching her hand gently like he's afraid she'll disappear, slip through his fingers if he's not careful.

Maybe he doesn't even think this is real.

My eyes connect with Axel's. His eyes connect with mine, and I understand.

"Hi." Shen tightens her grip on Ethel. "I'm Sh-"

The moment's ruined. Destroyed. Crumbled up and torn into a million pieces.

It's not Dr. Janice's fault, even though she's holding her heart in horror. It's not Onai's dad's fault, even though he walks back in to see why "more people" are here. And it's not any of our fault, even though Onai mutters his disbelief, Axel mentions how unexpected that was, and I make a startled, choking noise-because who couldn't fangirl to this.

Oh no. The moment's ruined by none other than Fei. She kicks Ethel. Jabs him with her tiny little foot for the insurrection of having invaded her personal space.