Nolan glanced at Ashley in the kitchen with him early in the morning. Since he was aware of the injury she was hiding from Primo, Nolan automatically took it upon himself to help with breakfast. However, Ashley joined him minutes later.
"Madam, why don’t you rest?" he suggested politely. "I was told to let you rest as much as possible."
Ashley turned to him, pausing while preparing Primo’s packed lunch and snacks. "Nolan, I’m fine. Don’t worry about it."
She flashed him a bright smile before resuming what she was doing. Meanwhile, Nolan narrowed his eyes and furrowed his brows, assessing her figure. For some reason, even though Ashley was supposed to be healing, her aura felt different from usual.
For someone who had been abducted just a couple of days ago, she was rather... glowing.
Amid his thoughts, Nolan noticed a figure from the corner of his eye. When he turned, he spotted Lucian making his way to the kitchen.
"Good morning, Master," he greeted.
Lucian shot him a side glance and nodded. "Morning."
Upon hearing that, Ashley turned to Lucian. At the same time, Lucian had already reached her, his hand snaking around her waist automatically.
He pulled her close, and her arm instinctively rested on his shoulder.
The smile on her face, which had already been there before he arrived, stretched wider, her eyes shimmering.
"Good morning," he greeted as he lowered his head for a kiss.
Ashley’s eyes squinted as she bit her lip and closed her eyes, warmly welcoming his kiss.
"Good morning," she said right after the soft peck, giggling as he smiled and leaned down for more.
Nolan stood there awkwardly, watching as the two kissed each other... until they were almost making out. The sound of their tangled lips echoed in the quiet kitchen, neither of them caring about the old man standing just a few steps away.
I’m... still here?
"Ahem." Nolan cleared his throat loudly as he glanced at the stairs, catching Primo’s shadow.
Only then did Ashley and Lucian part, smiling at each other before turning to greet Primo.
"Good morning, Primo," Ashley greeted, and Primo smiled at them brightly.
Acting as though they hadn’t just been making out in front of Nolan, Ashley turned back to the kitchen while Lucian asked if there was anything else he could do. She nodded, telling him to set the table.
"Primo, help me," Lucian said, and the father and son set the table together.
Nolan still assisted, but with the family working together, it felt like he didn’t have much to do. He had woken up early to help them, but at this rate, he couldn’t help but wonder if he should have slept a little longer.
Even so, watching the family have breakfast together so peacefully, Nolan couldn’t help but nod approvingly. He stuck around, helping with anything he could, until Ashley sent them off as usual.
*****
Lucian tapped his fingertips against the steering wheel as he slowly drove through traffic toward Primo’s school. He glanced at the boy in the front passenger seat, who was holding his packed lunch and snacks securely on his lap.
"Primo," he called, watching the boy turn to him. "Are you alright?"
Primo tilted his head slightly before nodding. Then he signed,
[Don’t worry about me.]
Lucian smiled subtly as he reached over and ruffled the boy’s hair gently. "I’ll go home early so your mom and I can pick you up together."
Primo’s smile widened as he nodded in understanding. Even though he hadn’t witnessed it directly, Primo was sharp enough to sense the change in the atmosphere — especially the air around Lucian, which felt warmer and less intimidating than usual.
[Even if you can’t, it’s fine.] The boy reassured him. [She will come for me regardless.]
Lucian let out a low chuckle as he leaned back in his seat, giving Primo a sideways glance. The boy smiled back brightly — something Lucian was only seeing today after all the years he had raised him.
After dropping the boy off at the drop-off area, a light sigh escaped Lucian’s lips as Primo walked toward the school entrance.
"I’m glad I listened to her," he whispered, relieved that the abduction hadn’t affected Primo as much as he had expected.
Who would have thought that going home would make such a difference?
Honk!
"You’re absolutely my type."
"More... I want you more."
"Lucian..."
[Dominion New Neighborhood]

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