Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 418

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley**
**Chapter 418: Schemes Afoot**

Silas had never imagined that his simple suggestion would unleash a whirlwind of chaos, like poking a hornet’s nest with a stick.

First, Lucien had inexplicably lost his composure, his usual collected demeanor crumbling before their eyes. Then, Marcus, the ever-apathetic, had somehow managed to tap into a surprising well of cunning. And finally, there was Edric, the opportunist extraordinaire, who never missed a chance to seize the moment.

Suffice it to say, Silas struggled to maintain the grin plastered on his face, as the absurdity of the situation threatened to break his composure.

How dare these shameless clowns use his beloved cub to curry favor with Emma? Did they possess even a shred of decency?

If they were so desperate for affection, they ought to find a cub of their own instead of manipulating his!

Emma finally tore her gaze away from Remy, her eyes sweeping over the gaggle of men before her. A smirk danced on her lips as she took in their eager expressions.

Did they truly believe she was so naive that she wouldn’t see through their ploys?

You know what? Fine! If it’s my attention you’re after, then it’s my attention you shall receive!

“Sure,” Emma replied, her voice firm yet playful. “Since you’re all so eager to meet Remy, then you’re all welcome to do so.”

With a flick of her wrist, she gestured towards Callum, who had remained silent throughout this circus. “Callum, you’re invited as well.”

Callum blinked at her, momentarily dumbfounded. “M-Ms. Tibarn, you… you want me to join you?”

He wasn’t foolish enough to believe that Marcus and Lucien were genuinely interested in Remy.

So… was she hinting at what he thought she was hinting at?

Was she really going to allow him to…

Emma carefully placed Remy back onto Silas’ shoulder, adjusting him gently to ensure he was comfortable.

Then, she reached for her cutlery, her stomach growling in protest. It had been a long, exhausting day, and she was ravenous.

Edric was truly on his way to becoming an exceptional cook.

As Emma dug into her meal, savoring each bite, she couldn’t help but sneak glances at Remy, who was nestled comfortably on Silas’ shoulder.

She found herself daydreaming about what Remy would look like as he grew.

The others fell into a respectful silence, waiting patiently for Emma to finish her meal.

They didn’t want to disturb her while she was enjoying her food.

As soon as she set her cutlery down, Marcus sprang into action. “Ms. Tibarn, I’ve finished my meal as well. You should take a moment to rest. Don’t worry, I’ll handle the dirty dishes.”

Marcus was no longer the indifferent etherian he once was.

He had shed his former apathy and was now fully committed to winning Emma’s heart.

Edric, noticing Marcus stacking the plates, quickly rose to his feet.

“Emma, how about I brew you a pot of fruit tea?”

Lucien, eager to contribute, stood up and declared, “I’ll wipe down the table.”

Kieran chimed in, “Then I’ll help with the dishes too.”

Meanwhile, Silas found himself left in the dust, a bemused spectator to this bizarre competition.

Emma could only watch in silent disbelief as they scurried about.

She was fairly certain that even a smart robot could manage those tasks.

Why were they competing over such mundane chores?

Drake, lurking nearby, watched her intently as she typed.

After a moment of hesitation, he finally gathered the courage to call out, “Emma!”

Emma instinctively looked up, noticing the troubled frown etched on his face.

“What’s wrong?”

Setting her lightcore aside, she regarded him with gentle concern.

She had never seen Drake so out of sorts before.

His fingers twitched nervously as he parted his lips, asking hesitantly, “Emma, can I… can I join all of you to meet Remy too?”

Before she could respond, he rushed to add, “Remy called me ‘Daddy’ for days, and I truly see him as my cub.”

He was acutely aware of how different he was from the others.

Silas and the rest were her mates, free to vie for her affection without fear of consequences, with rightful places by her side.

Kieran had earned his closeness as her devoted follower.

Callum was a potential match, so he too had a valid reason for wanting to be near her.

And then there was Drake, who felt like an outsider looking in.

Even though Remy had indeed referred to him as ‘Daddy’ and Drake had genuinely embraced that role, he remained… ultimately invisible.

He had no right to dream of being in the running like Lucien, Silas, and the others.

Drake understood he was being presumptuous and braced himself for her likely refusal.