On Her Daddy's Bed (Adeline and Luciano) novel Chapter 51

Author’s POV.

Riyyan descended the stairs, all glammed up and confident, her heels clicking sharply against the floor with each step. The sound echoed through the grand house, announcing her arrival to everyone in the vicinity. Her mind was fixated on one thing—the image of the man she had dreamed of, and there he was, sitting in the chair, seemingly engrossed in his phone.

She couldn’t help but take him in. He looked even more striking in person, as always. Axel was dressed in his favorite color—black—like the night itself. His black trousers fit him perfectly, and his T-shirt, unbuttoned just enough to reveal his chiseled jawline and the muscular abs beneath, made her heart race. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, exposing his well-defined arms, veins bulging slightly with each movement. His curly hair was a bit unruly, but it only added to his raw, masculine charm.

As she made her way down, her heels clicking with every step, she saw him finally raise his gaze. For a split second, she thought he might look at her, but instead, his eyes quickly returned to his phone, dismissing her without so much as a second glance.

Her heart sank in disappointment, but she pushed the feeling down, knowing that she couldn’t let it show. She reached the bottom of the stairs and continued walking with poise, trying to suppress the fluttering in her chest. Axel’s indifference stung more than she cared to admit.

She didn’t let it hold her back, though. Her focus was on one thing—this moment. Her father was right there, after all, and she couldn’t let her feelings for Axel distract her from the plan.

“Good morning, Dad,” she greeted warmly, walking toward him and planting a soft peck on his cheek.

“Good morning, pretty one. You look stunning,” her father replied with a smile, his eyes gleaming with pride.

Riyyan chuckled, a slight blush creeping up her neck. “I always do,” she teased, winking at him. He nodded, clearly pleased with his daughter’s confidence.

“Yes, Princess, just reminding you,” he said with a wink, his gaze drifting back to Axel, whose attention was still focused elsewhere.

Riyyan’s attention turned to Axel. She took a step closer, her heels clicking louder in the now-silent room. “Hi, Axel,” she greeted, extending her hand to him.

He looked up at her hand, his gaze cold and distant. After a long moment, he took her hand into his, his touch firm but devoid of warmth.

“Good day, Riyyan,” he responded curtly, his dark eyes never fully meeting hers. He released her hand almost immediately, his coldness lingering in the air.

Her heart dropped as he pulled away so quickly, but she managed to force a smile, willing herself not to show how much it hurt. She reassured herself that having him didn’t have to be about love. Love could come later; for now, she had a plan.

Taking a seat next to her father, she silently stared at Axel, her mind racing with thoughts of how to win his affection, or at least his attention. The maids began serving drinks, but her focus remained on Axel.

Her father cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “Thank you for honoring my urgent invitation, Axel,” he said, his tone both respectful and serious.

“I would like you to go straight to the point, Mr. Li. I have a few more meetings to attend to,” Axel responded, his voice impassive as ever, making it clear that he wasn’t interested in pleasantries.

Mr. Li nodded, clearly used to Axel’s blunt demeanor. He leaned back in his chair, eyeing the younger man before continuing. “I’ll be as snappy as possible,” he replied, signaling that it was time to get to business.

Axel gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable as he relaxed into his seat. He wasn’t one for small talk, and everyone in the room knew that.

“After some thought, Mr. Axel,” Mr. Li began, his voice laced with careful calculation, “I believe it would be wise for us to extend our business relationship into something more… personal.”

Axel raised an eyebrow at this suggestion, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. He knew exactly where this conversation was going, but he remained silent, letting Mr. Li continue.

“Seeing that we’re both in the same line of work, both involved in the mafia and with a shared interest in growing our businesses, I think it would be a smart move to strengthen our connection even further,” Mr. Li said, pausing for effect. He glanced at Riyyan, then back at Axel. “What I’m suggesting, Axel, is that you and Riyyan get married.”

Riyyan’s heart skipped a beat as she waited for Axel’s response. She had heard her father’s proposal before, but hearing it aloud still felt surreal. She stole a quick glance at Axel, hoping to gauge his reaction.

Axel’s expression darkened immediately. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes locking onto Mr. Li’s. “And your point is?” he asked, his tone colder than before.

Mr. Li, undeterred, continued, “That you marry my daughter. Think of it as a way to solidify our business alliance. We could benefit from both sides—marriage and business.”

Axel’s eyes narrowed even further, his patience clearly thinning. “Are you threatening me?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Mr. Li shook his head, trying to keep the conversation civil. “No, I’m simply suggesting it as a mutually beneficial arrangement,” he said, his tone tinged with frustration.

Riyyan’s heart tightened as she watched the exchange. She could see the tension between the two men, and it only served to remind her of how hard it would be to get Axel’s approval.

“I’m not interested in marrying your daughter,” Axel said bluntly, his voice devoid of emotion. The words hit Riyyan like a punch to the gut, and she couldn’t stop the tears that welled up in her eyes. She clenched her fists tightly, trying to control the storm of emotions inside her.

Axel stepped out of the car, his movements mechanical, his face a cold mask of emotionlessness. His hands slipped into his trouser pockets as he walked toward the building, his heart pounding, the sound deafening in his ears. His chest felt tight, constricted by the weight of everything that had happened.

The meeting had been a disaster. That old man had ruined his mood, asking him to marry his insufferable daughter, as if he could be swayed by such a shallow proposal. But that wasn’t even the worst part.

The worst part was what Axel had done next. He had declined the contract, something he had spent six months working tirelessly to secure. He had outright rejected it for a reason that he couldn’t quite wrap his mind around. He could have simply said no, refused the marriage without explaining himself, but instead, he had blurted out that he had a woman.

A woman. The words lingered in his mind, unyielding. He couldn’t lie to himself—there was only one woman he was talking about. Hazel.

But the question haunted him: Was he in love with her? If he wasn’t, why had he said it like that? Why had he claimed her as his? He wasn’t seeing anyone else. It was just her. Yet, something about the whole situation felt wrong, unsettling in ways he couldn’t understand.

He pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind, determined to shake them off. Whatever was going on, he couldn’t dwell on it now. He had other things to focus on, things that mattered. Like her.

Axel walked through the door, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Hazel.

“Big blocked head,” Hazel pouted the moment she saw him, and before he could even respond, she ran into his arms. Her small frame collided with his, and he instinctively wrapped his large arms around her, pulling her close.

Her head nestled into his chest, and for a moment, the chaos of the day melted away. He let out a sigh, his tension easing just a fraction as he held her.

“Where did you go to?” she murmured, her voice muffled against his chest, and he couldn’t help but smile—a small, involuntary smile that tugged at his lips.

He kissed her hair gently, his fingers running through it as he held her tighter. “Where I went doesn’t matter, momma. What matters is that I am back with you. For you.”

Hazel could sense there was something off in his voice, a distant note that didn’t quite belong, but she chose not to push him. Instead, she allowed herself to bask in the comfort of his presence, in the quiet warmth of his arms.

“I’m so tired, momma. You should come give me a massage,” he murmured as he pulled away slightly, his hands resting on her shoulders.

A knowing smile curled on Hazel’s lips as she met his gaze. Her mind wandered to the possibility of what might come after the massage, but she chose to remain quiet, sensing that things might turn in a way she wasn’t ready for, yet still yearning for it.