The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 41

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Chapter 41

Ava’s expression turned contemplative.

“No,” she said simply. “I asked Mommy that once. She said Papa is family, but not daddy family.”

I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding the whole time. “Perhaps you could call him ‘Uncle‘, then ”

“No,” she replied. “That’s not right either. Mommy and Papa say they are going to get married someday.”

Someday. So they weren’t married yet, but they had talked about it. They were planning of it.

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I really didn’t like how that made me feel. I shouldn’t have cared, but it felt like my stomach was twisting into a knot.

Before I could respond, footsteps approached.

Vanessa appeared in the doorway, slightly breathless. “Caught him just as he was getting in his car.” She looked between us suspiciously. “Everything okay here?”

“Perfect,” I said, standing. “We were just talking about coloring books.”

Ava giggled. “No, we weren’t.”

“Ava.” Vanessa’s tone carried warning.

“What? We were talking about daddies and-”

“Ava. Enough.” Vanessa’s expression had gone carefully blank. She turned to me. “I think you should go now, Jason.”

I would go, but first, a question sat poised on my tongue. I didn’t know why, but I needed to ask it like I needed to breathe.

“Are you and William engaged?”

She frowned at me, and I braced myself for an argument. If she accused me of intruding on her personal affairs, she would be right. I had no idea why this was so important to me. Vanessa was just a work colleague, I shouldn’t care at all.

Yet I did, all the same.

“You need to leave,” she said.

With that, she didn’t confirm or deny, but the answer was clear. In not denying it, she was telling me all I needed to know. If I was mistaken, she would correct me.

They were engaged. 1

Pulling myself together, I knew I had overstayed my welcome. It was time to go.

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“Of course.” I moved toward the door, paused beside her. Kept my voice low. “For what it’s worth, you’re doing an incredible job with her.”

Even my own discomfort over finding out about her engagement couldn’t change that fact, and it needed stating. Ava was a great little girl, and that credit needed to be given to her mother.

Something flickered in Vanessa’s eyes. Surprise, maybe. Or pain.

“Thank you,” she said quietly. “But you still need to leave.”

Nodding, I walked out.

I made my way to the parking lot where Marcus leaned against his car. He glanced up when I approached.

“How’d it go with Vanessa?”

Chapter 41

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“Fine.” I climbed into the passenger seat, my mind still spinning.

Marcus started the engine but didn’t pull out. You alright? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“William Chen was there.”

“Chen?” Marcus’s eyebrows shot up. “The automotive guy? What was he doing at the hospital?”

“Visiting Ava. Apparently he’s Vanessa’s best friend. The kid calls him ‘Papa‘ ”

Marcus let out a low whistle. “Well, that’s unexpected.”

“It’s not like that,” I said, annoyed. “Ava said that Papa is different than Daddy. That William is family but not daddy–family.

Besides, William and Vanessa are just engaged, not married.”

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