Reject My Alpha President (Iris and Arthur) novel Chapter 279

Chapter 279

Iris

Veronica scoops Miles up into her arms, causing all of the parents and nearby onlookers to turn and gawk. My mouth falls open as I watch her hold my son.

Why did Miles go straight past me and Arthur and to her? He’s always been able to recognize Arthur, at the very least; it makes no sense.

Miles pulls off his blindfold, his little face shifting from confusion to embarrassment as he realizes his mistake. He wiggles in Veronica’s arms, and she sets him down gently. He runs back to us, and I scoop him up, holding him against my chest.

“Sorry about that,” Veronica says with a light laugh. “I think my perfume might have confused him. It’s lily and lavender–aren’t those your usual scents, Iris?”

She’stight. I bought a bottle of lily and lavender perfume about a year ago and I’m still working through it. I’m surprised Veronica noticed, though, and even more surprised that Veronica is wearing the same scent. It’s not a very common combination.

I glance at Arthur, wondering if he’s having the same thoughts. But when I look at him, his eyes are glowing subtly

-just like they do when we’re being intimate together. The faintest green gleam, like lichen in the depths of a dark cave.

I blink, stunned. The glow is gone quickly, but I know it was there.

Before I can process this, Arthur laughs loudly and claps his hands. “Well, that was unexpected! I think we need to work on our son’s nose training.”

The crowd around us laughs at that. Several parents even joke that their children made similar mistakes, and the volunteer in charge quickly moves on to the next activity. I’m still a bit astonished, but I’m glad for Arthur’s quick thinking because it was only a matter of time before people started speculating about the three of us.

“Don’t worry about it,” Arthur murmurs to me as we walk away. “Kids make mistakes.”

I look up at him. “Why did your eyes glow, then?”

Arthur stares at me. “What?”

I set Miles down, who runs off to play with his friends from the orphanage. “Your eyes,” I say, keeping my voice low. “They glowed for a moment when you looked at Veronica.”

He looks at me for a moment longer, his mouth opening and closing as if not sure how to respond, then shrugs. Like she said, you wear that scent all of the time.” He steps closer, dipping his head to take a deep inhale of my hair. When he pulls back, his eyes are flickering with that supernatural light again. “I must be conditioned to your delicious scent. See?”

Despite myself, I can’t help but laugh and swat at his chest. “You’re impossible,” I mutter.

Arthur catches my wrist and gently presses my palm to his chest, right over his heart. “Don’t worry about flukes like that, Iris,” he says seriously. “You’re all I could ever want. Soon, you’ll know for certain.”

My eyes widen slightly as the implication sinks in. Is he saying…?

Before I can ask if there really is an engagement on the horizon, Arthur winks and pulls away, strutting across the lawn toward someone he recognizes. I watch him go, shaking my head fondly.

Chapter 279

+25 BONUS

The rest of the afternoon continues without incident. In fact, to my absolute delight, the children’s day is a roaring success. Every activity station is packed and smiling faces are everywhere I look.

“By the time the crowd begins to thin, Arthur and I head to the donation area to check the boxes. I’m not expecting to have raised an exorbitant amount for my first event, especially not for one that’s open to the public and particularly devoid of wealthy socialites, but I’m pleasantly surprised to find that three out of the four boxes have been filled with cash and coins.

Grinning, I reach for the fourth and final donation box. It’s beavier than I expected, which is a good sign. I pry open the lid, expecting to find wads of cash, a few checks, and piles of loose change like the other boxes.