Rejected Mate's Redemption (Freda and James) novel Chapter 89

Chapter 89
KAIDEN STIRLING
The day went by quickly and before I knew it, it was evening. Time to go home. The reality left a stinging sensation in my chest. Again, I would return home to the misery I brought upon myself.
However, knowing Harper was there, my mood brightened and a small smile formed on my face.
Upon reaching home, I was left disappointed when instead of Harper’s beaming face, Safiya was the one in the living room. My face became neutral instantly as she approached me.
“Kaiden, where have you been all day?” She asked, a frown. crossing her features as she stared at me. I ignored her and walked up the stairs to my room. From the tone she used, I could tell she was seething with envy as she might’ve had a hunch about where I went to.
That woman is just unbelievable and unbearable!
As I peeled off my clothes, I heard a knock on my door. It wasn’t Safiya as she never knocks, she just barges in.
“Dinner is ready, Alpha” The maid informed and I grunted in response. Hastily, she turned and left the place.
I sighed, I didn’t mean to scare her. I guess due to all that had been happening I was becoming too stern and snappy with the **ts and even my employees at work.
I had to cool off else one of these days, I would harm someone unintendedly.
I took a quick shower and threw on a shirt and sweets before leaving my room and heading downstairs for dinner. On getting there, my brows furrowed, Harper wasn’t here. Sefiya had made it a habit to not come down for dinner and it was fine by me but Harper…
My heart **a beat, did something happen to her? Did she fall ill?
“Where is Harper?” I asked the maid who was serving me and she bowed slightly before responding, “I called her down but she refused to pay heed to me. I think she is angry, Alpha” She chose her words carefully so as not to offend me.
I nodded and dismissed her with a wave of my hand. She dropped the dish and scurried off while I sat there in deep thought. After a while, I got up and headed to Harper’s room. If the maid was right then I wonder what must’ve gotten her angry. I hope Safiya didn’t say or do anything to her.
I balled my fists and my jaw clenched, if she did, I wouldn’t spare her this time.
When I got to Harper’s room, I knocked gently before opening the door.
“Harper?” I called, poking my head in. She was curled in her bed, holding her stuffed bunny tightly. Upon hearing my voice, she turned and smiled at me. Her smile wasn’t as bright as usual and I got worried. A
“Daddy, you’re back, I missed you!” She exclaimed and I entered,
closing the door behind me. She sat up and I engulfed her in a hug.
“I missed you too, my princess” She giggled when I placed kisses on her hair, “What’s wrong, princess, why are you here on your own? Why didn’t you come down for dinner?” I asked worriedly and she pouted
“I don’t want to eat”
I was taken aback, “Why?”
“I won’t eat till mom says sorry to Cisco’s mother,” She said and my heart dropped seeing the determination in her eyes. That look was one I was familiar with and for some reason, I disliked it because of where the trait came from. Safiya.
With this same look, she had vowed not to apologize to Freda, and now…**k!
“Princess, your mom will apologize okay, till then, come down, and let’s have dinner together” I cajoled but she huffed and dropped on her bed, looking away from me
“No, I won’t. She has to say sorry first!”
“C’mon princess, you’re making Daddy feel sad”
“Don’t be sad Daddy, you can go and eat without me” She glanced at me with a forced smile then looked away
“But I want to eat with you, dear” I patted her hair and she shook her head. Her stomach grumbled at the same time and the both of us paused. She was hungry but because of her mother’s stubbornness, she planned to starve herself.
My temper flared, I leaned down and pecked her hair gently before storming out of her room. I headed to Safiya’s room immediately.
I didn’t bother knocking and barged in and it was almost funny to see her in the same position as Harper was when I went to her room. She was also hugging a stuffed bear. Instead of finding it cute, I felt irritated. My daughter was starving because of her insensitivity, stubbornness, and whatnot.
She cast me a bored glance as she slowly sat up. She was trying hard to mask her excitement at seeing me in her room. What did she think? That I was here to speak with her? We had gone past that line now and I didn’t even see us returning to normal again if she didn’t step up.
“Why are you here?” She asked
“Do you even have any idea if Harper has had her meal or not?” I shot at her and she jumped off the bed in a beat.
“What do you mean?” Now, she wasn’t acting, she was actually worried and I appreciated that she did have a heart when it came to our daughter.
“She has refused to have her meal till you apologize to Freda. What will you do about that, Safiya?” I gritted, glaring at her. She heaved, confusion and anger flashed through her face as she thought of what to do.
She wore her flip-flops and then stormed towards the door, “I’ll talk to her
I stopped her before she could leave, “Do you think that will work? I tried but she wouldn’t listen!”
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“She might listen to me, Kaiden” She shot back and walked off. I followed closely till we got to Harper’s room.
Harper was now playing with some of her Barbie toys when we got there, she stopped when she saw us and laid back on the bed, facing away.
Safiya placed some of the toys away before sitting beside her. She-flinched when Harper evaded her touch. I felt sorry for her. She looked genuinely shocked and pained. The feeling soon washed away when I recalled that she brought this upon herself.
“Baby, why won’t you come for dinner? I asked the maids to prepare your favorite today” Her voice was cracked a bit but she tried to sound normal.
“Have you said sorry to Cisco’s mother?” Harper asked, getting out of the bed. She walked around Safiya like she was some plague and stood before me.
Safiya blinked, frowning as she thought of what to say. She was obviously not going to apologize to Freda because she didn’t want to hurt her huge ego and in as much as she cared for our daughter, her ego was first.
Her face softened and just when I thought she would do the right thing, she chose the wrong words, “Harper, that woman. wants to divide-”
“Safiya, enough!” I cut her off, “Don’t get our daughter involved in this feud you brought about.” I warned her, my tone domineering causing her to shudder.
“Come with me, princess” I took Harper’s hand, and with one last glare at Safiya, I stormed out
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