Chapter 280: ~ 279
Chapter 279
~Octavia~
I woke up feeling sore.
"Steady, beautiful girl," Franklin murmured, his deep voice dropping into that incredibly gentle rumble he reserved only for our daughter.
I smiled, holding Lael’s tiny, kicking legs up while Franklin expertly slid a fresh diaper underneath her. We were working together to snap her into a clean, pale pink onesie. The newborn phase was an absolute whirlwind of messy realities, but doing it like this, as a united front, made the exhaustion feel entirely sweet.
Once the final snap was secure, Franklin scooped Lael up against his broad chest. He turned his dark, intense eyes to me, a soft, fierce devotion burning in his gaze. Leaning down, he pressed a warm, lingering kiss against my cheek, his lips brushing softly against my skin.
"I love you, Octavia," he whispered, his hand coming up to cup the back of my neck for a brief, grounding second. "Never forget that."
"I love you too," I breathed, resting my hand over his.
Later that morning, the quiet routine of the estate was swapped for the bustling energy of the city. Today was Lael’s regular check-up, and we drove down to the clinic to see her pediatrician, Dr. Fabian.
The clinic was warm and brightly lit, the walls painted in soft pastel murals. Dr. Fabian, a kind, older gentleman with silver hair and a deeply reassuring smile, greeted us warmly as Franklin carefully laid Lael down on the padded examination table.
"Well, let’s see how our little Flemington is doing," Dr. Fabian chuckled, gently manipulating his stethoscope.
He systematically checked her reflexes, listened to her heartbeat, and measured her length and weight. I held my breath, the typical postpartum anxiety creeping into my chest, but Dr. Fabian quickly looked up with a proud nod.
"She is growing beautifully, Octavia. Her weight gain is exactly where we want it to be, and her milestones are perfect. You two are doing an exceptional job."
I let out a massive sigh of relief, sharing a quick, happy glance with Franklin. But the sweetness of the appointment was short-lived. Next came her scheduled immunization shots. The second the tiny needle pierced her delicate thigh, Lael let out a sharp, breathless scream, her tiny face turning a bright, angry red.
It absolutely broke my heart. I immediately scooped her up, rocking her frantically against my shoulder while she sobbed, her tiny fists clutching to my shirt. She was so incredibly cranky, fussing and whimpering all the way back to the estate, completely exhausted by the pain. By the time we finally carried her back up to the nursery, the medicine had kicked in, and she finally drifted into a deep, heavy sleep in her bassinet.
With the baby finally resting, Franklin and I quietly began clearing up the scattered items in her room. The atmosphere shifted, the domestic sweetness fading into a quiet, intense focus.
I stood by the wooden dresser, folding a stack of baby clothes, while Franklin organized the medical documents on the counter. We kept our voices down to a absolute whisper, our ears attuned to the soft breathing of our daughter.
"We need ground rules, Franklin," I whispered, folding a tiny sleeve over. "If we panic or change how we treat him, he’s going to know something is wrong."
Franklin walked over, standing right beside me, his massive frame a comforting shield. "I agree. We play the part perfectly. We don’t confront him, we don’t throw him out, and we don’t give him a single reason to suspect that I overheard that phone call, or that we know about Victoria."
"We act completely normal," I nodded, stacking a swaddle onto the pile. "We smile, we converse, we let him think his little act is working perfectly. The safer he feels, the more likely he is to make a mistake."
"There’s one more thing," Franklin rumbled, his jaw tightening slightly. "Grandpa Frederick. Flynn spends a lot of time around him in the courtyard. We need to tell him the truth about what I heard."
"Yes," I agreed immediately, looking up at him. "Not to upset him, but just so he is careful. Grandpa is sharp, but he’s lonely, and he’s warming up to Flynn. He needs to know what’s actually happening so he doesn’t accidentally let something sensitive slip."
Franklin nodded, his eyes dark with determination. "I’ll handle Grandpa privately. For now, we play the game."
The next morning.
We walked down to the sunlit dining room for breakfast. The rich, mouth-watering aroma of sizzling bacon, fresh pastries, and hot coffee filled the air. Olga took her position around the kitchen island, placing a stir fry spaghetti and fried egg on the table.
"Good morning, Mr and Mrs Flemington," Olga beamed, wiping her hands on her apron. "The little one let you sleep?"
"She’s doing much better today, Olga, thank you," I smiled warmly, pulling out a chair and sitting down.
A moment later, the double doors opened, and Flynn strolled into the room. He looked completely relaxed, wearing a casual sweater, his hair slightly messy as he flashed his usual goofy, carefree smirk.
"Morning, everyone," Flynn said cheerfully, sliding into the seat directly across from me. "Man, something smells incredible. Olga, you are a miracle worker."
"Olga cooks well. Eat sir, you look like you need the food," Olga chuckled, pouring him a tall glass of freshly squeezed orange juice before retreating back into the kitchen.
"Thanks," Flynn murmured, reaching for a piece of toast. He looked across the table at me, his expression open and friendly. "How is Lael doing after her doctor’s visit yesterday? I heard she was a bit fussy last night."
I didn’t flinch. I forced a bright, completely normal smile to my face, reaching over to pass him the pitcher of cream. "She’s much better today, thank you for asking. The shots always make them a little cranky, but she slept right through the night after that."
"Glad to hear it," Flynn smiled easily, taking a bite of his food before turning to strike up a casual conversation with Franklin about the morning’s financial news.
Franklin responded with a level, polite tone, nodding along and acting exactly like the cooperative cousin he had been at the barbecue. To anyone looking in through the windows, we looked like a perfect, happy family enjoying a quiet morning breakfast.
But as I lifted my teacup to my lips, my mind was spinning into a chaotic web of dark questions.
I watched Flynn laugh at something Franklin said, his expression completely devoid of malice. If I hadn’t heard the truth from Franklin and Victoria, I would have sworn he was entirely innocent. But now, the performance terrified me.
I couldn’t help but wonder... What does he actually want?
Is it the Flemington empire? Is it money? Or is it something far more twisted? Why was he working so hard, traveling all the way from San Francisco, hiding his identity from my best friend, and infiltrating our home just to bring my husband down?
I took a slow sip of my tea, my eyes narrowing slightly as I stared at his smiling face across the table. I realized how flawless Flynn’s act truly was, a chilling thought settled deep into my chest. We were playing a dangerous game with a man who had no face, and I just hoped we could figure out his true motive before the illusion of peace shattered for good.