Husband With Benefits

"You are not God, you know. You could be wrong." Erasmi Frost let out a slow, measured sigh, looking at his son’s face through the screen with a mixture of irritation and concern as he stared back stubbornly. "And sometimes, Cai, we are wrong. I was wrong about your birth mother, wasn’t I?"

Cai’s jaw tightened, and he folded his arms, his gaze steady and challenging even though he ignored the jibe. "Well, maybe, but we’ll never know for sure, will we? She was dead before you could ever really know her long term. Besides, I’d like to think I’m a better judge of character. People aren’t as hard to read as you are trying to make them out to be."

Erasmi raised an eyebrow, a flash of amusement mingling with exasperation. "Is this supposed to be some late-blooming rebellion hitting you in your mid-twenties? A sudden enlightenment that you know better than your father?"

Cai rolled his eyes, but a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Come on, Dad! It’s just a favor, alright? A simple one. But hey, if you’re feeling too old to handle it..." Cai’s tone turned mischievous. "Just let me know. I’ll ask Uncle Demon. He won’t hesitate."

Erasmi’s expression hardened, his voice sharp with affront. "Demetri is the same age as me, Cai."

Cai shrugged with mock innocence, eyes dancing. "Technically, he’s younger than you. By a few minutes, sure—but younger is younger."

The playful look in Cai’s eyes met his father’s intense stare, but he didn’t flinch. Erasmi opened his mouth to lay down a firm refusal when Cai’s demeanor shifted. He leaned forward, his tone softening, the hint of humor gone. "Dad, look—I’m genuinely worried about her. Everyone thinks she just took the money and ran, disappeared after making that statement. But it doesn’t sit right with me. I can’t go looking for her right now, but you can. And I trust you to do it, to get to the bottom of this. Please?"

Erasmi let out a longer sigh, glancing away from the screen as if searching for patience. He couldn’t quite ignore the hint of worry behind his son’s request. "Alright, alright. I’ll go take a look. But listen carefully, Caius Demetri Frost—if it turns out she really did sell you out, you’ll be regretting ever sending me to her door."

Cai’s eyes shone with relief, a smirk playing on his lips. "I know, Dad. I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t sure. That’s how much I trust her. Just... go find her, okay?"