Chapter 2

On the night of the moonlight ball, Caius marked me, and we became mates once again.

The next day, after signing the remarriage papers, we returned to Caius's mansion.

He came up the steps behind us. Lily and I were standing at the door.

"Why aren't you going in?"

I said calmly, "The password's been changed."

As we spoke, the door opened from inside.

Aisling appeared wearing an apron, her voice full of playful reproach. "What took you so long? Kitty's asked about you several times—Talia?"

I nodded politely.

"Talia, please don't misunderstand. Caius has been so busy with pack business lately, I just came to make him some soup."

"I always forget the password, so Caius changed it to my birthday. I'll change it back right away."

But she made no move to do so. The smugness in her eyes was impossible to hide.

"Daddy!"

Aisling's daughter Kitty threw herself at Caius's legs.

Aisling frantically covered her mouth, putting on a show of being afraid of me.

"Kitty, didn't I tell you to call him Uncle Caius?"

Caius looked over at me awkwardly.

Seeing that Lily and I weren't making a scene like we used to, a flash of surprise crossed his face.

Lily's room was full of new things.

Aisling bit her lower lip lightly. "Kitty sometimes sleeps here..."

The little hand in my palm clenched tight. Lily said softly, "Mom, I can switch to a different room."

My heart, which had been completely calm until now, suddenly ached.

In the past, whenever she saw Caius doting on Kitty, she would pout and cry, shouting "Daddy is mine and mine alone."

Every time, Caius would scold me for not disciplining her properly.

Now she just quietly looked at her changed room.

Children are sensitive. She already understood that only the favored ones could act spoiled.

Caius frowned.

Aisling hurried to say, "I'll take the stuff away. Talia, please don't be angry at us—"

The mother and daughter huddled together, trembling, looking pitiful.

In the past, I was always provoked by her passive-aggressive remarks, which led to fights with Caius.

But now, I just looked at her coolly without saying a word.

Caius suddenly spoke. "Don't come in and out of my house so casually anymore. You're a single mother—people will talk."

After packing up her things, Kitty said through tears, "Daddy, I want you to take me home."

Caius hesitated, looking at me.

I smiled. "You and Aisling have so many years of history together. Of course you should take them home."

He opened his mouth to say something, but I turned to boil some water.

Before leaving, Caius said hurriedly, "Wait for me to come back. We need to have a proper talk."

Only after everyone left did Lily and I truly relax.

Soon, a message popped up on my phone.

Aisling: [Sorry about this, Talia. Kitty's used to having Caius watch cartoons with her, so he'll be back a bit late.]