Chapter 91

MANNIE’S POV

The living room looked like a tiny market full of bright colours and noise the moment I opened the boxes David brought.

New toys, new clothes, school bags, books—everything was scattered on the floor already.

And the kids were everywhere.

Nate stood closest to me, watching everything with sharp, stormy eyes—Dominic’s eyes.

He folded his small arms like he was guarding the whole room.

“Mommy, let me help arrange. They’re messing it up,” Nate said seriously.

Before I could answer—

Jay zipped past him with a wide grin. “Mommy look! My new robot dances! Watch—”

The robot crashed into Zane’s leg.

Zane didn’t mind. His eyes lit up. “Cool! Let’s pretend it’s a space alien!”

He grabbed a pillow and made it a “shield,” running across the room.

“Stop running!” I called, but it was useless.

Lily stood beside the toy box, touching the new dresses gently. “Mommy, they feel so soft… do you think the colours will make you happy?”

Her sweet voice melted something in my chest.

But before I could smile—

Sophie tried to climb into the box.

“Toys live inside boxes! I want to live with them!” she giggled.

“Toys do NOT live inside boxes,” Tera groaned, pushing up her glasses. “Sophie, be realistic.”

Sophie pouted.

Adam quietly sneaked behind me, pulling out stickers from a bag.

I caught him. “Adam. No. Not now.”

He hid them behind his back and smiled—too innocent to be real.

Zoey hugged her new school bag like a treasure. “Mommy, can I pack all my books now?”

She was already kneeling, trying to open it.

“No, Zoey—not yet. Let me finish arranging.”

But she tried again.

And again.

I moved left—someone followed me.

I moved right—someone blocked me.

Every time I placed something neatly, one of them grabbed it.

“Nate! Stop Sophie from climbing the chair!”

“I’m trying!” Nate shouted, chasing Sophie who was laughing too hard to slow down.

I folded new shirts—Jay threw a toy bird on them.

I arranged pencils—Zane used them as “rocket fuel.”

I sealed a box—Adam unsealed it.

Lily kept asking softly, “Mommy, are you tired? Do you need a hug?”

Sweet girl.

Tera lectured everyone like a tiny adult.

“You’re making Mommy’s work harder. Think logically!”

No one listened.

My head spun.

“Enough! Bath time!” I raised my voice.

Eight pairs of eyes turned to me.

Eight different reactions.

“Nooo!”

“But my space alien—”

“I didn’t finish packing—”

“I want to sleep with my bag!”

“I want to be a robot!”

“I only touched one thing!”

“Mommy I need water—”

“Mommy I need a hug first—”

I massaged my forehead.

“Bath. Now.”

The next ten minutes were chaos.

Water splashing.

Soap on the floor.

Jay cracking jokes.

Sophie trying to shampoo Zane.

Zoey crying because her duck floated away.

Adam pretending to drown dramatically.

Tera shouting instructions.

Nate standing guard like he was protecting the bathroom kingdom.

Lily patting my arm gently because she sensed I was overwhelmed.

Finally—finally—I got them clean, dried, and in their pajamas.

I herded them to bed like tiny, loud sheep.

“Tuck us in first!”

“No, tuck me first!”

“I want story!”

“I want two stories!”

“Mommy kiss me!”

“Me too!”

I hugged them all, kissed the tops of their warm heads, and pulled the blankets up.

Slowly… slowly… their eyes closed.

Their breathing softened.

Silence returned.

The room felt warm and peaceful for the first time today.

I exhaled.

Finally.

They were asleep.

I stepped out quietly, closing the door gently behind me.

“Sigh… today is really tiring.”

I rubbed the back of my neck.

Crack!

My bones cracked loudly.

“Ahh… that feels good,” I muttered and tilted my head the other way.

Crack.

More relief.

My shoulders loosened. My spine popped. The tension melted away.

I smiled a little.

“Time to bath.”

I twisted my door handle and stepped into my room.

I dropped my phone on the bedside cupboard, peeled off my clothes, and threw them into the laundry basket. I wrapped myself in a thick, oversized blanket—just enough to cover me properly.

Ring!

Ring!

My phone vibrated loudly on the cupboard.

“Hmm? Who is calling?” I muttered and padded toward it.

Then my eyes widened.

“A video call?!”

Dominic.

Why is he calling now?!

I looked around quickly.

My clothes were already in the basket.

My nightwear was still hanging near the bathroom, but if I wore it now, I would sweat in it and sleep uncomfortably later.

The phone kept ringing.

Ring!

Ring!

My stomach tightened.

I had two choices.

Either let him see only my face—

Or make him wait while I scrambled for something to wear.

I bit my lip.

Fine.

I lifted the phone.

“Hello… good evening.”

“Why are you showing only your face?” Dominic asked immediately, sounding too sharp. “Or do you want to show me your bald head?”

He smirked.

I narrowed my eyes but held in my irritation.

“I just want to show you that the hair product you bought for me is working,” I said, forcing a smile.

“Mm. I have good taste,” he said proudly.

I rolled my eyes inwardly.

Of course he would praise himself.

“Indeed. What would I possibly do without you?” I said sarcastically, hoping he wouldn’t press the issue.

Inside, I prayed he would suddenly remember some meeting or emergency and cut the call.

But he didn’t.

He took a forkful of food and lifted it to his mouth.

“Oh, you’re eating,” I said quickly, trying to change the topic.

“Yes. Come and join me,” he said casually. “I know you miss me so much that you wanted to bald yourself… but don’t worry, with that hair product, you won’t go bald.”

He smirked again.

I wanted to throw my phone across the room.

“Thank you,” I said with a tight smile, “but I better not disturb your meal. I need to shower, and my tired face might ruin your appetite.”

Usually, he would agree and end the call.

But today?

“Hmm.” He leaned closer to the camera. “Actually…”

His eyes scanned my face slowly, too slowly.

My heartbeat skipped.

“Your eyes look tired,” he said. “And you have that small crease between your brows. You only get that when you’re stressed.”

I blinked.

His voice dropped a little.

“You didn’t relax today,” he said softly. “You’re exhausted.”

My breath stuck for a moment. Why did his tone sound… different?

I swallowed.

He looked at me longer, studying every part of my expression.

His gaze warmed for a second, like he saw something only he was allowed to see.

Then—

He ruined it.

“Truly, my appetite could indeed be lost,” he said dryly.

I almost screamed.

“Then why don’t I cut the call and save your appetite?”

He ignored me completely.

“Why are you showing only your face?” he repeated.

I closed my eyes briefly.

Because I was wrapped in a towel and about to shower.

Ugh.

“Naked?” he asked bluntly.

“What? NO!” I snapped. “I’m wrapped in a towel because I’m about to bath.”

“Show me.”

My jaw dropped.

“What?! Why?!”

“It’s not like I haven’t seen a towel before,” he said calmly. “Are you scared your tow is ugly?”

My mouth hung open.

This man—

I shifted the phone, pulling the towel slightly tighter around me. I turned so he could see that I was decent—fully covered.

“There. Happy?”

He clicked his tongue. “You look smaller than usual.”

Smaller? He meant thinner.

“I’m not skinny,” I muttered.

He flipped his camera to show his table—plates of eggs, fruit, toast, sausages, everything.

“You missed me too much. That’s why you’re too skinny,” he said confidently. “When I come back, I’ll feed you.”

I stared at him, speechless.

Feed me? What am I, a pet?

“Then let me thank you in advance,” I said dryly.

“I’ll leave you to your hearty breakfast. I need to shower and sleep. Tomorrow will be hectic.”

“That doesn’t stop you from showing your face while doing whatever you want to do,” Dominic said calmly, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

I rolled my eyes so hard my head almost hurt.

I pretended to walk toward the bathroom door, still holding the phone.

Then—

Beep!

Beep!!

The call ended.

I stared at the blank screen.

“Pervert,” I muttered under my breath.​