[1]

Dalia Ashbourne put the roast in the oven and checked the clock again for the umpteenth time.

6:34 pm.

She wiped her hands on the kitchen towel and glanced towards the window. Caius was supposed to arrive tonight. After three weeks on a business trip, he was finally coming home.

Dalia had spent the entire afternoon preparing his favorite dishes. She had roasted lamb, prepared creamy mashed potatoes, and chocolate cake. Exactly what he loved.

Tonight wasn’t just a welcome-home dinner, it was a celebration!

The family company had finally secured the international contract he had been fighting for months. Dalia knew how much victory meant to him. She had watched him leave home before sunrise and return long after midnight while preparing for negotiations.

He deserved to come home to something warm. Something that reminded him that despite the coldness of the business world, someone had been waiting for him.

A small pair of footsteps suddenly pattered across the marble floor. “Mommy!”

Dalia turned and Sylvette came running into the kitchen, her tiny curls bouncing around her face.

Dalia crouched and opened her arms. “Come here, little princess.”

Sylvette threw herself into the embrace. “Is Daddy coming?”

Dalia smiled. “Yes. Daddy is coming home tonight.”

Sylvette clapped excitedly. “Daddy!”

Dalia laughed softly. “Come on, we need to get ready.”

She carried Sylvette upstairs where she had laid a cream-colored dress with a matching cardigan. Dalia dressed her and fixed the tiny ribbon in her hair.

Sylvette stared at herself in the mirror. “Will Daddy like it?”

Dalia nodded. “He will love it!”

Sylvette smiled proudly. Dalia’s smile lingered as she looked at the little girl. Sylvette wasn’t her biological daughter, but that never mattered to Dalia.

From the moment she entered their home, Dalia loved her as though she carried Sylvette in her womb herself.

And Caius…Dalia’s expression softened. Caius had always been different with Sylvette.

The intimidating businessman became almost unrecognizable around the little girl. Dalia knew he had missed her terribly.

She checked the food again before taking the cake into the parlor. Everything was ready, she looked around the room and smiled before sitting on the sofa with Sylvette.

“Let’s wait here.”

Dalia picked up the remote and switched on the television. The evening news was already airing. She wasn’t particularly interested, she just wanted something playing in the background while she waited.

The anchor’s voice suddenly caught her attention.

“Breaking news tonight, the Ashbourne group has officially secured the highly competitive European expansion deal following the months of negotiation….”

Dalia’s eyes widened and she sat upright in excitement. The screen changed and her smile disappeared.

Dalia suddenly forgot how to breathe. “Caius…”

The camera showed the man stepping out of a building, surrounded by reporters and a woman standing beside him. She was slender, elegantly dressed and she was standing too close to him, so that their shoulders almost touched.

Dalia’s brows pulled together.

The camera caught the man’s hand settling firmly around her waist and Dalia froze.

Her stomach dropped, Caius was supposed to be coming home. He told her that his flight was tonight, still, the resemblance between him and the man on the news was terrifying.

Dalia grabbed her phone and her fingers trembled as she searched for his number. She pressed on video call and after three rings, he picked up.

His face appeared on the screen. “My love,”

Dalia stared at the background. He was inside a vehicle, “Caius? Where are you?”

He smiled, “I know you can’t wait to see me my love. I’m inside the vehicle, on my way to the airport.”

Dalia blinked. “The airport?”

“Yes, I’m coming home.”

Then she glanced back at the television, the news was still showing the man who looked exactly like him. Her heart began to settle.

“Caius…?”

“Hm?”

“You are really coming home?”

He chuckled, “Did you think I was going to stay away forever?”

A small smile touched Dalia’s lips. “No my love. Be fast, we are waiting.”

Sylvette leaned toward the phone. “Daddy!”

Caius’s entire expression softened. “There she is.”

Sylvette twirled. “Daddy, I have a pretty dress!”

“I can see that. You look beautiful.”

Sylvette giggled.

Dalia laughed softly. “Be careful.” She said and ended the call.

Dalia exhaled. That cannot be Caius…he was on his way to the airport to meet his family. She stared at the man on the television and shook her head. It’s not Caius.

Hours later, the house was quiet. The food was reheated twice and Sylvette had already fallen asleep twice on the floor before Dalia carried her to the sofa again.

Knock. Knock.

Dalia’s head snapped to the front door and her heart jumped.

Sylvette sat upright. “Daddy!”

Before Dalia could stop her, the girl scrambled off the sofa and ran to the entrance.

“Sylvette wait!”

But the little girl had reached out for the handle and opened the door. Caius stood outside.

He bent down and opened his arms. Sylvette rushed into his arms and Caius caught her effortlessly and lifted her against his chest.

“I missed you, princess.”

“I missed you too.”

Caius said and pressed a soft kiss against her cheek and she giggled. He dropped her and opened his arms for Dalia who rushed into his arms immediately.

Caius kissed Dalia’s cheek, before brushing another gentle kiss against her neck.

“Caius,” she said warmly, “we need to finish the dinner to celebrate your victory!”

Caius smiled. Just as he bent to remove his shoe, Dalia’s eyes caught a red bruise on his neck. It didn’t look like an injury…it looked like he was bitten or sucked in his neck.

Was it…Hickey?!