LOGINNora POV
Back in the kitchen, I rolled my eyes dramatically and lowered my voice.
“She gets to live here for free, and she’s still complaining.”
Margot shook her head only. It was supposed to be a good day. She would rather not ruin it.
Besides, I could tell Simone was running out of money.
And when money disappeared, a lot of expensive little habits had a way of curing themselves.
A while later, Simone came into the
RhettPOVMelanie lowered her voice.“I asked around a little today. Margot hasn’t had an estrus cycle since Brandon was born. Normally an Omega’s first postpartum heat comes within two or three months. That cycle helps the body reset. If it doesn’t show up by three months, something might be off, and she should see someone.”Her expression turned serious.“I learned that when I was taking care of your mother. Her condition wasn’t good back then either…”My mother had struggled with postpartum depression.Her health never fully recovered. She never had another child after me.I still didn’t know if that had been her choice or if her body simply couldn’t do it again.All I knew was that my parents had been locked in a mate bond and a pure marriage misery—love and hate tangled so tight that they spent years tearing each other apart.If
Margot POVRhett picked up anotherone and tried to imitate me, folding it in half.“Is this how you do it?”I glanced at him, slightly surprised.“I’ll help you take care of Brandon,” he said.He placed the folded bib in my hand, then held on to my fingers.“I’ve never looked after a child before, but I’m a fast learner.”“You don’t have the time. You don’t need to force yourself to do this.”“I have time for you two.”Rhett glanced toward the crib.Our son was sleeping peacefully, but the air carried the unmistakable scent of anotherAlpha.His brows drew together involuntarily.After I finished folding the bibs, I looked for something else to do.There was no way I was going to sit, staring at Rhett.He followed me around the room instead, asking what one thing was for
Rhett POVWarning bells rang in my head.My emotions and my reason were tearing my judgment apart.I’d never been in such a dilemma.I’d always looked down on people who made foolish decisions for love.Was I really about to abandon everything I’d believed in and make a life-changing decision based on nothing but my feelings?“Answer me!” Father’s voice shook with anger.“Have you lost your mind? Are you seriously contemplating marrying her?”“Why not?”The words slipped out before I could think them through.They came from somewheredeeper than conscious reasoning.For a moment, Father seemed unable to find the words to reprimand me.My fatherand I had shared the same views on this matter for years.We’d never even needed to argue about it.He clearly couldn’t believe that his top-tier A
Margot POVI looked at the man I’d once loved so deeply.The top-tier Alpha, who had always carried himself like a proud lion, was now lowering his head and speaking words that seemed completely at odds with his nature.All I felt was panic.I couldn’t tell whether this was another carefully calculated performance, another way for him to achieve whatever he wanted.I’d suffered enough.I was afraid.I shook my head.“We’re from different worlds. I was foolish enough to think I could get close to you. I’ve already paid for that mistake.”“What do you mean, different worlds? We were in love. We understood each other. We—”“I’m just a defective Omega.”Rhett’s expression changed.“That was something I said in anger!”“I remember every word you’ve ever said to me. Every word
Margot POV“You’ll have plenty of time to spend with our child, but you need to spend time with me too.”He slowly lowered his head.I pressed both hands against his chest, but I couldn’t stop him from kissing me.He released his enticing alpha scent.I struggled only twice before the strength of his scent made my knees go weak.Rhett kissed me gently at first, drawing my lower lip between his.His tongue brushed against it before slipping past my teeth, searching for mine.The kiss began with restraint and tenderness, but it quickly grew deeper and more forceful.He lifted me onto the desk, one hand holding the back of my slender neck as he poured all his pent-up longing and desire into the kiss.It was so intense and prolonged that I could barely catch my breath.Rhett’s warm palm moved over my skin.He massaged my neck, using his Alpha scent to coax t
Margot POVI couldn’t pull my hand free, so I had no choice but to let him hold on.He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, brushing his cheek against mine.His nose moved close to my neck, breathing in my scent.“You won’t have to work so hard looking after Brandon anymore. You won’t have to get up in the middle of the night with this. They’ll take good care of him. You’ll have time to do the things you want.”I remained silent.“You’ve lost so much weight. You must have been through a lot this past year. I’ll make it up to you. First, you need to get your health back. After you’ve recovered, you can return to the research institute. You can keep working with Professor Cole or start your project. I’ll support whatever you choose.”At the mention of the research institute, my expression shifted slightly.Ten years a







