Thirteen

NOVARIA’S POV

I couldn’t believe the words that had come out of my mother’s mouth.

The same woman who never bothered to call when I disappeared… the same woman who never searched for me… was now standing there judging Sylvester as though she had every right to.

The smell of cigarette smoke filled the room while the dim yellow light above her head flickered lazily. Her wine glass dangled between her fingers, her expression cold and bitter.

I wanted to yell back at her. I wanted to ask her why she hated me so much. But no matter how cruel Morgana was… she was still my mother.

And that alone was enough to keep my mouth shut.

Still, hearing her insult Sylvester after everything he had done for me made something ache violently inside my chest. I just couldn't stand there and watch Sylvester being humiliated, and still keeping his cool all for my sake.

“Let’s go, Sly,” I whispered weakly, turning toward the door before my tears embarrassed me any further.

But of course, Morgana wasn’t done.

“Yeah, go have fun with him!” she sneered behind us. “But don’t come crawling back to me when he’s done using you.” Her lips curled in disgust.

“WHORE.”

My steps halted instantly.

The word struck me so hard that it felt physical. My breathing hitched. Tears blurred my vision again as my body trembled helplessly.

How could a mother call her own daughter that?

For the first time since meeting Sylvester, I felt truly ashamed of where I came from.

Beside me, Sylvester’s entire body stiffened.

The atmosphere changed immediately.

The warmth in his expression vanished, replaced by something dark and dangerous.

Without hesitation, he walked back to me, pulled me into his chest, and lifted me effortlessly into his arms. One of his hands rubbed soothing circles against my back while the other held me securely against him.

He didn’t care that Morgana was watching. He didn’t care how it looked. All he cared about was calming me down.

“Listen carefully,” Sylvester said coldly, his eyes fixed on my mother. “The next time you open your mouth to insult her like that… make sure you remember exactly who you’re talking to. Or I swear you will regret it.” His voice was low and deadly.

Even Morgana fell silent.

For the first time since we arrived, fear crossed her face.

She tried to hide it by taking another drag from her cigarette, but I saw the slight tremble in her fingers.

Sylvester didn’t say another word to her after that..He simply grabbed my suitcase with one hand while still carrying me with the other and walked out of the house.

Outside, the cold wind brushed against my wet cheeks as Sylvester headed toward the black SUV parked by the roadside. I buried my face deeper into his chest, still crying softly. His scent surrounded me completely, clean, masculine and comforting.

“Shh…” he murmured softly against my hair. “You’re okay now, baby.”

Baby.

The nickname only made my tears worsen.

“It’s over,” he whispered. “We’re going home.”

Home?..It was strange hearing him call his mansion home for me too.

But somehow… I liked it.

He carefully placed me inside the passenger seat before loading my suitcase into the back. Once he got into the driver’s seat, the engine roared to life and we drove off.

As we left, I caught one final glimpse of Morgana through the car window. Still smoking. Still standing there and watching us leave without the slightest trace of regret.

The ride back was painfully quiet. I couldn’t bring myself to look at Sylvester. I kept replaying everything in my head–my mother’s insults, the humiliation, the way Sylvester had witnessed all of it. It made me want to disappear.

To think that he was disrespected in such a manner by my mom, even when he didn't deserve it was really something that kept eating me up.

Fifteen minutes passed in silence before I suddenly felt warmth against my knee.

Sylvester’s hand.

His thumb rubbed gently against my leg in slow comforting strokes while his eyes remained focused on the road.

“It’s okay, bae,” he said softly. “When we get home, you can watch all the cartoons you want.” A tiny smile tugged at my lips despite myself. “And…” he continued, pretending to sound serious, “I’ll even allow extra cookies today.”

That earned a tiny laugh from me..A weak one. But still a laugh.

His lips curved slightly, satisfied with the reaction.

“Thank you,” I whispered quietly, finally looking at him.

His eyes softened instantly when they met mine..After that, silence settled between us againz but this time, it wasn’t painful. It felt safe.

—--------

By the time we arrived at the mansion, the sky had turned grayish-blue.

The large gates opened automatically, allowing the SUV inside.

Sylvester parked near the entrance before stepping out. One of his men immediately approached the car to retrieve my suitcase.

I was just about to open the door myself when Sylvester suddenly appeared beside me. Before I could even react, he lifted me into his arms again.

“Sylvester…” I muttered tiredly.

“You’re emotionally unstable,” he replied casually, carrying me toward the mansion entrance. “So let me pamper you in peace.”

I blinked at him in disbelief.

Was that even a real excuse?

But honestly… I didn’t have the energy to protest.

The man carrying my luggage didn’t even react.

As if seeing their terrifying boss carry a girl around like a princess was somehow normal.

The mansion doors opened. Warm air immediately greeted us.

Luckily for me, non of his brothers were around at that moment, which means they wouldn't see my tears stained cheeks.

Sylvester headed toward the staircase when suddenly.

“MAYA! ALARIC! STOP!”

Heavy paws thundered across the marble floor.

I gasped softly as two massive dogs sprinted toward us at full speed.

Sylvester instantly put me down and moved protectively in front of me. His arm stretched across my body instinctively. I could actually feel the tension radiating off him.

But instead of fear…I found them adorable.

The dogs stopped right in front of us, tails wagging excitedly.

One was black with silver markings while the other had thick brown fur and striking blue eyes. They looked huge..Terrifying even. But somehow… harmless.

Curious, I slowly stepped around Sylvester and crouched slightly. The dogs immediately moved closer, nudging against my hands affectionately.

“Oh my God…” I giggled softly as one of them licked my cheek.

I didn't know that Sylvester had a dog in this house talk more of dogs.

Behind me, Sylvester looked genuinely stunned.

“These dogs hate almost everyone,” he muttered.

I looked up just in time to see a man rushing toward us nervously.

“George, get them out of here. Now,” Sylvester ordered sharply.

“Yes, boss! I’m sorry, boss. We were training and they suddenly—”

“Just get out, now!!;” Sylvester interrupted coldly.

The poor man immediately fell silent. He reached for the dogs nervously, but I quickly wrapped my arms around one of their necks. I wasn't ready to let them go.

 Since I was feeling sad when I got here, I'm sure that if I plead with Sylvester he would have a change of mind.

“Bu…but Sylvester…” I pouted softly. “Doggies.”

The word slipped out before I could stop myself. Heat instantly rushed to my cheeks.

Oh God.

Did I really just say doggies?

Sylvester stared at me for a second before sighing in defeat.

“Fine,” he muttered. “They can stay.”

My eyes brightened immediately.

George looked equally shocked.

“And you,” Sylvester added, pointing at the worker, “i will tell Kelvin about this when he returns.”

“Yes boss.”

George disappeared almost instantly.

Sylvester finally crouched beside me and gently patted one of the dogs.

“This is Maya,” he said, stroking the black one. “And this troublemaker is Alaric.”

The dogs leaned into his touch obediently.

“They’re usually aggressive,” he admitted while watching them happily lick my fingers. “So I honestly don’t understand why they’re acting like babies around you.”

I giggled softly.

“They even tried biting Kelvin once.”

“What?” I laughed harder.

Sylvester shook his head in disbelief before looking at me again.

“They definitely like you, bae.”

And for the first time since leaving my mother’s house…I truly smiled.

—--------

The rest of the afternoon passed surprisingly peacefully.

Sylvester eventually left to handle some business matters, though not before warning at least three guards to keep an eye on the dogs around me. As if Maya and Alaric were secretly wolves.

I spent hours outside with them on the grassy field behind the mansion.

The cold wind brushed gently against my coat while the dogs laid beside me lazily.

Sometimes Maya rested her huge head on my lap while Alaric rolled dramatically on the grass demanding attention.

And honestly?

It healed something inside me. The sadness from earlier slowly faded away beneath their warmth and affection.

Some minutes later, Sylvester came to inform me that I had to eat something. 

Even though I was already hungry, I didn't still want to eat anything. Even the weather was cold, but playing with Maya and Alaric covered up for everything. Although I still knew I had to eat something at some point.

By evening, headlights suddenly appeared near the driveway.

Two luxury cars pulled into the compound.

Kelvin and Collins stepped out almost simultaneously, both dressed in fitted black suits that made them look unfairly attractive.

They were talking to some men near the entrance until their eyes landed on me.

And the moment they saw the dogs, Their expressions changed completely.

“WHAT THE HELL?!” Kelvin shouted, rushing toward me immediately.

Collins looked horrified.

“Aria, move away from them right now!” Collins added quickly.

I blinked at both of them in confusion while Maya lazily rested her head on my thigh like an oversized puppy.

Honestly…

I had no idea why everyone in this house reacted to these dogs as though they were lions.