Lahat ng Kabanata ng Claimed By My Best Friend’s Daddy: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

Hi guys, I’ve not been feeling too well, and that’s why the updates on my ongoing books have been really slow. Sorry for keeping you guys waiting. I’m getting better though, so I should resume regular updates by next week. Thank you for engaging.

Rhys’s POV By the time I got back, I could hear them before I saw them. The sound carried faintly from the back of the house, softened by distance but distinct enough to pull my attention without effort, Mirabel’s voice rising above everything else in that easy, familiar way of hers, layered with the soft splash of water. I should have headed straight to my room, maybe, if I had been thinking about it properly, if I had given myself enough time to consider whether stepping into that space was something I wanted or needed to do, but I didn’t, I just kept walking, my pace steady, my focus already narrowing without permission as the sound grew clearer with every step. “…you’re cheating,” Mirabel’s voice carried, sharper now, and closer. “I’m not cheating,” Alicia replied, her tone quieter but just as steady, and that was enough, just hearing her voice again in the same space, in this setting, in a way that wasn’t filtered through distance or avoidance, was enough to make something t

Alicia’s POV I deleted them one by one, my thumb pressing harder than necessary. The last one sent a chill through me that the shower hadn’t touched. He’d never been this direct before. Persistent, yes. Annoying, definitely. But referencing Mirabel’s house crossed a line I didn’t like, but I shook off the thoughts, he was probably bluffing. Even though I didn’t know where he lives. A soft knock pulled me out of my thoughts. Mirabel poked her head in, already in her favorite oversized sleep shirt, hair twisted up in a messy bun. “Popcorn’s ready downstairs. Dad’s in his study doing whatever billionaires do at night. We have the living room to ourselves. Rom-com marathon?” “Sounds perfect,” I said, sliding the phone into my hoodie pocket. “Give me two minutes.” She grinned and vanished. I lingered a moment longer, staring at my reflection in the mirror above the dresser. Freckles stood out against flushed cheeks, my lips were still slightly swollen from the cold water. Downstairs,

Alicia’s POV Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, catching on the fairy lights Mirabel had insisted on stringing along the walls even though Christmas was still days away. I sank deeper into the massive sectional, a soft blanket draped over my legs, the new phone safely tucked away in my hoodie pocket where I could almost pretend the messages didn’t exist. Mirabel sprawled beside me, remote in hand, scrolling through the holiday movie list with the kind of focused determination she usually reserved for exams. “Okay, we’re doing a double feature. First The Holiday, then Love Actually. No arguments. You need maximum cheese after that weird morning vibe.” I laughed softly, the sound easier than I expected. “Maximum cheese sounds perfect.” She hit play and tossed a handful of popcorn into her mouth, grinning when the opening credits rolled. For the next two hours we existed in the comfortable rhythm we’d perfected back in the dorm—quoting lines, groaning at the predictable plo

Alicia’s POV The house had settled back into a gentle rhythm that felt normal again. The silence was a relief so complete it almost felt suspicious, but I pushed the thought aside and let myself enjoy the quiet. This afternoon the three of us had gathered in the sunroom off the main living area. Sunlight poured through the glass walls, warming the tiled floor and the low coffee table where a chessboard sat between us. Rhys sat on one side, Mirabel and I sharing the other, cushions piled behind our backs. A half-eaten plate of lemon cookies rested nearby, and soft jazz played from the hidden speakers. Mirabel moved her knight with a dramatic confidence. “Check.” Rhys studied the board, one eyebrow raised. “Bold move.” “I’m feeling lucky today,” she shot back, grinning. “Your move, old man.” He countered smoothly, capturing her knight. Mirabel gasped in mock outrage while I laughed, the sound bubbling up easily, it felt good. For the first time in weeks, the knot in my chest had l