All Chapters of Craving My Forbidden Daddy: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Lila’s POVHarvest season hit the vineyard like a storm. Everyone worked from sunrise until the sky turned dark. Grapes hung heavy on the vines, ready to be picked. I spent long hours cutting clusters and carrying baskets. My hands grew sore, but the work felt good. It kept my mind busy from everything else.Sebastian worked right beside me in the same row. His strong arms moved with steady rhythm. Sweat made his shirt stick to his broad chest. We didn’t talk much at first, just the sounds of clippers and baskets filling the air. Then he broke the silence.“You’re keeping up well, Lila,” he said, wiping his forehead. “Most new people slow down by now. You have good hands for this work.”I smiled a little and cut another bunch. “Thank you. It feels right being out here. Like I’m part of something bigger. How long have you done this every year?”Sebastian reached for a high cluster and handed it to me. Our fingers brushed. That small touch sent warmth through me. “Since I was a boy. My

Lila’s POVThe drive to the city felt different from the start. Sebastian drove with steady hands on the wheel while soft music played. I sat in the passenger seat, trying to focus on the passing fields. The connected hotel suite waited for us at the end of the trip. Just the thought made my stomach flutter with nerves and excitement.“You’ve been quiet,” Sebastian said after an hour. He glanced over with those sharp green eyes. “Nervous about the meeting tomorrow?”I shifted in my seat. “A little. But mostly thinking about everything back home. The threats. The secrets. Being away feels strange.”He nodded slowly. “I feel it too. But this trip could bring new investors. We need them. And honestly, Lila, I wanted time alone with you. To talk without everyone watching.”The hotel was nice but simple. Our suite had two rooms connected by a sitting area. I unpacked in my room while Sebastian checked messages in his. When I came out, he smiled softly. “Ready for dinner? There’s a quiet re

Lila’s POVThe letter from my grandmother sat heavy in my hands. I read it again and again in the quiet corner of my damaged room. “The Vale family has blood on their hands.” Those words kept repeating in my head like a bad dream I couldn’t wake up from. I don’t think my grandmother’s death was an accident. She had been scared of Sophia and the rest of the family. The thought made my stomach twist with fear and sadness. I couldn’t face anyone after that. I spent the whole next day working the far rows of vines by myself. Every time I saw Sebastian walking in the distance, I turned and went the other way.He noticed right away. Sebastian always noticed. Late in the afternoon when the sun started to dip lower, he found me near the old oak tree. His steps were slow and gentle, like he was approaching a scared animal. “Lila, please talk to me,” he said softly. “You’ve been avoiding me since we returned from the city. I can see something is breaking you inside. Let me help.”I kept my eyes

Lila’s POVThe next few days passed in a blur of hard harvest work. I threw myself into the vines from sunrise until the light faded. My hands ached from cutting grapes, but the busy work helped keep my mind from spinning too much. Marcus started watching over me in quiet ways. He always seemed to be working in the same rows or nearby. He never said much, but his presence felt like a silent shield.One morning while I carried heavy baskets, Marcus appeared beside me. “Let me take that for you,” he said in his deep, calm voice. “You’ve been pushing hard lately.”I handed him the basket with a small smile. “Thank you. I just want to stay busy. It helps.”He nodded and walked with me. “I’m keeping an eye out. Theo’s been in a foul mood. If he comes near you, I’ll be close. You’re not alone in this.”His quiet support meant more than I could say. Later that same day, Julian joined our silent group. He found me near the sorting tables and started working beside me. “Marcus told me a little

Lila’s POVMy heart raced as I stuffed the papers back into Theo’s jacket pocket. I couldn’t keep them there.l too risky. I folded them small and slipped them inside my shirt, right against my skin. The shed felt too open, like eyes watched from every shadow. I wiped my sweaty hands on my jeans and stepped outside like nothing happened. The evening air cooled my face, but fear still twisted in my stomach.I needed a safe spot fast. The old storage room near the kitchen seemed quiet. No one went there much after dark. I moved quickly through the paths, keeping my steps light. Once inside, I tucked the papers behind a loose board in the wall, next to some old tools. My hands shook the whole time. “This has to stay hidden,” I whispered to myself. “For now.”The next morning came too soon. My body still ached from everything, but harvest work waited for no one. Sebastian found me after breakfast. “Lila, I need help repairing trellises on the west slope. The wind damage last week left some