Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

Chapter 186

156 Chapter 186

186 Chapter 186

Damien’s POV

The party was suffocating me

I stood near the refreshment table. Emma’s voice washing over me like white noise Around us, Chicago’s elite mingled and laughed, their champagne glasses catching the light from crystal chandeliers. Everything was perfect. Everything was fake.

Just like this whole goddamn evening.

Li and Adrian were running around with the other kids, their laughter cutting through the adult conversation. At least they were

having fun. At least someone was.

-don’t you think, Damien?”

I had no idea what Emma had just said. Didn’t care either.

But then-

Something shifted. A cold prickle ran down my spine, sharp and immediate. That old instinct, the one I’d honed in years of dealing with

threats and enemies, suddenly screaming at me.

Someone was watching.

My head whipped around, eyes scanning the crowd. Nothing. Just the usual suspects, the usual fake smiles and political maneuvering. I

turned toward the windows overlooking the street.

A sedan sped past. Tinted windows. Gone in a heartbeat.

Nothing else.

Just my paranoia, probably. The stress getting to me.

“Damien? Are you alright?”

Emma’s concerned voice grated on my nerves. I forced my shoulders to relax, unclenched my jaw.

“Fine. Thought I saw someone!”

“Daddy! Daddy, look!” Lily came barreling toward me, her party dress a blur of pink. “I won the ring toss!”

I crouched down, and for the first time all evening, something genuine broke through the numbness. “Did you now?”

She shoved a cheap plastic trophy in my face, beaming with pride. God, she looked so much like her mother when she smiled like that.

My chest constricted.

“That’s amazing, sweetheart”

“I had three cupcakes!” Adrian announced, finally acting like an eight–year–old child, appearing with chocolate smeared across his face

like war paint.

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186 Chapter 186

everything, I almost smiled. “I can see

his face. These moments–these simple, ordinary moments with my

keeping me sane.

playing her role perfectly, laughing at all the right moments, saying all the right things to all the

touched my arm,

was a mistake. Such a massive mistake. I should never have brought her. But I’d needed someone to

the whispered

“Where’s your wife, Damien?”

true she

“Are you getting divorced?”

had been a convenient shield.

eyes, and Adrian’s head drooped between

played themselves out.

At least they’d sleep well

reaching

slightly, pressing closer

need to leave,” I said, checking

fell. “Already? I thought we might stay for

“The kids are exhausted.”

That smile again.

their party favors like treasure–and I

about my failed marriage the second I

Let them talk.

we stepped outside. Lily shivered, and I immediately draped my jacket over

want one too!”

already wearing yours,

“Oh. Right.” 1

driver pulled up with the SUV. I helped the kids into their car seats, Emma slid into

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186 Chapter 186

seat.

weren’t even out of the parking lot before both kids

head against the window, plastic trophy still clutched in her little hands. Adrian with chocolate still smeared on his collar, frosting

so small.

light. The driver navigated smoothly

Toward home.

“Damien.”

voice had changed. Softer. More

in my

about today. About

continued, leaning forward. “Raising them alone. Dealing with everything. You

“Emma-”

Her hand landed on my shoulder, and it took everything in me not to shake

time. And I’m good with Lily and Adrian. They

The hell they do.

I want to be

stories. Your partner.”

Partner.

bile rise

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