Flash Marriage: In His Eyes-Chapter 197: Between Seduction and Deceit

–Damon–

Being left alone with my wife is the absolute worst. Holding my baby boy in my arms, cooing at him, wondering where she vanished to — Laura, probably. Let her get a break from my "nagging."

I’m not nagging. I’m caring. I sighed and shook my head.

"You did this," I told the baby. "You stole all your mama’s milk and energy. She needs a break, alright? You’re already heavy."

He cooed back, as if agreeing with his tiny tyrant of a father.

"Yeah, you should cry less, okay?"

"Damon!" Mother’s voice cut through the nursery. She came in like she’d been waiting to arrest me. "Hand me my grandson. You need to go with Caine right now. There’s an emergency at the company."

"Oh." I looked down at the boy in my arms. "No thanks. I’m taking this guy hostage until my wife decides to come out."

Mother smacked the back of my head.

"Don’t be stupid." She scooped Sky up and shoved me toward the door. "Get out."

Fine. Work it is. Paternity leave — ha. There’s no such thing when the family runs the company. I dressed in lazy clothes, went to Laura’s door. It was unlocked. I knocked gently, heart doing that stupid little flutter, and found the room empty. Disappointing. Predictable.

Back in the nursery, there she was: Liva, lying on the bed, feeding our son. Like a queen at her throne.

"Oh, little rascal. Feeding from your mom again?" I scolded Sky, who took his sweet time as if he owned the place.

Mother smacked me again — this time on the head — hard enough to make me wince.

"Tsk. You’re hopeless, dumbass. Get out."

"Wait." I moved closer, kissed Liva — quick, possessive, reverent — then pressed my lips to Sky’s clenched fist. "I’ll be back."

She hummed, that cool, elegant thing she does, impenetrable as always.

"I’m leaving."

"Go," she said, cold as marble. Mother sighed in relief.

"Come on, just go. Damon. Take care of the company, then come back."

Damn. Of course she’s happier when I leave. I knew that.

I padded to the garage, grabbed my bike keys, flicked the ignition, let the motor rumble like a beast waking up. A motorbike is faster — quicker to get there, quicker to finish the job, quicker back home where my wife can scold me properly.

The only mission lodged in my head was simple: come home safe so she won’t be able to yell at me for anything — and so I can stand in the doorway and watch her, because that’s mine.

–Logan–

A hot spring getaway was supposed to be relaxing. Supposed to. But honestly? I was getting annoyed — mostly watching Kenzo and Jane flirt like it’s a damn rom-com. I know Kenzo. He’s in trouble. Not the good kind. I tried to stay calm. I’m supposed to protect this woman, but hey... it’s her love life. None of my business, right?

When we arrived at the villa, Jane hopped out of the car. Kenzo, ever the gentleman, took her bag. She thanked him with that polite smile of hers, then picked up Moon from his carrier and set him down after securing a tiny tracker to his collar.

The cat strolled into the villa like he owned it. We followed behind. The villa staff grabbed our luggage, and Keiko immediately latched onto my arm. I looked at Jane, who glanced at us — and waved past me.

"Kei!" she called.

Oh, she’s really ignoring me now. Kei tagged along with her as Jane pointed out the steam rising from the backyard. They laughed about something — God knows what. Whatever it was, it probably wasn’t funny. Still, I watched them, thinking this would be our last vacation. After this, we’d have to lock down, prepare for war.

I headed to my room. Keiko started unpacking, but I stopped her.

"Keiko." I took her hands and kissed them. "We need separate rooms."

Her face fell. I added softly, "Or do you want this one? I can move to another."

Her eyes watered. "Watashi no koto, mou suki ja nai no...? Mou nan-kagetsu mo, aenai mama da yo..."

(Don’t you love me anymore? It’s been months since we’ve been together...)

"Sou ja nai yo, Keiko. Demo, ore wa... omae ni ore igai no koto, sore kara hoka no dareka ni mo jikan wo tsukatte hoshii. Moshi gakkou ni modoritai nara, ore ga soshite yaru."

(It’s not that, Keiko. I just want you to spend time on things besides me — with someone else too. If you want to go back to school, I’ll make it happen.)

She shook her head stubbornly.

"Keiko," I said more firmly, "Ore no iu toori ni shiro. Konna fuu ni ikite wa ikenai. Tanoshikatta no wa wakatteru, demo... omae ni wa, hoka no dareka ni tayoranai jibun no jinsei wo kizuite hoshii."

(Do as I say. You can’t live like this. I know you had fun, but I want you to build a life that doesn’t depend on anyone else.)

She cried as I hugged her. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Jane walking past — Moon trailing behind her like her tiny bodyguard.

Once Keiko calmed down, I let her stay. She changed in front of me, clearly taunting. Any man would’ve been seduced, but my mind was elsewhere — back home, with Laura and her twins. Not that Laura loves me the way she loves Damien.

When we went downstairs, Jane was helping the villa caretakers cook dinner. She looked like her usual self — apron on, sleeves rolled, moving with quiet precision. At first, I thought she was a maid, not the White Queen’s bodyguard. But that’s Jane for you — a killer disguised as a caretaker.

I sat at the barstool, chin on my hand.

"Chef, what’s for dinner?"

Jane looked up at me.

"I’m going to give you a poisonous puffer fish." She winked.

I laughed. "Oh, please. Do you even know how to cut a puffer fish?"

"Logan, for God’s sake." She rolled her eyes. "I don’t need to cut it. I’ll serve it to you whole."

Ah. A death threat. How affectionate.

"Ouch. You’re really too much."

She set sashimi in front of me, smirking.

"Did you poison it?"

"Maybe," she said, still cooking.

She even grilled salmon for Moon — the cat’s gourmet dinner looked better than mine.

"The cat got a better meal than me," I muttered.

"Of course," she laughed.

I ate the sashimi anyway — risky but worth it — and helped set the table after. Keiko smiled up at me, and her three friends (all from her club) fluttered around Kei, showering him with praise. The guy looked like a prince surrounded by fangirls.

After dinner, the girls — except Jane — went to change for the hot springs. Kei and Kenzo followed. I waited for Jane, but she didn’t seem interested in joining them. So I went out for a smoke, wandering the garden.

That’s when I saw a flashlight flicker near the forest. Curious, I followed.

"Pss pss pss. Moonieee!" Jane whispered.

I crept up behind her, grabbed the flashlight, and switched it off.

"Hey!" she hissed.

"Shhh." I dropped my cigarette, crushed it under my heel, and tugged her away.

We moved closer to the hot spring — and then we heard it. Moaning. I stopped, pulling her beside me. Even in the dark, I could feel her glare.

"Master... onegai, koko ja dame..."

Keiko’s voice — high, sweet, teasing.

Then Kenzo’s voice joined in, low and cocky:

"Do you have fun pleasing Logan? Just last night, you couldn’t seem to close your legs for me."

The wet sounds, the gasps — yeah, no denying it. Kenzo was having his fun. With my woman.

Jane elbowed me in the stomach. I grunted.

"Damn, you really need to get tested, you know~~" she muttered, glancing at them. "They’re doing it raw."

She turned away, calling softly, "Now, where’s Moon?"

We left the scene and walked until we reached the lake — a steaming hot lake glowing faintly in the dark.

"Did you lose his signal?" I asked. She said nothing.

"So Kenzo’s playing us — or the White Queen?" I crossed my arms. "If it’s betrayal, we’ll find out soon."

Jane stared at the lake, arms folded. I smirked.

"What’s wrong? Disappointed he’s screwing another girl while pretending he’s captivated by your beauty?"

"Yeah, right." She scoffed. "Kenzo’s not my type."

"So what is your type?"

She tilted her head, completely unfazed. "I don’t have one."

"Woah, really?" I laughed. She side-kicked my ass. "Ow!"

I straightened, preparing to spar, but we both froze when we heard a branch crack nearby.

Someone stepped out of the shadows — it was Kai, dropping his bag.

"Okay," he said dryly, "I thought you two were getting cozy, but apparently, you’re about to fight."

"Kai?" Jane blinked. "What are you doing here?"

"Yeah," I added. "You’re supposed to be in Manila."

"Unfortunately," Kai said, "there’s a mess back in the Philippines. The Blackwell Empire is struggling right now."

Jane’s eyes widened. "What? I should go back."

"No need." Kai walked closer and spread his arms. "Sis, I missed you."

Jane frowned. "What?"

But she still hugged him — and as he patted her head, he whispered something I couldn’t quite catch.