Rejected and Pregnant: Claimed By The Dark Alpha Prince-Chapter 693: Dad’s last words to us
Jeniva carefully placed the shimmering star at the very top of the tree, her face lighting up with a radiant smile as she stepped back to admire her work. She let out a joyful clap.
"It’s finished!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing warmly through the quiet residence.
"Yes, it is," Dominick replied, standing back with his arms crossed, a rare look of contentment softening his features.
Jeniva reached for the switch, and a second later, the strings of lights began to shimmer, casting a soft, festive glow across the room.
"Now, this looks even more beautiful," she murmured. She slipped her hands into the pockets of her flared jeans, pulling out her phone. After capturing several angles of the twinkling tree, she immediately sent the photos to her sister.
"I’ll take some photos of you with the tree," Dominick offered, stepping closer. "Give me the phone."
"Thank you." Jeniva handed him the device and moved to stand beside the tree, playfully flashing double victory signs. Dominick captured several shots as she cycled through a few more lighthearted poses.
Once he finished, she reclaimed the phone and scrolled through the gallery. "Your Highness, you actually have a talent for this! You photographed me quite well," Jeniva noted, her smile bright enough to rival the tree lights. She quickly forwarded the new photos to her sister before sliding the phone back into her pocket.
"Would you like me to take some of you now? You should send them to your family," Jeniva suggested, tilting her head.
"I’ll pass. We don’t really do things like that. We aren’t children anymore," Dominick remarked, his tone regaining its usual stoic edge.
"Why? Are you a grandpa then?" Jeniva chuckled, her eyes dancing with mischief.
Dominick let out a low hiss of mock annoyance and took a sudden, looming step toward her. She instinctively tilted back, her gaze fixed on him as she braced herself, though the playful smirk didn’t leave her face. "You have a very sharp tongue," he noted.
He turned to head back toward the stairs when Jeniva called out after him, "I’ll start on dinner for us. Your Highness should wait in his room until it’s ready."
Dominick didn’t say anything and disappeared from her sight soon.
Jeniva moved through the kitchen, starting on the dinner preparations while her phone buzzed in her pocket. Seeing it was her younger sister, Elina, she answered and set it on the counter on speakerphone.
"Sis, you’re enjoying Christmas with new friends, aren’t you?" Elina’s voice teased from the other side, sounding upbeat despite the holiday distance. Jeniva hadn’t yet shared the specifics of her work at the residence, so she simply hummed an affirmative as she set a pan onto the stove.
"What about you?" Jeniva asked, drizzling oil into the pan.
"We’re still decorating the tree in the common room. It’s a bit of a mess, honestly," Elina laughed. "By the way, a Beta has asked me out."
"Really?" Jeniva paused, a spatula in mid-air. "How is he? I mean, he’s a good person, right? Not the arrogant, entitled type?"
"He’s great," Elina replied, her voice muffled as she tucked her hand deeper into the pocket of her leather jacket. "Nice build, top scores throughout his semesters, and he’s actually respectful with women."
"Then you should definitely date him," Jeniva encouraged, smiling as she turned back to the stove. "You deserve someone who treats you well."
"But I’m still wondering if I should even say yes. You know that most people don’t see us in a good light because of our background," Elina said, her voice dropping an octave. "I don’t want to get attached only for him to break up with me later on those grounds. It would be devastating."
"We are as worthy as anyone else, Elina," Jeniva countered firmly. "You are at the top of your class. You’ve won so many contests on your own merit. If he ever dares to look down on you, you’ll be the one to walk away first. But wait, we shouldn’t even be thinking about that yet. If you don’t allow yourself to explore these things, you’ll never find the right person."
"What about you, Sis?" Elina asked suddenly in an inquisitive tone. "Have you even considered dating? Do you remember Dad’s last words to us?"
Jeniva froze for a moment before she continued chopping the onions and tomatoes.
"He wanted us to find someone who would protect us and love us for who we are," Elina continued gently.
"You know how busy I stay with work," Jeniva stated, trying to keep her tone light. "But I’ll definitely start dating soon."
"You said those exact words last year," Elina remarked, her skepticism clear even over the phone. "Then your senior dumped even more work on you. What kind of company do you even work for? They hardly ever give you time off."
Jeniva felt the conversation veering toward a territory she wasn’t ready to explain, so she decided to bring it to a close.
"Elina, I’m right in the middle of cooking. I’ll talk to you later, okay? Please, enjoy yourself with your friends. And go out with that guy! Buy yourself a nice dress for the date. I’ll wire you the money for it tonight," she insisted, quickly hanging up before her sister could protest.
She let out a long, weary sigh and turned her focus back to the sizzling pan, though her movements had lost some of their earlier energy.
"So far, no man has shown interest in me. They have only ever rejected me," Jeniva murmured to herself, her voice barely audible over the sound of the stove. "I don’t think love is made for me."
Within half an hour, Jeniva had skillfully finished cooking. After meticulously setting the dinner table, she headed upstairs to summon Dominick.
Stopping before his heavy oak door, she gave a firm, rhythmic knock. "Your Highness, dinner is served," she called out. "Please come down before the food loses its warmth."
The door swung open almost immediately. Dominick stood there, having already changed into his silk night clothes, looking far more relaxed than he had all day. "Let’s go then," he said, stepping into the hallway. "I am famished."
