Chapter 238: Chapter 238 Conflicting Moments

THIRD PERSON POV

The atmosphere inside Damien’s bedroom felt strangely intimate that morning.

Soft sunlight came in through the tall windows while Damien stood in front of the mirror adjusting the cuff of his black shirt absentmindedly. He had barely slept properly the previous night after Sophia’s cold words downstairs earlier.

Even now, her expression kept replaying inside his mind over and over again.

Where was this protection before?

The question continued haunting him. His wolf remained restless too.

No matter how hard Damien tried ignoring it, Sophia’s emotional distance from him had become real lately.

Suddenly, the bedroom door opened.

Damien looked up through the mirror.

“Tiffany?”

Tiffany entered carrying a freshly pressed tie in her hand while smiling. She wore a soft pink dress today that made her look beautiful and feminine. Her long dark hair rested loosely over her shoulders, and the sweet perfume surrounding her quickly filled the room.

“You forgot this downstairs,” she said softly.

Damien glanced at the tie before sighing quietly.

“Thanks.”

Tiffany walked closer to him, very close. She was close enough for Damien to smell her perfume clearly now.

“Let me help you,” she murmured.

Before he could respond, Tiffany already reached up toward his collar. Her fingers moved against his neck while adjusting the shirt neatly for him.

The movement looked incredibly intimate. She looked like a loving woman caring for her man before work.

Damien remained still. His mind was barely focused on Tiffany right now. He still looked distracted from everything involving Sophia recently.

But Tiffany noticed none of that. This moment right now suited her perfectly.

She slowly fixed his collar then smoothed the front of his shirt gently with both hands.

“You always rush too much,” she said softly.

Damien finally looked down at her properly.

Their closeness would easily make anyone think they were married already and that was what Tiffany wanted.

The more natural she looked beside Damien, the easier it became replacing Sophia completely someday.

Her eyes softened intentionally.

“You should take care of yourself more.” She said innocently.

Damien’s expression relaxed a bit.

“You sound like Grandpa George.”

Tiffany laughed “Well... somebody has to remind you.”

At that exact moment, the bedroom door suddenly opened again.

Ashley stood there quietly holding her stuffed rabbit.

The little girl looked tired. She had dark circles under her eyes from crying most of the night earlier. Even now, she was still scared what happened with Tasha.

The moment Ashley saw Tiffany standing extremely close to Damien, her tiny body went stiff.

“Daddy...” she whispered.

Damien looked at her “Ashley?”

Ashley walked inside the room quietly. As she moved, her sleeve accidentally slipped upward, revealing the purple bruises around her arm from Tasha’s harsh pinching last night.

Tiffany saw it instantly. Her heartbeat skipped. For one second, she panicked.

If Damien noticed those bruises, everything would be destroyed.

Before Damien could properly look down, Tiffany reacted quickly.

“Oh sweetheart, your sleeve.”

She moved forward then pulled Ashley’s sleeve back down completely, hiding the bruises instantly.

Ashley flinched from the sudden movement.

Damien frowned “What happened?”

“She probably scratched herself while sleeping,” Tiffany answered naturally before Ashley could speak. “Kids move around too much at night.”

Damien looked at Ashley again. The little girl lowered her head quietly. There was fear inside her eyes now.

Tiffany subtly squeezed Ashley’s shoulder lightly. It was a warning.

Ashley’s tiny wolf instincts immediately sensed danger again. She stayed silent.

Damien looked at Ashley with a smile “Did you come looking for me?”

Ashley nodded “I wanted breakfast...”

“Okay. Let’s go downstairs then.”

Ashley hesitated, looking at Tiffany again. There was fear in her eyes. Tiffany noticed immediately and her smile changed.

A few minutes later, Damien left briefly to answer an important work call downstairs, leaving Tiffany alone with Ashley inside the room.

The moment the door closed, Tiffany’s expression immediately lost most of its warmth.

Ashley stepped back. Tiffany crouched down in front of her.

“You almost caused trouble earlier,” she whispered quietly.

Ashley’s eyes became watery “I-I didn’t mean to...”

Tiffany smiled softly but the smile never reached her eyes.

“You know I care about you, right?”

Ashley stayed silent. Honestly, she didn’t know anymore.

Tiffany gently touched Ashley’s hair.

“If Damien finds out you’re getting hurt, he’ll become upset. Do you want to make him sad?”

Ashley shook her head “No...”

“Good girl.”

Tiffany’s voice became sweeter “You know I’ve always treated you well.”

Ashley’s lips shook. Her small heart felt confused.

Before, Tiffany always seemed kind. But lately, especially after Tasha started acting differently too, Ashley no longer felt safe around them.

Still...she was scared to say anything.

Tiffany leaned closer.

“I’ll always love you,” she whispered softly. “Even when other people don’t understand you. So you should trust me more than anyone else.”

Ashley looked down sadly. “Okay...”

Tiffany smiled “Can you call me Mom?”

Ashley froze instantly. Her tiny chest tightened painfully.

Mom. That word belonged to Sophia, her real mother.

But remembering Tasha’s threats from last night immediately made fear spread through Ashley again.

If she refused...would Tiffany become angry too?

Ashley’s eyes filled with tears quietly.

“T-Thank you... Mom...”

The second the word left her mouth, Tiffany smiled in satisfaction.

Meanwhile, Ashley felt something inside her chest hurt painfully.

-

Later that morning, the kindergarten field trip quickly became lively and crowded.

Children ran excitedly across the large outdoor park while teachers struggled organizing everyone properly. Colorful balloons decorated the entrance, and several parents talked while helping unload snacks and supplies.

Ashley stood quietly beside Tiffany near the entrance. They had come late.

Unlike the other excited children, Ashley looked withdrawn today. Tiffany, however, looked perfectly composed.

“Miss Tiffany, you came!” one parent greeted warmly.

Tiffany smiled sweetly “Of course. Ashley was excited for today.”

Ashley lowered her head quietly after hearing the lie.

Tiffany handed out small gift bags she prepared earlier for several parents and teachers. The bags were filled with homemade cookies, cute snacks and tiny perfumes.

The parents gasped and praised her.

“Oh my goodness, you’re so considerate!”

“You’re seriously too kind.”

“these are so cute!.”

Tiffany smiled while accepting all the praise gracefully. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Suddenly, another car arrived nearby. Several people turned to see who it was.

Sophia stepped out first.

The moment Ashley saw her mother, her tiny eyes widened immediately.

Sophia looked simple but beautiful today in a lovely dress suited for the outdoor trip. Her long hair rested naturally over her shoulders. Klara stood beside her.

Klara bounced excitedly after exiting the car.

“Auntie Sophia! Hurry!”

Sophia laughed “I’m walking already.”

The moment Klara noticed Ashley nearby, she waved excitedly.

“Ashley!”

Ashley’s eyes brightened for the first time today.

Sophia noticed instantly. Despite everything happening lately, her wolf softened painfully at seeing Ashley look happier.

Sophia walked over to them. Tiffany’s smile stiffened seeing her arrive.

But externally, Tiffany remained polite.

“Sophia.” Tiffany said.

Sophia nodded calmly “Hello”

Sophia looked at Ashley “Hey sweetheart”

“Hi mom” Ashley replied.

Ashley suddenly moved slightly toward her unconsciously. It was a small movement but Sophia noticed and so did Tiffany.

Tiffany placed a gentle hand on Ashley’s shoulder possessively. Ashley stiffened again instantly.

Sophia’s wolf growled in her chest. Something felt wrong.

Before Sophia could think deeper about it, a black luxury car slowly pulled up near the entrance.

The atmosphere changed immediately. Several parents turned curiously.

Zade stepped out of the car.

Sophia froze in shock. Her wolf instantly became alert inside her.

What was he doing here?

Even from a distance, Zade’s presence remained dominant. His black coat and cold expression drew attention from nearly everyone nearby.

Boris was beside him. The little boy looked much calmer than usual today while quietly following Zade toward the gathering area.

The moment Zade started walking, his eyes immediately found Sophia.

His eyes were completely fixed on her.

Sophia’s heartbeat instantly became fast. Her wolf reacted strongly too.

Meanwhile, Zade barely noticed anyone else around him now - not the teachers, not the parents staring, not even Tiffany nearby.

He was focused on only Sophia.

Beside Sophia, little Klara suddenly tugged her sleeve seriously.

“Auntie.”

Sophia looked down distractedly.

“What is it?”

Klara leaned closer “I don’t like him.”

Sophia blinked in shock.

Klara glanced at Zade.

“He looks scary,” she whispered honestly. “Be careful around him.”

Sophia froze in shock.

Meanwhile across the field, Zade still stared directly at Sophia without looking away once.