Last Visitor

*Chapter 46*

Frederick and I were enjoying having some tea in the greenhouse garden while he was wearing a slave collar and I was holding the chains when Reginald arrived whose upper body was covered with bondage. He was with Jonathan who was guiding him.

A furtive smile smeared on my lips upon seeing them. "My, my... I am glad to know that you are awake, dear husband," I said in a teasing tone.

I ignored Frederick when he stood up and settled beside me. Perhaps, he wanted to protect me from Reginald even though I didn't need it. Because it wasn't needed actually.

Reginald growled upon seeing me with him. "You live your life to the fullest while I was in a coma," he stated in annoyance. He growled once more but Jonathan tapped his shoulder. "What?!" he asked angrily when he turned to his younger brother.

Jonathan sighed and changed his expression into a solemn one. That made Reginald straighten his back.

I scoffed at his stupid reaction like he looked so frightened.

Reginald thought that he could manage to overpower Jonathan just because he was older than his younger brother. Reginald knew that his younger brother was way more frightening than him. The only way he could keep Jonathan at leash was having the power of the patriarch of the Westervelt Family.

"I have come here to say my farewell, Novalie," Jonathan said.

"Oh? How about Patricia? I heard she already left as soon as Reginald woke up."

"Indeed." He tapped Reginald's shoulder. "I will entrust my older brother to you while we are away."

"What?!" Reginald barked. "What the hell are you talking about, Jonathan?! You... Motherfucker..." He was about to hit him but Jonathan evaded his attack by simply ducking down and stepping back. That earned Reginald an annoyance on his face.

Jonathan simply smiled and bowed his head before us. "I shall take my leave. The carriage is already outside of the manor." He turned at Reginald. "Brother, I am hoping you will behave this time. Novalie will not spare you anymore if you keep on provoking her," he warned.

Reginald clenched his hands. "How dare you threaten me, Jonathan!"

I sighed, rolling my eyes before I decided to throw the teacup in Reginald's direction. They all gasped in my direction.

I looked at Reginald, stone-faced. "Get out of here if you are ruining the peace of my greenhouse garden, Reginald."

"So, you are acting almighty again here?" he barked.

I pulled back Frederick's leash when he was about to step forward. "Darling," I warned him with a look. Frederick lowered his head before he stepped back. Then I faced Jonathan. "Have a safe trip, brother-in-law. Until your next visit. Perhaps, it shall be Reginald's funeral." I smiled sweetly.

Reginald growled a warning at me. But I only returned him an arching eyebrow. He scoffed and stormed out of the greenhouse garden while I was rolling my eyes.

Frederick knelt before me. "My goddess—"

I summoned my hand to halt him. "It's alright, darling. Take your seat now." Frederick nodded and sat across from me. I sighed. "Now, we have to wait for the last visitor," I added.

"Must I really stay in the cabin for this, my goddess?" Frederick asked.

"Indeed." I stood up and went behind him as I wrapped my arms from behind him. I even traced my nose to his hair that smelled so good. With that, Frederick heaved out a shaky sigh. "Be a good boy for me, darling. And avoid hurting my other slaves there." I tightly held his jaw and squeezed his cheeks. "Do you understand?"

He nodded. "Yesh, my goddesh," he said in an adorable muffled voice.

"If I hear disarray in the cabin, I will make sure you will receive punishment," I threatened. "After all, bad boys deserve them, hmm?" I leaned forward to press my chest on his back.

He kept nodding before I released his hand. "Must I return after your last visitor leaves?" he asked when I sat on his lap. Frederick didn't lose the opportunity to caress my flanks and drew his face closer to me which made my wolf get excited with this position.

I closed my eyes when his lips were leaving wet kisses on my neck. My breath suddenly became heavy as I felt aroused.

"Hmm... Let's see..." I hummed before I turned my head at him. "I will think about it."

I descended my lips to him when I couldn't take myself wanting to kiss his luscious, plump lips. His kiss was passionate but I never liked that kind of kiss. I'd rather want a kiss that would make me out of breath.

Frederick granted what I wanted when he held my nape and aggressively captured my lips. His mouth sought entrance to my mouth which I gladly welcomed him. Our tongues fought dominance while I was closing my eyes feeling his lips over me.

I suddenly wanted to undress right now and wanted to be pleasured by Frederick. My nipples were already protruding right now, wanting Frederick's mouth to be suckled on them.

"Luna, your father has arrived."

I immediately ceased kissing Frederick as we both parted, panting heavily. I glanced at Heimon who was looking at me, stone-faced.

I stood up. "Finally. Summon my servants to my chamber. I will change my dress. Then bring Father to the parlor room," I commanded.

"Yes, Luna. As you wish." He bowed and left.

I returned my gaze at Frederick who was smiling from ear to ear as his lips looked puckered right now because I kept biting his lower lip. There was even blood in them which Frederick wiped with his tongue.

"Did I satisfy you, my goddess?" he asked as we left the greenhouse garden.

"Not enough," I answered, not looking at him.

"You are such a liar, my goddess. Just admit it already." His tone smeared with a teasing one.

"You are an arrogant bastard so no," I retorted.

Frederick chuckled. "I know I satisfied you, my goddess. If I hadn't then I wouldn't have known that you are aroused, hmm?"

I shook my head, rolling my eyes. "Suit yourself." I didn't want to feed him some compliments because I knew he was going to ply it against me again. I already knew how his mind worked.

"I shall part ways with you, my goddess."

I halted and turned at him. "Alright." I raised my hand. Frederick lowered his head to allow me to pat his head. "Be a good boy while I am away." He looked up at me and nodded as soon as I removed the chains and left the collar on his neck.

"Yes, my goddess," he said dreamily before he turned his back on me to leave.

I watched him leave before I returned back to the manor to change my dress so I could make myself presentable to Father. While I was dressing up with the help of my servants, I questioned myself as to why I had to do this and appeared more presentable for my father.

Ah, yes. I grew up in a strict household which is a must that before meeting a guest, I must dress up in a most presentable way to show my power and elegance. This was to show that I grew up to be a prim and proper lady even without having a mother by my side.

Now, that I realized. Why did I still do this if I hated it?

Damn it... You're too late now, Novalie.

"My apologies, Father. The manor is under construction so it would be uncomfortable to stay here. Do you wish to come by the greenhouse garden?"

"No need. It's fine. As I wouldn't stay here that long."

I halted when I heard those two people having a conversation. I inhaled and exhaled before I knocked and opened the doorknob to the parlor room. I entered along with the tray trolley with me. I almost rolled my eyes seeing Reginald and Father happily conversed with each other. I scoffed silently wanting to show this to Jonathan because what he said was that Father was so fond of Reginald.

Reginald was my father's favorite son-in-law. I already knew that fact.

"I see. My presence is not needed here," I said in a bitterly cold tone but I still made my entrance to the parlor room. I curtsied at my father. "Greetings, Father. Have you been well these days?"

Father nodded. "I am doing good." Then he tapped Reginald's shoulder. "I have paid a visit because something happened here at the Lone Crow pack. I need to be certain if my son-in-law is alright. Right, son?"

I pursed my lips into a thin line when Reginald nodded with a cheerful, proud smile. "Yes, Father."

I gritted my teeth. I wanted to wipe that freaking smile besmirching on Reginald's lips. I wanted to pull out my dagger from my thigh holster and lacerated the corner of his lips.

"You mean I almost killed your son-in-law? Of course, Father. What you heard spreading around the kingdom is right." I sweetened my voice and plastered my oh-so-sweet smile on my lips. "Right, dear husband?"

Reginald shot me a glare. He wanted to bark but Father was beside him. He cleared his throat before he fished out his pocket watch. "Ah, yes. I still have to do something, Father. I need to check the documents Marius gave to me while I was resting." He forced a smile at Father and bowed his head.

I rolled my eyes when Reginald passed by me. I even feigned ignorance when I met Father's hazel orbs as soon as Reginald left.

My lips curled up into a small smile. "I brought you some tea, Father," I informed him as I pushed the tray troller where the teapot and teacup were here with me.

Father sighed and nodded before he took his seat. "What really happened, Novalie? How come you ended up brawling with your husband again?" he asked, sighing one more time.

I wanted to answer him in a disrespectful way but I reminded myself that I needed to establish my relationship with him even though I never wanted to.

I poured his cup with tea before I poured mine. Then I settled sitting across from him. "Nothing new, Father. It was a normal situation for a husband and wife to argue, right?" I sounded like I was accepting Reginald as my husband and all I needed to do while being married was to behave.

I silently scoffed. Never will I settle to behave and control like a marionette. I would act on my own accord and nobody could ever cease that.

Even if that was my father that we were talking about.

As always, he didn't look convinced at my answer. "What is the real reason?" he asked after sipping on his tea. "You have been ignoring my question every time I would pay a visit here because Reginald is always in a coma, Novalie. You have become a laughing stock to all over the kingdom—even the pack members of the Wall Burgundy pack." Sighing, he looked at me. "What are you really doing to yourself, Novalie?"

I almost scoffed at his question. "How about Alpha Denzil? I am certain I have his support for oppressing my husband, right, Father?" I asked, diverting all his statements.

He didn't answer.

"I knew." I shrugged. "I already knew that whatever I do, Alpha Denzil supported me. He is a great second father..." I couldn't help smiling.

It was true. Alpha Denzil was the only one who acknowledged everything I did which Father failed to fill in. Even if he knew that I was rebelling at my marriage, he only laughed it out before he told me that I must do what I think was right.

I snapped back and glanced at Father when I already contemplated. But my heart leaped when I saw an emotion cross his eyes.

Wait...

Was that bitterness smearing on his eyes?

Father cleared his throat. "I see..." He sighed and silenced for a moment. "Um..." He was speechless for a moment before he cleared his throat one more time. It looked like there was something blocked on his throat. Then he smiled bitterly. "I guess... Um... Alpha Denzil is looking forward to your next visit. He said that it has been a while since your last visit to the Wall Burgundy pack."

My face brightened up upon hearing that. "I will make a schedule to visit him soon!" I beamed.

His eyes twitched. "Will you also visit our manor then?"

My smile slowly disappeared. "I... I will try to drop by," I said, quite hesitant.

"Is it that hard to even pay our manor a visit?" he asked, furrowing his eyebrows. He must have noticed my hesitation.

I held the handle of the cup before I forced a smile. "Father, I said that I will try to drop by." Calm down, Novalie... You must not allow him to know that visiting the manor again would make you trigger the past.

I caught his hand clenching before he shook his head, sighing. "Back to the topic. I want to know what happened."

"This is a matter of husband and wife, Father. Can you not let us handle it?"

"Novalie, I am your father. I want to know about your welfare. I still want to know how you are doing despite the fact that you are married already."

"Oh, you mean, you forced me to marry that man?" I asked, tilting my head a little as I fluttered my eyes. "Do you wish to know how I suffered when you forced me to enter into two marriages, Father?"

That made him silent.

I scoffed. "That's right. Please refrain from asking me about my welfare. You never cared about me ever since I was born."

His forehead is knitted. "Novalie, that is not—"

"You only see me as a piece of a pawn who needs to be bid in the marriage market, Father." I smiled bitterly. "That is a fact."

I secretly gritted my teeth. I told myself that I would establish our rotten father and daughter relationship but it seemed like I was still holding the grudge I felt when I was growing up at the Argerich Household and how Father treated me.

Father was about to speak but I spoke first. "I just remember that I still have to execute my Luna duties, Father." I decided to stand up. "If you wish to stay here longer, I will ask Philea to summon Reginald to entertain you." I didn't wait for him to say something again as I curtsied before him. "I beg for your forgiveness but I shall take my leave."

I spun around to ignore the painful expression he had on his face. Then, I left the parlor room.

I immediately went to my study room so I could pretend that I was really working even though today was my day off from executing my duties as Luna. Father knew. He knew that it was my day off today which was why he visited here.

But I didn't care if he would believe me that I was working or not.

I just needed to distance myself before I exploded again. I do not wish for him to see me in my vulnerable state. It was already enough that Heimon, Jonathan, and Frederick were the ones who saw that.

But to calm myself, I needed to divert my attention so I took a parchment. Then I took my quill pen so I could start calculating the next monthly budget which I was supposed to do tomorrow.

It didn't take long before I heard footsteps outside. It was the familiar footsteps I always heard when I was still living on the same roof with him.

I looked up when I heard knocks. "Novalie."

I almost rolled my eyes hearing Father's voice. "Come on in, Father." I stood up and opened the door.

Father smiled when he saw me. "I will be taking my leave."

I stiffened a little but I nodded. "Hmm. I shall escort you." Even though I didn't want to.

Just as I said, I escorted my father to his carriage. I frowned upon seeing Sharon and Sean who got down from the carriage and bowed before Father. Then they greeted and bowed when they saw me.

"Have a safe trip," I said and waved my hand at Father, putting a bright smile on my lips when he entered the carriage.

Father nodded. "I will visit again when I have time." He tipped his hat.

"You don't have time for me..." I murmured. He glared at me as I already knew that he would be able to hear it. I smiled sweetly and waved my hand more when the carriage door closed.

But before they disembarked, Father opened the carriage door to say something that froze my whole system.

"Thank you for the tea. The way you brewed never changed, my dear daughter. It is still aromatic just as you always have me taste it."

I didn't know how long I stood there. All I ever remember was I couldn't move at my standpoint as I mindlessly walked back to my chamber.

Did he... seriously compliment it? Did Father really say those words? He knew?

He knew that I was the one who brewed the tea I served?

I paused and snapped back. "Huh?" I mindlessly touched my cheeks when I felt something wet soak my eyes and cheeks.

That was when I realized that tears were swarming my eyes and rolling down on my cheeks when I was already in front of the door of my chamber.

I immediately entered my chamber and closed the door as tears wouldn't cease from falling. This couldn't be...

I sniffed and spun around when I smelled a familiar alluring scent. I almost jumped to my feet seeing Frederick standing beside my bed having a mischievous grin on his lips. He vanished his smile as soon as he saw me crying.

That panicked him.

"Novalie... What on earth—"

I didn't wait for him to finish his words as I ran to him and hugged him. "Darling... He complimented me! He complimented me! He complimented me!" I wailed like a kid.

I kept repeating those words in excitement while Frederick was listening and caressing my back. "Your father complimented you?" he asked softly.

I looked at him when he had a tender expression on his face. I nodded my head as I sobbed. "I-It was my first time... It was my first time hearing it..." I hiccuped, and couldn't cease crying. "F-Father never did that before... I am so happy I am crying!" I sniffed. "I'm so happy... I've never felt this happy before... So, this is what it feels like to be praised by your father!"

At that moment, I cried more. It was tears of happiness. Not the same tears I had before. I had waited for my father's words of affirmation in anything I did but I never received it. But right now that I received it, my emotions were overwhelming me.

I am really happy! I swear!

And Frederick...

Frederick was there beside me happily listening to me as I told him that I brewed Father some tea. I didn't expect Father would remember the taste of how I brewed it.

I thought he forgot about it. I thought he never cared about it.

I closed my eyes when he used his calloused fingers to wipe the tears in my eyes. "That is great to hear, sweetheart... That is great to hear that I am the one who told me about this." My heart fluttered when he kissed my forehead. "I am so proud of you, Novalie. I really am..."