Lavenia's POV
What was I thinking? Walking up to Dr. Lane while he was alone with his fiancée and nearly confessing about that cursed night in front of the woman he seemed to adore so much—it felt so heartbreaking.
I'm now in Damien's car; he hasn't stopped chattering since we got in and seems to be mocking me. However, I didn't catch his full sentence.
"I told you, no one loves you more than I do," he said. I just let out a heavy sigh.
I could have shut him up right then and there, but I felt like I had no energy left after learning that heartbreaking truth about that Doctor-fucking-Lane.
Damien was about to speak again, but his phone rang and I glanced at it—Anita's name was displayed. Without hesitation or a second thought, Damien answered the call.
"Yes, honey?" he greeted, glancing at me briefly, then his previously sweet expression toward me, turned cold.
This man seemed to have a split personality.
"Alright, I'll be there." He ended the call and turned to me. "Are you coming with me, or going home on your own?"
He didn't wait for my answer. Then he said, "Screw it. Even if you come, you'll probably find a guy to sleep with. That baby needs a father, doesn't it?"
I stared at him with reddened eyes and clenched fists. He could say anything terrible to Dad if I did anything to him. So, even though everyone might think I'm stupid because I'm hold back, that's fine.
Damien's car sped along and stopped at the edge of a deserted road. He slammed on the brakes when he saw a figure standing there who looked familiar. He hurried out of the car and approached the woman, then shortly after, returned to the car with her.
"Sit in the back," he ordered me, leaving me speechless. But I didn't want to say much. I grabbed my coat, got out of the car, and slammed the door shut. "What are you doing? Get in!"
I glared at Damien, opened the front door, and shoved Anita inside.
"Fuck! What are you doing, bitch!?" She turned to Damien and whined, "Damien! Look at your whore. She pushed me."
"Are you okay?" Damien askeg her, turned toward me, then grabbed my wrist. "What are you doing, huh?"
"Doing what you asked. What else?" I replied casually. "Didn't you want her to sit up front, next to you? I was helping her. Because I saw her skirt was almost riding up and—"
Damien raised his hand before I could answer. However, his slap never made it to my skin because a strong hand caught and grabbed his wrist.
"Don't you ever dare touch her!" he said firmly, staring at Damien with a cold gaze and a thin smirk that always sent a shiver down my spine. He roughly released Damien's hand, then turned to me. "Are you okay?"
I didn't answer because Damien pulled me away from him.
"You called him here, huh?" he asked, and I only responded with a cinical glare. "You should be grateful that I'm willing to take responsibility for the bastard baby you're carrying."
I brushed his hand away roughly. "I never asked for your responsibility. Don't bother."
Without another word, I turned and walked away. Ignoring Damien's curses as he called after me, I hurried on, but the heel of my shoe slipped, throwing me off balance.
I would have nearly fallen to the ground if Rayden hadn't been quick to support me.
"I've got you!" His strong arms held me tightly, yet it felt so gentle and careful. The same went for when he helped me stand. He treated me like a priceless antique. "Wait here, I'll go get my car."
He gestured once more for me to stay put, while he strode toward where his car was parked, not far from Damien's car, which was slowly driving past me.
Anita shot me a scornful glance. But I didn't care.
I took off my shoe and found the heel was broken. It was beyond repair. Just like my heart.
I shook my head quickly. No! I wasn't in love with Dr. Lane, even though the image of him seemed hard to shake off. I probably just couldn't forget that night, which made his impression so lasting.
What baffles me is that he agree to the contract I proposed while he had a fiancée?
"Damn it!" I cursed, throwing my shoe onto the street, and just then, Rayden's car drove by and stopped right in front of me.
Though it wasn't very hard, the impact of my shoe apparently left a small scratch there.
Oh, no!
I got up to check it out, but Rayden rolled down the window and motioned for me to get in the car.
"Forget about it. It's just a small scratch. If you want, you can even sign your name on it," he said, almost making me laugh.
It was a really corny joke, but it was kind of funny. Nice one.
"Get in," he ordered. I looked at him hesitantly, until he finally got out of the car and opened the door for me. "You're pregnant; it's not good to be out in the night air for too long. I'll drive you home."
I ducked down, got into his car, which soon started moving toward my house.
"Are you still with him?" Rayden asked, causing me—who had spent the entire ride staring out the window—to turn toward him. "I thought you'd finally broken up with him and chosen one of us."
"There's no one I can choose between you guys," I answered.
"Me. You can choose me," he replied, but it didn't move me.
"Dr. Lane said the same thing before we made our agreement, but it turned out he had a fiancée. So, you, Professor Satoshi, and Jaxon are probably no different. So, there's no need to console me."
"But I saw you with that professor," he said, making me turn back to him. "You let him get close to you, but why not give others a chance? Isn't that unfair?"
I fell silent. He was right. I only wanted those who asked, as a sign that they wanted me. Because the last time I expected commitment—wanted one of them so damn badly—what I got was the fact that he already had a fiancée.
It was so humiliating and heartbreaking.
"So what do you want?" I asked after letting out a heavy sigh. "I never demanded any commitment from Professor Satoshi. We're close, but not for sex."
"Then?" He gave a faint smile, but to me, it still looked like a smirk that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
"A fresh start," I replied. "Like two people who like each other and are starting from scratch."
"In that case, I want that too."
"No."
"Why? I'm one of the four men who slept with you and got you pregnant. It's still unclear who the father of your pup is, so I still have a chance. And don't forget our agreement. I signed it, and it's valid."
"I'm not asking for your responsibility, anyway and forget about the agreement. I've burned them," I replied quickly.
"Well, then, I have more chance to spend time with you. That agreement sets the schedule for our time together. Without it, I'm free to spend time with you whenever I want," he said and I about to cut his words, but he cut me first. "I didn't expect you to ask. I'm the one who wants it. Besides, no one can tell me what to do."
He then took something from the back seat and handed it to me. "This is for you. Don't wear clothes like that anymore or you'll catch a cold."
I was stunned, staring at the paper bag now in my lap.
"If there's anything else you need, just say so." He then reached for something else from inside his dashboard compartment. "I have a gift for you that I've wanted to give you for a long time."
I was about to talk when he opened the box and held it right in front of me. A necklace with a clear stone that, for a moment, nearly made my jaw drop.
"Don't refuse it. I'm insisting." He took the necklace from its place and put it on me after activating the autopilot. He then smiled as he looked at me. "It looks absolutely beautiful on you."
He caressed my neck, making me struggle to hold back a moan because his touch seemed to awaken something inside me—my wolf and my lust.
"From now on, we're a couple. I don't care who you get close to, but there's a condition you have to meet."
"I don't want any conditions. This is my life, and no one has the right to control it but me," I said.
He chuckled before finally saying,"Fine, but you have to hear this." He cupped my cheek and stroked it with his thumb, speaking with a smile. His gaze was gentle, yet a clear sense of dominance was evident. "No matter who gets close to you, don't let them to touch you, Lavenia. Do you hear me?"