Just as I was about to stand up, he caught my arm and held me back, his tone firm. "Joseph will send you back once you finish the meal."
I rested my head on the table, pouting as I looked at Ashton with soft, pleading eyes. "Ashton… do you see me as your pet?"
He raised a brow, then pushed the freshly served fruit juice toward me, his expression soft but faintly amused. "Who would want such a naughty pet?"
I fell silent and turned to look out the window instead. People moved past in steady streams, their lives unfolding without pause. Watching them, a quiet warmth settled in my chest, steady and comforting, like a bond that didn't need words.
How nice it felt—to have three meals a day, to have him, and the baby, to share both the easy days and the hard ones together.
Maybe I should stop chasing complicated thoughts and just hold onto this.
