Nine months too late: After divorce

Phoebe glared maliciously at him. "Are you out of your mind?"

"I'm not. But it's the only way this will happen. At least, with that, I can feel a bit safer having you around Sylvie." Kage's answer was clipped.

"Nonsense!" Phoebe retorted. "You really expect me, your father, your uncle and aunts to apologize to this unworthy thing?" She pointed at Sylvie. "That'll never happen. You must be delusional." Kage shrugged. "Well then, I guess there's nothing I can do."

The fire in Phoebe's eyes could burn down a building. She rose to her feet.

"I'm sure soon enough, you'll come to your senses. Then, you'll apologize for this insolence."

Kage's lips curled in a smile that never fully formed. Phoebe was even more offended by his arrogance. If he wasn't her

son

Well, there was only so much you could do to Kage Hawkins, anyway.

Grabbing her bag, she stormed out of the house.

Sylvie sat up, turning quickly to Kage. "Don't you think that was a bit harsh?" Her eyes were filled with worry.

Kage smiled, pushing some stray hair away from her face.

Hoe my

family

now, Sylvie." His eyes rested on her bump. "Three of you. I won't stand by and watch anyone threaten you. Not even my own mother."

from his words. She couldn't stop the blush that crept all the way to her cheeks. For a moment there, she had forgotten all about her worries from the station and focused on the man that truly loved her, and the man she wished she could spend forever with. How had she never seen this side of Kage before now?

She leaned forward and kissed him-deeply and hungrily, Kage responded instantly, his hand travelling to her waist.

She could kiss him for hours and never get bored. Kage had always smelt the nicest, and his lips tasted like Coffee and caramel-a combo she very much liked.

By the time she ended the kiss, Kage was breathless and aching for more.

His hands remained locked around her waist, their foreheads joined together.

"You asked for it, Sylvie Price. I don't think there's any going back now." He whispered against her lips, his breath fanning her

nose.

Sylvie chuckled. "I think you're wrong, Mr.. Hawkins. Right now, I'm going upstairs," she stood up. "I'll take a shower and grab a quick nap. And you must stay away." She successfully took four steps towards the staircase before strong hands carried her from behind.

She laughed as she got swept into Kage's arms, her hair dangling in the air.

"Let me go! You man-w***re!" She hit him on the chest.

"Did you just call me a man-wh****e?" He drew his brows. "Well, it sure isn't the first time you've called me that, but I'll make sure you regret it in a few minutes."

10:4 Wed, Oct 16

Kis

He started on the staircase with her. Sylvie couldn't stop laughing.

When they reached the room, he gently placed her on the bed.

RBelonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

"You know, I wouldn't really be doing this. But you remember what the doctor said, don't you?" Kage spoke as he hastily undid the buttons of his shirt. "She said you need more intimacy at this point." Sylvie rolled her eyes even before he finished. "Oh, please! When will you get tired of using that excuse? You've been a man-w***e even before Meredith gave us that advice."

Kage paused, as if giving it a thought. "Well, I think you're right. But what does it matter?"

He joined her shirtless in bed, laying carefully between her legs and avoiding the big bump. Grabbing her cheeks, he kissed her so tenderly, like he didn't want to bruise her in any way. "Let's just say this is one of the ways I get to communicate with my kids," he cooed. Sylvie laughed while he began undressing her.

**********

Two days later, Kage visited Lana.

He's been making sure there wasn't a week that went by without him checking in on her and ensuring she was fine. But of course, she's never really been "fine."

They were both in the living room with him asking Tana some checkup questions concerning Lana and the baby when Lana stood up and went over to the wine counter.

Kage continued speaking to Tana while keeping an eye on her, and he lost it when he saw her drinking directly from the bottle of an alcoholic wine.

He

sprang to his feet, stomping towards her and s***g the bottle from her grip. It was so sudden, some of it poured on Lana's jaw and shirt.

"What the hell are you doing?" He angrily asked.

"What? I should be the one asking - what're you doing?" She glared at him.

Kage looked at the bottle, then at her. "I thought we've talked about this? No alcohol was my instruction."

She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Well, I'm sorry, Mr. Hawkins, but that thing right there is the only way I gdt to think clearly. It's the only thing that keeps me sane in this madness." Her hand shot out to take the bottle from him, but of course, Kage didn't let her.

"Are

you forgetting it's bad for your health and the baby's?" He half-yelled. "You wanna ruin yourself - fine. But keep the child out of it!"

"Wow," Lana huffed. "One would think you truly care about the child. Well, if you did, you wouldn't have abandoned me at the alter."

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e held out her hand. "Please, Kage. Just give it back,"

Kage took a deep breath, trying as much as he could to keep his temper in check. 'She's pregnant he reminded himself.

"I've told you already - I'm sorry for what happened at the alter. Getting married is serious business, and I wasn't... I wasn't feeling it with you, Lana. But my decision to not get married to you doesn't stop me from caring for my child." *pter 90 Swiftly, Lana's hardened expression softened. Tears glistened in her eyes as she fell on him, putting her hands on both side of his shoulders.

"I'm sorry," she sniffled. "I just... I've missed you, Kage. So much."

She arranged the collars of his shirt. "Stay with me, will you? Just tonight. Please. I need your company."

r breath smelt of liquor. It infuriated Kage that she had already been drinking before he arrived.

As gently as his temper allowed, he pulled her arms away from him. "You already know I can't."

Lana's eyes glinted with hurt. "Why? Because of her?"

She stepped

back, her face hardening all over as tears came streaming down. "Why does it always have to be that b***h? Why is she more important than I am? Huh? Tell me!" Kage's jaw clenched, trying to ignore the fact that she just called Sylvie a b**h.

Angrily, she e turned Ito the counter, grabbing another alcoholic bottle. It was already in her mouth when Kage s****hed it from her, smashing the bottle on the floor. "I said stop drinking, da**t!" He growled.

ī

Even Lana was startled. Frozen, she watched him for a moment before her tongue loosened up again.

"What? Why won't you let me be, huh? You already picked her. So, just let me be!" She cried in frustration.

She paced tho and fro, ruffling her hair. "I hate her. I hate that witch! I hate her!"

Kage had already lost his cool. He went back to where Tana was, handing the other bottle of wine to her. "I want every bottle of alcohol cleared from that shelf." "Yes, sir."

Grabbing his jacket from the couch, he walked out of the house, ignoring Lana's cry from behind.