Chapter 39: You’re Mine for Five Years

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: You’re Mine for Five Years

~Reynold’s POV~

The car pulled up to the mansion entrance, and the driver immediately stepped out and opened the rear door. I stepped out and walked toward the front entrance, with the driver following behind to help me carry my bags inside.

As I stepped through the front doors, my housekeeper hurried over and bowed slightly.

"Sir, welcome back."

"Thanks," I replied with a polite nod.

She quickly joined the driver, helping gather the few extra bags and packages Frederick had packed for me to make sure I hadn’t left anything behind in the car. Once everything was safely placed inside the entryway, the driver turned to me.

"Sir, is there anything else you want me to do for you before I head out?"

"I’m fine," I replied.

"I’ll take my leave now, sir."

"Alright, thank you."

He gave a respectful nod before heading back out the door. I turned toward the staircase, intending to head upstairs to my bedroom, but before I could take more than a few steps, my housekeeper called out to me.

"Sir, before you go upstairs, your food is ready. Should I go ahead and set the dining table?"

I paused, looking at her in confusion. "Wait... I just got home. I didn’t tell you I was coming back, so how did you know I’d be here? And how is the food already ready when I only just—"

"Sir, Mr. Corvin called ahead of time," she interrupted smoothly, clasping her hands in front of her apron. "He instructed me to prepare a fresh, hot meal for you and specifically told me not to make anything too spicy."

A warm, strange flutter rippled through my chest at the thought of Frederick thinking ahead like that.

"Oh... alright," I murmured. "I’ll go upstairs and freshen up first, then I’ll come back down for breakfast."

"Alright, sir."

I grabbed my smaller bag and headed upstairs to my room. The moment I closed the bedroom door behind me, I pulled out my phone and dialed Frederick’s number.

It barely rang twice before his deep, familiar voice came through.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Corvin," I breathed, leaning back against the closed door.

"You made it back safely, little pet?" he asked, his tone instantly softening.

"Yeah, I just got home a few minutes ago," I replied, smiling to myself. "The driver helped with my bags, and... my housekeeper told me you called ahead and asked her to prepare food for me."

"Of course I did," Frederick replied. "I can’t have you starving after traveling all day, and if she had to start cooking after you arrived, it would take too long. Did she make everything you like?"

"She’s setting the table now. I just wanted to call and let you know I got home safely."

"Good," he said. "Now go take a hot shower, eat your breakfast, and get some rest. And before you go to sleep tonight, make sure you call me again."

My chest tightened at the thought of how naturally he cared about the little things. Somehow, having someone worry about whether I had eaten or made it home safely felt strange, but I loved it.

"Alright, Mr. Corvin," I whispered, a fond smile tugging at my lips.

"Good boy," he murmured softly. "I’ll talk to you later tonight."

"Okay. Bye."

"Goodbye, little pet."

The line went dead, and I lowered my phone, a lingering warmth settling in my chest as I turned toward the bathroom to freshen up.

After I finished in the bathroom, I stepped out, applied my night skincare products, and changed into a comfortable pair of silk pajamas. I headed back downstairs to eat the meal my housekeeper had prepared. I finished every last bite before retreating to my bedroom upstairs.

Once I was settled in, I quickly dialed Julian. We caught up for a few minutes, going over our schedules and chatting casually before saying our goodbyes, knowing we’d see each other on campus tomorrow morning.

Right after hanging up with Julian, I made my second call of the night to Frederick. He answered on the second ring.

"Hey, little pet." Frederick’s deep, steady voice came through the speaker.

"Hello, Mr. Corvin," I murmured, clutching the phone in my hand. "I just wanted to let you know I’m about to go to sleep."

"Alright," Frederick replied, his tone softening instantly. "Make sure you call or text me in the morning before you head out to campus."

"Alright. Good night, Mr. Corvin."

Just as Frederick was about to say goodnight, a sharp knock echoed against my bedroom door. A second later, my housekeeper’s voice came through.

"Sir?" she called cautiously. "There’s... a tall, handsome man looking for you outside. This is actually the third time he’s come asking for you. He said his name is Spencer."

My blood ran cold. I froze, a sudden spike of panic tightening my chest.

Without thinking, I blurted into the phone, "Mr. Corvin, I have to go—"

Frederick’s voice changed instantly, dropping into a cold, commanding tone. "Go where?"

"Someone... someone is looking for me outside," I stammered, my pulse racing with panic.

"Put your AirPods on right now," Frederick said"I want to hear every word of the conversation between the two of you."

"Alright," I breathed, scrambling to grab my wireless AirPods from the nightstand and putting them into my ears as I walked toward the stairs.

I walked downstairs, pushed through the front door, and headed toward the front gate, where a familiar figure stood near the perimeter wall.

Spencer caught sight of me and immediately strode closer, a cocky, persistent grin on his face.

"Hello," I forced myself to say, trying to keep my voice steady.

Spencer didn’t even give me a chance to say anything else.

"Come on, Reynold. What is going on with you? I’ve come to check on you twice now, and you’re nowhere to be found."

"I wasn’t around," I snapped defensively. "And why are you even here?"

"Don’t be like that," Spencer scoffed, stepping closer to me. "Ever since I saw you that day, I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind. I gave you my card, but you never called. I’m serious, Reynold. I like you, and I’d really like to get to know you better. I’m looking for something serious, not just a casual fling. So... can I take you out tonight?"

Right in my ear, Frederick’s voice growled, cold and furious. "Who the fuck does he think he is? He’s obviously not looking for anything serious. He just wants to get you into bed. Tell him you’re married, and make it clear that he needs to stop coming around. Your husband won’t tolerate this."

I swallowed hard before repeating Frederick’s words to Spencer. "I’m married. You need to stop coming here. My husband won’t tolerate you talking to me like this."

Spencer blinked, looking me up and down with obvious disbelief. "Your husband? Where’s your ring, then?"

Before I could come up with an answer, Frederick’s voice came through my AirPods. "Tell him you left it at your husband’s house. You just got back from his place today, and he’s already arranged for someone to bring it to you by the weekend."

I repeated his words, forcing myself to sound confident. "I left it at my husband’s house. I just got back from his place today, but he’s having someone bring it to me by the weekend."

Spencer’s eyes narrowed, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Your husband must be exceptionally rich."

Frederick answered instantly in my ear. "Very wealthy."

"Very wealthy," I said.

Spencer chuckled, shaking his head. "You’re so young. Why would you get married this early?"

Frederick answered immediately through my AirPods. "Because your husband likes you young. He likes you exactly the way you are."

I looked Spencer straight in the eyes and repeated it. "Because my husband likes me young. He likes me exactly the way I am."

Spencer finally stepped back, running a hand through his hair as he realized he was completely out of his depth. "I get it... but I really do like you."

Frederick’s voice turned ice-cold in my ear. "Tell him goodnight and make it clear that he’s never to come to this house again. Your husband won’t tolerate it."

"Goodnight," I told Spencer, my voice firm. "And don’t come to this house again. My husband won’t tolerate it."

Spencer held up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, then." He turned on his heel and walked briskly toward his parked car.

I didn’t wait to watch him drive away. I turned around immediately and hurried back inside the safety of the house, locking the door behind me.

Before I could head upstairs, Frederick spoke again through my AirPods.

"Put your housekeeper on the phone."

I quickly called her over. She hurried toward me, and I put the call on speaker.

"She’s here," I said.

"Good evening, sir," the woman greeted nervously.

"Do you still want to keep your job?" Frederick asked.

"Yes, sir," she answered, her voice shaking.

"Fine. Then don’t ever call him out to anyone unless he tells you someone is coming to see him, or I personally inform you that someone is coming to visit him. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir. I understand."

"Moreover," Frederick continued, his voice turning even firmer, "don’t ever call another man handsome in front of him. The only man you’re allowed to call handsome is me. Understood?"

"Yes, sir. I understand," she replied quickly.

"That’s all," Frederick said.

The housekeeper nodded before quietly turning and walking away.

I started walking upstairs, and as I climbed the steps, Frederick’s voice remained steady in my ear.

"When you come over this weekend, I’m putting a ring on your finger so everyone knows you’re mine for the next five years. Don’t ever let something like this happen again. If you hadn’t let him drive you home that night, he wouldn’t have known where you live."

"I understand, Mr. Corvin," I apologized softly, my chest aching with a strange mixture of guilt and possessive thrill. "I’m sorry."

"It’s fine," he sighed, staying on the line with me the entire way. He didn’t hang up until he heard my bedroom door click shut and the deadbolt lock into place.

"Switch the call to video," Frederick instructed gently. "I want to make sure you’re actually in bed."

I switched the call to video, and my face appeared on his screen as I climbed under the covers, propping my phone against my pillow. He looked at me through the screen for a long moment, his hard expression finally softening.

"Good night. Sweet dreams," he murmured.

I smiled warmly. "Good night, Mr. Corvin."

The call ended, leaving the room quiet. I lowered my phone and stared at the screen for a moment, a small smile tugging at my lips. Frederick could be strict and controlling, but knowing he was there made me feel safe. For once, I didn’t feel completely alone.

I placed my phone on the bed, pulled the duvet over my body, and soon drifted off to sleep.

The morning sun filtered through the curtains...