Chapter 176: A Shameless Man

Alpha!" She breathed, her eyes giving her away for a moment.

The full extent of her disgust and hatred for him was written all over her face, and one eye had even started twitching on its own again. For a moment there, Alpha Conan thought she was about to claw at one of his eyes.

Then, she blinked, and the look was gone.

Completely gone, like it was never there in the first place.

"Lady Beatrice," Conan called back, his hold around her body becoming more apparent, "You seem frightened. What is wrong?!"

She smiled at him, then she glanced back at the open door of her chambers and replied, "Oh, it’s nothing, Alpha. Do not bother yourself,"

"Nonsense!" Conan exclaimed, "You were clearly scared out of your mind. Were you attacked, my dear?"

She could still feel his grip tightened. Still feel him pressing her closer to his chest, as if her chest squished against his wasn’t enough already. Also, she could make out the dark desire beneath his creepy smile.

"I’m fine, Alpha," She pressed another smile, making her jaw ache even more.

Gently, she pushed back on his biceps and surprisingly, he let her slip away.

Beatrice stood on her own, praying to the heavens that she doesn’t end up barfing right now. But then again, she couldn’t help but keep glancing back at the door. What if that doll had been possessed by a ghost and that was why it was moving on its own?

"I was actually coming to see you, Lady Beatrice,"

She looked up at him again and smiled, "Alpha, you shouldn’t have. You could have simply summoned me,"

"Summon you?" He laughed, "We should feel free around one another. After all, we are soon to be family!"

"Yes," She laughed softly, dipping her head just as a frown crossed her face, "Of course. You are right,"

"Good," The man was still laughing.

And suddenly, returning to that room and facing the creepy doll was better than this.

"I wanted to know how well you’re getting along with my son. Are your conversations going fine?"

"Yes. Your son is an intellectual man. It’s no surprise where he gets it from," She replied sweetly.

"That’s what I like to hear," He said, then his tone spiked up about two levels of seriousness, "Emmett has always been particular about the kind of woman he wants beside him. Someone graceful. Someone who understands the importance of family."

Beatrice nodded, forcing herself not to look at the hand still resting on her arm. "Of course."

"He speaks very highly of you, you know."

"Oh?"

"Constantly." Conan chuckled. "Yesterday, he spent almost an hour telling me how beautiful you looked at dinner."

Beatrice almost rolled her eyes. Instead, she lowered her gaze shyly. "He is very kind."

"He is." Conan’s thumb moved lazily against the fabric covering her arm. "And because he is my son, I know what makes him happy."

Beatrice looked up, "What?"

"A man can love his wife deeply," Conan said, lowering his voice as though he were sharing some precious piece of wisdom, "but there is one thing that can make that love even stronger."

Beatrice waited.

"Knowing that the woman he chose respects the people who raised him."

Her smile remained perfectly in place.

"I’ve always believed a marriage isn’t just between two people," Conan continued. "Especially not when those two people come from powerful families. You will be Emmett’s wife, yes, but you will also become part of Riverrock."

His hand moved from her arm to her shoulder, fingers resting there with an intimacy that made her skin crawl. "And Emmett will notice how you treat his family."

"I would never disrespect them."

"I know." He smiled. "That’s why I like you."

Beatrice wanted to rip his hand off."You barely know me, Alpha."

"I know enough." His gaze travelled over her face again. "You make him smile. That’s enough for me."

Something inside her stomach twisted.

"And if you want to keep him happy," Conan added, "make sure he never has to choose between you and his family."

There it was.

The manipulation.

Beatrice finally understood where he was going with this. She had an idea before, but now it was confirmed.

She tilted her head innocently. "Would you really make Emmett choose?"

Conan laughed. "Of course not. But men don’t like being put in such positions. Especially when they’re newly married." He leaned slightly closer. "If Emmett comes home one evening and finds his wife arguing with his father, do you think he’ll sleep peacefully?"

"No. I wouldn’t dare!"

"And if he finds you sitting beside me, laughing with his father and making me feel welcome?"

"He’d probably be pleased," Beatrice forced another smile.

"Exactly." His fingers gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "You’re a smart woman,"

And you’re a disgusting old bastard.

She swallowed the thought.

"I’ll remember that."

"Good." Conan’s hand finally fell away from her shoulder, but only to brush lightly against her upper back as he stepped beside her. "After all, you’re going to be my daughter soon."

His eyes lingered on her face, and then he glanced back at her room and said, " If anything frightens you, you can always come to me."

"I’ll keep that in mind." Beatrice smiled.

She wouldn’t. Not even in the depths of hell.

"Thank you very much for coming to see me," She added.

"Of course, my dear," He cupped her face this time, intentionally brushing his thumb over her plump lips.

She blushed as practised and lowered her head. Thankfully, his hands fell away five seconds later.

She stood there and watched as he finally turned around and left, before her expression changed into something else.

How can someone be so shameless like him? Did he think she was that stupid or something?! And the fact that he’s always making it so obvious was so aggravating. She really hoped she wouldn’t lose control and punch him in that straying eye before the wedding!

He better enjoy his last days.