CHAPTER 44: THE DREAM THEY ONCE HAD

Jason’s POV

By the time we finished breakfast, a servant informed us that everything was ready at the side house.

Roman stood from his seat and turned to Kael. "I’ll take a look at the place first, then shift her there."

Kael gave a curt hum. None of us said a word—we just watched him walk away.

"Is this the beginning of one of us finally breaking away?" I muttered, clearly displeased by Roman’s decision to move.

"And all because of that bitch," Lucian spat bitterly.

"He’s not going far. it’s still the same home," Kael said, trying to sound composed, though it was obvious he didn’t like it either. "It’s better this way. None of us wanted her in the main house, anyway."

"Better than him accompanying her in the stable to keep her company," Rafe added with a shrug, clearly unbothered.

Lucian shot him a glare. "What’s gotten into you all of a sudden? Weren’t you the one ranting about not wanting her scent in this house?"

"I still don’t," Rafe retorted. "But I’m not whining about Roman moving next door. Unlike you, I’m consistent. I don’t want her here, or anywhere near us. Her stink’s already making it hard to breathe. And let’s not forget who pushed things this far."

Neither Lucian nor I said anything. Because he wasn’t wrong.

It started with the damn celery. I added it to her food, knowing full well Roman would lose it. And after that... I made her pay by torturing her.

But even now, I still thought she deserved it.

"You two," Kael said, drawing our attention. "Check the security system in the side house. Make sure the cameras are working and everything’s in order."

Lucian and I nodded. We were the ones in charge of security of this home, so it fell under our responsibility.

"We’ll take care of it," I assured him.

Kael stood, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt. "I’m heading to the office. Roman will work from home today," he said. Then his eyes moved over the three of us. "Take care of what happened last night. I don’t want the Elders or anyone else breathing down our necks."

With that, he walked upstairs to grab his things.

I turned to Rafe. "You made sure everything’s clean?"

"Don’t worry," Rafe said casually. "No one will find a thing, not even a trace of their existence."

Lucian stood up and looked at me. "We need to take care of hiring new staff for the prison."

We both headed off to get ready, while Rafe—as usual—remained slumped on the sofa, idling away on his phone without a care in the world.

After some time, when Kael, Lucian, and I returned to the drawing room, dressed and prepared to leave, we saw Roman exiting through the side door—carrying that bitch in his arms.

He was taking her to the side house.

Kael paused before stepping out. His voice cut through the room, directed at Rafe, who was still buried in whatever nonsense he was scrolling through.

"Make sure to check in with Roman. He might need help. Taking care of her alone won’t be easy."

Rafe groaned. "Am I never going to get a break from the stinking bitch?"

No one was surprised by the response.

"Just do as I say," Kael warned him.

Rafe gave a reluctant hum in reply, clearly not thrilled, but not stupid enough to argue further.

Kael headed to the office, and Lucian and I made our way to the prison.

By noon, we had wrapped up things in the prison and returned home.

But Rafe was nowhere to be seen.

"Where the hell has that bat gone now?" Lucian muttered, glancing around as we stepped inside.

"Let him be," I said, grabbing my toolbox. "Come on. Let’s get the security check done at the side house."

Lucian followed. "Last time I checked, everything was fine—cameras, locks, all of it."

"That was over six months ago," I reminded him.

He sighed. "Alright. We can’t risk that bitch’s safety now, not after word got out we have a pureblood bitch."

I glanced at him. "What do you think Kaizan will do if he shows up right now and sees it’s the same whore he’s been craving all these years?"

Lucian scoffed, a wicked smirk tugging at his lips. "That would be fun. And then I’d fuck her right in front of him."

When we reached the side house, we found the door slightly ajar. Standing on the patio, we saw Roman inside, seated in one side of the sofa, his laptop open, files and papers scattered across the wooden coffee table.

We stepped in quietly.

And there she was—sleeping on the sofa, legs tucked in, her bare feet resting gently against Roman’s thigh.

Both of us froze.

It was the kind of scene that belonged to a future I once dreamed of—a woman I loved, resting in a cozy home, while I worked quietly nearby.

I knew Lucian had a similar dream. He’d spoken about it often. A woman he adored, a warm house, kids playing around the furniture, laughter filling the rooms.

Just that, unlike Lucian, I never said it aloud.

And the woman I imagined that future with... was lying right there.

Now the difference was, she was someone I couldn’t even bear to look at without feeling hatred. That ache in my chest? It wasn’t longing. It was rage.

Roman looked up and saw us, lifting a finger to his lips to signal silence. He didn’t want her to wake.

That... that burned.

Burned more than I expected.

It wasn’t just the sight of her sleeping peacefully, as if she belonged here. It was the fact that Roman—the one who’d once bullied her, the one she used to hate—was now the only one she allowed close.

Right now, in this house, it felt like they were something. Like this was their home. The only thing missing... was the children.

And if this went on, that day wouldn’t be far off either.

But this bitch didn’t deserve it. She didn’t deserve any of it.

My fists clenched, barely holding from snapping at her, and I felt the same emotions from Lucian.