Page 36 of Royal Beast
She smiles back, her eyes warm with understanding. “Anytime, Darcy. You’re not alone in this.”
And for the first time in a long while, I believe her. Kellan has been pushing me to trust him, to let him help me, and I’ve done nothing but throw that trust back in his face, pouting like a child any time he tries.
I should be giving him more of a chance. I’ve survived on my own long enough, but isn’t that why I went to Kellan in the first place? So I don’t have to constantly carry the weight of responsibility on my shoulders alone?
Miranda and I part ways after I promise to keep my chin up and keep moving forward. The first thing I do when I get back to my office is call the nanny agency that Kellan used and hire another nanny for Rose, using the funds Kellan had set aside for it.
The housekeeper is looking after her today since I’d been so hellbent on finding a daycare for her. But now, the thought of her having access to the same one-on-one care that she had with my dad reminds me that there are benefits to being married to someone like Kellan Brannagan.
After work, I stop to pick up some groceries on the way home. I want to make a nice dinner for us to eat together as a family, to show Kellan that I’m willing to meet him halfway.
Once I’m home, I pull out the ingredients, chopping and sautéing with a rhythm that feels almost meditative. The kitchen smells warm, inviting. Rose is sitting at the counter, coloring in a book, her feet swinging off the stool.
Kellan comes home while I’m cooking, a look of surprise on his face at the sight of me in the kitchen. He leans against the doorframe, watching me quietly.
The meal comes together in silence, the only sounds the soft sizzle from the pan and the occasional clink of utensils. When it’s ready, I set the plates on the table, Rose’s smile lighting up the room as she eagerly digs in.
Kellan eats more slowly, his eyes catching mine every now and then, the tension between us present but not overpowering. It’s a peaceful family evening, the kind I’ve longed for since I was a kid.
“Thank you,” Kellan finally says, breaking the silence. His tone is low and sincere.
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “You're welcome.”
We start chatting about our day, Rose chiming in with her own stories about fighting off a fairy for control of the dollhouse. It’s nice. I’ve never had a family meal like this and I enjoy it immensely.
After dinner, Kellan helps me clean up, keeping Rose distracted as I rinse the plates and stick them in the dishwasher. Once I’m done, I take Rose as he wipes down the table and tidies up the kitchen. We head into the living room, and Kellan puts on a movie for us to watch.
Rose starts to droop about halfway through, so we shut it off and I carry her to her room. Kellan comes with me as I put Rose to bed, silently observing our nighttime routine.
“Are you still doing okay after last night?” he asks as I step into the hallway, the concern in his voice melting my heart.
“Yeah,” I say, smiling up at him. “I know I’ve been a pain in the ass. I’m sorry. I’m going to try, I swear. I don’t want either of us to be miserable in this arrangement.”
“You’re not making me miserable,” Kellan protests. “Being married to you is challenging, but I like a challenge.”
His words give me a burst of confidence and I reach up, pulling him down for a soft kiss. I want to make this work so I need to show him that I can be all in.
The two of us continue kissing, moving from the hallway to the bedroom where we climb into bed together and slowly undress, making unhurried love.
Afterward, as we’re cuddling together, Kellan brushes a strand of hair behind my ear and leans down to kiss my cheek.
“I need you to come with me to an upcoming gala,” he says. “It will be our first debut in society as husband and wife. We’re trying to woo some politicians in attendance, and I need you for this.”
His words are a stark reminder that this whole thing is a business deal, first and foremost. I swallow, pasting on a weak smile. Kellan might have put in the whole marital relations thing in our contract, but he never intended for us to be more than business partners outside of that.
A harsh reality I need to remember.
“Of course, whatever you need.”
18
KELLAN
There’s a shift between us after that night we spent together. Darcy has been quieter, more agreeable. It’s almost unsettling, but I know she’s trying. I can see that much. The walls around her heart are still there but they’ve been lowered.
My gut says she’s just putting up with me because of Rose and because of the contract, but I don’t want to give up hope that I might still win her over. I want her to see that there’s more to me than whatever she’s built up in her mind—more than the ruthless businessman, the powerful figure who can buy his way through anything. I want her to see that I can care.
I’ve been trying to show her that little by little, letting her see a different side of me. I’ve initiated taking family outings in the evenings and on the weekends, trying to create a semblance of normalcy for the three of us.
