Chapter 356: Something wrong_Part 2
"Good morning..." Evenly replied, looking down at Angel, who was struggling to break free of her grip. She released him, and he immediately pushed himself back, suddenly forcing himself to stand on his little feet. He looked at her with a proud smile, as if showing her that he could stand on his own.
Evenly blinked, but before she could give her delighted and astonished reaction to the fact that he could suddenly stand, a knock came from the door, making Angel drop to his bum and turn eager eyes toward the sound.
"Papaaa!" Angel squealed, his little voice ringing with pure joy as he crawled eagerly toward the edge of the bed. He turned, ready to drop himself down without a single care for the height.
Evenly gasped and quickly lunged forward, catching him just before he could tumble off, pulling him securely into her arms. Rav gave her a slight nod, silently indicating that he would go and get the door.
But Angel wriggled and fought against her hold, bouncing in her embrace and reaching out with tiny hands, his red eyes sparkling with excitement. He kept calling for his father again and again, as though his little mind already knew, without a doubt, who was waiting just beyond the knock at the door.
"Calm down, let Rav get the door," she said with a small laugh, realizing only now that the duke had not come last night for the baby as Belle had said he would, and had probably come this morning instead.
She had noticed how the humans in this house tended to wake up late. He probably wanted to take Angel to his mother before they wake up.
Rav opened the door and found Rohan standing outside. For some reason, Rav had felt since yesterday that Rohan was avoiding him. It was a hunch he had confirmed by the locked link, and now, seeing him outside the room, Rav felt a flicker of curiosity as to why. But he quickly decided he was overthinking the matter and instead offered a respectful bow and greeting.
Rohan gave a curt nod of acknowledgment before asking, "Lady Evenly, is she awake?"
Rohan had already known he would be seeing Rav by coming here, so he had prepared himself, stilling his heart and forcing his emotions under control. This was no time to draw things out when he needed to confirm something urgently.
"Yes, I am awake, my Lord," Evenly replied herself, raising her voice over Angel’s loud squeals of protest and excitement to be let free. She finally bent down and let him go as Rav stepped back to allow the duke into the room.
Angel did not crawl like he usually did when she set him down; instead, he stood up on his little feet and began to walk unsteadily toward his father, who had just stepped into the room. Rohan immediately stopped in his tracks upon noticing his son was walking.
Rohan hadn’t thought himself capable of smiling, let alone laughing, after what had kept him on edge since leaving Belle’s room this morning. Yet he couldn’t help the laugh that broke from his lips when he saw the little figure toddling toward him with arms wide open.
He immediately crouched down, holding out his own arms in encouragement. The happy little boy wobbled forward, and Rohan urged him softly, "That’s it... keep coming, my boy."
The moment Angel reached him, Rohan swept him off his unsteady feet and crushed him to his chest in a tight embrace. "That’s my boy! Finally putting those little feet to work. And look at you, you’re growing teeth as well. About time, my little rascal." He ruffled the boy’s soft hair and gently pinched his chubby cheek.
"Pa-pah!" Angel squealed with laughter.
Hearing it, Rohan felt an invisible weight lift from his chest. He had feared his son would still carry the trauma of the day before, but the boy’s bright joy gave him relief. Still, the thought lingered in his mind, and Rohan carefully brushed aside Angel’s messy bangs to check his forehead. The wound had healed cleanly, leaving not a trace of scar.
Almost as if he knew what his father was looking for, Angel pouted and began speaking in broken, muddled words, trying to explain about the "bad man" who had hurt his head. To make his point clearer, he even tapped his forehead, showing where the blow had landed.
"Huht... Pa-pah..." he finished with a sigh, giving Rohan a pitiful look.
That expression melted instantly into delight when Rohan pressed a warm kiss to his forehead and whispered, "No bad man will hurt you again. You did well, Angel."
The boy’s answering giggle and cry of excitement filled Rohan with such warmth that he found himself smiling too. But that smile faltered just as quickly as it had come, for the reason that had brought him here in the first place pressed back into his mind.
Holding his son in his arms, he turned to Evenly.
"I want you to come to my wife’s room with Angel," he told her.
He needed Angel there to confirm something, but he didn’t want to risk being in the room with the baby alone in case any of the Dawsons happened to come by. Having the lady present would prevent any suspicions, ensuring no one thought it strange that Angel was there without Evenly.
"Is Belle all right?" Evenly asked worriedly, recalling how last night she had left her friend in a state where she had only just regained consciousness.
"No, she’s not," Rohan said grimly, he then added. "When we get to the room, make sure not to say a word to her, you are to remain silent at all times, no matter what she says or does." His dark gaze lingered on Evenly as though to impress the weight of his words upon her.
Without offering any further explanation, he turned and handed his reluctant, unwilling son back into her arms.
Angel clung stubbornly to his father’s shirt for a moment before finally releasing his hold, making Evenly tighten her grip as she received him.
Rohan left the room, and Evenly exchanged a look with Rav, who was standing silently to the side.
"I wonder what’s wrong with Lady Belle," she remarked. "You should come with me as well," she told him, even though the duke had only invited her.
Rav looked hesitant, but he was also worried about her ladyship, so he did not deny her request. Instead, he left the room with Evenly.
By the time they reached Belle’s room, Rohan was already inside, standing at the side of the door and looking at his wife, who was talking to him with a bright smile.
Evenly frowned upon noticing that Belle looked perfectly fine, in fact, she looked far too fine for someone she had expected to be sick. She was dressed expensively in a purple gown, her hair pinned up with gold and diamond ornaments, and her face heavily made up in a way that made her look almost artificial and different.
She had never seen Belle dressed like this before, and the sight startled her, though she quickly schooled her expression as her friend’s questioning hazel eyes turned on her. Remembering Rohan’s orders, Evenly held her tongue and said nothing, only watching her friend closely, trying to place what exactly felt so wrong about her.
"Oh my, Lady Louisiana, how come you are here?" Belle asked, her tone carrying a lightness that made Evenly frown and look behind her to see if Lady Louisiana was in the room, but then she belatedly realized Belle was looking at her. Evenly opened her mouth but quickly shut it.
When Evenly didn’t say anything, Belle turned to look at her husband, leaning in toward him. "I thought you didn’t want Louisiana and Griffin to know you were here. Why did you go and bring them yourself?" she whispered, her voice lowered so that only Rohan, who stood at her side, could hear.