When Catriona finished speaking, the flowers had also been moved.
"Let's wash our hands over here."
Catriona led the way, with the man following closely behind, his posture tall and composed.
Walking through the bustling human streets, his golden eyes, shine as light beneath strong brows, held none of the warmth typical of humans; they were as cold as ice.
His striking presence stood out, drawing the gaze of many who turned to look back at him.
He slightly furrowed his brows, clearly not liking this place.
He didn't like being stared at.
The hunting habits of werewolves determined that they were better suited for dark and hidden places, cautious yet fierce.
When he washed his hands, Catriona felt a bit conflicted.
As the ruler of such a vast business empire in the human world, he actually helped her move flowers in this filthy environment.
He had no particular aversion to dirt and showed no airs of a wealthy person.
Thinking about it, it made sense; he wasn't a pure human.
He was a werewolf.
She shouldn't think of him as a human from now on.
"Thank you truly today," Catriona said seriously.
Roderick gave her a faint glance and said, "You can call me if you need help in the future."
He meant what he said; this woman was the mother of his child, and as long as it wasn't about physical contact or emotional matters, he would be willing.
It was his responsibility.
Catriona nodded casually, "Yeah, thanks. Let's go."
It was clear she didn't take him seriously, or rather, she didn't care and wouldn't consider it.
Roderick slightly pursed his lips.
He didn't say anything more.
Regardless of whether it was in the werewolf or the human world, his status was always one where others would try to flatter him, look up to him, and be nice to him.
Her only uniqueness was that she was the mother of his child.
His gaze fell on the mud spots on his black shirt, and his expression grew even more distant.
In fact, Catriona did indeed take it as mere politeness.
The time was already close to seven, and she still had to deliver flowers to two shops.
But what about Roderick? If she took him back to Luna Palace first, there wouldn't be enough time; could she leave him here? Have him take a taxi back?
Neither seemed right. Just as Catriona was somewhat conflicted,
Arden appeared.
He greeted her with a smile, "Hello, Miss Ashford."
Catriona was surprised, "Mr. Whitstone, when did you arrive?"
"I've been here for a while."
Roderick's gaze lingered on Catriona for a moment before he started walking, his voice was light, "Let's go."
"Yes, Miss Ashford, goodbye."
Catriona watched their backs as she got into her own car.
She must have been foolish. When Roderick came, he acted as her driver and condescended to help her move the goods just to get something off his chest. Now that he'd said what he needed to, he naturally wouldn't squeeze back in a small car with her.
She started her car and got busy with her job.
On the other side.
Roderick wasn't working today either; after returning to Luna Palace, he took a shower and changed into clean clothes.
He went downstairs for breakfast.
When the little one appeared at the top of the stairs, rubbing his sleepy eyes, he looked up, and his gaze softened involuntarily, as if the cold ice had melted.
There was none of the distance he felt with Catriona; it was something that couldn't be faked.
Next,
Cedric was carried downstairs by his father, in his father's tall and broad arms, he clenched his tiny fists and pursed his little mouth, saying nothing.
"Your mother has gone to work, do you know that?"
"I know." Cedric nodded sullenly, "Mommy is very busy and tired."
When he grows up, he will earn a lot of money and give it all to his mother.
Everything she wants, he will give her.
The little cub thought silently.
Roderick had called the kitchen on the way, asking them to prepare food that the little one liked.
At this moment, he personally took action, preparing to indulge in the joy of being a father by feeding his little one.
But the little one held a small fork and said, "I'm not a baby anymore, I can eat by myself."
Roderick didn't press him further. "Just try a bite, then. There's plenty else in the kitchen."
Cedric was a bit confused. Then, plate after plate of food was brought out, all of which he loved.
How could a four-year-old cub eat so much?
Cedric looked around. Where were those familiar werewolves? Why was it only him and his father?
"Just try them. If they're not good, let me know; we have plenty of chefs." Roderick rested his chin on his hand, staring at the cub.
It was his first time alone with the cub. In this moment, something subtly shifted within him. His expression relaxed, no longer making a deliberate effort to mimic human mannerisms. His gaze softened, carrying an easy, unguarded look.
Cedric was silent for a moment. "Has my mommy eaten?"
This one plate should be enough, yet Father asked him to taste the flavors? It was clearly mealtime, so why did he say 'taste the flavors'? He didn't quite understand.
Roderick hadn't expected him to suddenly mention Catriona. He paused. "I'm not sure."
Logically speaking, that woman would find something to eat once she finished her work.
Cedric furrowed his small brows. "Why make so much... food that I can't finish?"
Roderick said, "Because I want to know which chef's cooking you prefer."
"Then... has my mommy ever tasted the flavors like this?" The cub looked at the table full of food and asked in his childish voice, "What did my mommy say?"
Roderick fell silent, looking away from the cub's expectant gaze. He said lightly, "In my heart, you and her are different."
Why would he spend any effort figuring out what Catriona likes to eat, wasting precious rest time on her tasting food?
If she wanted to eat something, she could just tell the kitchen. If she wanted to change chefs, she could arrange it herself; he had no objections.
However, he wouldn't spend any effort on her either.
He was too straightforward, which made Cedric pause for a moment before seriously asking, "What's different between me and my mommy?"
Roderick tugged at his lips, thinking, Of course there is a difference.
It was a big difference.
One was his only cub by blood relation, the other was a purely human woman who had taken advantage of him when he was vulnerable years ago. Any werewolf would know who was more important.
After so many days spent with the mother and child, he'd grown quite fond of the cub's soft, endearing nature. As for the events of the past, he found himself less troubled by them; dwelling on what had already happened was pointless. Letting go seemed the better choice.
As for Catriona, as he had said that day, he neither liked nor disliked her.
But comparing her to the cub, well, there was simply no comparison.
In the end, he said, "You are my cub, and you are the most important."
Cedric slowly responded with an "Oh."
He couldn't quite put his finger on what was odd, but he somehow didn't like it much and ate only what was in his own plate, not touching the rest.
After the meal,
Roderick took him for a walk around the Palace.
In the backyard garden, he pointed to a cleared patch of soil and asked the cub, "You like peaches. I've decided to plant eight peach trees here. You'll be able to eat them in a year. The peach saplings will arrive soon; do you want to try planting them yourself?"
"Wow!" Cedric's eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously.
Roderick's lips curved slightly as he stroked his cub's fluffy hair.
"Whatever you like, I can give you."
Cedric pointed to the empty soil nearby and asked, "Dad, can we plant oranges here? My mommy loves them!"
Roderick's eyes dimmed almost imperceptibly.
He murmured, "Yes."
Cedric ran over happily. "Can we plant apples here? How about grapes over there? My mommy loves them."
Roderick glanced uninterestedly at the empty soil the cub was pointing at and said, "Plant more of what you like to eat."
Whatever fruits Catriona liked, there were plenty available on the street. If she wished, he could buy her enough fruit to last her a lifetime.
But in the backyard of Luna Palace, where the werewolves stayed, he preferred to plant more fruits that his cub enjoyed eating.
Cedric was a slightly sensitive child. He was polite with unfamiliar people but would growl in anger if he sensed any threat to his mother. When it came to his somewhat unique father, however, he found himself unsure of where to place him.
He thought his request was excessive and responded with an "Oh," "I'll just plant a few peach trees then, thank you, Father."
But now he had peaches, and his mother had nothing.
Up until now, whenever his mother had something, he had it too.
Now he had something his mother didn't have.
He felt like saying he didn't even want to plant the peach trees.
Then he heard his father's deep voice, as if compromising, "Over here, let's plant oranges for your mother, okay?"
Cedric's eyes lit up, and his tuft of hair wobbled. "Okay! Thank you, Dad!"
Roderick played with the cub for a while longer. When the clock struck noon, a call came in from a friend.
He looked down and asked the cub, "Let's go out for lunch and meet some of Daddy's friends."
Cedric pursed his little mouth. "But I want to go to the store to be with my mommy."
He had been with his dad for so long already.
Roderick closed his eyes tightly. "What if your mother came along too?"
He originally only wanted to take the child to meet his close friends; as for Catriona, their relationship wasn't deep enough for him to introduce her to his friends.
No matter how others looked at it, that was too intimate.
It wasn't appropriate.
But the child clung to his mother, so there was no other way.
He almost reluctantly dialed Catriona's number.
