After getting out of the car, Roderick bent down, picked up the cub, and seated him on his arm.
"Dad, I can walk on my own." Cedric didn't understand why his dad insisted on carrying him all the time. At first, he'd been excited, happy to be held by his dad.
Over time, he felt that maybe he didn't need to be held so often.
As soon as he said this, his dad let out an odd little snort and said, "I'm your biological father. If you won't let me hold you, who do you want to hold you?"
Then, Cedric saw Lucian walking over from a distance.
He felt his dad's grip tighten and lift him slightly, as if carrying a prized trophy to show off, as they walked toward Lucian.
"Cedric, school's out?" Lucian smiled gently, his gaze kind.
Then, his tone cooled slightly. "Hello, Mr. Nightblade."
"Hello, Mr. Campbell." Roderick, who was taller than Lucian, glanced down with an indifferent tone. "I heard from my son that you used to look out for him. Thanks."
Lucian chuckled lightly. "No need to thank me—it's something I should do."
Something he should do?
With what status did he think he was saying it was something he "should" do?
Roderick almost laughed in exasperation. He reached out, ruffling his son's short hair and pinching his soft, round cheeks. "What Mr. Campbell mentioned—that's all in the past, isn't it? Times have changed. There's no reason for anyone else to be troubled when his own father, I am right here."
"Say goodbye to your Mr. Campbell. We're going to see your mom now. We'll stay in her room tonight and keep her company, okay?"
"Okay!" Cedric stretched out his little hand and waved. "Goodbye, Mr. Campbell."
Lucian nodded and smiled. "Cedric, see you tomorrow. Your mom was very happy today."
Cedric's eyes lit up. "Really? Thank you, Mr. Campbell."
Roderick:...
He pressed his lips together, holding the cub as he started walking. "Let's go. Your mom will be even happier when she sees us soon."
This treasure that Catriona liked and cared for the most was with him.
Who was Lucian? He had nothing, he was nothing.
Thinking of Lucian leaving in a huff, Roderick allowed himself a slight smirk, pleased.
And then...
He saw on the bedside table in the hospital room a bouquet of lilies, and both the room and the flowers carried Lucian's scent.
In an instant, Roderick's mood plummeted.
Simultaneously, an uncontrollable anger flared within him. Lucian was truly scheming, starting to send flowers already.
What kind of flowers were these?
He looked it up and nearly exploded with anger.
Lilies: courage, persistent love.
Roderick, the werewolf, was entirely thrown off.
His heart felt like it was gripped tightly by an invisible hand. Watching her chat with the young one, he felt she could be taken away at any moment.
An uncontrollable panic welled up within him.
And so...
The next day, Roderick didn't go to the office.
After dropping the young one off at kindergarten, he returned to the hospital, silently sitting on the sofa in the hospital room and earnestly reading a book.
Catriona leaned against the bed, curiously watching him.
"Mr. Nightblade, aren't you going to work?"
"I'm taking the day off."
"Oh..."
If he was taking a day off, there were so many places to go and things to do. Why in a hospital room that smelled of antiseptic...
Roderick sat quietly reading, and she didn't want to disturb him.
After a while, he turned a page, his tone casual, as if commenting on the weather, "I'm planning to transfer the street where your flower shop is located to your name."
"What?" Catriona blinked, stunned. "Why?"
Roderick's ears turned slightly red as he cleared his throat. "No reason, I just wanted to give it to you."
Catriona:...?
After a while, Roderick spoke again, glancing around the hospital room with a hint of dissatisfaction. "Don't you think this room feels a bit empty?"
"Huh? Really?"
"Yes." Roderick looked at the lilies on the bedside table, his voice dropping. "One bouquet is a bit too plain, so I ordered some more flowers."
Roderick's idea of "some" flowers meant filling every corner of the spacious, bright hospital room. There were flowers of every kind, in all colors.
When a nurse came in, she paused, momentarily thinking she'd entered a flower shop.
As for the white lilies on the bedside table, they had long been lost in the sea of flowers.
Catriona felt that for a simple appendectomy, her hospital stay had become unexpectedly extravagant.
There were so many flowers, their fragrance overwhelming, though she was used to it since she ran a flower shop herself.
It was Roderick, sitting on the sofa, who had already sneezed four times.
What... was he even doing?
He had no work to do, was sitting in her hospital room surrounded by flowers, sneezing from the smell, and yet refused to leave.
Catriona slowly got up, intending to take a walk around.
Roderick put his book down immediately and walked over in large strides.
"Should I help you?"
"No need..." She could walk on her own, just taking a few laps around the room.
Roderick stayed by her side, silently walking along with her.
Catriona slowly walked over to the sofa and curiously looked down to see what Roderick had been reading.
"The Small Tricks... for Wooing Women..."
Before she could finish reading, the book disappeared from her sight as Roderick picked it up, clearing his throat in discomfort. "Just a bit of light reading."
Catriona could roughly guess the title—it was probably a book on how to pursue women.
Roderick had a female werewolf he liked?
He disliked humans and was prejudiced against them, so it wasn't surprising that Catriona immediately ruled out humans, including herself.
At Luna Palace, the only female werewolves she'd seen were Sapphire and Ruby. Could it be one of them?
Sapphire... Unlikely, right?
Sapphire liked Magnus, and she'd heard Magnus was in Capital yesterday but didn't come to see Sapphire, who was sadly wiping her tears—Catriona felt sorry just watching her.
As for Ruby, there seemed to be something going on between her and Arden.
She recalled overhearing the werewolves mention a name yesterday— Snowheart.
This beautiful werewolf had also come down from the mountain.
Catriona was quite curious to meet a white-haired werewolf and was secretly looking forward to it.
So Roderick liked her, huh?
