Chapter 16

He couldn’t possibly like someone like Calliope, not a chance! Calliope was… honestly, kind of a mess. She had no real skills, just latched onto him, doing housework—things a nanny would do. His uncle wasn’t blind. There was no way he’d fall for a woman like that. There had to be something else going on.

“But it’s pretty late now. Who are you going to look for?”

“Do you even know where Calliope is? At Myers Manor? You can’t just waltz in there, right?”

“Isn’t your uncle the one who hates being disturbed at night?”

Gideon sat back down in his chair, his face pale as a ghost.

“This can’t be true. There has to be more to this. I’m going to find out what.”

“Gideon, maybe you should eat first. You must be starving…”

The Myers Manor.

Calliope let out a deep sigh of relief when she heard Silas was heading to the study for work. Even though they had signed an agreement, and she knew full well what it entailed, her nerves still got the better of her now that the moment was here.

Silas was undeniably handsome, the kind of man who commanded attention with both his looks and presence. But he was once her high-and-mighty uncle. The thought of being with him still felt surreal.

Having endured tragedy once before, she had been given a second chance—a chance she refused to waste. She thought she’d have to put in a ton of effort, but everything had gone so smoothly.

After washing up, she returned to the bedroom. It was Silas’s room, his scent lingering on the bed.

Since her rebirth, nightmares had plagued her, the shadows of her past never truly letting go. But last night, for the first time, she had slept without a single bad dream.

Feeling a bit tired, she quickly fell asleep.

She wasn’t sure when Silas had come to bed, but the moment she felt the warmth of his hands wrap around her, awareness slammed into her. She stiffened, too nervous to move.

“Did I wake you?” Silas’s voice was husky and low.

Calliope stayed silent, pretending to be asleep. And Silas didn’t call her bluff. He simply held her gently, whispering, “Go back to sleep.”

Nothing happened that night. Calliope slept peacefully. But when she opened her eyes the next morning, she found Silas gazing at her. She was startled, her brain taking a moment to catch up. His eyes held a deep, intense emotion as he looked at her so directly.

“Uncle!” she blurted out, still groggy and a bit flustered.

His warm hand was still resting on her waist. “Who are you calling uncle?”

“Uh… Silas!” Calliope stammered awkwardly. “I…I should get up!” She practically bolted to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror, her face flushed crimson.

This was the first time she had ever shared a bed with a man… not just any man, but her ex’s uncle.

Even though he was her husband now, she still couldn’t quite wrap her head around it. How was she supposed to act normal around him now?

After freshening up, Calliope lingered in front of the door, hesitating. She took a deep breath, willing herself to act natural. But before she could move, Silas’s deep, comforting voice came from the other side.

“Are you afraid of me?”