Page 60 of I Was Always Yours (RCA: Royal Crown Academy)

After Astor’s death and our move to Hong Kong, Sixtine retreated into herself. She’d always been shy, but she’d started coming out of her shell and blossoming while we were in Hampshire.

We assumed it was grief and got her the help she needed to guide her through the process and make her understand that the survivor’s guilt she was feeling was normal.

It wasn’t until she went to RCA that she started living again, but no sooner had we gotten used to this bolder version of her that she retreated back into herself.

It took barely any questioning at all to realize Phoenix played a large role in this.

They’d met on the first day of class after all those years and she’d bloomed like a flower in sunlight over the following year. Even as she claimed to dislike him for everything he was doing, she blushed just saying his name.

And when he ignored her, she withdrew.

I love my daughter whether she’s shy or confident, if she’s closed off or if she’s extroverted. I’m not trying to change her; I just want her to be truly happy.

I watched her struggle on and off for years until I couldn’t take anymore. I grew tired of watching their constantwill they, won’t theywhen I thought in my heart of hearts that they might be soulmates.

My husband actually noticed it before I did. I distinctly remember him staring out our back windows at the children as they played in the fields outside our home.

He’d pointed at one of the twins and said, “We need to keep an eye on that one. I don’t like the way he looks at Sixtine.”

I hadn’t seen which boy he was referring to, but I assumed. “Astor?”

“No, the other one. Phoenix.”

“They’re only children, Cal.” I’d chided with a laugh.

“Mark my words,” He’d answered, “He’s going to cause trouble one day.”

I hadn’t paid more attention than that, too focused on organizing the perfect brunch at the time.

When Sixtine started her final year with newfound confidence and had confirmed that Phoenix was talking to her again, albeit only to fight and bully her, I’d finally made a decision.

It was my job as her mother.

We were going to help them realize what’s been right in front of their eyes their whole lives. And if it took an engagement to make that happen, then so be it.

After all, an arranged marriage had worked out for us. Was it so crazy to think it might work for our daughter as well?

“Hmm,” He hums angrily in response, “I don’t fucking like him, the way he looks at her, or the way he talks to her. I shouldn’t have let you talk me into this, woman.”

Callum had needed a lot of convincing before agreeing to marry his only daughter off. I’d had to do quite a bit of work on my knees and even then, he’d only said yes once I’d agreed he hadcarte blancheto torture Phoenix to his heart’s content if he ever hurt our Sixtine.

Although if it ever came to that, he’d have to get in line.

I lift a brow at him. “Woman?”

His arms tighten around my waist. “Mywoman.”

“Better.” I say, nuzzling his neck.

He moans low in his throat, his head falling back against the chair to grant me better access. “I hope we didn’t make a mistake,” he mumbles, half-dizzy with lust.

“You gave her the perfect out if we did,” I tell him, kissing up the column of his throat, “And at least then we’ll have done our best to try to fix whatever happened between them. If it doesn’t work, then it wasn’t meant to be.”

He hums in approval and stands, holding me tightly against his chest. “I think I need some additional convincing to let this go on,” he says, walking us into the hall and towards our bedroom.

I giggle. “You’re insatiable.”

He plants his lips on mine for a long moment before purring, “Only for you, princess.”

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