Reborn as a villain:Claim the omega, Kiss the beta, Kill the dukes-Chapter 117: Missing you.

Chapter 115

Nolan

Ciel hasn’t moved an inch from the TV since the press announcement aired.

He’s sitting too straight, too still, eyes locked on the screen as if he’s afraid Jack will disappear if he blinks.

The press conference ended almost half an hour ago, but Ciel keeps replaying it, analyzing every frame, every breath Jack takes.

Honestly?

I’m still trying to wrap my head around the prince part.

Jack. A whole prince.

The bright side of all this, is that color has returned to Ciel.

***

Ciel

I can finally breathe.

I watch the press conference again — and again — pausing every few seconds to check Jack’s face for any hidden signs of pain or injury.

I know Nolan thinks I’m overreacting, but I’ve imagined every horrible outcome since we separated.

Now I know he’s safe.

Unhurt.

Relief hits me so hard my hands shake.

"Dada!" Lanny chirps at the screen, little finger tapping Jack’s face.

"Yes... that’s him," I whisper, touching Lanny’s hair, smiling despite the sting in my eyes.

A prince.

Jack , my Jack is a prince.

I still can’t wrap my head around it.

Being hunted by the dukes was already terrifying. But royalty?

My stomach knots. My father always told me I had the kind of beauty "fit for the highest ranks."

He meant it as praise, but it always felt like a curse.

I push the memory away.

Jack never looked at me like a prize to be owned, he’s different from the rest. I won’t let my mind poison me.

Just then, the burner phone rings.

The sound slices through the apartment, sharp and startling.For a moment I don’t move; my body forgets how. Then instinct takes over and I rush toward the counter, nearly slipping on one of Lanny’s toys as my heart slams against my ribs.

My fingers tremble so badly I almost drop the phone, but I manage to swipe to answer. My breath catches, suspended somewhere between fear and hope.

"Hello?" I whisper.

There is a pause on the other end. Not long, but long enough for my heart to crumble in my chest.

Then I hear him.

"Sunshine?"

Everything inside me caves. Relief rushes through me like a wave so strong it almost knocks me backward. My throat tightens and my eyes sting, and I nod on instinct before remembering he can’t see me.

"...hi..." is all I manage, my voice barely steady.

"Sunshine..." he says again, softer this time, like he can hear everything I’m feeling.

"How are you? Are you okay?" he asks, concern threaded through each word.

"I’m fine," I lie, quietly, because what else can I say?

"I’m okay."

Nolan gives me a look that says no, you’re not, but he doesn’t interrupt.

"How are you?" I ask him, my voice tiny. "Are you okay?"

He takes a breath that sounds too heavy.

"I’m not doing so good actually," he admits, and my heart immediately plummets into my stomach.

"What happened? Are you hurt?" I press, panic rising fast and sharp. "Jack—"

"Yes, I’m hurt," he says solemnly. "Extremely hurt."

The blood drains from my face.

"Where? What happened—"

"You see..." he continues, dragging it out with dramatic flair, "it’s very dark here. So dark. And cold. And lonely."

I freeze.

"My sunshine isn’t here," he finishes lightly, "so of course I’m suffering."

A beat.

Then the delayed realization hits, and my knees nearly buckle again, this time out of exasperation.

"Jack—!" My voice wavers, half relief and half fury. "Don’t do that, you scared me!"

Beside me, Nolan lets out a low chuckle he tries to hide. I shoot him a dangerous glare, but he just lifts both hands defensively.

Jack hears the sound and hums.

"...Is that a dog?" he asks slowly. "Sunshine, did you get a dog without telling me?"

"F— screw you!" Nolan shouts loud enough for the whole building to hear.

Jack laughs.

Jack snorts, then laughs, warm and rich and unfiltered. The sound fills the tiny apartment, filling all the cracks the last couple of weeks carved into us. For a moment my eyes drift closed, and I simply let the sound wash over me.

When his laughter finally eases, he speaks again, quieter.

"Sunshine... talk to me."

"I’m here," I whisper. "I’m listening."

"Good," he says softly. "I miss you."

His voice drops at the end, warm in that way that always makes my chest have that warm fuzzy feeling, I can’t stop the smile that pulls at my lips, small and helpless.

"I miss you too,Nolan," he adds suddenly, and beside me Nolan turns red so fast it’s almost comical. His ears even go pink.

Jack hears me exhale a laugh and immediately jumps on it.

"He’s like a tomato now, isn’t he?" Jack says, far too pleased with himself.

Nolan swings his gaze to me, eyes wide and silently screaming don’t you betray me, I betray him.

"He is," I admit, unable to hide the amusement that slips into my voice.

Jack laughs, this low, triumphant sound that fills the room. Even, Nolan pretending to be mad has his lips quirk up.

Then I hear him shift, the faint rustle of clothes and maybe sheets, like he’s leaning back and getting comfortable for this little interrogation.

"Do you not miss me too?" Jack asks, voice teasing but with something softer tucked under it.

I tuck my chin down and swallow.

"I do," I say quietly. "A lot."

There’s a pause. Just long enough to make my heart trip.

"And you, doggy?" Jack asks.

I slowly turn my head toward Nolan, who already has his jaw set like he’s preparing for battle. He mutters something under his breath—something that sounds like an insult more than an answer.

"Mm? What was that?" Jack presses, amused.

Nolan grumbles louder, still unintelligible.

"What?" Jack asks, all innocence.

Nolan explodes.

"I missed you, okay? Dammit!"

Jack’s victorious laugh booms through the line immediately. Nolan groans and drops his face into his palms like he’s reliving the most humiliating moment of his life.

I’ve missed this. Their stupid bickering. The way they fill up the room, even when they’re not in it together.

Then Jack’s tone shifts again, softening in that unmistakable way reserved only for one topic.

"Sunshine," he murmurs, "is my son asleep?"

The automatic way he says my son takes me off guard every time. Like he personally birthed Lanny, like he personally carried Lanny for nine months and delivered him himself on a battlefield.

Still... I let it slide. Just this once.

"No," I say gently. "He’s awake. He’s right here with us."

"Good," Jack breathes, and I can hear the tension ease in him, hear the way his shoulders must be dropping. "Let me hear him."

I glance at Nolan, who already seems less annoyed and more resigned, and then lift the phone a little, turning toward Lanny.

Lanny perks up immediately, eyes bright, little hands reaching.

"Dada!" Lanny squeals, kicking his legs like he’s trying to launch himself into the phone.

Jack’s breath catches immediately.

"Lanny? Little man? You recognize my voice?" he asks, voice warm and soft.

Lanny freezes, listening.

Then his whole face breaks into a sunburst smile.

"Waa dada waa!" he shrieks, flapping his arms.

Jack makes a shocked sound.

"Oh my god. Oh my god, he does. Sunshine, he does! He knows it’s me, I swear he knows!"

I look at Nolan.

Nolan looks at me.

We both sigh.

I lower Lanny all the way to the floor beside the phone so he can answer "properly."

Jack’s voice softens even more.

"Lanny? Baby, talk to me. What are you doing right now, huh?"

"Wagababa!" Lanny declares proudly.

Jack gasps dramatically.

"No way. Did you eat already? You did? Good boy. Such a good boy."

Lanny slaps the floor with both palms twice.

"Dadaaa!" he giggles.

Jack melts.I can hear him physically melting.

"Oh, I miss you so much," Jack murmurs. "You miss me? Do you miss Dada?"

"Gwaaah!" Lanny answers, reaching toward the phone like he can climb through it.

"There it is," Jack whispers. "That’s a yes. That’s definitely a yes."

Nolan mutters, "That was not a yes," but Jack ignores him completely.

Jack continues gently, like he’s having the most serious father-to-son conversation.

"Are you behaving? You better be.You can’t be causing trouble, okay?"

"Ah daaa gaaa!" Lanny shouts back, offended.

Jack chuckles.

"Okay, okay. I believe you. You’re being very good."

Lanny crawls closer to the phone until his face is practically pressed to it, babbling nonstop.

Jack’s voice cracks just a little.

"Yeah... I hear you, little guy. I hear everything. Dada’s right here. I’m not going anywhere."

I lie down on the floor beside Lanny, my head turned toward the phone.

Lanny thumps his little palm against my cheek, then goes right back to yelling stories only Jack seems to understand.

Jack hums softly on the other end, that warm tone he uses only for us.

"Oh? Really? You crawled that far today?"

"Wow, that’s my boy."

"You tell Dada everything, okay? I’m listening."

My eyes fall shut before I realize it.For the first time since we fled, the fear quiets.

The constant pressure in my ribs fades.

Even the air feels gentler.