Unexpected Marriage With Mr. Leighton: Rebirth of the Villain-Chapter 326: SHE LIKES THE TASTE
River loved her daughter deeply, but she couldn’t even think of where Ashlyn developed this poor sleeping habit. She did miss her, but not her bum on her face.
"Ash, gosh." River pushed Ashlyn’s bum from her face; she got a lot heavier, therefore her weight on her chest almost choked her.
Ashlyn had been sleeping with River and Ranon for the past two days because River desired her company. She felt good having her daughter close to her, though Ranon gave her a dirty look, which she pretended she didn’t see. More so, he didn’t say anything at all.
"Morning," Ranon greeted her with a kiss. He brought breakfast for the two of them.
"Morning," River yawned. She sat down and stretched out her body while Ashlyn was still blissfully sleeping next to her. She stared at her daughter and was deep in thought. "I wonder why she still doesn’t say anything."
This was the question that River frequently asked absentmindedly. She felt very guilty because of it.
"Give her time; she will." Ranon caressed Ashlyn’s chubby cheek after he put the breakfast on the table.
"Where are you going?" River remembered that Ranon said that he would stay at home for three days with them, but today was the third day, and he looked as if he was ready to go back to work.
"There is something that needs my attention." Ranon kissed River’s cheek.
"I need your attention," River said coquettishly, and Ranon raised his brows.
"You always have my attention, love." Ranon nodded to the tray full of food. "Eat. I will come back this afternoon, and we can have lunch together."
"Is there a problem at work?" River knew Ranon. He would not leave unless it was urgent to forfeit his time with his family.
"A little bit of a problem, but it is fine." Ranon smiled to reassure River, but she squinted her eyes.
"Sure?"
"Yes." Ranon chuckled.
River was silent for a while, but in the end, she let go of the topic. If Ranon said it was not something for her to be worried about, then she would take his words as they were.
Even if there was a problem with the company, she didn’t think she could help, since business was not her forte.
"Okay, is there something you want to eat for lunch?" River felt strange living this peaceful life, but if she had to choose, she would choose this life with Ranon and Ashlyn, cooking for them and taking care of them.
Well, she could say this was her retirement.
But before that, she needed to meet with all of the Lozens’ men first...
***
After a month of Arthur and Aubrey’s death, River came to visit their graves again. The sky was rather clear, and the wind brought the fragrance of fresh flowers around the graveyard.
On the path covered with green grass, River walked toward Aubrey and Arthur’s graves; she brought flowers for the two of them. There were a few other fresh flowers too.
River assumed some of Lozen’s men had visited here, and Rye must have come regularly too.
Crouching down, River stared at their tombs; her mind was elsewhere, thinking of the memories that she thought she had forgotten.
She remembered when she and Aubrey were very young. Little Aubrey would follow her everywhere; she would hold her hand and happily bother her.
Little Aubrey would twirl in front of River when their father bought a new dress. Her little face was beaming. She didn’t mean to make River jealous; she only wanted to share her happiness with her older sister.
Aubrey was five when they went to the beach house for the first time, and they built a sandcastle.
River was surprised when these memories resurfaced. They were close before, but she didn’t know when they started to grow apart and ended up like this.
For Michael and Arlo, they were buried somewhere else, but River didn’t have a plan to visit them any time soon. She was still trying to gather her thoughts.
It was not only about revenge when it came to the Barlowes and McKennas. It was way more complicated than that.
River also remembered when she met with Michael for the first time; he was a very unruly little boy who loved to cause trouble.
River wondered if Michael and Logan had met, would they be good friends or enemies, since they were very much alike.
Little Michael had disliked Aubrey even when they met for the first time. River remembered how she had to separate them when they played together because Michael would make Aubrey cry.
It was not easy to look after the two of them when their parents had important things to discuss and didn’t want to be bothered by their children.
It was a small fight, nothing significant, and now when they grew up, the reality surrounded them, and the fight was no longer insignificant.
River had to spend most of her time with them, and Arlo had the same responsibility; they grew closer. They were the only children within the family, including the McKennas’ siblings; therefore, their circle was limited.
All of these memories surprised River, because she woke up one day, and all of it came back, as if it just happened yesterday.
She was lost in thought; yet, something bothered her when she felt someone walk in her direction, and when she turned around, she saw Rafael approaching with two fresh bouquets of flowers.
River narrowed her eyes. How could this man know she was here?
"Long time no see," Rafael said as he handed over the flowers to River. He flashed her his playful grin.
"Do you think I am dead?"
"Of course not; flowers are not meant for dead people only, right? Moreover, I saved you, remember?" Rafael looked hurt. "But you repaid me by running away from me. I am so hurt." He then showed a small scar on his forehead. "You also gave this to me, but I will think of it as a gift."
River didn’t take the flowers from his hands. "What do you want?"
Rafael glanced at Arthur’s tomb on his left side. "Thinking of stealing their tombs."
"Do whatever you please," River said before she walked away. She didn’t have time to deal with Rafael.
She felt better now, and she knew Rafael was not really good with self-defense; even when she was still not in good condition, she still could take him down, so he was not a threat for her.
"Hey, can we talk?" Rafael tossed the flower bouquet to Arthur and Aubrey’s graves before he followed River. "Why did you run away? I saved your life; is that how you repaid me? How could you?"
"What do you want me to do to make it even?" River hastened her steps, but Rafael kept up; he walked next to her.
"I want you. I saved you, so I want you."
At this point, River knew that Rafael would use this fact against her.
"I am not a thing that you can claim." River looked around. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺
"What? So, Ranon Leighton can claim you?" Rafael followed River’s gesture out of instinct. "What are you looking for?"
"A witness. In case I have an urge to kill you here." River walked faster.
"River!" Rafael hastened his steps too. "You ungrateful woman! How could you threaten me that way?!"
"Don’t you think it is a good idea to kill you here so I don’t have a difficult time burying you? I can find an empty slot and push you down."
"Hey!" Rafael was upset with the way River was talking. This woman was so mean.
Right at that time, Ranon approached the two of them. He was carrying a little girl in his arms. He had been waiting for River in the car with Ashlyn when he saw Rafael approach her.
At first, Ranon didn’t feel the need to intervene, since Rafael wouldn’t be a threat when he was alone. Ranon didn’t spot any of his men around.
However, when he saw that Rafael continued to bother his woman, Ranon decided to take action otherwise.
"Why are you here?" Rafael asked unhappily when he saw Ranon.
Seeing Ranon, River walked toward him happily. Seeing River, Ashlyn leaned her body toward her and asked to be carried. She had been anxious when she was waiting inside the car; she wanted to go out too.
River carried her daughter and kissed her cheek. "Let’s go."
And with that, Ranon and River, along with their daughter, went back to their car, completely ignoring Rafael, as if he were only a ghost in this graveyard.
"Mr. Leighton, I see you have a luxury time to go around. Why aren’t you at the office? I think there are a lot of things for you to deal with."
Rafael goaded Ranon, but they didn’t even bother to slow down or even stop walking.
"Hey, don’t ignore me!" Rafael hastily followed them. "Why would you want to go with him? Your taste in men is questionable!"
River was upset when she heard that, but before she could speak, Ranon beat her to it.
"Not really, she has tasted me, and she likes it." Ranon had an emotionless expression when he said that. He looked at Rafael straight in his eyes.
Not only Rafael but also River was speechless. Both of them were thinking the same thing: shameless!
River didn’t know whether she had to laugh or be angry with this man. His comeback was always smooth but also hit the nail. Well, she couldn’t say that she didn’t like it.
