CHAPTER 109: 109-I WANT IRIS’ DAUGHTER

Zoe:

When Amy and Colin stepped outside with Kash and Iris, the house finally grew quiet.

"Ma’am, do you want me to take these toys away?" one of the maids asked, trying to get my attention while my eyes stayed on the children leaving the house.

"No, leave them there for a bit," I stated softly, giving her a small gesture to let me be.

I remained near the window, watching the kids walk toward the guesthouse.

Amy held Colin’s sleeve as they hurried along the path, both talking at the same time.

I wondered what they were saying, and I wondered why I cared.

Then Scarlett appeared. The two kids rushed to her and began talking nonstop.

I saw Kash and Iris standing outside, speaking to each other. It did not look pleasant.

I could already tell Iris was angry that he had brought her here and introduced us to his children.

I could not believe she would try to deprive me of such a perfect interaction.

My mother entered the living room behind me, smoothing the front of her dress the way she always did after guests left.

She walked to the table and began ordering the maids to gather the items, though I knew she was only keeping herself busy.

"They are different from what I expected," I said, breaking the silence.

She looked up at me.

"In what way?" she asked.

"They are easy to be around. They do not complain. They listen. And they like to play with anything you give them." I paused, trying to understand the feeling myself. "They are actually good kids, Mother."

My mother observed me with a slight tilt of her head, the same look she used whenever she tried to read my thoughts.

"You seem taken with the girl, Amy," she noted.

A small, broken smile formed on my lips.

"She is nothing like her mother," I replied. "She is open. She does not hold back. If she likes you, she shows it. If she wants something, she reaches for it." I sat down on the couch, thinking back to the dollhouse. "She is calm, but she is curious. She surprised me."

My smile began to fade, and my mother clearly noticed.

"What about the boy, Colin?" my mother questioned, snapping me from my thoughts.

"Colin is clever," I answered. "He pays attention even when he pretends not to. He kept checking how I reacted when he won the races. And he talks more than I expected. He is full of questions." I tried to give her a big smile, but it faltered.

My mother gestured for the maids to leave us and turned fully toward me.

"You sound attached," she remarked.

I shook my head, though I was not sure what I meant.

"No. I just did not think Kash’s children would be like that. I thought they would be difficult, loud, spoiled, just like their mother." I let out a slow breath.

A thin line formed at the corner of my mother’s mouth.

Not quite a smile. Not quite a frown. Something in between.

"Iris has always been the problem," she agreed. "She never understood how to behave. She still does not. After all, she came from a rogue community. She was never meant to wear a crown."

"You know, she watched me the whole time today," I said. "Not openly, but she kept checking everything I did. As if I had a reason to hurt her children." I looked back toward the window, annoyed by the memory. "She always acted like we were her enemies."

"Well, we did not give her any other reason to think otherwise," my mother replied calmly. "But that is her fault for being emotional, not ours. She should have known she was supposed to win our hearts, to take our insults and still show she was loyal to us."

Still, I could not stop thinking about the way Amy leaned against my arm or how Colin tried to show me the highest score he had ever earned.

They did not know the history. They did not know the fights.

They did not know who I had been to their mother.

"They are good kids, Mother," I repeated quietly. "They do not deserve anything from the past."

My mother stepped closer and touched my shoulder.

"And they will not get anything from the past unless Iris decides to stir something again."

I nodded but kept my thoughts to myself. I did not like Iris. I never had.

But her children, I liked them. More specifically, Amy.

"Mother, do you think such royal blood should be staying with us?" I asked, trying to keep my tone softer.

My mother sat down beside me on the couch, gently playing with my hair as she ran her fingers through it and placed it behind my shoulder.

"Sure," she replied. "But tell me, my daughter, what are you really thinking?" she asked as she placed her hand on my shoulder again.

There was warmth in her eyes and a look of support, as if she wanted me to be honest and would stand by my side.

"Why can’t I have Amy, Mother?" I asked.

As soon as the words left my mouth, her hand slipped away from my shoulder.

"I can adopt her," I added, shifting on the couch and turning toward her, my legs crossed beneath me.

"Zoe, what you are wishing for would cause chaos. Iris would lose control if she heard what you are planning," my mother uttered, keeping her voice lower because Kash could walk inside the house at any moment.

"Exactly. We need to make sure she has no reason and no voice left to scream. I want Amy, Mother. I can be her mother. Please." I insisted, holding her hand and pulling it against my chest so she could feel my heartbeat. "I am fascinated with that child. I will be the best mother for her. Please. Wouldn’t you want your grandchildren to live with us?"

My mother slowly zoned out, and I recognized that look. She was impressed.

"Fine then, but we will have to be very meticulous. We will need to ruin Iris’s reputation to the point where the entire werewolf community, along with the council, decides to remove her and give us the children," my mother said softly.

Then she smiled and looked behind me, and I already knew Kash had arrived.

"Mom, I am so happy Iris gave us the chance to meet the kids. They are perfect," I said, changing my tone and even saying Iris’s name with a loving sound.

"You loved them?" Kash asked.

I acted as if I had not known he was behind me.

"Oh, when did you come back?" I asked with a smile.

"Just now, when you were praising the children. They are cute, aren’t they?" Kash asked.

I nodded. He looked so happy, and I was happy too. I only had to convince him.

I had to make my brother realize that his children should be here permanently, and I was going to do everything in my power to make it happen.