CHAPTER 65: NEW MRS. MORRISON

Chapter Sixty Five

It was a photo of him shirtless, water droplets still clinging to his abs from what was obviously a post-workout shower. The message underneath read: "Good morning, pet. Sleep well?"

My face felt like it was on fire.

Who sends pictures like this at eight in the morning?!!!

What was I supposed to do with this?!!!

And why was my stupid brain immediately saving it to my camera roll?

I shoved my phone under my pillow and tried to calm my racing heart. This was not how I’d planned to start my morning, but Pumpkin and Kieran obviously didn’t care!

Downstairs, I found Mom and Pumpkin making breakfast.

The kitchen smelled like pancakes and bacon, which should have improved my mood, but I was still rattled from both William’s weird behavior and Kieran’s... visual assault.

"Morning, gold digger," Pumpkin chirped as I slumped into a chair and I threw her a glare.

"Good morning to you too, demon spawn," I muttered.

Mom was on the phone with someone, gesturing wildly as she talked. I should probably tell her that Dad was back in town, or did she already know about it? Her expression didn’t look good and the voice on the other end sounded like Mrs. Henderson, one of her work colleagues.

I flinched awkwardly when I noticed Pumpkin studying my face with the intensity of a cop.

"What?!" I was already on the defensive.

"Your skin looks different. Sweet brother,"

I touched my face instinctively, "It’s not,"

"No, it’s smoother and glowier. Like you’ve been using fancy face cream or something." Her eyes narrowed with evil delight.

"Oh wait, let me guess. Another gift from your sugar daddy?"

"He’s not my sugar daddy!" I protested, my voice cracking with outrage.

"And I haven’t even used any of that skincare stuff yet. Just know this, I’m not in the mood to be a benevolent soul today, I won’t take any disrespect from you!" I palmed the table to make my threat sound more intimidating.

"So think twice before saying anything that will piss me off!!" I added with a glare.

Pumpkin yawned dramatically, "You don’t look scary, you are just cringe, Ollie." Her eyes widened with a sparkle, "Ollie, isn’t this what your boyfriend calls you? I think it’s too normal, why not baby, honey or other sweet names like other couples?"

My nose wrinkled as I tried to imagine Kieran and me being that... sweet.

Impossible.

I shuddered at the thought, cringing hard.

"Because it’s none of your business what we call each other, my little pig,"

Pumpkin glared at me and looked thoughtful for a moment, tapping her finger against her chin in that annoying way that meant she was about to say something I definitely didn’t want to hear.

"If you and Kieran get married," she said suddenly, "who’s going to wear the wedding dress?"

I choked on my orange juice, spraying it across the table. "What kind of question is that?"

Marriage??

To Kieran?!!!

Who the hell talked about this?

"A practical one!" she said with a seriousness that made me want to smack her head.

"Why would either of us wear a dress?!!" I didn’t like how I sounded, it almost meant I was admitting to a likely future marriage.

"I mean, someone has to wear it, right? And between the two of you..." She gave me a once-over that somehow managed to be insulting.

"I think it’ll be you," she continued cheerfully, completely ignoring my outrage.

"You’re smaller, prettier, and you already act like a princess half the time."

"I do not act like a princess!" I banged my fist against the table.

"Plus, I saw all those things he bought you yesterday. He’s already taking care of you like a husband should. You’re practically his little housewife already." She grinned wickedly. "I can already picture it - you in a white dress, carrying a bouquet of daisies—"

"Pumpkin!" I warned, but whatever expression I had, she didn’t find it threatening because she continued.

"And I’ll be the flower girl!" she added excitedly, clapping her hands together. "I’ll wear a pink dress and throw rose petals! It’ll be so romantic!"

That was it. I’d reached my limit of Pumpkin’s commentary for the day.

I grabbed the roll of packing tape Mom had left on the counter and advanced on my sister with murderous intent.

"I’m going to seal your mouth shut so you can’t spout any more wedding fantasies!"

Pumpkin shrieked with laughter and took off running around the kitchen "Mom! Oliver’s trying to assault me with office supplies!"

"Come back here, you little demon! I’m going to tape you to a chair and ship you to Antarctica!"

"You’ll have to catch me first, future Mrs. Morrison!"

"I am not going to be Mrs. anything!"

"Mrs. Oliver Morrison has a nice ring to it!" she called over her shoulder, dodging around the dining table.

"That’s not even how names work!" Why the hell was she so fast?!!!

"Oliver Morrison-West?"She stuck out her tongue.

"I’m going to murder you!" I charged towards her.

We were in the middle of our chase - me waving the tape like a weapon while Pumpkin dodged behind furniture, still shouting wedding suggestions - when the doorbell rang.

We both froze mid-pursuit.

"Who could that be?" Mom asked, finally hanging up her phone. "We’re not expecting anyone"

The doorbell rang again, more insistent this time.

Something cold settled in my stomach as I glanced at Pumpkin, who had gone quiet for the first time all morning, her earlier playfulness evaporating.

Even she seemed to sense that something was off.

Mom walked toward the front door, her footsteps echoing in the sudden silence.

The house felt too quiet, like the calm before a storm.

I held my breath as she reached for the handle, a strange sense of dread building in my chest. The doorbell rang a third time, and I could hear the impatience in it.

The door opened.

Mom’s sharp intake of breath cut through the silence like a knife.

"David?"

My spine slowly stiffened.

It was Dad.