CHAPTER 439: A MORNING WITH THE CARTERS

Five Years Later

"Good morning, love," Sebastian murmured sleepily as he leaned in and kissed her lips.

Lilith groaned and pushed his face away halfheartedly, her voice muffled in the pillow. "Let me sleep a little longer..."

"Nooo," he whispered dramatically, wrapping his arms around her waist like a koala refusing to let go. "It’s morning. My beautiful wife is glowing in this light, and I need my dose of you."

His nose brushed the side of her neck, and he began peppering her skin with soft, lazy kisses. The marks from last night were still there—evidence of his wild side, which hadn’t dimmed even after marriage.

"She’s coming today," he whispered.

"Argh," Lilith opened one eye. "So what?"

But the moment she felt his hands slipping under the blanket again, tracing the shape of her hip with maddening slowness, her voice rose. "Human dolllll!" she whined, kicking her feet under the sheets.

Last night, he had promised two rounds.

But this man—no, this demon emperor in disguise—was shameless.

"Hehe... my lovely, delicate wife," Sebastian chuckled, flipping their bodies so she was beneath him, and rested his forehead against hers. "I just want to cuddle."

"Your hands don’t know what cuddle means," she muttered, but she wasn’t pushing him away this time.

Eventually, after much sighing and teasing and dressing up, the two were finally ready. Lilith stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of her soft blue blouse. Sebastian stood behind her, fixing the buttons on his black shirt while sneaking glances at the clock.

"Where is my little angel?" he groaned, frowning. "She’s late."

Lilith laughed under her breath. "Last night you said it’s nice to sleep in without anyone climbing on your back and calling you ’Daddy Monster.’"

"I lied," Sebastian grumbled.

As if on cue, the sound of a car stopping outside echoed into the house. Sebastian was already halfway to the door.

"Wait—don’t run like a madman," Lilith called.

But it was too late. He flung the door open, and his eyes lit up.

There she was.

A little figure came bouncing up the stairs in a sky-blue frock with soft white lace, sparkling shoes that clicked on the steps, and her hair tied neatly into two puffy pigtails. Her cheeks were chubby, her big eyes a magical mix of blue and pale green, and her smile was brighter than the sun.

"Daddy!!" she shouted, throwing herself into his open arms.

"My Lyana!" Sebastian gasped, lifting her off the ground and spinning her once. "My baby! Did you miss me?"

She nodded seriously and cupped his cheeks with her small hands. "But Grandpa gave me new crayons. I almost forgot you."

"Almost?!" he gasped in mock betrayal. "That hurts!"

Lilith stood behind them, arms folded, watching her husband and daughter with a fond smile. Lennox and Daisy followed behind, both smiling as they carried a box of toys and Lyana’s tiny suitcase.

"She was a good girl," Lennox said proudly. "Slept early, no tantrums."

"She made a strawberry tart with me!" Daisy added. "She even said it’s for you, Lilith."

Lyana looked up at her mother and held out a squished napkin parcel. "Here! I saved it with my heart."

Lilith bent down, accepting it like it was a diamond necklace. "Thank you, my love."

After a warm round of goodbyes, Lennox and Daisy left, and Lyana skipped into the living room.

She climbed up the couch and plopped between her parents, grabbing both of their hands like she owned them.

"Daddy?" she said seriously. "When I grow up, I want to marry someone like you."

Sebastian blinked. "Oh?"

"Yeah. Someone who makes pancakes, fixes robots, and says I’m the best."

Lilith burst out laughing. "Your standards are high."

"She gets it from you," Sebastian murmured, his head resting comfortably on Lilith’s shoulder as they sat on the couch, watching their daughter color her books with intense focus.

Lilith smiled, brushing a finger through his hair. "You’re just saying that because she copies your pouting face when she doesn’t get her way."

Before he could argue, Lilith’s phone buzzed. She glanced down, eyebrows arching when she saw the name flashing on the screen.

"Ava?" she said aloud and picked up.

"Hello, aunty!" a sweet little voice chirped through the speaker.

Lilith blinked. "Who’s this?"

"It’s me! I’m Leo! Mommy said I can call Lya noona today!" the child squealed, dragging out his syllables. "Can I talk to her, pleaaaase?"

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed.

"Who is trying to talk to my daughter?" he asked slowly, voice dangerously calm.

Lilith held the phone away slightly and mouthed, "Leo."

Sebastian sat up so fast that even Lyana looked up in confusion.

Lilith looked at him and mouthed, ’Relax.’

"I am relaxed," Sebastian said tightly. "But why is that Leo boy calling my daughter during family time?"

"Human doll," Lilith sighed, already regretting this moment.

Lyana giggled. "Is that Leo? I wanna talk!"

She reached for the phone, but Sebastian intercepted it like a professional goalkeeper.

"She can’t talk right now," he said flatly into the phone.

There was a pause.

"Uncle Sebastian?" the baby voice whispered.

"Yeah, it’s me."

"Are you mad?"

"I’m not mad," Sebastian replied with a forced smile. "I’m just very curious why a little boy wants to talk to my daughter."

"Because she gave me her cookie and told me my hair was soft!" Leo replied cheerfully.

Lilith nearly burst out laughing.

"She also told me if I’m ever sad, I can hug her!" Leo added proudly.

Sebastian stood up. "Absolutely not."

"Human dolllll!" Lilith smacked his arm and took the phone back.

"Leo, sweetie," she said gently. "We’ll call you later, okay? Lyana’s still busy with her coloring."

"Okay aunty! I drew her a flower. Byeeeee!"

Lilith ended the call and turned to see Sebastian already marching toward their home office.

"What are you doing now?" she called.

"Revising the contract," he replied without pausing. "Clause 11.2: No romantic involvement until the age of 40. Clause 11.3: All male friends must undergo a background check. Clause 11.4: No hugging boys unless it’s her grandfather, uncle, or me."

Lilith dragged her hand down her face. "I thought you were joking about that ridiculous contract."

"I wasn’t," Sebastian said from the hallway. "I even laminated it."

Lyana tilted her head. "Mommy, what’s a clause?"

"Something Daddy makes up when he’s jealous."

"I’m not jealous!" Sebastian called back.

"You sound jealous!" Lilith and Lyana said together.

He returned, holding a printed document in one hand and a pen in the other.

Lyana squinted at the paper. "Is that my name?"

"Signature line," he said seriously, crouching beside her. "Right here. Sign that you’ll never date until you’re forty."

Lyana giggled and scribbled a cat drawing instead.

Sebastian stared at it. "That... works for now."

Lilith just shook her head with a fond smile.

Sometimes he was Alexander. Sometimes Ray. Sometimes Gray. Sometimes Darkness. And sometimes—he was just Sebastian, the overprotective father who could battle a thousand demons, run a billion-dollar empire... but still lose sleep if a boy dared flirt with his daughter.

And secretly, Lilith loved him more for it.