CHAPTER 151: I CAN TAKE THE LEAD

"By the way, put your shirt back on," Cassidy said, giving Zeke’s bare chest a light tap.

But Zeke caught her hand, pressing it firmly against his chest instead. His voice dropped, serious, "Can you feel it, baby? My heart’s pounding so fast, so hard because of your confession."

Cassidy felt the strong and hard beat under her palm, and she smirked, teasing, "How many women have you used that line on?"

"Only you, baby," Zeke said without hesitation. His gaze didn’t waver. "Only you. No one else has ever made my heart race like this."

"I don’t believe you. With your ridiculously handsome face and all that wealth, I’m sure women have been all over you since you were a teenager," Cassidy said, a trace of jealousy slipping into her voice.

"You’re right."

"What? What did you just say?" Cassidy gasped, shocked by how easily he admitted it.

Zeke chuckled, teasing her. "Baby, are you jealous?"

"Who said I’m jealous? I’m not jealous," Cassidy argued.

"Really? Then why is there a little frown on your smooth forehead right now, baby?" Zeke asked, brushing his fingers gently across her brow.

Cassidy swatted his hand away. "You’re making it up."

Zeke laughed softly before his tone turned sincere. "You’re right. I was surrounded by women from the time I was young until before I married. But I never really saw them, never gave them my heart or my love. Not once. Only you, baby. You’re the one I’ve given both my love and my heart to. And if you asked me now, I’d give you my life and everything I own. All of it—my fortune, everything I have. It’s yours."

Hearing Zeke’s serious words, Cassidy suddenly felt the urge to test him. Her eyes lit up with a mischievous spark. "Seriously? You mean I can have everything, anything that’s yours?"

Zeke nodded without hesitation. "Yeah, anything you want. You can have it."

"Even your company? If I asked for all your shares in Salvador Group, would you give them to me?"

Zeke let out a short breath and shook his head. "No, not that."

Cassidy’s face instantly darkened. She hadn’t been serious about the request, it was only a test. But the way his answer clashed with his earlier promise pierced her heart.

So, men’s words really are worthless, she thought bitterly.

"So all that was just talk to make me feel good? You weren’t serious at all? You know what I hate most, Zeke? A liar," Cassidy snapped, folding her arms across her chest to show she meant every word.

Zeke only smiled. "You look adorable," he teased, reaching out to pinch her cheek. Cassidy slapped his hand away and turned her body, refusing to look at him.

Zeke let out a breath. "It’s not that I don’t want to give you my shares of Salvador Group, baby. I’ve already given them to Claire."

Cassidy’s eyes widened as she whipped her head back toward him. "What did you just say? You gave your shares to Claire?"

"Not now," Zeke clarified quickly. "But I’ve made a will. When Claire turns twenty-five, every share I own in Salvador Group will be hers."

Suddenly, Cassidy understood what Zeke meant. A wave of guilt washed over her, she had let her emotions get the better of her.

"So you want to give your shares to Claire? But... what if she doesn’t want to run your company? What if she has her own dreams and doesn’t want to be tied to it?" Cassidy asked seriously.

She knew how much the Salvador Group shares meant to Zeke and how valuable they were in the world. She didn’t want Claire to feel burdened by them.

Zeke looked at her with a soft smile. "It’s fine. If she doesn’t want to, I’ll never force her. Let her choose her own path. The shares will still be hers, whether she runs the company or not."

Cassidy’s eyes softened, a hint of relief in them. "Are you serious?"

"Of course," Zeke said firmly. "I’ve thought it through. If Claire doesn’t want to, her sibling can take over later."

Cassidy frowned, confused. "Her sibling? Do you mean... you have another child out there? An illegitimate child?" Her expression sharpened, eyes narrowing in demand.

Zeke chuckled softly. "No, no illegitimate child, baby." He leaned closer, lowering his voice until it brushed against her ear. "I mean... our second child."

"Excuse me?" Cassidy instinctively hit his chest, shocked by what he said.

"Yeah, baby. That way, Claire will have a sibling. If she doesn’t want to run the company one day, our second child can. And if the second doesn’t want it either, the third can take over. I’m hoping we can give Claire a few siblings soon. Do you agree, baby?"

"You..." Cassidy couldn’t find words, still stunned that Zeke was already thinking this far ahead.

"We can give Claire a sibling, so if she doesn’t want to run the company someday, our second child can. And if the second one doesn’t want it either, the third can take over. I’m hoping we can give Claire a few siblings as soon as possible. Do you agree with me, baby?"

"You..." Cassidy couldn’t find words, still stunned that Zeke was already thinking this far ahead.

"Claire wants siblings too. Don’t you remember, baby? She asked us to give her a little brother or sister," Zeke teased, gently stroking Cassidy’s arm, enjoying her flustered reaction.

Cassidy frowned for a moment, but then her expression softened. Zeke had a point, she did remember Claire wanting a sibling.

Truthfully, Cassidy had never thought about having another child. Even carrying Claire had been unexpected. A second or third child had never crossed her mind.

"Do you want to have another baby?" Cassidy asked seriously, considering the idea.

Zeke nodded. "Yeah. I want to have many children with you."

Cassidy let out a soft sigh. "Alright... but there’s one condition."

Zeke’s face brightened instantly at her words. "A condition? What is it, baby?"

"If we’re going to have a second child, I want us to get married again. I don’t want our second baby born while we’re still divorced," Cassidy said setting her terms.

She knew Zeke was serious about her, and she also knew their relationship would eventually lead back to remarriage. But Claire’s wish for a sibling, combined with Zeke’s earlier words, pushed Cassidy to speak the sacred words she had been holding back.

"You’re saying... you’re proposing to me now? Oh my god..." Zeke replied, a teasing look in his eyes.

Cassidy’s lips twitched at his playful comment. She hadn’t actually proposed, but in a way, her words had felt like one.

Zeke chuckled at her expression, finding it utterly adorable. He took her hand in his. "Of course, baby. I’ll marry you. I’ve been thinking about it," he said happily. Then, with mock disappointment, he added, "But I’m a little upset... you beat me to the proposal."

Cassidy stayed quiet, watching Zeke with a mix of exasperation and amusement. Ever since they got back together, she’d realized just how good he was at teasing and at making her lose her words.

"So... how about we start practicing making a little sibling for Claire, huh? Just a quick session, baby," Zeke murmured in her ear, his tone low and teasing.

Cassidy let out a scoff, glancing down at her sore foot. "Don’t you see my foot like this? Whose fault is it that it ended up like this?"

Zeke smirked, leaning a little closer. "Relax, baby. I can manage... without touching your toes." His confident grin made it hard for Cassidy not to laugh, even as she shook her head.

"You’re so desperate, huh? But... what can I do? I don’t want to," Cassidy teased back, pretending to resist.

"You don’t want to? Baby, have I ever done anything wrong or made it uncomfortable for you when we’re together?" Zeke asked, his voice suddenly serious. "If something isn’t right, you can tell me. Teach me what you like, what feels good to you."

Cassidy’s cheeks flushed instantly, her heart skipping a beat at his words. She couldn’t hide how flustered she felt.

"But... if you don’t want to do it right now, I can take the lead," Zeke added, his tone teasing but confident. "You just relax... let me handle things."

Cassidy’s face heated further. "Please... just stop it, Ezekiel," she said, half-laughing, half-annoyed.

"Baby, honestly, I don’t like people calling me by my full name but coming from you... it just drives me crazy," he teased, leaning closer, holding her hand in his. "Just like now," he whispered, letting his hand linger closer to the area beneath his pajama pants, making Cassidy’s pulse race.

Cassidy’s eyes widened instantly, a deep flush spreading across her cheeks. She pulled her hand back as if the heat from his touch had burned her.

"E-Ezekiel..." she stammered, face burning.

Her heart raced, a mix of embarrassment and the undeniable thrill his teasing sent through her.

***