His Untamed Rose novel Chapter 141

The argument between father and son ended with Cedric being thrown out of the house.

Cedric knew Alistair had, in the end, caved to his threats and compromised, handing him the task of bringing the child back.

“Cedric!” Winona hurried down the stairs after him, carrying a bandage and ointment, her face etched with worry. “Your forehead’s bleeding. Let me put some medicine on it.”

He didn’t slow down, heading straight for the front door. “No need. Go look after him instead,” he said quietly. “If you leave him alone, he might just pass out from the shock.”

Winona sighed. “Cedric, your father’s been upset these last few days, that’s all. He’s harsh, yes, but he’s trying to clear a path for you. Did you have to say all those things to provoke him? Taking the child and leaving the mother behind? I know you’d never do something like that.”

“You sent Lumina away, partly to give her freedom, partly to keep her safe. That child she’s carrying is a target—countless Royce eyes are watching her…”

“You’re doing all this for her. I get it—only I do. But how could she ever understand?”

Her voice was hoarse as she stepped softly behind him, reaching out as if to take his elegant, long fingers. “And now she’s hellbent on staying with your brother, no matter what it costs her.”

All Winona wanted was for Cedric to know that she was the one who truly understood him.

Cedric frowned, pulling his hand away. “Don’t bring this up again,” he warned softly. “Not until I’ve looked into it myself.”

His tone was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.

Winona’s heart fluttered; she withdrew her hand, murmuring a quiet assent.

She watched the man she couldn’t stop longing for walk away without so much as a backward glance, and laughed at herself, bitterly.

“How did you get hurt like this?”

Hilton was waiting by the car. From a distance, he’d seen Cedric approaching, blood streaming down his face. He ran over, alarmed.

Blood had nearly covered half of Cedric’s forehead, the dried crimson stark and shocking. Looking closer, even his lashes were stained. Cedric, however, seemed not to notice. “Let’s talk in the car.”

The engine started, and they pulled away from the Royce estate. Hilton headed for the hospital.

“Alistair wants Lumina’s child,” Cedric said flatly.

He hadn’t expected Alistair to play the same game as Cedric.

“Isn’t it ridiculous?” Cedric suddenly laughed. “Alistair and I—we really are father and son. We use the same methods.”

Hilton gripped the steering wheel, sweat slick on his brow. “The person you sent to Yuria was meant to protect Lumina, to keep her safe until the baby’s born, then let her go. But now…”

Cedric seemed exhausted. He nodded. “Yeah. Have Xenon get in touch with our contact there. Make sure they keep a close eye on Lumina. And if anything happens, I want to know immediately.”

“Understood.”

“And tell them to make a list for me—everyone Lumina sees regularly in Yuria. Names, ages, appearances, backgrounds. I want a full report.”

Cedric pressed his fingers to his brow, his voice heavy. “I need to check every single one.”

Hilton frowned. It had been years since he’d seen Cedric look this uneasy.

Cedric closed his eyes for a moment, trying to rest, but still couldn’t relax. He opened them again. “Everyone around Alistair is either sharp as a tack or dangerous as hell. If you think about it… our people might not be a match for them.”