His Untamed Rose novel Chapter 90

Cedric’s lips curled in a faint, almost indifferent smile. “Some fathers don’t deserve to be called human.”

Winona’s heart skipped at his words. She quickly looked down, her lashes trembling. He hadn’t said more, but every syllable radiated a quiet, fierce protectiveness.

She didn’t dare say another word. The rest of the ride passed in heavy silence. When they reached her house, she slipped out of the car without a backward glance.

Cedric pressed his foot to the gas and merged onto a familiar side street. He drove past Yadiel’s place and pulled up in front of the Jardin family’s old manor.

The house was silent, inside and out. But if you looked closely, a faint light flickered in a small window on the second floor.

Cedric went to knock. As soon as his fist rapped the wood, the light upstairs snapped off.

No one answered.

He was patient. He knocked, waited, knocked again, his rhythm never hurried, never angry.

Night had settled over Banyan Town, bringing with it a biting chill. Soon, heavy clouds smothered the sky, and a fine, relentless rain swept across the city, drenching everything, including the man waiting quietly at the door.

Three, maybe four hours passed before footsteps finally echoed overhead.

The door cracked open just an inch. Tiana’s tired, wary eyes peered out. “I don’t know you.”

Cedric offered her a gentle, unthreatening smile. “I’d like to talk about Lumina. If you don’t mind.”

Tiana gave him a long, appraising look. He wasn’t just anyone—his tailored coat, the confidence in his posture, even in the rain—he looked every bit the man from money.

But she remembered what Yael had told her when he was taken away: Don’t open the door for anyone.

“It’s not a good time,” she said flatly, trying to close the door.

Cedric caught it with a firm hand, his voice calm. “Tiana, you’re Lumina’s mother. Whether or not she did it, you know the truth better than anyone.”

Tiana froze. Suspicion flared in her eyes as she looked up at him. “And who exactly are you to Lumina?”

Raindrops clung to his thick lashes, turning his face into something almost ethereal. Cedric’s lips quirked in a pale, tired smile. “Just a man who’s always cleaning up her messes.”

The pain made her words come out ragged and broken. She pressed a trembling hand to her belly, forcing out each syllable: “Hurry… please…”

Nancy’s mind was blank with panic, but she did as she was told. She grabbed a coat, snatched an umbrella, and helped Lumina out into the driving rain.

“Ms. Jardin? Ms. Jardin!” Nancy’s voice was tight with fear as she gripped Lumina’s icy-cold hand.

Lumina could barely walk, her whole weight sagging against Nancy’s side.

They stood at the curb for what felt like forever, rain soaking them to the bone, before they finally flagged down a cab.

Nancy bundled Lumina inside and fumbled for her phone, ready to call Cedric.

But Lumina’s blood-smeared hand clamped onto her wrist, her voice barely a whisper. “No. Don’t call him.”

Nancy stared at her in confusion. This wasn’t just a heavy period—no one bled like this, no one hurt like this.

A terrible realization dawned in Nancy’s eyes. She looked at Lumina, stricken. “Ms. Jardin… are you—?”