I Owe the Tyrant Four Little Heirs novel Chapter 169

"He said he likes you!"

Niamh was speechless, her face instantly flushing crimson. How could he say something like that in front of a child?

"Mr. Bragg, if you keep this up, I'm going to have to ask you to leave," she said, her voice tight with anger.

"Ms. Lynn, I swear I didn't say a thing. Your son is framing me," Jareth replied, a look of pure innocence on his face.

Niamh's furious gaze shifted from Jareth to Keir, who looked even more wronged.

"Mommy, Keir is an honest boy! He really said it! He said he likes you! He wants you to be his girlfriend! And he wants us to help him!"

"Jove, Phaedra, Aurelia, back me up! Didn't he just say that?" Keir's expression was a perfect picture of aggrievement.

"Yeah, he did," Phaedra piped up immediately. She was always on Keir's side, no matter what; they were the closest of all the siblings.

Aurelia, however, glanced at Jove. When he remained silent, she did too. She always followed his lead, and besides, Keir was always picking on her, so she wasn't inclined to help him out.

"Mommy, that's not what happened. Keir's just making things up," Jove finally said.

"That's right! Keir's lying," Aurelia quickly added.

"Jove, how could you sell me out like that? I thought we were brothers!" Keir yelled. Then, his expression shifted as he turned back to Jareth, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Mr. Bragg, I was just kidding around. Don't take it seriously."

"Jove, Aurelia, you two can stop now," Niamh said, her voice sharp with anger. Keir's ability to tell such blatant lies was getting out of hand. She had no idea who he got it from.

“So what if you're her boss?” Keir thought defiantly. “I'm her son.”

Jareth was genuinely surprised by how good Niamh’s cooking was. The simple bowl of beef pasta was absolutely incredible, rivaling the meals prepared by his own part-time cook. For a fleeting, absurd moment, he wondered if Niamh could possibly be the same person. He dismissed the thought as soon as it formed—the world wasn't that small.

Niamh had been about to ask him how it tasted, but seeing him devour it so ravenously, she swallowed her words.

"Ms. Lynn, make more next time," Jareth said as he finished the last drop of broth.

Niamh rolled her eyes. A flicker of suspicion crossed her mind. She knew he normally had a small appetite... Was he trying to eat her out of house and home, knowing how little money she had?

When Niamh finished cleaning the kitchen and returned to the living room, Jareth and the quadruplets were gone.