Chapter 57: Pretense

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Pretense Nova stayed silent under her glare, his eyes locked on her face as if nothing else existed. Slowly, his hand lifted, reaching toward her cheek. Betty’s expression darkened instantly. Shifting Sophia securely to one arm, her other hand curled into a tight fist—ready to break his fingers the second he touched her. From the side, Leon crossed his arms, watching the scene unfold with an unreadable smirk. ’Looks like he’s about to lose that hand for trying to touch a grade-three awakener.’ Before Nova’s hand could reach her, Sophia’s innocent voice broke the tension. "Mother, who is he? Do you know him?" Nova froze mid-motion. His eyes widened as if struck by lightning. "...Are you married?" he asked, disbelief thick in his tone. Betty blinked at the unexpected question, then a sly smirk curved her lips. She tilted Sophia’s chin affectionately and replied, her voice laced with deliberate sweetness: "Of course I’m married. And she’s my daughter. Why do you ask, Mister?" She emphasized the mister like a sharp knife, reminding him she didn’t know him at all. ’I need to make sure this Nova never gets any ideas about me.’ "Ah, Betty," A familiar voice echoed from above. Betty looked up to see David and Ethan descending the stairs. Nova turned his head toward the sound. The moment he saw the man, an unfamiliar ache stabbed his chest. His hand instinctively clutched the fabric over his heart. ’What is this feeling? Why does it feel like something of mine is being stolen?’ Betty’s eyes brightened the moment she saw David. Her smirk deepened as an idea struck. Without hesitation, she hurried up a few steps toward him and, before he could react, gently placed Sophia into his arms. David blinked, utterly stunned. Ethan, a few steps behind, scratched his head in confusion. Leaning close to David’s ear, Betty whispered, her voice low and urgent: "Pretend to be my husband for a while. I need to get rid of a creep." David froze, then schooled his expression into calmness. His brow furrowed slightly as his eyes flicked to Nova. ’Why pretend? If he’s a creep, just beat him up... simple.’ Sophia shifted uncomfortably in David’s arms, missing her mother’s warmth, but she stayed quiet—her little ears catching every word. Nova’s gaze followed Betty, his expression softening unnaturally as he spoke, voice strangely gentle: "...Is he your husband, miss?" Betty smirked, sliding her arm through David’s with a casual intimacy that made Ethan gasp behind them, his hand flying to cover his mouth. "Yes. Isn’t he handsome?" She beamed proudly, tightening her hold on David’s arm. "He’s also the father of my daughter." David’s face flushed crimson, unused to such closeness, though he kept his composure outwardly. Nova’s fingers curled into a fist. His chest burned with an inexplicable rage, a violent urge to tear her hand away from David’s arm, consuming him. ’Why... why do I feel like it’s my right to hold her hand instead?’ Meanwhile, David’s heartbeat thundered as he felt Betty’s fingers squeeze his arm—and then slowly, shamelessly grope his biceps. ’Muscles, muscles, muscles... hehehe,’ Betty thought, her lips curving into a satisfied smile as she led David downstairs without hesitation. "Wait a minute." Nova’s voice stopped her in her tracks as she passed him. Betty turned, her brows furrowing. "What do you want to say now, Mister?" Nova froze, his lips parting as if to speak, but nothing came out. "N-Nothing." Without another glance, he strode past her and climbed the stairs, brushing by Ethan. Behind him, Leon followed with a smirk, tugging at his lips. "Can you let go of me now?" David’s voice broke the silence, calm as ever, though a faint flush spread across his cheeks. Betty blinked, realizing her hand was still gripping his arm, and worse, her fingers were resting firmly against his bicep. She released him in an instant, clearing her throat. "Ahem... thanks for your help." Scooping Sophia back into her arms, she turned and hurried down the stairs without looking back. David’s gaze lingered on her retreating figure, his eyes narrowing slightly. His heartbeat thudded harder than normal. Ethan came to stand beside him, catching the subtle redness on his brother’s face. His lips curled into a teasing grin. "Hehe... Brother, don’t tell me, you fell in love, huh? Come on, you can tell me. I’m your brother." David’s eyes flicked to him, expression sharp, though the tips of his ears betrayed him. "Don’t talk nonsense. Who falls in love from a little touch?" Ethan whistled, folding his arms behind his head with a smug look. "Hoo... I’ve seen people fall in love at first sight. And between you and me, I’m an expert in these things. I’m not a bachelor like you." A vein pulsed on David’s forehead. "You say that like you’ve dated countless women. You’ve only ever had one girlfriend, and she’s your ex now." Ethan clutched his chest dramatically, his face twisting in mock pain. "Brother! How could you say that?! Even if it was only one, that still makes me more experienced than a bachelor like you!" "Do you want to die, huh?" Ethan quickly ran downstairs, seeing his dark getting darker than coal. --- Betty walked down the street, her head slightly lowered as a faint flush crept across her cheeks. Tch... why was I groping his muscles? That was so embarrassing. "Tch. Master, what was that? When did you become so shameless?" Calista’s sarcastic voice rang in her ears, making Betty’s temple twitch. She clenched her jaw, choosing to ignore the little bird’s jab as she continued walking. "What do you mean, little birdie?" Betty froze when she heard Sophia’s innocent voice respond to Calista. Her eyes widened as she looked down at her daughter. "Huh? You... you can hear Calista outside the space?" Sophia tilted her head, nodding earnestly. "Yes, I can hear her." Calista’s voice chimed in smugly. "Master, she can hear me if I want her to." Betty raised an eyebrow, then nodded slowly. "Oh... so anyone can hear you if you want them to?" "No, Master," Calista replied in her usual smug tone. "Only you two can hear me. No one else." Betty blinked in surprise. "Huh? Why’s that? I thought anyone could enter if I permitted them." Calista let out a small laugh. "That’s impossible. Only you and Sophia can enter the space. No one else in this world can, even if you allow them." Betty frowned, her steps slowing. "Seriously? That’s a rule?" "Yes, Master. A space rule. I can’t do anything about it." ’Space rule? Then why can Sophia enter? Is it only because she’s family? Or... something else?’ Betty’s thoughts tangled as she stared at Sophia, who happily swung her little legs without a clue. --- "Ah, Betty, sit here. I’ll tell Lilian her friend has arrived." Emma stood from the couch with a bright smile and headed upstairs. Betty nodded, but the moment her gaze landed on Damien, her mood instantly soured. Reluctantly, she placed Sophia on the other couch before sitting down beside her. Damien raised a brow at her, his expression unreadable, then looked away without a word. Betty exhaled uneasily. ’He didn’t recognize me... good. If he had, it would’ve been a nightmare, especially after Sophia kicked his knee that day. Thank god I hid her behind me before this bastard’s eyes landed on her.’ After a while, Emma came downstairs with Lilian following behind. ’Lilian... wasn’t she the one who told Leon my name? When did they even meet?’ Lilian’s eyes lit up the moment she saw Betty. She quickly walked over and sat beside her, but her cheerful expression faltered as if something invisible appeared before her eyes. [FL Favorability -1] Lilian gave Betty a pitiful look, leaving Betty completely puzzled. ’Huh? Why is she looking at me like that?’ Lilian lowered her gaze again, as if confirming what she had just seen was real. ’What did I even do? Why did her favorability drop?!’ "Do you want to eat something before dinner, Betty?" Emma asked warmly. Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked toward the kitchen. "Ah, wait," Betty sighed as Emma disappeared from sight. Damien also stood up and silently followed her into the kitchen. Inside, Emma was cutting fruits when she noticed Damien. "Damien, why are you here? Do you want something to eat too?" Seeing the fruits, Damien frowned slightly, then looked at his mother. "Mom, you know fruits are expensive. Forget that... Tell me, are you being this affectionate to that girl just because her name sounds like that girl’s?" Emma’s gentle expression vanished in an instant. Her glare was sharp, laced with anger. "Do I need to ask for your permission before doing anything now?" Damien froze, stunned by the frustration in her voice. "No, Mom, I didn’t mean that—" "Then what do you mean, huh? You sent my daughter away without my permission, and now you dare question me for showing affection to someone else? Get out before I beat the hell out of you!" Damien looked down, rubbing his neck awkwardly. ’I’d better leave. She hasn’t been this angry in months.’