As his gaze wandered to the moonlit skies, his face contorted with tension and his eyes glimmered eerily in the shadows, concealing the true nature of his emotions.
Fabian, filled with trepidation, dared not utter a single word, aware of the Alpha's unpredictable state.
Alpha Kilian, who seldom indulged in smoking, finished his last puff before extinguishing the cigarette, his mind in disarray.
"Fabian," he spoke, his voice laced with authority.
"Alpha Morris," Fabian responded, his eyes locked with the Alpha's.
"Terminate Lara's employment and ensure she never sets foot in Morris Corporation again!"
Fabian was taken aback, shocked by the Alpha's demand. "Does this matter involve Ms. Gareth?" he inquired.
Alpha Kilian's lips pursed in silence, his gaze turning ice-cold.
His silence spoke volumes, confirming Fabian's suspicions.
"So it does. Is there any evidence?" Fabian pressed for further information.
Alpha Kilian glanced outside the window and spoke with a hint of menace, "If there is, it won't be as simple as a mere dismissal!"
Fabian refrained from saying more, knowing that Lara had finally crossed the Alpha's threshold.
After years of loyal service, Fabian had grown intimately familiar with Alpha Kilian's character. He was a leader who prioritized loyalty and though formidable at times, he was an employer worth following, never mistreating his subordinates.
The same held true for Lara. She had always understood this side of the Alpha and had acted within the boundaries he had tacitly established. Over the years, Alpha Kilian had turned a blind eye to her transgressions.
But now, she had pushed him too far.
"Let's return to the hospital," Alpha Kilian spoke, his voice commanding as Fabian started the car and drove towards their destination.
During the journey, Fabian stole occasional glances at the dignified and imposing Alpha Kilian through the rearview mirror.
He knew that the reason Alpha Kilian had tolerated Lara's behavior for so long was because of an undisclosed incident.
After pondering for a moment, Fabian finally spoke, "Alpha Morris..."
Before Fabian could utter another word, Alpha Kilian's phone rang, causing him to smile when he saw Donna's name on the screen.
Donna: Mr. Handsome, what are you doing?
Alpha Kilian swiftly typed a response: I'm missing you, Donna!
He then looked up and glanced at Fabian, curious about what he had intended to say. "What were you about to say?" he asked.
Fabian hastily shook his head, his earlier thought forgotten. "N-Nothing, Alpha Morris."
Alpha Kilian, engrossed in his phone, received a voice message.
"Mr. Handsome!" Donna's voice echoed from the device.
"Why aren't you asleep yet?"
"Just got back from the hospital with Great-grandpa."
"And your Great-grandpa returned as well?" Alpha Kilian caught on, sensing a deeper meaning.
"Yeah, Mommy insisted he come with us. Otherwise, Gramps would have had to stay and take care of Mommy!" Donna's soft voice seemed muffled, as if spoken through a blanket.
Alpha Kilian smiled at the revelation.
"Mr. Handsome, is Mommy out of danger now?" Donna sounded genuinely concerned.
"Mm, she is. Don't worry. As long as I'm here, your Mommy will be safe!"
Donna beamed. "I trust you, Mr. Handsome!"
As Alpha Kilian listened to her affectionate nickname, a bittersweet sensation stirred within him.
"Mr. Handsome, how's your injury? It looked severe." Donna's voice turned slightly gloomy.
"It's nothing serious, just a graze."
"It looked really bad. Mr. Handsome, you're lying."
Alpha Kilian teased her, "Are you worried about me?"
After a brief pause, Donna's voice, now muffled, broke through, "Yes... I'm worried. So worried."
His heart aching at the sound of her concern, Alpha Kilian furrowed his brows and asked, "Donna... are you crying?"
"Mr. Handsome, you promised to protect me forever. Don't let anything happen to you!" Donna sniffled.
Her words tugged at Alpha Kilian's heart, but the thought of her crying only intensified his pain.
"I promise, nothing will happen to me. I will protect you forever, alright?" he reassured her.
"You must keep your promise. No lies!"
"I will never lie to you," Alpha Kilian vowed.
Donna brightened, her worries momentarily alleviated.
Unhurriedly, Alpha Kilian continued conversing with Donna on the phone, while Fabian watched, unnerved by the Alpha's uncharacteristically tender demeanor reflected in the rearview mirror.
Goosebumps crept across Fabian's skin involuntarily, perturbed by the unusual scene before him.
Their conversation stretched on, and only when Donna seemed to have dozed off did Alpha Kilian finally hang up.
Fabian seized the opportunity to question, "Alpha Morris, why is she still addressing you as Mr. Handsome if you haven't reunited with 'Little Marshmallow'?"
The mention of Nelly caused Alpha Kilian to pause, aware that the children were likely aware of their true identities but remained silent to protect Nelly.
"We'll take things slow. There's no need to rush," he replied, though his impatience simmered beneath the surface.
At the sound of Donna's youthful voice calling him Mr. Handsome, his longing to reveal the truth intensified, yet he prioritized respecting their boundaries to avoid causing them distress.
While Alpha Kilian drifted into deep contemplation, Fabian playfully probed, "Is Ms. Jackson hindering you?"
Alpha Kilian shot him a menacing look, sending a shiver down Fabian's spine. The atmosphere in the car grew tense with his gaze.
Adjusting the rearview mirror in haste, Fabian shifted his focus away from Alpha Kilian, fearful of the Alpha's intimidating presence. "Alpha Morris, I'm driving! It's dangerous!" The intensity of Alpha Kilian's eyes distracted him from the road.
A sinister grin curled Alpha Kilian's lips. "If you're unhappy, you can tender your resignation tomorrow!"
Overwhelmed with helplessness, Fabian apologized, "Sorry, Alpha Morris, that's not what I meant. What I meant was, Ms. Jackson must be captivated by you. She won't allow you to reunite with the children because she's still furious with you."
Alpha Kilian fell silent before raising his gaze. "What do you mean?" he inquired, his tone veiled with interest.