48. CHAPTER 45
Léonie
Two weeks after we found our way back to each other, we were buried in work and still somehow incapable of behaving.
We stayed in his office because he insisted. Clingy Orion was a new one for me. We either sat side by side—him signing documents, me sketching—or gave up and ended up making out on the nearest surface. We couldn’t keep our hands off each other. Or our mouths.
Everything between us had gone sweet and intense at once. There was no distance, or walls between us anymore.
One afternoon, we migrated to the library. Orion sat on the floor, his suit jacket tossed over a chair hours ago, sleeves rolled to his elbows. I’d spent the morning tracing those forearms with my mouth, and the memory still fresh, made me feel warm all over.
This wasn’t the life my parents had in mind when they trained me to smile, behave, and fit into society’s idea of what a heiress should be. They’d prepared me for obligation and duty, not for a man who looked at me like I was the point of everything.
My parents had spent my life trying to tame me, smoothing over my flaws until I was nothing but a blur in a family portrait. Orion was doing the opposite. He was willing to burn the portrait, the house, and the entire gallery just to make sure I was the only thing left standing.
It was a heavy, unhinged type of love. It didn’t need me to be good or perfect in anyway. It just required that I stayed.
Growing up, my notion of love had always been sweet, kind, and perfect. Beautiful daydreams, full of promises about a future that felt perfectly safe. A place I didn’t have to risk anything.
Then Orion came in and ruined the version of love I’d spent years building in my head. Risking everything to prove that he was worthy of my heart.
He didn’t want to be my fairytale; he wanted to be my wreckage.
I looked down at the diamond on my finger, then back at him. I was no longer just a borrower of shiny things. I’d moved on to something much heavier—the theft of an entire being. I didn’t just have his ring on my finger; I had his madness in my palm, and he was thanking me for taking it.
He looked up and caught me staring. For a moment, the weight of everything, including Henrik’s prognosis slipped out of the room.
“I can feel you staring, Maia.”
A smirk played at his lips. He was so unfairly handsome when he relaxed like this—shirt sleeves folded, his hair a little messy, his eyes softer just for me.
“What else can I do, than appreciate the view?” I said, propping my chin on my hand, my eyes still on him.
It still felt surreal. There were days I still couldn’t believe this man was mine. This careful, brilliant, stubborn man who’d once held me at arm’s length and now refused to let me out of his sight.
He crooked a finger, and of course I went. I moved into the space between his knees and sat, my back against his chest. His hands closed around my waist firmly, sending a pulse of heat straight through me. I was hopeless when it came to Orion; one touch and my brain turned to static.
“What are you thinking about?” I asked him faintly.
He sighed, and I felt it move through his chest into my back.
“The clock is ticking.”
The weight of defeat unmistaken in his voice, and it made my heart hurt. He was talking about the one thing we’ve all been tiptoeing around.
“Time isn’t being merciful.”
I turned to face him, resting my hand along his jaw. “Your father?”
He nodded, his fingers drawing slow shapes near my hip, like he was trying to soothe me when he was the one who needed it.
“I was just thinking—” he said meeting my eyes. “—I’ve decided I’m not going to spend my father’s final days mourning a man who is still here. I’m going to spend them being the man he wanted me to be.”
The ache in my heart twisted painfully. I could see how much he was hurting—how much they all were.
His mother hid it well, but I’d seen it in the moments when she thought no one was looking.
The staff walked around somber in this wing.
There was a shared grief in the house because Henrik Kade is obviously deeply loved here.
Orion leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.
“Starting with taking you to that little café in Montmartre you mentioned,” he said. “No security. No extra cars. Just me—” He placed another kiss on the tip of my nose. “And you.”
I smiled, even as emotion rose thick in my throat . It was bittersweet, knowing his responsibilities were sitting there, waiting to fall fully on his shoulders. But right now, the only thing he wanted was a simple afternoon with me.
“Like Severin would ever let you move around without security,” I managed to tease him.
Of all the thing I’ve learnt living in this estate, the top of the list would go to Severin not playing around with his cousin’s safety. From events to a simple day at the office, his men were always around. If it was up to him, they’d set up camp inside our bedroom too.
Orion huffed out a laugh. “Severin will have someone follow from a distance. He always does. I’m used to it. As long as we don’t see them, it’s fine.”
I shook my head, smiling. They were as close as Isolde and me.
I understood the protectiveness—especially now—with Henrik ill, every rival family would be watching for cracks in the Kade structure.
And Orion, distracted by love, caring more about me than actual dynasty business?
That was exactly the kind of weakness they’d exploit.
In this world, love wasn’t romantic. It was a target painted on your back. Severin was just making sure no one got a clear shot.
The next couple of days felt like stolen time. We went on dates in hidden places, away from the press, and every distraction, as he’d promised.
We had more sex, more laughter, more small ordinary moments I wanted to hoard. Beautiful moments I wished we could extend.
We went back to the ranch house, and my riding actually improved—something he was far too smug about.
These days he insisted on dropping me off everywhere. I remember when we used to argue about me driving myself or taking the driver. Now he made time to take me wherever I needed to be. It was possessive and so very Orion. And I liked it more than I would ever admit out loud.
Today, he dropped me off in front of Céleste’s studio.
“Text me when you’re done,” he said as he put the car in park. His eyes stayed on me. skimming over my face, unable to look away.
“I’ll try,” I said, even if we both knew I probably wouldn’t.
He crinkled his nose in disapproval, and it was the cutest expression I’d seen on him yet, I could barely argue.
I leaned in for a kiss, but he met me halfway, one hand cupping the back of my neck. It wasn’t a quick goodbye kiss, it was slow and assuring, the sort of kiss that said I’m not ready to let you go yet, even for a few hours.
When I finally pulled back, a little breathless, he rubbed his thumb over my lower lip. I could see it on his face, he hated the idea of any distance between us.
“Go,” he whispered, his eyes warming in a way that made it impossible to leave. “Before I change my mind and keep you.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time, Mr. Kade,” I quipped, and he laughed, bearing those porcelain white teeth that made him look unfairly handsome.
I slipped out of the car quickly before I really did climb back into his lap.
By the time I reached the studio door, my friends were already lined up at the front window like nosy aunties. Céleste flung the door open before I could knock.
“Oh my God,” she drawled. “So the Kades have remembered they’re married.”
I hadn’t told them we made up… I was saving it, but that one kiss in the parking lot had ruined the surprise.
“Finally,” Isolde added, gesturing toward the window. “Do you two ever attempt breathing when you’re together?”
Heat rushed to my face. “Hello to you too.”
They dragged me inside, laughing and pelting me with questions—Was everything okay now? Were we really good? Had he apologized properly? How did he do it?
I answered what I could, keeping some of the very intimate details just for us. But these were my best friends. They still got most of the story, the very good parts, and by the end of it they were all “ohs” and “ah”s and “about time.”
After they got their fill of gossip, we shifted back to work and discussed commissions, fabric orders, new projects, and upcoming deadlines for some of Céleste’s clients.
I let the normalcy wash over me. For a few hours, I was just Léonie the fashion consultant turned designer, not Léonie whose husband was slowly losing his father.
By evening, I headed back to the estate and slipped into Henrik’s wing first. The corridor was dim and quiet.
I eased his door open and stopped.
Orion was asleep in the chair beside his father’s bed, his head tilted back, and his tie loosened. Henrik’s thin hand was clasped in both of Orion’s, their fingers linked.
The sight hit me so hard, my eyes burned. I swallowed slowly, trying not to fall apart in the doorway. I must have sniffled louder than I thought, because Orion’s eyes opened.
“Hey,” he said, his voice gruff with sleep. “When did you get here?”
“Just now,” I whispered, stepping inside. “I got back a few minutes ago.”
His gaze moved over me, curiously checking if I was really there. “You should’ve called me to pick you up.”
“It’s fine. Céleste dropped me off.”
We looked at each other for a long moment. The intense love in his eyes and the weight of everything he was carrying made my heart ache.
“I missed you while you were out today.”
My throat felt tight. I didn’t trust my voice, so I mouthed, “Me too.”
A smile twitched at his lips. He squeezed his father’s hand once more, then stood and moved aside, offering me his chair.
“I’m guessing you’re here to read to him.”
I nodded.
“He’s been waiting for you.”