I had barely registered the morning sunlight filtering through the curtains when I felt a pair of tiny hands cupping my face, accompanied by an excited baby voice.
"Dad, Dad, Dad!"
A sleepy smile curled on my lips as I cracked one eye open, only to be greeted by my son's dazzling grin and those big hazel-green eyes that sparkled like morning dew.
"Good morning, Bubu," I mumbled, pulling the little gremlin into my arms. I planted three loud, exaggerated kisses on his cheeks and forehead, making him erupt into delighted giggles.
"IT TICKLES, DAD!" Bubu squirmed in my grasp before wiggling free and dramatically plopping onto my stomach. "You were gone all day yesterday!" His tiny arms crossed, his pout intensifying.
I chuckled, holding his little hands and kissing them. "Sorry, darling. Dad is a little busy these days. But I made it home before sunrise, didn't I?" I tried flashing my best puppy eyes, tilting my head slightly. "My Bubu will forgive me, right?"
Bubu narrowed his eyes, tapping his chin as if contemplating my fate. "Hmmm… I need to think about it, but—"
Hold on. My instincts screamed at me. This was a trap. A well-laid, cunning little trap!
"Wait a minute," I straightened up, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Are you trying to make me beg for forgiveness—WHEN I DID NOTHING WRONG?!"
"Wow, Dad!" Bubu gasped, suddenly jumping up from the couch and clapping his hands excitedly. "You look like a PRINCESS!"
…What?
A heavy silence fell over the room. My father, Cassian, and my best friend, Zavier, were frozen for half a second before they BURST into uncontrollable laughter. Cassian clutched his stomach, practically rolling off the couch. Zavier had his face buried in his hands, his body trembling from barely contained laughter. Bubu, completely unaffected, circled me like he was admiring a masterpiece.
I finally processed what was happening.
Yes, I was standing in the middle of the room, draped in a bright pink, frilly gown.
With makeup.
"I wonder if God mistakenly made you a man instead of a woman," Cassian managed between gasps of breath, wiping tears from his eyes.
"OH MY GOD, AERON!" Cassian wheezed before doubling over in laughter. "BAHAHAHA, you actually look like—like a real princess!"
"Zavier, I SWEAR TO GOD, if you even let out one snicker—"
"Pffft—"
"DON'T—"
"Hahaha!"
"DAMN IT!"
Bubu, still circling me, beamed. "Woah, woah, woah, Dad! You're so PRETTY!" He spun around dramatically, mimicking my gown swish.
I sighed in defeat. "Yeah, yeah. I'm so pretty I could win a beauty pageant."
Cassian smirked. "Should I order a dress for you instead of Ivelle?"
My eye twitched dangerously. "Should I order one for YOU, old man?"
Cassian quickly shut up.
"Wait, wait, I need pictures!" Bubu squealed and ran for my phone.
"BUBU, NO!"
Too late. The child was already snapping pictures like a seasoned paparazzo.
The humiliation was reaching new heights when my phone rang.
Bubu, being an absolute traitor, handed it over while still giggling. I glanced at the caller ID and immediately straightened up, face going cold.
"Everyone SHUT UP!" I hissed.
The room instantly went silent. Even Cassian wiped the grin off his face. I cleared my throat and answered in my usual smooth, teasing tone.
"It's only been six hours since we said goodbye. Missing me already, Princess?"
Silence on the other end. Then, Ivelle's voice, cool as ever. "What if I am? Will you come and meet me?"
I smirked, my eyes glinting with mischief. "Too bad. I have a prior engagement with someone far more important than you, Princess."
From the corner of my eye, I saw Bubu looking at me with a trembling lip, trying not to cry. My heart clenched, and I smiled softly, ruffling his hair.
Ivelle sighed. "Yeah, yeah. As if I care."
"Oh? But to me, you sound like you care."
"In your dreams, Aeron. I called to check if Kaizen is adjusting well."
I glanced at Kaizen, who stood awkwardly at the other end of the room, practically glued to Bubu. I smirked. "Hmm, he seems fond of my son."
"If that's the case, I'm hanging up."
"You're so amusing, Princess," I chuckled.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing."
"Seriously, you are crazy."
I narrowed my eyes. "How does not answering you make me crazy?"
"When did I say that?" Ivelle shot back.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah."
Before I could say anything more, a sharp female voice interrupted me.
"Just WHAT are you wearing, Aeron?!"
I stiffened and slowly turned to see Charlotte—my ex-wife and the mother of my child—standing with Bubu in her arms. She took one look at me and muttered something under her breath.
"Hey, hey, woman! What kind of nonsense are you saying?!" I covered my chest with one arm, scandalized.
"DAD, FINISH YOUR CALL FAST; WE'RE BUSY TODAY!" Bubu giggled in Charlotte's arms.
Charlotte pulled out her phone. "Just an inspiration."
"CHARLOTTE, NO!"
CLICK.
The woman smirked as she pocketed her phone. "This will be legendary."
I felt a cold sweat break out. If she spread that picture—
"Finish fast, Aeron." She turned to leave, her smirk widening. "Wouldn't want to keep our son waiting, Princess."
The last word was a dagger to the heart.
I groaned, glancing at my phone. Ivelle was still on the line.
"I'll talk to you later, Princess. Bye-bye."
I hung up, my playful smirk slowly fading. My eyes darkened as I stared at the call log.
Charlotte was supposed to come today. It was one of those days where we spent time together with Bubu, co-parenting smoothly. I had deliberately kept Ivelle on the line while talking to her.
Childish, wasn't it?
But I wanted Ivelle to feel the sting.
To know she wasn't as important as she thought she was. To watch her grow restless, realizing she could always be replaced.
After all, Charlotte and I shared a child. And we hadn't even ended on bad terms.
I would push Ivelle to the edge if that's what it took.
Because I needed her to confess.
And I wasn't afraid to play dirty to get what I wanted.