Bedmates Soulmates

A Baby? You

Must

'Elsie?"

Be Kidding

Kira's eyes bore into the housekeeper, taking a page out of Austyn's playbook.

As the frequent recipient of the man's look, reminiscent of the Spanish Grand Inquisitor, Kira knew the effect it could produce on its audience.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

'Wow!" Elsie stared at her young mistress. "You look just like Young Master! Not the look."

"Don't try to change the subject. Spill."

"Ahem, Elsie offered a sheepish grin. 'I may have helped a little."

With

""With what?"

The housekeeper pointed to the porcelain bowl on the table in front of Kira. 'I found this marvellous tonic soup. It's wholesome. All natural ingredients. Boosts the health of both men and women. Improves blood flow. Does wonders to your sex drive. Young Master had two bowls for dinner last night, so..."

Elsie pushed the bowl closer to Kira. 'Trust me, it's the best tonic out there. Made from a secret recipe passed down for generations. Emperors used to consume it before they visited their consorts. Drink up. One bowl a day, and you'll have a healthy baby boy on the way!" Hack!

Kira

She

choked on the soup and spat it out.

was seized by a violent bout of coughing.

When she finally caught her breath, she shoved the bowl as far away from her as possible.

'I can't believe I drank baby-making soup!' Kira bristled. "I thought Elsie was such a sensible, matronly. figure when I first met her. I can't believe she got up to such mischief!"

A baby?

How could she have a baby with the man?

It never crossed her mind to spend the rest of her life with Austyn, let alone have a baby together!

'I gotta go.' Kira pushed back her chair and stood up. 'I'm running late for school."

Too flustered to finish her breakfast, she literally ran out of the room.

She didn't stop until she'd reached the bus stop, panting heavily.

Kira only relaxed once she got on the bus.

But despite herself, her thought kept drifting back to what Elsie said.

She shuddered at the image of a baby crawling around on a rug.

Kira had dodged a bullet this morning, but she had to go home eventually.

Elsie would be waiting, with a big smile on her face and a steaming bowl of baby-making soup o table.

Kira clenched her fists.

It was high time she found a job.

on the

Elsie worked for Austyn.

Only he could get the housekeeper to back off.

In a way, Kira was no different from Elsie-she depended on Austyn for her father's medical bills and her living expenses.

She was in no position to make demands on him.

But she could negotiate.

Which required sufficient capital.

Austyn was a businessman.

Money was his language.

She must have enough money in hand to earn the right to talk to him.

Kira dropped by the hospital to see Dr House.

He informed her that her father's bill had been settled earlier that morning.

Kira nodded to herself.

Austyn was a man of his word.

He said he would take care of it by the end of today, and sure enough, he did.

'Can I have a copy of the receipt?' Kira asked before leaving.

'Here you go.' Dr House was prepared for the request. "You always ask for the receipt after each payment. What do you need it for?"

Kira just smiled and made up an excuse.

She thanked the doctor and left his office.

To Dr House, those A6-sized printouts were just receipts.

To Kira, they were IOUS, a running record of how much she owed Austyn.

She came out of the doctor's office and went to her father's ward.

A lump formed in her throat as she watched the man lying on the hospital bed, motionless.

Kira wiped away her tears and took a deep breath.

'Dad, hang in there."

She used her fingers to comb his hair, which had grown longer.

His face was clean.

A nurse had just given him a bed bath.

Kira trailed a finger along his sunken cheeks.

He had a peaceful look on his face, as if he was just taking a long nap.

The summer holiday's coming. I'm going to look for a job soon. I've put out some feelers, but it's tough getting an internship that matches my major....

Kira rambled on.

Dr House wasn't sure if her father could hear anything, but Kira had read somewhere that talking to a

comatose patient could help in their recovery

'I don't have any formal attire. What do you think I should wear to an mennees you w I'm taking you shopping. I saw a cotton and silk blend jacket lest week bee your look lesson m Next to the bed, a heart monitor beeped, slow and steady, as if in answer to the sollic

Meanwhile, in the beam on the second floor of a villa

Charles Wadsworth gently pushed the door open, docutherns in hand

A man was lounging on a sofa, a cigarette dangling between his ips

His eyes gleamed as if amused by a private joke known only to

He had exquisite features, delicate with almost feminine grace

Even a woman would be jealous of his good looks.

But she would soon be disarmed by that rakish smile he always more

"Young Master Cane, here's the information you requested

With a slight bow, Charles placed the documents on the coffee table in front of the them

Liam Cane reached out a lazy arm to pick up the file

He flipped it through with his long, slender pianist's fingers.

The file contained candid shots of Austyn and Kirs, with notes attached to the back of some

Liam straightened up.

"He married this girl a year ago?"

Charles nodded. "Yes."

Liam took a second look at the photos.

He picked out one shot with just Kira in it and ran his eyes over the woman singers

"Not bad-looking,' he said.

'She's a university student, Charles said. From what little intel I could gather on nec, she does not appear to be the scheming type"

"McCarthy's such a cradle robber, Liam sneered. She looks at least a decade younger than m

Tossing the file back on the table, he slouched against the sofs. There was never any news about the McCarthy heir getting married. Was it a secret ceremony?

"Yes, their marriage was kept out of the public eye

"Huh, that's interesting."

Charles had been with Liam long enough to know what his young master was thinking Would you like the to bring her here?"

'What's the hurry? Liam's thin lips curled into a half ore Have you ever watched a tiger mans pr follows patiently, sneaks up from behind, gets as close as possible to the unsuspecting prey Then t pounces and" -he snapped his fingers- takes down victim. The thrills in the state ton the ling

Pinching the photo of Kira with two fingers, Liam feasted his eyes on the girl's youthful yer alluring figure

A tholi You Must b