Chapter 477

Jack Kuinn. Jack Hitch.

Were these two different people, or was Amelia’s stepfather somehow involved in something he shouldn’t be?

I needed to figure that out quickly. If those videos from the hidden camera ever became public, we would all be in serious trouble. The company, Nala, everyone involved. I already hated dealing with corporate politics, and now there was blackmail mixed into the mess.

Amelia steered the car around the roundabout and took the second exit. Her driving was still careful, but I could tell something had changed. Her shoulders were a little tense, and she wasn’t as relaxed as before.

Finding out her stepfather had been here clearly bothered her.

I leaned back slightly in the passenger seat and watched the road ahead while thinking. That guy had demanded money before, right? Maybe the camera footage was part of some plan. If he had access to those recordings, he could easily try to blackmail the company. Someone like that wouldn’t stop after a single payment either. Guys like him kept squeezing until there was nothing left.

I had to deal with him somehow.

"If you don’t mind me asking," I said carefully, "what was your stepfather like?"

Amelia kept her eyes on the road as she answered.

"Always broke," she said. "He had credit card debt all the time. The real problem was his sons. They kept asking him for money, and he always gave it to them."

"How old are they?"

"Twins," she said. "Twenty-nine."

"No jobs?"

She shook her head slightly. "No jobs. No real life. Nothing. If you ask me, they’re just pathetic."

"Yeah," I said quietly. "That sounds rough."

"It really was," she replied.

She slowed the car and turned left, heading back toward the company building’s parking lot. Her mood had clearly shifted since the conversation started.

"I think I should talk to my mom about this," she added.

"Probably a good idea," I said.

Amelia drove through the entrance and the security gate opened automatically after recognizing the vehicle. She parked in the same spot as before, pulled the handbrake, and leaned back in her seat.

For a moment she covered her face with one hand and let out a long breath.

I guess I had dragged her mood down more than I intended.

A few seconds later we both stepped out of the car. She handed the keys back to me while pulling out her phone. I watched as she opened her contacts and found a number.

She was already dialing before she lifted the phone to her ear.

I didn’t want to interrupt, so I just cleared my throat quietly and stepped a little to the side, giving her some space while she waited for the call to connect.

After a moment she glanced back at me.

"Thanks for everything, Evan," she said. "I think I’ll skip lunch today."

"Alright," I said with a small nod. "Take care, Amelia."

⟁ ⟁ ⟁

I opened the door and stepped inside, closing it behind me with a soft thud. The apartment was quiet except for the faint clatter from the kitchen and the low hum of the city outside the windows. The girls had decided to go shopping earlier, something about New Year’s sales, and I wasn’t in the mood to tag along. My head was too full anyway. K, Chase, Mana, the videos... it all kept spinning like a bad loop I couldn’t pause. I hated not knowing what to do next. Corporate bullshit had nothing on this kind of crappy helplessness.

Minne peeked around the kitchen wall the second I kicked off my shoes. Her face lit up—small, bright smile that always made something in my chest loosen. She was wearing her usual maid outfit: short black dress with white lace trim, apron tied in a neat bow at the back, thigh-high stockings clipped to garters. A few strands of hair had escaped her little cap and were sticking to her cheek from the heat of whatever she was baking.

"Welcome home, Master," she said softly, wiping flour-dusted hands on her apron.

I smiled back—tired, but real. "Hey, cutie. Smells amazing in here."

She ducked her head shyly. "I baked a cake... but it’s still hot. You can have some later."

"Meatballs, pasta, and fries for dinner, still?" I asked, hanging my jacket on the hook.

"Yes! Miss Tessa’s menu," she replied proudly. "She said it was ’comfort food for after a long day.’"

I chuckled under my breath. "Sounds perfect."

I headed straight for the bathroom. The mirror didn’t lie—I looked wrecked. Dark circles, hair a disaster, shoulders slumped like I’d been carrying bricks all day. I turned on the faucet, washed my hands, then splashed cold water on my face until I could breathe again. Staring at my reflection, my mind kept circling back to K. If he really had the videos, he would’ve made contact by now—blackmail, threats, something. Silence meant either he couldn’t recover them from the hidden cams... or he was waiting for something bigger.

I exhaled hard, dried my face, and walked back out.

Minne was waiting near the couch, hands clasped in front of her apron, rocking slightly on her heels.

"Master..." she started, voice small.

I sat down heavily, legs spreading. "Yeah? What’s up?"

She took one step closer, then another, until she was standing between my knees. Her fingers twisted the hem of her dress—nervous habit I’d come to recognize.

"Um..." She swallowed. "Here..."

She opened her hand slowly. A small white plastic stick rested on her palm.

Pregnancy test.

Two bold pink lines.

My heart did a weird stutter-stop thing. I stared at it for a second, then up at her face—wide eyes, bottom lip caught between her teeth, cheeks already turning pink.

"Shit," I muttered, a slow grin spreading across my face. "So it happened, huh?"

"A-are you... happy, Master?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

I stood up fast, wrapped my arms around her waist and lifted her off the floor in a tight hug. She squeaked, then melted against me, small hands clutching my shirt.

"Happy?" I laughed softly into her hair. "I’m fucking thrilled, Minne. You’re gonna be the cutest mom ever."

She giggled, high and relieved, then buried her face in my neck. "Thank you, Master..."