Fallen General's Omega (BL)
Chapter 172: Deal

Chapter 172: Deal

The soft, rhythmic sound of water reaches my ears, pulling me from the haze of sleep. My eyes flutter open, the dim light of dawn filtering into the room. For a moment, I don’t move, taking in the quiet stillness around me.

I glance down and see Mimi nestled against me, her tiny form rising and falling with each gentle breath. She’s still sound asleep, her little hands clutching at my shirt as though she never intends to let go. I allow myself a moment to simply watch her, overwhelmed again by the realization that she’s mine. My daughter.

I shift carefully, stretching a little in the chair. My back protests, the stiffness reminding me that sleeping here wasn’t my best decision, but I don’t mind. Not when it meant keeping Mimi close. Her warmth, her trust—it’s worth every ache.

As I sit up straighter, I glance toward the bed. It’s empty. Noelle isn’t there. For a fleeting moment, unease ripples through me, but then I hear it again—the sound of water. The adjoining bathroom.

I exhale softly, relieved. He must be taking a bath. Glancing down at Mimi again, her tiny face peaceful in sleep, and I feel a warmth I can’t quite put into words.

Carefully, I rise from the chair, cradling Mimi in my arms. She stirs slightly, a soft murmur escaping her lips, but she doesn’t wake. She’s exhausted, poor thing. I hold her closer, her little head resting against my chest, and I can’t help but smile at how small and fragile she feels in my arms.

The thought comes unbidden: Where’s Mona?

***

Mona stood in the garden, her small hands brushing over the delicate petals of the flowers as she hummed softly to herself, having spent so much time with Noelle she seemed to have inherited this aspect of his nature.Still, as pretty as these flowers were, she preferred Noelle’s garden back at the house on the hill.

That garden had fruits, tasty vegetables, the largest strawberries she had ever seen, let’s not talk about the grapes. Flowers were lovely to look at, sure, but you couldn’t eat them. And to Mona, snacks always won over beauty.

She sighed, glancing around. Things had finally settled down. Big Brother Ben was recovering, so she couldn’t pester him too much. Noelle, Thorne, and Mimi were holed up in their room, likely having a family moment she had no intention of interrupting.

That left her here. Bored.

Still, there was a sense of relief in the boredom. The memory of being locked up by that terrifying king lingered in the back of her mind. Something about him had felt deeply wrong. The thought made her shiver, but she shook it off. It was over now.

"Hello."

The unfamiliar voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Mona turned, her eyes landing on a teenage boy standing a few steps away. He looked startlingly like Thorne, with piercing blue eyes, but his curly white hair set him apart.

"Hey," Mona replied, her tone cautious.

"What are you doing here?" the boy asked, tilting his head curiously.

Mona frowned. "I apologize if this place is forbidden. I wasn’t informed." She moved to step away, her instincts telling her to avoid unnecessary trouble.

But before she could take more than a few steps, a familiar voice cut through the air.

"Mona."

She turned, and there he was—Thorne, carrying a bubbly Mimi in his arms. The sight was enough to soften her expression, but she quickly masked it with her usual skeptical glare.

"Mr. Husband," she greeted, her tone suspicious as her eyes narrowed on the grin spreading across Thorne’s face. It was that grin, the one he wore when he was about to ask for something. Mona recognized it immediately. It meant he needed her help, which meant she had leverage.

"Care to do me a favor?" Thorne asked, his tone light but with a hint of impatience.

"Depends..." Mona drawled, folding her arms.

"I need your babysitting abilities," Thorne said, shifting Mimi slightly in his arms.

Mona smirked. "I charge by the hour."

Thorne’s brow twitched, his patience clearly waning. "It’s a little offensive. My beloved star said you do this for free."

"That’s the thing, Mr. Husband," Mona replied in a sing-song voice, circling him like a predator closing in on its prey. "You’re not Noelle."

Thorne sighed, his expression tightening. "How much?"

Mona’s grin widened, her victory sealed. "We’ll talk about the bill later." She extended her arms, and Thorne hesitated for a moment before carefully handing Mimi over.

"I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?" Thorne muttered, watching as Mona cradled the baby with ease.

"I don’t know," Mona replied with a playful shrug, already rocking Mimi gently.

Thorne rubbed the top of her head, mussing up her carefully styled hair as he turned to leave.

"I’m a lady now! You don’t get to treat me like this anymore!" Mona yelled after him, glaring at his retreating form.

Thorne chuckled but didn’t look back.

Mona huffed, readjusting Mimi in her arms. The baby cooed softly, and Mona’s irritation melted away as she smiled down at the little girl.

"You seem close to him," the boy’s voice said suddenly, startling Mona. She’d forgotten all about him.

She turned to face him, narrowing her eyes slightly. "I am," she said simply, her tone firm as she began walking out of the garden.

The boy trailed after her, his curious gaze never leaving her as she carried Mimi away, leaving the garden and its peaceful solitude behind.

The teenage boy,Rian opened his mouth to speak but faltered, closing it again as uncertainty clouded his face. He looked like he was struggling with words that wouldn’t come out, and Mona’s patience wore thin.

"If you’ve got something to say, just say it already," she snapped, stopping in her tracks to glare at him.

Rian hesitated for a moment longer before finally blurting out, "Thorne is my brother."

Mona raised an unimpressed brow. "Yeah, it’s not exactly a mystery," she said flatly, shifting Mimi in her arms.

Rian’s cheeks flushed, and he looked down at his feet, scuffing the ground with the tip of his shoe. "I’m trying to get close to him," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But..." He trailed off, his shoulders slumping.

Mona studied him for a long moment, her sharp eyes taking in his awkward posture and uncertain expression. He reminded her of a lost puppy, unsure of where he belonged. With a deep sigh, she rolled her eyes and said, "Alright, listen up. You owe me a favor. One favor you can’t say no to. Ever."

Rian’s head shot up, his blue eyes narrowing suspiciously. "What does this favor entail?"

Mona smirked but didn’t answer. Instead, she turned on her heel and began walking away, Mimi babbling happily in her arms.

"Fine, I’ll do it," Rian called after her, frustration lacing his tone.

"Don’t regret it!" Mona tossed over her shoulder, her voice cheerful and sing-song.

Rian stood there for a moment, watching her retreating figure with a sinking feeling in his stomach. Something told him he’d just made a deal he couldn’t take back.