Broken Bond: Claimed by My Ex-Husband's Alpha Billionaire Uncle-Chapter 65: The Memories of Velmoria (2)

Charlotte sat at the dining table with a swirl of emotions settling in her chest. She was touched that her mother had gone out of her way to prepare all her favorite dishes, or rather, the ones she used to love before the eating disorder took that joy away from her.

There was honey-glazed roasted chicken, creamy mushroom soup, butter garlic shrimp, and many more. But Charlotte’s gaze lingered on one in particular dessert, a small glass filled with creamy milk pudding, topped with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of crushed almonds.

She swallowed hard. It had been years since she’d last tasted it. Back then, it had been her comfort food, something she and her mother used to make together on quiet afternoons. But now ... now, the thought of eating all of that sugar made her want to throw up.

"Milk pudding," Hattie said warmly, placing a spoon beside Charlotte’s dessert. "I remember how much you used to love this. You would always sneak a bite before it even set properly."

Charlotte let out a small, nervous laugh. "Yeah ... I remember."

After the housemaids set the table with an array of delicious dishes, everyone settled in for the meal. As they ate, Hattie and Derek reminisced about Charlotte’s life before marriage, filling the room with warm memories and laughter.

As the conversation flowed around the table, Charlotte quietly slid half of her food onto Damon’s plate, careful not to draw any attention, creating the illusion that she had eaten most of her meal.

Damon, seated beside her, didn’t say a word. He simply accepted the extra portion without hesitation, effortlessly playing along. Fortunately, he had a big appetite, so he had no trouble finishing everything Charlotte had secretly given him.

Just as Charlotte thought she had successfully avoided suspicion, her mother’s voice made her pause.

"You’re eating well, sweetheart," Hattie said with a pleased smile. "I was worried you might not have the same appetite for home-cooked meals anymore."

Good. It seemed like her mother hadn’t noticed that half of her food had ended up on Damon’s plate.

Charlotte forced a small laugh, gripping her fork a little tighter. "Of course, Mom. It’s been so long since I ate at home. Everything tastes amazing."

Beside her, Damon noticed the slight tension in her shoulders, the way she carefully thought about her responses. He didn’t say anything, but under the table, he gave her knee a reassuring squeeze.

"Make sure you have some of the milk pudding later," Derek added, taking a sip of his tea.

Charlotte nodded. "Of course, Dad."

In the end, she found an excuse not to eat the milk pudding at the table. "I’ll eat it in my room." She tilted her head slightly. "But ... Did you leave my bedroom the way it was?"

Hattie waved her hand dismissively. "Of course, we didn’t change a thing! We were afraid you wouldn’t have a room to come back to." She let out a forlorn sigh. "It’s been empty for years and ... finally, its owner has returned."

She smiled gently. "I’m really glad to be home, Mom." Pushing back her chair, she stood up. "I think I’ll go check out my room for a bit with Damon."

Derek was about to protest, not entirely comfortable with the idea of Damon entering his daughter’s room. But as he looked at her, he realized that his little girl wasn’t little anymore.

"Take your time, sweetheart," he said instead. "The housemaids have always kept your room clean, so you can sleep there tonight."

Charlotte led Damon down the familiar hallway, her steps slowing as she approached the door to her old bedroom. Taking a deep breath, she turned the handle and pushed it open.

The moment she stepped inside, a wave of nostalgia hit her. The room was exactly as she remembered—soft pink walls, lace curtains framing the windows, and a plush white rug covering the wooden floor.

The pile of stuffed animals was still on her bed, arranged exactly the way she had left them.

Damon let out a low chuckle as he stepped inside, his gray eyes scanning the overwhelmingly sweet decor. "Well, this is ... unexpected," he mused, reaching out to pick up a bunny plushie from her bed.

Charlotte folded her arms. "What? Are you going to make fun of me now?"

Damon smiled, tossing the plushie into the air and catching it effortlessly. "Not at all," he said smoothly. "If I had known my Charlotte loved plushies, I would have filled your room with them."

Charlotte placed the milk pudding on the table before sitting on the bed. She picked up a light blue teddy bear, gently running her fingers over its soft fur. "Julian said these things were only for kids, so I didn’t take them with me."

"Screw him." Damon sat beside her. "If you want, you can take all of these plushies to our house."

"Haven maybe will laught at me," said Charlotte, laughing softly.

Damon gently lifted her chin, bringing his face closer to hers. "Instead of laughing at you, I think Haven would love to play with these plushies with you," he said. "No one’s going to make fun of you just because you like cute things. Besides, you’re just as adorable as these plushies."

Charlotte gently tossed the teddy bear at him, laughing. "Stop calling me adorable. I’m a grown woman now."

Damon caught the plushie effortlessly, a smile appeared on his lips. "Even a grown woman can still be adorable."

Before she could protest, he leaned in and stole a quick kiss from her lips. "Especially my Charlotte. My sweet, sweet, Charlotte."

Charlotte felt butterflies flutter in her stomach as Damon pulled her closer by the waist. The scent of his cologne mixed with his natural pheromones made her feel lightheaded, almost intoxicated.

She closed her eyes, letting herself melt into the moment as he pressed soft, lingering kisses against her lips, one after another.

When Damon’s hands suddenly slipped under her blouse, she smacked his hand. "Damon!" she warned, eyes wide. "This is my parents’ house!"

Damon chuckled, completely unfazed. "We also live in my parents’ house," he pointed out. "What’s the difference?"

"But we’ve never done anything inappropriate there," she emphasized. "We don’t even sleep in the same room."

Damon blinked, momentarily stunned as he realized she was right.

Charlotte crossed her arms, tilting her head at him with a triumphant look. "See? So keep your hands to yourself, Mr. Sullivan."

Damon exhaled dramatically, leaning back against the plush pink pillows. "Unbelievable," he muttered. "We should do that in the manor once we get back from here."

"Obviously—wait, what?!" Charlotte’s eyes widened in disbelief. "That’s not what I meant!"

Damon smiled, clearly enjoying her reaction. "What? You were the one who pointed it out." He stretched lazily, looking completely at ease. "I’m just saying, maybe it’s time to change that."

Charlotte huffed, grabbing a small bunny plushie and smacking him lightly with it. "You’re shameless!"

However, the more she thought about it, the more she realized—he wasn’t wrong. They had only had sex in a hotel or that secluded cabin in the woods.

At the manor, their schedules kept them apart. Even when they did cross paths, it was usually over breakfast or in passing through the halls.

Maybe... if they shared a room, they’d actually see each other more. And, well, there was another perk—she wouldn’t have to sneak into his room just to smell his pheromone. She could fall asleep every night wrapped in his scent, completely and utterly at peace.

"So... Damon, would you want to share a bedroom with me?" Charlotte blurted out, then quickly added, "I-I’m just asking! It’s not something you have to answer right awa—"

"I want it," Damon answered without hesitation, his voice firm, as if he hadn’t even needed to think about it.

She had expected him to hesitate, maybe even tease her a little before giving a proper answer. But he had said it so quickly, so decisively, that it caught her off guard.

"You do?" she asked, blinking.

Damon turned to her. "Of course. Why wouldn’t I? I’ve been waiting for you to say that."

Her face heated. "You make it sound like I was the one keeping us apart."

"Well, weren’t you?" He leaned in, his fingers brushing against her cheek. "If it were up to me, we would’ve shared a bed from the very first night."

Charlotte huffed, crossing her arms. "You never asked."

Damon chuckled. "I didn’t want to push you." His gaze softened. "I was waiting for you to be ready."

She looked away, her heart thudding a little harder. "I see ..."

"So," he murmured, tilting her chin up so she had to meet his eyes, "are you saying we’ll start sleeping together once we get back?"

Charlotte swallowed. "I—" She wanted to say yes. She really did. But saying it out loud made her feel oddly nervous. "I’ll think about it."

Damon laughed. "That’s just your way of saying yes, sweetheart."

She smacked his arm. "Shut up."

But she didn’t deny it.