She Used Me for a Dare… Now I Own Her Mother

The dining room was bathed in soft, amber light, the long mahogany table already arranged with an array of steaming, fragrant dishes.

Emma and Madison moved with quiet efficiency, ladling rich soup into porcelain bowls and serving grilled tenderloin alongside glazed vegetables.

Once the plates were set and water poured, the two girls stepped back against the side wall, hands clasped in front of their aprons, standing rigidly at attention.

Victoria picked up her fork, but paused when she noticed them lingering by the sideboard. She tilted her head, looking over at them with mild curiosity.

”Why are you two just standing there?” Victoria asked, gesturing toward the empty chairs across the table. ”Pull up a seat and eat with us.”

Both girls froze, exchanging a wide-eyed, flustered glance. The thought of sharing a private dinner table with Madame Blackwood felt like an impossible breach of etiquette.

”W-We couldn’t, Madame,” Emma stammered softly. ”We’re here to serve—”

”Sit down,” Alex intervened with an easy, reassuring smile, nodding toward the seats. ”You’ve both had a chaotic evening, and there’s more than enough food. No need to hesitate under my roof.”

With Alex’s word backing the invitation, the knot in their chests finally loosened. Offering timid bows of gratitude, Emma and Madison pulled out two chairs and sat down, their posture polite but visibly relaxed.

Victoria lifted a piece of tenderloin to her lips. The moment she tasted it, her dark eyes lit up with genuine surprise. The meat was remarkably tender, richly seasoned, and melted effortlessly on the tongue.

”This is wonderful,” Victoria remarked, taking another appreciative bite before looking over at the two girls with an impressed smile. ”Who made this?”

Madison’s cheeks turned a bashful pink, ducking her head slightly. ”I... I prepared the main dishes, Madame. Emma helped with the sides and soup.”

”You have a real gift,” Victoria said smoothly, the warmth in her voice completely washing away the last remnants of their earlier terror. ”If every meal here tastes like this, I might never let Alex eat anywhere else.”

A quiet, delighted breath escaped Emma and Madison as they shared a small, beaming smile, finally picking up their own utensils in the warm, quiet comfort of the estate.

The rest of dinner passed in comfortable warmth, the lingering awkwardness entirely dissolving beneath easy conversation and cleaned plates.

Alex set his linen napkin on the table and pushed his chair back, glancing over at Emma and Madison.

”You two did well tonight,” Alex said, his tone warm and steady. ”Clear the table whenever you’re ready, make sure the front doors are locked, and head straight to bed. Get some proper rest, don’t wait up for anything.”

”Yes, Master. Thank you,” Emma replied with a respectful nod, while Madison beamed softly beside her. ”Goodnight, Master. Goodnight, Madame Victoria.”

Victoria offered the girls an easy, parting smile before turning back toward Alex. As she smoothed down the pearl-white silk of her robe, Alex stepped up directly beside her, a slow, dangerous smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

He leaned down, his voice dropping into a low, teasing murmur right against her ear.

”So... are you ready?”

”Ready for wha—”

Before Victoria could finish her sentence, Alex dipped low and slid one arm beneath her knees, the other hooking firmly around her back. With effortless, overwhelming strength, he scooped her right up into his arms.

A startled, breathy gasp tore from Victoria’s throat. Her hands instinctively flew up, winding tightly around his neck to steady herself.

”Alex!” she hissed in a flustered whisper, her face instantly turning scarlet as her eyes darted toward the kitchen. ”Put me down! Your maids are right there—”

”Let them be,” Alex chuckled, completely unfazed. Her lightweight frame felt almost weightless against his chest, the delicate silk of her robe cascading over his arms while her bare feet dangled in the air.

?He leaned in close, his voice dripping with wicked, unapologetic amusement that carried clearly across the dining hall.

?”You’re the one who boldly announced you were moving into my bed tonight. I’m just saving your legs for later... you’re going to need every bit of your energy once that bedroom door closes.”

?A muffled gasp drifted from the dining table. Both Emma and Madison flushed beet-red to the tips of their ears, instantly dropping their heads and pretending to be completely invisible.

Victoria opened her mouth to argue, but the unyielding warmth of his chest and the sheer confidence in his stride stole the words right out of her mouth. Biting her lower lip, she relented, resting her head against the crook of his neck and letting her fingers bury into the collar of his shirt.

Alex took the spiral staircase two steps at a time.

The faint fragrance of cold orchids clung to the air between them with every breath. Reaching the second-floor landing, he walked straight up to the master suite.

The heavy oak double doors were left slightly ajar.

Without breaking stride, Alex nudged the door with his foot, pushing it wide open as he carried her inside.

He took two steps across the threshold... and abruptly stopped dead in his tracks.

Alex’s eyes widened slightly, his gaze sweeping across the room in genuine disbelief.

His master bedroom, which had been a clean, modern, minimally decorated bachelor suite when he left this afternoon, was completely unrecognizable.

The sterile, minimalist interior had been thoroughly dismantled and rebuilt into a sanctuary of breathtaking imperial luxury. The cold overhead lighting had been replaced by concealed, warm amber illumination that bathed the room in a sensual, golden glow.

At the center stood his king-sized bed, completely reimagined. The simple white cotton sheets were gone, replaced by layers of thick, midnight-black mulberry silk and charcoal velvet blankets, heavily textured and embroidered along the edges with subtle, shimmering gold thread... the unmistakable crest of high nobility.

On the marble coffee table by the floor-to-ceiling balcony windows, a vintage bottle of deep crimson wine sat nestled in a chilled silver bucket, flanked by two crystal glasses. Thin ribbons of sweet white amber and cold orchid incense curled from a handcrafted celadon burner, perfuming the entire suite.

Through the half-open double doors of his walk-in closet, Alex could see that half the racks had already been reorganized. Beside his tailored dark suits hung rows of couture evening gowns, delicate furs, and sheer silk negligees, her platinum and diamond accessories sparkling from newly installed glass display cases.

She hadn’t just unpacked a suitcase.

She had imported her entire world, claiming every square inch of his private domain and transforming it into a king and queen’s inner sanctum.

Alex stood frozen for several seconds, slowly taking in the sheer decadence of the room before looking down at the woman resting in his arms.

Victoria looked up at his stunned expression through thick lashes, an utterly smug, breathtakingly beautiful smirk blooming across her lips.

”I told you,” she whispered softly, her fingers gently tracing the line of his jaw. ”You’d know.”

Alex’s gaze lingered on the transformed room for one more beat before slowly dropping back down to her face. The faint surprise in his eyes dissolved, replaced by a dark, dangerous gleam as a mischievous smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth.

?”You really worked hard today, didn’t you?” Alex murmured, his voice dropping into a low, velvety rumble that vibrated straight through her chest. ”And a woman who puts in this much effort deserves a proper reward.”

?Before Victoria could even ask what he meant, Alex took two long strides toward the center of the room. Without an ounce of hesitation, he loosened his grip and tossed her straight onto the massive king-sized bed.

?”Ah—!”

?A startled, breathy cry slipped past her lips as she hit the thick, layered mattress. The impact was soft, absorbed instantly by the heavy charcoal velvet and down feathers, sending her sinking into the lavish plushness.