The Devil CEO's Contract Wife - Chapter 236: Where The Heart Is

Chapter 236: Where The Heart Is

[Music: Say Yes To Heaven By Lana Del Rey]

The school fair was loud and chaotic as always. The schoolyard had been transformed into a small carnival with colorful booths lining the field, bright banners hanging between poles, and balloons.

Other kids ran past with painted faces and sticky fingers, while holding cotton candy.

“Want some candy, sweetie?” I asked as I walked to the booth. “I’m sorry, but Reed can’t make it; he’s still at the construction site.”

He was usually here with Esme, and it made her happy. I could only imagine how sad she must be.

“Esme?”

“I’m not looking for Reed,” she said as she continued stretching her neck.

“Who are you looking for then?”

“Mister King. He told me he’s here now and he’s gonna be here for all my carnivals.”

“H-He did?”

She nodded. “He’s a fairy like me, so no matter what, he’s gonna be here now.”

I pulled some strands of my hair behind my ear and crouched to her height. “He’s not just a fairy, you know.”

Esme tilted her head to the side. “What do you mean?” But then she gasped. “Is he really a King?”

I chuckled. “That’s about right.”

“But I already know that. Is there something else I should know?”

I took her hand in mine and held it tightly. “Mr. King, he’s—”

“Mister King!” Esme yelled and dashed past me.

I stood to my full height, turning, and it was like the rest of the world disappeared as I watched Esme run into Ares’s arms. He picked her up, and her hand shot into the air before she embraced him.

She took off his sunglasses, saying something to him before giggling when he pinched her cheek.

I felt something cold run down my cheek, and I realized the tears were already slipping. I quickly used the back of my hand to wipe it off before fixing my expression and walking to them.

I cleared my throat. “You’re here…”

“Esme invited me.”

Of course she did. She can’t go a day without ranting about Mister King.

“I’m glad you’re here…” I confessed, looking away so I don’t linger in his gaze, or else my recollection of last night was gonna haunt me again.

I have spent the past few hours in deep thought, trying to convince myself that half the things he told me were just my drunken state playing tricks on me.

However, having him here right now made me realize how real they are… what Ares did for me. No matter how twisted or sick it was, it still made my heart race and gave me the closure I didn’t know I needed.

“Let’s go over there and there and win prizes.”

“Go on, you two, I have to make sure my booth has enough customers.”

I watched them leave, waving at Esme.

As I worked with Harper, my eyes kept shifting to them, like a magnet, making me lose focus. They were just so irresistible, Ares to be exact.

If anyone has told me the Devil would be good with kids, I would have told them to shut up. It wasn’t just being good with kids; it was how relaxed and amused he was with her.

“You know I can handle this myself.”

I glanced at Harper, shrouded in her goth attire as usual, holding the black umbrella to shield her from the not so bright sun.

“What do you mean?”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t ask me that because it’s obvious where your heart and soul are.”

“It’s right here. Ares will take care of Esme. I trust him.”

“Ms. Walker.”

’What?”

“I think it’s time you allow yourself to live. I get it, you’re a single mom, and you gotta be stuff for your kid, but that..?” She pointed to them. “That... is calling you.

I raised an eyebrow. “Calling me?”

“It doesn’t take two heads to know that our new hottie in town is Esme’s dad.” She raised her hand. “It’s not my place, neither do I know what got down, but ever since the dude has been here, no day has gone by he doesn’t see you two… he’s dedicated, and maybe it’s not just about getting Esme back but you too.”

“Geez! I feel like my entire life is like a mirror.”

“I can tell… at least now I know why Reed was never in the books for you. Your heart was always somewhere else the whole time, that says a lot, and you can’t deny it.”

Her words hit the nail on the head, and I got speechless because I knew nothing could rival that.

Harper took off my apron, practically shooing me. “Go.”

As I walked, it was like a spell had been cast on me against my will, but the more I did, the more liberated I felt. My slow movement turned fast, a smile brightening up my face as I neared them.

“Mommy!” Esme said excitedly. “Look!”

I moved my eyes to where her finger pointed and found Ares holding a toy gun.

I snorted.

“What?”

“You look ridiculous.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“In a good way.”

“Come here…”

I shivered, moving close in a heartbeat. He stood behind me and handed me the gun, and fright cluttered my mind. Holding my hands, he raised and pointed towards the target.

“A-Ares…”

“It’s just a gun…” he murmured softly to my ear.

I gulped down a weight in my throat, quivering in his arms, but he held me close and pulled the trigger.

Bang!

I almost jumped out of his grip; it was just a rubber bullet, and the sound was no less than a muted noise, yet my mind made it loud.

“I pulled the trigger, not you,” he said.

I rasped heavily, my mind synchronizing to that night.

Ares took the gun from me, unbothered as he shot accurate targets, and Esme jumped, cheering him on.

“Here comes your prize.” The man said, eyeing Ares in alarm as he gave Esme a pink rabbit teddy.

She clutched it with her two hands. “I love it!”

I flinched when I felt Ares’ hand slide to the small of my back. I didn’t look, suddenly feeling heavy, like something was gnawing at my insides.