Define The Relationship Novel - Chapter 32

“You’re late!”

“Sorry. I had someone to escort, so I’m a little late.”

“Oh, my. Hello.”

The blonde woman, called Natalie, was an Alpha. Her large green eyes were wide. Her refreshingly tall stature, slender waist, and well-defined curves made her look sensuous, like a model.

Her outstanding beauty briefly brought Nicholas to mind. Karlyle’s heart pounded rapidly, his blood vessels expanded, and anxiety surged. He couldn’t guess their relationship. Foolishly, a provocative thought came first.

Is she an ex-lover?

Karlyle politely returned the greeting, but in his anxiety, he held Ash’s hand.

“I’m Karlyle Frost.”

“Who’s this handsome gentleman? A date?”

“Something like that.”

Ash winked at Karlyle. Karlyle’s mind became even more confused. The conversation seemed a bit odd for an ex-lover.

“Did I interrupt your date with such a wonderful person? I’m sorry.”

“No. It’s urgent. Hurry and leave her with me and go to the hospital.”

The woman nodded and led Ash and Karlyle into the house. The house was three stories, but unlike Kyle’s mansion, it was a typical English style, narrow in width and long vertically. Though not large in scale, considering its location, it was a place difficult to afford with an average income.

Karlyle’s question about the identity of the person was answered as they entered the house. In the living room, a young girl dressed up was sitting. The girl looked about five years old, and she stared at them with a very sick face.

“Mommy…”

Hearing the whimpering voice, the woman rushed over with a heartbroken expression. Holding the child in her arms, the woman quickly introduced herself to Karlyle.

“I’m Natalie, Ash’s sister, Mr. Frost. I’m sorry to interrupt your date. My child is very sick, and there’s no one but Ash to watch my second child while I take her to the hospital.”

Karlyle was a little surprised by this fact, which he hadn’t guessed due to their very different appearances for siblings. Ash stroked the head of the child in Natalie’s arms, looking sympathetic.

“What hurts?”

“I think it’s the flu. Her fever is too high; we went to the GP two days ago, but today I think we need to go to the emergency room.”

Karlyle pondered. Hospitals in the UK typically had long waiting times, and even at the emergency room, unless a patient was truly on the verge of death, some waiting was necessary.

Pediatrics was no different. While it was certainly not his concern, he thought it might be better to at least mention it if he could be of help.

“If it’s alright, I believe I can be of assistance.”

“Yes?”

“If you go to Great Ormond Street Hospital, you should be able to see a doctor without waiting.”

At his words, Natalie’s eyes widened. Ash also looked at Karlyle.

“Really? Great Ormond would be wonderful for me too. But…”

“I will make the call. Once you arrive, if you mention my name, you will be guided directly.”

Karlyle reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. The child was blinking and looking at Karlyle. She was a pretty child with blonde hair, like her mother. Seeing the child reminded him of Kyle. He could also imagine the future niece or nephew that Kyle and Nick would soon have.

Though he didn’t have a good affinity with children, Karlyle didn’t dislike them, strictly speaking. He just didn’t know how to handle them because they were so small and fragile. Karlyle looked at the child with a gentle gaze, then opened his mouth as the dial tone ended and Luther’s voice was heard.

“Good afternoon, Luther.”

“Good afternoon, Karlyle. How can I assist you?”

Luther asked as if he already knew the purpose of the call.

“I would like to ask Mr. Middleton, whom you connected me with last time, if he could be on standby for a patient I need to refer.”

Middleton was a skilled specialist at Ormond Hospital, whom the Frost family had offered an exclusive contract for Kyle and Nick’s childcare. Luther had introduced him.

“Oh.”

Luther made a suspicious chuckle.

“Is this related to the person you’re currently meeting?”

Luther had a keen interest in Karlyle’s meetings with Ash. Karlyle briefly fell silent at Luther’s remark, which linked them in a strange relationship, much like Mayam did. Embarrassment briefly washed over him, but Karlyle regained his composure.

“Is it possible?”

“Of course. The Frost family engaged him, so your request takes precedence, young master. I will contact him. How long will it take?”

Karlyle briefly covered his phone and spoke to Natalie, who was looking at him in surprise.

“It would be best if you leave now.”

“Oh, yes! Thank you so much. Really, truly. Please let me repay you. You mustn’t leave!”

Natalie, expressing her gratitude repeatedly in a flustered voice, grabbed her pre-packed bag and, holding the child, left the house. Just before leaving, she didn’t forget to look at Ash and gesture for him to hold onto Karlyle. She clearly seemed to have a cheerful personality.

“You’ll arrive within twenty minutes.”

“Understood. I’ll arrange for you to be guided directly upon arrival.”

“Thank you.”

Karlyle ended the call. Ash, who had been quietly watching him, gently wrapped his arm around Karlyle’s waist with a kind expression.

“Karlyle, there’s nothing you can’t do. Thank you.”

“I hope it was helpful.”

Feeling a bit awkward, Karlyle briefly averted his gaze. Ash’s lips softly touched his cheek, then pulled away.

“It was a huge help. Natalie is very important to me. My nieces and nephews are too. So, truly, thank you.”

Ash expressed his gratitude formally. This was a first for Karlyle. In Karlyle’s world, favors were granted based on accumulated interests and future investment value. In such relationships, even when gratitude was expressed, conversations didn’t flow with this kind of feeling.

“…It’s my pleasure.”

Karlyle finally found a reply. Lips touched his cheek again. Once, twice, Ash kissed his cheek repeatedly, then hugged Karlyle tightly from behind. Ash’s chin rested on his shoulder.

“So… are you ready for some hard work now?”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the loud cry of a baby echoed from the second floor. Karlyle blinked. Ash chuckled with a sigh and said,

“It’s babysitting time.”

Ash released Karlyle and went to wash his hands, speaking seriously.

The baby was a girl, and according to Ash, she was a Beta, like his eldest, Suzie. Ash explained that Sarah, who was just six months old, would take over an hour to feed baby food.

“Sarah is difficult for the housekeepers to look after.”

Ash said, holding the baby very skillfully. Sarah, who had been crying loudly, filling the entire house, stopped crying as soon as Ash entered and blinked her eyes. Then she squirmed her limbs as if asking to be held.

“Why is that?”

“She has severe stranger anxiety, so she won’t stop crying unless I, Natalie, or her husband Clark takes care of her. She keeps crying no matter how tired she is.”

The problem was that her husband, Clark, was away on a business trip, and therefore, Ash was the only one who could look after the child. Karlyle thought of their parents, but since Ash didn’t mention them, it seemed there was a reason for that too.

Watching Ash gently caress the baby in his arms, Karlyle felt a strange emotion.

Ash was very good with children. Just seeing him now, Karlyle felt he would make a wonderful father. There was so much he was curious about regarding Ash, but at this moment, he wanted to know if Ash desired children.

He had heard that Ash only met Alphas, but he wondered if Ash would someday want to meet an Omega and have children. The thought made his heart heavy. He felt that way for no reason, even though he and Ash were nothing to each other. Ash met his gaze and asked,

“You look like you’re thinking something.”

“…Are you referring to me?”

“Yes.”

Ash said, leading Karlyle to the sofa. They were currently sitting in the living room, preparing to feed Sarah baby food.

“Karlyle, you often hear that you have no expression, don’t you?”

He had grown up that way, and he had to be, so it was a natural remark.

“That’s correct.”

“So, I don’t really know what Karlyle is thinking.”

Having said that, Ash’s knee touched Karlyle’s knee.

“But I think I know a few things now.”

Karlyle frowned slightly. He tried to recall if he had behaved improperly in front of Ash. It seemed he might have. Ash was the first person of his kind he had met, and he had certainly never dealt with someone who made him feel such emotions.

“…Would you tell me what they are?”

“Like just now, that expression of holding something back…”

Their knees rubbed together. Karlyle bit his lip at the faint stimulation rising from the friction. Karlyle lowered his gaze.

“When you’re subtly disappointed.”

Ash leaned in as if examining him, then looked up at Karlyle from below and said,

“And when you’re horny.”

The low whisper was very deep. Perhaps sensing the strange tension, Sarah burst into tears. It was amazing how accurately she noticed that attention wasn’t on her.

Heat rose to the back of Karlyle’s neck. He felt self-reproach, as if he had done something shameless in front of the child, even though he hadn’t done anything.

“Am I… like that?”

“Karlyle, what do you eat to be so sexy?”

“That’s, Ash, you…”

It wasn’t Karlyle who was sexy. Ash made him this way. Karlyle hadn’t even known he could feel such sensations. Ash made a groaning sound, then chuckled softly.

“Hmm.”

Ash, looking troubled, straightened his posture, looking ahead.

“I feel like I’ll lose it if I say any more, so let’s change the subject.”

Karlyle silently agreed. When he was with Ash, he felt like he became a person who knew nothing of restraint.

“If you’re curious about something, it’s okay to just ask.”

Ash changed the subject, as if reminding Karlyle of what he had just been thinking. It was a question that didn’t necessarily need to be asked. Yet, Ash looked at him, as if waiting. Under that gentle gaze, Karlyle finally asked.

“You seem to like children.”

“Yes, they’re cute, aren’t they?”

“Later, if you consider marriage… do you want to have children?”

Ash made a humming sound, then raised an eyebrow. Then he asked mischievously.

“You were curious about that?”

It was meaningful. His voice seemed to dig into Karlyle’s true feelings, which Karlyle himself hadn’t fully grasped. Karlyle stood up from his seat.

“You don’t have to answer. I asked a useless question.”

“Karlyle.”

Ash called him, softly but firmly.

“Sit down.”

Don’t run away. Karlyle stopped dead in his tracks. Heat rose within him. He was embarrassed. He felt pathetic. Self-loathing washed over him. Ash quietly urged Karlyle, who hesitated as if to retreat without sitting, with his eyes. Escaping the situation like this wouldn’t be natural, so Karlyle sat back down.

“I’m glad Karlyle asked.”

Ash said, as if to tell him not to worry. Ash stroked Sarah and slowly answered his question.