Dorothea Caddel, is born into a wealthy family that can easily give her a plane or a planet to her wishes but what if something deep is hidden in the mask of a perfect family, a devil that she fears but soon learns to accept as love. That story chan...
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Jasper was struggling to focus on the chessboard, his gaze drifting away from the game, landing instead on Dorothea. He couldn't tear his eyes away. There she was, standing across the room, her every movement graceful, a soft smile tugging at her lips as she observed the game.
The way the light caught her red hair, the way her eyes sparkled with amusement as she watched everyone banter—it was enough to make his heart stumble. He couldn't help it. With every passing moment, he found himself falling deeper for his wife, more enchanted by her existence.
"Ha! This is the first time I'm seeing you lose so easily, Jas!" Dean's voice snapped Jasper out of his reverie.
Esme's plan was working. Despite the tension that had filled the room earlier, everyone was now engaged in casual conversation, chattering away like they hadn't been arguing just moments before. It was as if the chaos had been wiped away, replaced by lightheartedness.
Jasper finally looked down at the chessboard, his focus wavering as he studied his king. His eyes widened in realization—Dean's queen was about to capture his king, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
He grimaced, irritated. He hated this game. He never understood the rules, never could wrap his head around the strategies. He might have excelled in battle, but chess? It made his head spin. If this was an actual battle, he was doomed.
Dorothea, on the other hand, adored chess. Her sharp intellect and strategic mind were just another facet of her brilliance, and it was something she loved to share with Jasper, patiently guiding him, filling in the gaps where he struggled. She always knew exactly how to balance him out, bringing him clarity when his mind couldn't make sense of the pieces on the board.
Together, they complemented each other perfectly.
Jasper moved a pawn, hoping it would be enough to hold Dean off. But, with a casual flick of his wrist, Dean captured it with his queen, not missing a beat. Jasper's irritation flared. The game felt stupid now, a waste of time that only left him frustrated.
Just as he was about to flip the board in exasperation, he noticed, out of the corner of his eye, Dorothea stifling a giggle. She had her hand covering her mouth, trying her best to hold back the laughter that bubbled up as she watched him struggle.
They locked eyes for just a moment, and Jasper's chest tightened, the familiar sensation of guilt threatening to rise again. But this time, it felt different. There was no anger in her expression, no harsh judgment—only a subtle, teasing smile that made him feel, paradoxically, less guilty and more certain of her forgiveness.
Her soft laugh, gentle and filled with affection, made him feel foolish for taking so long to realize it. Dorothea was laughing at him, yes, but not in the way he had feared. It wasn't cruel. It wasn't a reprimand. It was just Dorothea—his Dorothea—playfully mocking him for losing so easily, just as she always had.
