My Baby Daddy Isn't Human-Chapter 46: His Invitation

Raelynn sat in front of the vanity mirror as Hera worked behind her, arranging her hair into soft waves that framed her face. The room was quiet, save for the faint rustling of fabric and the occasional clink of hairpins. Unlike other mornings, Raelynn wasn't her usual chatty self. Her gaze remained fixed on the mirror, though her eyes were distant, as if lost in thought.

Her silence hadn't gone unnoticed. Hera glanced at her through the reflection, her lips pressing into a thin line before she finally spoke.

"You're unusually quiet today," Hera said softly, carefully adjusting a strand of Raelynn's hair. "Something on your mind?"

Raelynn blinked, pulling herself out of her thoughts. "Just tired," she muttered, her voice flat. "Didn't sleep well."

Hera frowned, setting the brush down on the vanity. "This wouldn't have anything to do with your argument with Elion, would it?"

At the mention of his name, Raelynn's lips tightened, and her gaze shifted away from the mirror. Unbothered, Hera continued as if nothing had happened.

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"You know," Hera began cautiously, "I think he was just worried about you. About you and the baby."

Raelynn's head snapped back toward Hera, her eyes narrowing. "Of course you'd defend him," she said sharply.

Hera held up her hands in a gesture of peace. "I'm not defending him," she clarified. "I'm just trying to see things from both perspectives. He's not perfect, but he's not heartless either. He cares—maybe more than he knows how to show."

Raelynn scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're giving him too much credit. He could've just talked to me instead of blowing up like that."

"I won't argue with you there," Hera admitted, placing her hands on her hips. "But I also understand why he might've panicked. You were excited to see your friend—anyone could see that—but maybe you could've told him where you were going."

Raelynn didn't respond immediately, her lips pressing into a thin line. Hera let the silence linger for a moment before picking up the brush again and finishing her work.

Raelynn tugged lightly at her dress, not fully paying attention as Hera finished up, but instead of heading straight to breakfast like usual, she lingered in her room. She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the closed door. Her chest tightened with leftover frustration and a nagging guilt she couldn't shake.

An hour passed before she finally gathered the nerve to leave her room. She figured she'd waited long enough, assuming Elion was already busy with his day. Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the hall and made her way to the dining room.

The table was set as always, with an array of food that would've seemed inviting on any other day. She lowered herself into the chair, moving cautiously, almost reluctantly. She picked up a slice of toast, taking small bites even though she wasn't really hungry.

Her gaze drifted to the seat across from her—the one Elion usually occupied. She wasn't shocked to find it empty, but it still left her feeling strangely hollow. Eating alone wasn't as enjoyable as she'd thought it would be. Her mind wandered to Sloane, who was likely holed up in her room by now.

She sighed, pushing her plate slightly forward. Her fingers idly traced the edge of her glass as she stared at Elion's empty chair. Her thoughts swirled, a mixture of irritation and regret gnawing at her.

"Looking for me?"

The deep voice startled her so badly that she gasped, and the piece of toast she'd just bitten lodged in her throat. Raelynn choked violently, her body jerking forward as she covered her mouth, coughing uncontrollably.

Before she could react, a strong hand was on her back, moving in slow, comforting circles Another hand appeared in front of her, holding a glass of water.

"Drink," Elion instructed, pushing her to drink with a gentle urgency.

Her watery eyes flickered up to meet his, and for a moment, she froze. He was kneeling beside her, his face filled with genuine concern. She took the glass from him with trembling hands, but before she could raise it to her lips, Elion gently held the bottom, guiding it for her as she drank.

The water eased the scratch in her throat, and as the coughing faded, she took deep, uneven breaths. Elion stayed where he was, watching her closely, his eyes scanning for any hint she was still struggling.

Raelynn wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. The room fell into an awkward silence, neither of them speaking. She refused to look at him, her eyes fixed stubbornly on the table.

Elion finally broke the silence, leaning back slightly but still crouched at her side. "You should be more careful."

Raelynn's lips pressed into a thin line. "I was fine," she muttered, though her voice lacked its usual bite.

Elion raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "If that's what you call fine, then you have a strange definition of the word."

Her glare might have been intimidating if not for the lingering blush painting her cheeks. "I didn't ask for your help."

"Obviously," he replied, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Raelynn huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "I thought you'd already left."

Elion leaned back on his heels, standing up smoothly. "And miss the chance to see you sulking?"

"I wasn't sulking!" she snapped, though her voice wavered just enough to give her away.

Elion's smirk deepened, but before she could shoot back, his face shifted to something more serious. He cleared his throat, his gaze turning softer as it settled on her.

"Raelynn," he began, his voice steady but hesitant, "I wanted you to go to the party with me."

"A... what?"

Elion adjusted his stance a little, his hands falling casually at his sides. His gaze met hers, and for a moment, it felt like words weren't needed. "Will you go with me?"

Raelynn's eyes widened in shock, her lips parting slightly. "What?"

Elion cleared his throat again. "I mean… would you like to go to the party with me?"