Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine novel Chapter 216

Chapter 216 Calla, Cade, And Arden

Chapter 216 Calla, Cade, And Arden

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Noelle looked at me sheepishly. She definitely knew she was in trouble and was already preparing her excuses. Sol, on the other hand, just… looked away.

I massaged the bridge of my nose. “You’re blind, for god’s sake,” I hissed under my breath, unable to stop myself. “What exactly are you looking away from?”

He scratched the back of his neck and cleared his throat.

Before I could decide which of them deserved my wrath first, Calla came running up to me, her small hands pressing against my thighs as she wrapped her little arms around me. My heart softened instantly, but then she peeked past me, her curious little eyes landing on Cade and Arden.

“Ooh! Pretty!” she squealed, her voice filled with delight as she looked at the two of them back and forth.

Before I could move, Calla’s wide, innocent gaze went to Cade. She tilted her head and then said the single word that shattered the silence in the room.

“Daddy?”

Cade’s eyes widened, appearing like his eyeballs might actually fall out of his head. He stood there for a moment, staring at Calla, opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water.

I reacted before anyone else could, my body moving on pure instinct. “Nope!” I said loudly and quickly. I bent down, grabbed Calla, and gently yanked her little mask back over her mouth and nose.

“Noelle!” I snapped, spinning to where she had been.

But of course, she was gone. So was Sol. Those cowards!

I bit my tongue, feeling Carden’s and Arden’s eyes on me, more specifically, on Calla.

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Chapter 216 Calla, Cade, And Arden

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When I finally gathered the courage to look at them, my breath caught in the back of my throat.

Arden’s face had gone completely soft, her eyes wide with awe. Cade’s hand had reached for hers without him even realizing, and she had taken it, both of them holding onto each other.

At that moment, I knew it was too late.

I could see the realization and recognition written all over their faces. The resemblance was impossible to miss.

I tightened my hold on Calla, who tilted her head up at me with big, questioning eyes.

“Mommy, friends?” she asked, voice muffled by the mask, still unaware of the storm she had just unleashed in this room.

I blew out a breath, closing my eyes for a split second. There was no undoing this now. I couldn’t just pretend she was some random child.

With that, I turned her toward Cade and Arden. I could feel my own heart hammering in my chest as I reached up, undoing the little strings of her mask.

She giggled as it came loose, grinning like she knew she was about to get away with something.

I hesitated for a second. Then I pulled off her cap too, letting her hair spill free.

Calla beamed.

I swore, at that moment, I saw them melt. Arden’s hand flew to her mouth. Cade’s grip on her tightened, and a small smile appeared on his lips.

“Arden. Cade.”

“This is Calla.”

I kissed the top of her head before setting her down on her own two feet.

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Chapter 216 Calla, Cade, And Arden

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“Calla,” I said gently, brushing her hair back. “These are your aunt and uncle.”

Calla wiggled out of my arms and landed on the floor with a little bounce, her hair falling into her face. She brushed it back with both hands, her wide smile already lighting up the whole room.

“Hi! I’m Calla!” she chirped, vibrating with excitement as she looked between Cade and Arden. “You’re really pretty,” she said to Arden.

My heart tugged a little at the sweetness of her voice. My little baby really sounded innocent. She always made an effort to get to know the people around her.

Just then, Calla suddenly gasped, clapping her tiny hands together. “You have a baby in your stomach!”

My eyes widened.

What?

She could… feel that?

Arden wasn’t even showing yet, so there was no way Calla could’ve seen anything. I’d known Calla had a strange sensitivity about her, but this was something I never expected.

Arden’s lips trembled before she slowly knelt down so she was eye level with her. “You’re so precious,” she whispered. “Can you give your aunt a hug?”

Calla nodded enthusiastically and ran right into her arms. Arden caught her, holding her tightly, her eyes squeezed shut.

I stood there silently, feeling strangely emotional as I watched them. I guess seeing the newest, most important person in my life with the one I considered had that title in the past was just too much. It felt like this would have been a normal view if everything had turned out all right back then.

Calla pulled back just slightly, but not enough to leave Arden’s embrace. “Do you like candy?” she asked seriously.

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Chapter 216 Calla, Cade, And Arden

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Arden laughed softly, her tears spilling over. “Yes. I like candy very much.”

“Good!” Calla said, nodding with approval. “Do you like puppies?”

“I love puppies,” Arden said, smiling through her tears.

Calla gasped dramatically. “Me too!”

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Beside them, Cade crouched down, resting his elbows on his knees. “You like puppies, huh?” he asked, his tone soft.

“Yes!” Calla said, spinning toward him. “Do you?”

“Of course,” he said, reaching out to ruffle her hair gently. “I think you’d be very good at taking care of them.”

“I am!” Calla said proudly. “I take care of my dolly every day. Wanna see?”

And just like that, she plopped herself on the floor, pulling the tiny stuffed doll from her pocket and showing it to Cade like it was the most important thing in the world.

Cade played along perfectly, asking all the right questions about the doll’s name and favorite food. I found myself smiling as I watched them.

For a moment, I could already imagine how they’d be as parents. The soft way Cade’s voice dropped when he spoke to her, how Arden’s hands kept brushing Calla’s hair out of her face so gently.

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