Chapter 368 Mixed Signals

Cecilia ’s pov

The whole family was gone ? Just Daisy, alone in this massive house ?

After we arrived, Daisy took Sebastian to the master suite on the third floor.

The butler led the rest of us to the guest rooms. That was me, Harper, Tang, and Sawyer.

Our rooms were on the far end of the second floor.

The distance between his room and ours was kind of ridiculous.

It honestly felt like we needed a golf cart. Or maybe even an Uber.

But I wasn’t really complaining.

We were just his pack entourage. Staying in the estate was already a privilege.

The guest rooms were huge. Everyone got their own, and they were nicer than most five-star hotels.

Warm tones. Plush bedding. Fancy furniture that looked expensive enough to have its own insurance.

I didn’t even unpack. Just dropped my bag and collapsed onto the window lounge. Outside, the rainbow was still hanging in the sky like it had nowhere better to be.

My brain was a mess. It felt like someone had dumped a whole tray of paint in there.

At some point, I must’ve drifted off.

A knock on the door snapped me awake.A staff member was there, politely reminding me it was time for dinner.

I muttered something and rubbed my temples, trying to shake the fog.

A minute later, Harper showed up.

She saw me still rubbing my forehead and instantly assumed I was spiraling again.

“Look, I know you didn’t ask to be dragged out here for some big ‘meet the family’ moment,” she said, leaning against the doorframe.

“But he’s not trying to lock you down. He just wants to give you and the baby a real place in his world. I get why you’re nervous, but… is he really asking that much ?”

I dropped my hand and gave her a look. “No, he’s fine. I’m the problem. Who gave him permission to be hot, emotionally intelligent, and Oscar-level smooth ? Even actual con men aren’t this good.

Harper laughed, full-on this time.

We headed downstairs together.

Tang and Sawyer joined us in the hall just as we stepped out.

The four of us walked into the dining room as a unit.

Sebastian was already sitting down, with Daisy next to him. A little girl, probably around two years old, was sitting on his lap.

She was curled into him like she belonged there. No hesitation. No awkwardness. Just… home.

And just like that, my brain flashed back. Daisy brushing raindrops off his shoulder. The way she’d touched him, casually, like it meant nothing. Or maybe like it meant everything.

Something in my stomach twisted.

I told myself to be rational. To not jump to conclusions.

But my imagination was already racing.

But I couldn’t shake the unease.

Sure, Sebastian was attractive. But was I really this insecure every time a woman smiled at him ?

“Please, sit anywhere you like,” Daisy said with a warm smile. She didn’t stand, but her voice was smooth and practiced, like she’d hosted a hundred dinners just like this.

I gave a tight nod and walked around the table, choosing the seat farthest from them.

Sebastian watched me as I sat down. I dropped my gaze, suddenly very interested in the swirly design on my plate.

A soft rustling sound made me look up again.

Daisy had turned slightly in her chair and was smoothing the little girl’s hair.

“This is Riley, my daughter,” she said, her tone gentle.

The child shifted on Sebastian’s lap and looked up at him with wide eyes.

Then she beamed.

“Hi, Uncle,” she said, in a voice so sweet it could’ve melted concrete.

To my surprise, he handled her with ease. No matter how much she squirmed or fidgeted, he stayed calm. Even got her to laugh.

It was… disarming.

The way he softened around her. Like some hidden, gentler version of him had stepped forward.

“A man who’s good with kids is, like, ten times hotter than one flashing his abs,” Harper whispered beside me.

“He probably gives off some kind of magic pheromones,” I muttered.

She blinked. “Wait… you think that’s a real thing ?”

I stared at her. “Harper. It was a joke.”

She looked so serious that I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing.

Across the table, Sebastian looked up. His tone was easy, but there was that familiar edge underneath.

“What’s so funny over there, Ms. Moore ? You and Harper want to share with the group ?”

I met his gaze. “We were just wondering if you’re secretly engineered to be irresistible. Even toddlers seem to fall for it.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Curious ? You could always come over and see for yourself.”

Daisy glanced at me, her expression unreadable but definitely… watching.

I looked down again and started cutting my food, very focused on not reacting.

But of course, Sebastian didn’t let it go.

“No ?” he said again. “Not even a little visit ?”

I clenched my jaw. “I eat better when I stay in one place. So no, thanks.”

He smiled at Riley. “See that ? That lady over there’s even more shy than you.”

Daisy stood, smoothing her skirt. “Riley, come to Mommy. Don’t bother your uncle while he’s eating.”

But Riley just clung tighter. “Want Uncle.”

“He needs to eat, sweetheart. Come now,” Daisy said, a little firmer.

Riley pouted and started to whine.

Sebastian just rubbed her back. “It’s fine. I’ve got her.” Then, with a glance in my direction, he added, “Good practice, actually.”

Daisy’s head snapped toward him. “…What ?”

I stayed silent. Still cutting my chicken like it had personally offended me.

Even from across the table, I could feel his focus on me. Like a spotlight I couldn’t turn off.

And he didn’t stop. All dinner long, he kept throwing little comments my way.

Nothing obvious. Just enough to make sure I didn’t get through a single peaceful bite.