Laila The moment we step into the vacation home , the interion of the lake house strikes me with a strong sense of familiarity . I quickly suppress it before Kael can catch on He's always been very observant . After Cameron's words outside , and knowing , Karel's orrspicious nature , I'l have to be extremely careful in the next few days . Kael will be watching me closely Our last argument didn't end so well , and now , we're forced to be in such close proximity to Cameron and Saral It's a recipe for disaster Of course , Loan also tell Kael the muh ... The moment the thought comes , I shake it off . Some things are better left unsaid and this is one of them The contract is only binding for the present . I'm not obligated to tell Kael everything about my past with Cameron He's not completely honest about anything with me either . And I've never complained about it , I know he doesn't truly owe me anything " No , Max and I have been in the room downstairs " Shirley continues in the same cheerful manner as we walk past the foyer . " I had the staff come in to clean up all the rooms upstairs . I wasn't sure which would be in use ... She glances over at us . " Would you like separate rooms ? " An awkward silence dawns , Separate rooms are not uncommon for couples in this age , and Shirley probably won't think too much of it Cameron is the first to respond , " Yes " Sarah tenses beside him , but she keeps an unfazed expression . " Cameron works late often and doesn't like to keep me up . And when Kelly comes , she'll be with me ? The explanation wasn't necessary . And it just makes things more awkward . Shirley nods slowly in understanding , her attention then shifts to Kael and 1 . Laila and 1 will be together " Kael breaks the silence this time , 1 bit down on my bottom lip to keep from protesting , Korcing a smile to my lips , and nodding slowly . " Splendid " She smiles , gesturing to the stairs . " Why don't you go get settled , wash up and then come down for dinner ? Max will be home soon and I hope you don't mind having dinner together " She asks , her eyes shifting between all four of us. 18:49 Mon , Oct 13 Chapter 42 " Not at all ." Cameron replies , " We truly appreciate the warm reception ." Shirley grins and then hurries away , disappearing in the direction of the kitchen . 55 vouchers With the outsider gone , the tension quickly returns . Without a word, Kael leads us up the stairs , leaving Cameron and Sarah to their devices . He randomly goes for the first door down the hallway . I panic and the words come out before I realise , " Not that one ! " Kael's hands freezes on the door knob , turning to me . " What now , Laila ? If you had an opinion about sharing a room , you missed your chance to say it . " For a moment , I thought Kael would think otherwise . But he only thinks I just don't want to share a room with him . " I just ... don't want the first room down the hall . " I say unsurely . Kael raises a brow . And then he shrugs , heading further down the hall to the fourth door . " Is this far enough down the hall for you ? " I nod , walking over to him . He opens the door and heads in first , mumbling about women and their peculiarity . I linger behind , glancing at that door once again . It's one thing to share a room with Kael , and it's another thing for that room to be the very same room I lost my virginity to Cameron . Shaking off the memories before they can surface , I follow after Kael . It wasn't long before dinner time . Shirley came in to check on us sometime ago and I'd spent the past hour on the phone with Liam . This is the first time in three years he'll be spending the night without me and while I'd made sure to check multiple times that Marie would be with him at all times , I still can't rest easy . " He'll be fine . " Kael's voice sounds from behind me just as I finally hung up the call . " Blake will not take his eyes off him for even a second . " I'm already getting dressed and Kael was in the shower until a moment ago . I'm not sure when he came out . I'm standing by the mirror , adjusting the straps of my dress when I catch his reflection . He stands at the entrance of the bathroom , towel drying his hair . His broad chest is on full display , every of his well defined muscles reflected back to me . The pants he has on is riding low on his hips , and remnant water droplets trail down the V line that disappears beneath the waistband of his pants . line Suddenly , the temperature in the room seems to rise . Sharing a room with Kael ... this will also be another first 18:49 Mon , Oct 13 Chapter 42 in three years I quickly avert my gaze , moving away from the mirror . 65 vouchers " He's barely four , Kael I murmur . Tve not gone this long without Liam before , and the same goes for him . " " Forgive me if I'm uneasy . But I don't trust your Grandfather . Or anyone else in your family , really ?" Kael chuckles quietly , his already deep baritone sounds even deeper in his amusement . " Blackwoods are many things , trustworthy isn't one of them . " He replies with a shrug . I'm not sure what reaction I expected from him , but it certainly wasn't this . And it does nothing to calm my unease . " But my granddad has always been very protective of Blackwood heirs . " Kael adds in a more serious tone . " Liam is safe with him . I got his word on it ' I glance over my shoulder to Kael His relationship with his granddad hasn't been the best since he was banished . I know that because while I was married to Cameron . Kael didn't receive the best welcome on the few occasions he came home to Thorneville . In fact , Grandfather Blackwood always made sure to be extremely harsh with him and show obvious favour for Cameron over him . Even at Cameron and I's wedding banquet , Kael hadn't stayed more than a few minutes after he'd flown in before he was heading for the airport again . I wondered then , just how severe his crime was that even his own family didn't want him around . I never did get an answer . Even now , I'm not entirely sure why Kael was banished . It's extremely classified information in the Blackwood Pack . Cameron never talked about it . He barely mentioned Kael except to warn me to stay clear of him . Kael insisting on getting Grandfather Blackwood's word about Liam meant confronting the old man in private which is something I know he avoids . When did he even have the chance to do that before we arrived here ? " Why are you staring at me like that ? " Kael questions , snapping me out of my reverie . " Already regretting not jumping into my bed when you had the chance ? " I blanch . Kael will always be Kael . I don't even know what I was thinking . He does whatever he pleases . There's probably more than enough reason for anyone to want to banish him . " Can we just get through the next week without any ... complications ? " I ask Kael in a serious tone . " I really don't want to go at it with you again out here . " 18:49 Mon , Oct 13 Chapter 42 29 4 55 vouchers Kael raises a brow . His lips move like he has something more to say but he seems to think better of it . " We should head down now . Wouldn't want to give Sarah the time to ruin our reputation before we even sit at the table . "