Loving The Temperamental Adonis
Chapter 327 - 65

Chapter 327: Chapter 65

A year after their wedding, Rayne and Liam basked in the warmth of a perfect summer day, surrounded by friends who had become family.

The picnic blanket was spread out under a sprawling oak tree, its branches offering dappled shade. The laughter of children mingled with the soft murmur of adult conversation, creating an atmosphere filled with joy and love.

Their wedding a year ago had been grand, an event no one would never forget. Rayne had not expected Liam to send out the invitations to everyone and make all the arrangements without her knowledge, but he’d done it, with the help of Neil and Mia. Now, they were all seated together on the picnic mat, with Neil and Mia’s four-month-old baby girl being gently held by four-year-old Melissa on Neil’s lap.

Liam sat with his long legs parted, Rayne nestled comfortably between them, his hand resting protectively on her swollen belly. The baby bump was a testament to their love, and his fingers traced gentle patterns over it as he talked with Neil.

His other hand held a sandwich, which he tried to coax Rayne into eating as she’d started to complain about her weight and wanted to cut down on eating too much, which Liam was against because he believed she needed more food in her condition.

"Come on, love, you need to keep up your strength," Liam said, his voice a tender blend of concern and affection.

He lifted the sandwich to her lips, and she took a small bite before pushing the rest away.

"Welcome to the team of husbandhood," Neil remarked with a smirk, watching his friend trying to coax his wife into eating more. "I’ve been through worse with Mia. The doctor would advise her to eat more, but she’d only nibble until I coaxed her. And once she started eating like there was no tomorrow, the next day, she’d cry and blame me for her weight gain."

Liam chuckled, shaking his head. "Thanks for the warning."

"Let me give you a few tricks on how to get your wife to eat more," Neil continued, leaning in conspiratorially. "Deprive her of a night cuddle. While you’ll be suffering yourself, depriving her of something you can’t live without, just do it and see how she’ll eat without you having to coax her."

Mia glared at him accusingly. "Are you forgetting I’m sitting right here?"

Rayne laughed, turning to Neil. "Don’t teach my husband any of your tricks, Neil."

"Liam, don’t listen to his tricks because none of them have ever worked," Mia said. "If you don’t want to end up sleeping on the couch for two nights, heed my words and don’t listen to Neil." She smiled up at Neil, who choked on his drink upon hearing her words.

Neil didn’t need to be told twice before he nodded quickly and said to Liam, "She’s right. Listen to what my wife says, not me." He hugged Mia’s shoulders and kissed her cheek to make amends before he’d end up being thrown to the couch and deprived of any intimacy tonight. "Because the wives are always right."

Liam smiled, kissing the top of Rayne’s head. "I never intended to listen to your tricks; I can’t sleep a night without cuddling my wife."

Rayne leaned back against him, her green eyes sparkling. "And that’s why I love you."

Their peaceful moment was suddenly interrupted by a small commotion. Liam’s eyes darted to the other side of the picnic mat where Ethan was being shoved by an older boy, who had been playing alone at their side but seemed ready to fight Ethan.

Neil’s twin sons, Nolan and Noah, sprang to their feet in a flash, ready to defend Ethan. The older boy took a fighting stance. However, before he could throw a punch, the twins had grabbed both his arms and were telling Ethan to hit the older boy.

Before Liam could react, Neil was already moving towards them in long strides, sighing in frustration at his troublesome twins, who knew nothing but to fight.

When they weren’t wrestling each other, they’d be ganging up on someone. It was not a surprise to many in their school that the boys were short-tempered, and Neil always wondered where they got such temper from when neither of their parents was like that.

Reaching them, Neil swiftly tugged his twin sons away from the boy they were about to gang up on, his voice firm but calm. "Nolan, Noah, what have I told you about fighting? You weren’t just about to fight, but you were also trying to teach little Ethan to fight."

Nolan scoffed, crossing his arms defiantly. "Nobody has the right to push our family around. This is our play area, and he came here looking for trouble by pushing Ethan like he has the right."

"Tell him to go away and go find his own family area!" Noah said, glaring at the older boy who looked a head taller than him.

Neil sighed and looked down at his children, who were growing taller each passing day, his expression serious. "That doesn’t mean you can gang up on him. We don’t solve problems with violence."

Ethan, his eyes wide and earnest, chimed in, "Uncle Neil, but he pushed me. You shouldn’t support bullies. He should be punished and Noah and Nolan can punish him."

Liam and Rayne, followed closely by Mia who held her baby in one arm and held Melissa’s hand in the other, joined them. Mia’s eyes narrowed slightly as she took in the scene of her two boys glaring at the older boy, who was now staring at Melissa with a small grin.

"Mommy, I know him. He’s my friend," came Melissa’s voice from the side as she pointed at the older boy who looked to be seven or eight years old. "He gave me candy in our building..." she said, referring to the hotel they were staying in for vacation.

Neil’s eyes immediately narrowed at that, his fatherly protective instinct flaring upon hearing that the boy was his daughter’s friend. He’d been friends with Mia since childhood, where he was older than her, and he understood the look in the boy’s eyes as he stared at his daughter.

Not on his watch!

"Oh no, he didn’t. What’s your name?" Neil asked the boy strictly.

The boy cleared his throat and bowed his head slightly in respect before he said, "My name is Jamal Walker. My parents and I stay in the next suite to the Galverra’s, Sir."

"And why are you here picking a fight, Jamal?" Mia asked calmly as she locked eyes with her daughter’s shining brown eyes.

"I wasn’t picking a fight. I was making a lady’s toy car for Melissa when this boy tried to take it, so I pushed him away. And then the two look-alike boys wanted to beat me up for it," Jamal said, glaring at the twins.

"Melissa doesn’t want your car. She’s too young to have a boyfriend, go look for someone your age and don’t bother us again!" came Nolan’s warning with Noah nodding in agreement and Ethan chiming in with a firm, "Yes. Go away!"

"Don’t tell him to go away," said Melissa as she slid her hand away from her mother’s and went to stand in front of Jamal. However, knowing that her father would never refuse her anything, Melissa looked up at him and pleadingly asked, "Can Jamal sit with us, daddy? I won’t be his girlfriend now until I am big. I will only be his friend."

Neil looked ready to refuse and throw the boy away to wherever he said he came from, but Mia pinched his arm and warned him with her eyes not to dare refuse.

Neil leaned down to her ears and whispered, "Are you kidding me? Our little princess is too young to talk of having a boyfriend. This boy is way older—"

"And I wasn’t too young to be friends with you when we were younger? I was six and you were twelve," Mia pointed out.

"Uncle Neil, don’t let him join us. He’s mean! Let Nolan and Noah hit him!" Ethan said.

Liam quickly placed a calming hand on his son’s shoulder. "Ethan, we don’t hit back. We talk things out. Remember what we taught you?"

Ethan nodded, his eyes dropping to the ground. "But he pushed me first."

Rayne, her voice soft and soothing, added, "Sometimes, it’s braver to walk away and tell an adult than to fight back. Let’s all try to be kind to each other."

Neil turned to Jamal, who was now looking a bit sheepish. "Is there something you want to say?"

The boy mumbled, "Sorry. I didn’t mean to push him."

Nolan scoffed, "Yeah right. Apologize to us as well or you will not join us even if our sister wants you to."

"Nolan, you two were the ones in the wrong. You seemed ready to beat him up. Now apologize to him," Mia said, trying to sound strict.

"But mom—"

"Apologize," she said calmly.

Stomping their feet, the two apologized at the same time. "We are sorry." And then Melissa grinned and ran to hug both of her best brothers while saying, "Be nice to Jamal and I won’t tell you to piggyback me again!"

"Really? You won’t bother us for a piggyback again?" Noah asked, sounding delighted at the thought that their precious little sister, who they could never say no to, had finally agreed to stop bothering them for a piggyback.

They didn’t have to be told twice. They both wrapped their arms around Jamal’s neck and said, "You will be our buddy for as long as you don’t cross the boundaries. Let’s go eat some sandwiches!" Noah announced as they ran to the mat with several delicious meals spread on it.

As the tension melted away, the children resumed their play, their laughter ringing out once more. Liam pulled Rayne closer, kissing the top of her head.

Neil wrapped his arm around his wife and leaned down to kiss her cheek while whispering, "My eyes will be on that Jamal until the end of our vacation."

The group returned to the picnic mat, settling back into their relaxed positions. The day continued with stories, jokes, and the shared joy of being together. As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the scene, it was clear that these moments were the ones they would cherish forever.

And as the stars began to dot the twilight sky, each couple exchanged a glance filled with love and promise. This was their happy ending, surrounded by the people they loved most, with a future that held endless possibilities.

The story of Rayne, Liam, Neil, and Mia might be coming to an end, but their love story would continue to echo in the laughter of their children and the memories they had created. It was a beautiful reminder that love, in all its forms, was the greatest adventure of all.

THE END!

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Author’s Note

Dear Readers,

As I bring this journey to a close, I want to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you. Your unwavering support, insightful comments, and shared enthusiasm have made writing this story an incredible experience. It’s because of your loyalty that I’ve been able to pour my heart into every Chapter, and I can’t thank you enough for sticking with me through all the twists and turns.

But as one story ends, another begins. I’m thrilled to announce my next novel, "Transmigrated Into The Body Of The Cursed Prince’s Wife". This new tale is filled with intrigue, romance, and the kind of compelling characters you’ve come to expect. I can’t wait to share it with you!

Keep an eye out for the first few Chapters, which will be released tomorrow. I hope you’ll join me on this new adventure and fall in love with these new characters just as much as I have.

Thank you again for your incredible support. Here’s to many more stories together!

With love and gratitude, Ash20