Chapter 292: Coughing on Confessions
Leo
"I never leaked the news," Linda said over the phone, the sincerity in her voice heavy with worry. I had barely stepped out of my car when my phone blew up with notifications showing the viral reports currently trending globally regarding Kayden and Rhys.
I let out a deep, exhausted sigh and rubbed my face before glancing across the table at Kayden, trying to process the sudden storm.
He sat opposite me in one of the city’s most exclusive private restaurants. Earlier that morning, he had called and asked me to meet him out of the blue. Since the intensive preseason schedule had not yet started and I was not currently responsible for any player evaluations or medical treatments, I accepted the invitation. But the absolute first thing he had shown me after I arrived was the massive public drama spreading across social media.
"I believe you," I said into the phone, keeping my voice steady to calm her down. "I’ll talk to you later." After ending the call, I placed my phone face down on the table and met Kayden’s anxious gaze. "Linda is cleared. She’s one of the few people I trust completely, so I don’t believe she leaked anything."
Kayden remained silent, watching me closely as he listened to my assessment.
"My best guess is that one of your overly obsessed fans enlarged the photographs from that event and noticed something unusual," I continued, leaning forward slightly. "People online analyze every single detail. It only takes one person posting a wild theory before thousands start connecting dots that don’t even exist." He frowned, leaning back into his chair, but I wasn’t finished reassuring him.
"Besides, there is no medical way anyone could have detected the pregnancy from those photographs alone. The baby isn’t physically visible yet, and your pheromonal changes are still heavily concealed. To anyone without specialized training, you would appear completely normal."
I paused, crossing my arms over my chest before adding, "The only exception would be an Enigma. Our senses are far more sensitive than most secondary genders. But even then, I highly doubt an Enigma would be openly attending such a massive public gathering without completely suppressing themselves."
Kayden pointed his fork at me, a sudden spark in his eyes. "What about you? You work openly every day while being an Enigma."
I laughed softly, a dry, slightly weary sound, and took a slow sip from the sparkling water in front of me. "You have no idea how exhausting it is," I admitted, my voice dropping to a quieter, more honest register.
"Masking my scent every day requires constant suppressants and heavy scent blockers. Most people think it’s a simple routine, but it isn’t. It feels like you’re constantly fighting a part of your own biology. I mean you would understand since you pretend to be an alpha for years. Lately, I’ve been trying to understand that side of me instead of suppressing it completely. If I don’t, there’s always the possibility of that dominant side taking over during periods of emotional stress and controlling my instincts. That’s the last thing I want happening, especially when Miller is involved."
Kayden studied me carefully, his analytical gaze locking onto mine with a look that was far too knowing, like he was uncovering a truth I wasn’t entirely ready to face. I immediately looked away, clearing my throat as I pretended to focus on the restaurant’s sleek decor.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. An awkward silence settled between us until the chefs arrived with our meals. Because Kayden was a high-profile celebrity, the restaurant had cleared out the section to ensure absolute privacy. The head chef personally served Kayden’s plate of steaming truffle lasagna alongside a fresh garden salad, while I received an herb-crusted salmon with roasted vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes.
Once the pristine dishes had been placed in front of us, we thanked the chefs before they quietly excused themselves back to the kitchen.
Determined to break the lingering tension, I pointed toward Kayden’s food, falling back on my natural habits. "The spinach in that salad contains folate, which is incredibly important for fetal development right now. The tomatoes provide essential antioxidants, while the lasagna contains the protein and carbohydrates your body needs to maintain stable energy levels. Given your current condition, balanced nutrition is vital."
Kayden suddenly burst out laughing, the heavy tension instantly evaporating from his shoulders. He picked up his fork and knife, shaking his head in pure amusement. "How do you always manage to turn a perfectly normal social interaction into a Medical lecture?"
I grinned, adjusting my posture. "Occupational hazard."
"No, it’s a disease," he teased.
I laughed as he continued chickling, relieved to watch him finally take a bite of his food. At the very least, my medical breakdown had stopped him from looking at me as though he had a hundred intrusive questions he wanted answered.
For several minutes, we ate in comfortable silence, the quiet atmosphere a welcome break from the chaos online.
Then, a sudden thought crossed my mind, prompting me to look up. "So... where’s Rhys? I’m genuinely shocked he isn’t hovering somewhere nearby." I glanced toward the restaurant entrance where several of his personal bodyguards stood watch. "The Rhys Calder I know wouldn’t let his pregnant omega partner sit in a private restaurant without breathing directly down everyone’s neck," I added sarcastically, a smirk tugging at my lips.
Kayden rolled his eyes, though a soft, affectionate expression crossed his face. "He’s training Raymond."
My fork froze halfway to my mouth, my eyes widening in sheer disbelief as the weight of that statement hit me. The entire league knew that Rhys and Raymond Calder didn’t get along.
Although they shared the exact same blood, they had lived entirely different lives.
Rhys had spent years harboring a deep, burning hatred for Linda because of everything she had done to their family, and Raymond had always been caught squarely in the middle of that bitter feud. The mere idea of Rhys willingly spending his limited offseason hours training Linda’s biological son felt completely impossible.
"You look surprised," Kayden pointed out, watching my frozen expression with a slight smirk.
"I am surprised," I admitted, letting out a short, incredulous laugh as I set my fork down. "I mean, if someone had told me a year ago that Rhys Calder and Raymond Calder would willingly spend time together in a confined space, I would have laughed straight in their face. They’re actually spending time together?"
Kayden smiled slightly, his gaze softening. "It surprised me too."
I shook my head, picking up my water glass. "Honestly, it is still incredibly difficult for me to imagine."
Then Kayden casually added, "He’s staying with us at the penthouse, too.’’
The moment the words left his mouth, I inhaled sharply, but unfortunately, I chose the absolute worst second to take a breath. The sparkling water currently in my mouth went straight down the wrong pipe, bypassing my airway reflex entirely.
I doubled over in my seat, coughing violently as my chest seized and my eyes began to water from the sheer force of the spasm.
"Leo!" Kayden nearly jumped out of his seat, pushing his chair back slightly in an immediate panic. "Are you alright?"