My Baby Daddy Isn't Human-Chapter 232: Trust

The Vaelorian estate loomed in the darkness, an impenetrable fortress of stone and glass. Nestled atop a secluded hill, it stood in eerie silence beneath the moon’s glow, its towering walls casting long shadows against the sprawling grounds. Security lights flickered across the perimeter, sweeping methodically over the vast landscape, but Axel remained in the cover of darkness, watching. Calculating.

He had been reckless the last time he tried to see Raelynn. He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

Axel crouched behind a dense hedge, steadying his breath. His heart pounded with a mixture of anticipation and determination. He had mapped the estate’s security patterns earlier in the evening, watching from a distance, noting the guards’ shifts, the surveillance angles, and the blind spots.

Now, it was time to move.

His movements were swift and precise. He slipped past the first checkpoint when the guards turned their backs, keeping low as he sprinted across the manicured lawn. The cool night air clung to his skin, his pulse roaring in his ears as he pressed himself against the stone wall.

A guard passed nearby, his footsteps crunching against the gravel path. Axel held his breath, pressing deeper into the shadows.

Seconds felt like an eternity before the man moved on.

Axel exhaled silently, then reached into his pocket, pulling out a small device—a jammer, something he had prepared just in case. He flicked the switch, disabling a portion of the security cameras for exactly sixty seconds. It wasn’t much, but it was enough.

With practiced ease, he climbed the wall, gripping onto the uneven stone until he reached the balcony. He hoisted himself up and over, landing soundlessly on the wooden surface. A single lantern flickered dimly beside the glass doors, its warm glow casting elongated shadows inside the room beyond.

He was in.

The hallway stretched before him, long and empty. The walls were lined with antique sconces, their soft golden light barely illuminating the vast space. The air smelled faintly of aged wood and something floral—something familiar.

Raelynn.

Axel moved quickly but cautiously, his footsteps soundless against the polished floors. He knew where to go—he had memorized the path from the last time he was here. Each step was deliberate, each breath controlled.

Finally, he reached her door.

His fingers curled around the brass handle, but before he could push it open, a whisper of movement made him freeze.

A guard’s shadow stretched across the far wall.

Axel pressed himself against the door, muscles tensed, eyes locked onto the approaching figure. The man paused for a moment, adjusting the strap of his rifle, then continued walking.

The moment he was gone, Axel slipped inside.

The room was dark, save for the faint glow of a bedside lamp. The air was thick with silence, heavy with something left unsaid. And there, lying against the silk sheets, was Raelynn.

She was awake.

Her wide eyes met his, and for a long, frozen moment, neither of them moved.

Axel swallowed hard.

She looked pale. Too pale. Shadows clung beneath her eyes, and her lips were slightly parted, as if she had been struggling to breathe. The sight of her—so fragile, so worn—ignited something inside him.

"Axel?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, weak and laced with disbelief.

He didn’t answer immediately. The sight of her, so fragile and pale, left him momentarily stunned. She looked... wrong. Raelynn had always been vibrant, full of life, and seeing her like this—worn out, barely holding on—made his gut twist.

For a moment, neither of them moved. The room felt too quiet, too still. Axel’s eyes traced the lines of exhaustion etched across her face, the hollow look in her eyes. This wasn’t the woman he remembered. This wasn’t the woman he’d been searching for. freewēbnoveℓ.com

He swallowed hard, the words stuck in his throat. "Raelynn…"

Her eyes flickered, and then, just when he thought she might collapse back into whatever dark place she’d been hiding in, she blinked up at him, still trying to make sense of what she was seeing.

She blinked again, as if she was processing it all. And then—there it was—her lips parted in surprise, followed by a faint, almost incredulous laugh.

"Geez…" she whispered, shaking her head slightly. "Now I’m even dreaming about Axel?"

Axel couldn’t help but give a soft chuckle, though it was laced with frustration. He wasn’t here for some fairy tale. "No, it’s not a dream," he said, his voice low, steady. "I’m real, Raelynn. I’m here."

Her eyes widened even more. Her breath caught in her throat as she took a tentative step toward him, then stopped short, like she wasn’t sure if she was still dreaming or not.

"Wait…" Her voice faltered, a hint of disbelief creeping into her tone. "Is it really you?"

Axel didn’t move, didn’t take a step closer. He needed her to know he wasn’t going anywhere.

"Yeah. It’s really me," he said quietly, holding her gaze. "What do you think I’m doing here?"

Her face shifted through several emotions in a matter of seconds—confusion, shock, and then something like relief, followed by suspicion. She seemed to want to say something but stopped herself, her lips pressing together as she took another shaky breath.

"Why are you here, Axel?" she asked, voice cracking slightly, as if she didn’t even believe the question. "What... what’s going on?"

He shook his head slightly, fighting the urge to close the distance between them. "What’s going on is that you don’t look good." His voice softened, his tone betraying the concern that had been building inside him ever since he stepped into this place. "You look... sick, Raelynn."

Raelynn gave him a weak smile, but it was a sad one, a hollow thing that made his heart ache. "Pregnancy stuff, maybe," she said, her words slow, like she was having trouble even saying them. She shrugged slightly as if it wasn’t important, but Axel could see the subtle way she winced.

His breath caught in his throat. Maybe?

"Maybe?" Axel repeated, his voice quiet, but there was a thread of disbelief running through it. He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing as he took in her pallor, the way she barely seemed to have the energy to hold herself upright. "Raelynn… you don’t even know what’s going on with you?"

Raelynn’s sad smile faltered, and she dropped her gaze to her hands, as if she couldn’t bear to meet his eyes any longer. Her fingers twisted in the blanket she clutched around her body, her movements slow, almost robotic.

"I…" She trailed off, biting her lip. When she finally looked back up at him, the sorrow in her eyes made his chest tighten. "I don’t know, Axel. Everything just… started feeling off." Her voice cracked slightly, and she looked away, blinking rapidly.

The way she was now… something was wrong. Far more than she was letting on.

"You should’ve gone to a doctor," Axel muttered under his breath, his words sharp like glass. He was angry, and it wasn’t just at her

He stepped closer, his gaze never leaving hers. "I’m getting you out of here."

Raelynn stiffened. Her fingers clutched the sheets, her breath shallow. "What? What do you mean by that?" she murmured. "Elion—"

Axel’s jaw clenched. "Elion is the reason you’re like this."

Raelynn’s gaze flickered, torn. "No," she whispered, shaking her head slightly. "He’s been helping me. He—"

Axel cut her off, his voice firm but gentle. "You think that, but look at yourself, Raelynn." His eyes searched hers, desperate for her to see what he saw. "You’re not safe here."

Raelynn’s hands trembled slightly. A war raged inside her—one he could see plainly in her eyes.

A part of her trusted Elion.

But another part of her—one that she had been trying to ignore—was afraid.

She turned away, her fingers curling into the fabric of her nightgown. "I don’t know…"

Axel took a slow step closer, lowering himself so he was at eye level with her. His voice softened. "I do."

Raelynn swallowed. The weight of uncertainty pressed down on her chest, but when Axel reached out, his fingers brushing against hers, she didn’t pull away.

His grip was warm, steady. A silent promise.

"Trust me," he whispered.

She hesitated, her heart pounding.

The choice stood before her—stay in the safety of the gilded cage Elion had built around her… or take Axel’s hand and step into the unknown.

Axel’s fingers lingered on hers for a moment longer before he gently took her hand fully in his. The warmth of his touch seemed to send a jolt through Raelynn, the steady reassurance in his grip slowly easing some of the tension in her chest

"You don’t have to worry about everything all at once," Axel said, his voice low but firm. His thumb brushed lightly over her knuckles, his gaze never leaving hers. "Come with me. Let me help you."

Her fingers twitched against his.

The air in the room grew heavier, thick with unspoken tension.

Then—

She exhaled.

And slowly, hesitantly, she let him take her hand.