"Vicky… You don't have any money with you, right? That's what has got you so worried right now, no?"
Vicky raised her brows at my question, a little displeased.
But then she sighed, her shoulders slumped down, and her eyes became downcast. "Yes. I have just $100 with me. Though I have some savings in the bank, they are barely $5000. I… I don't know how we are going to survive on that meager money. I'll try to find a job, but in a completely new town or city and with my qualifications, finding a job, even a part-time one, isn't easy."
She then looked at me and curiously asked, "But I noticed you don't seem worried. You have enough savings to tide this disaster over?"
I didn't answer her question, and instead, looking into her eyes, I said in a low but clear voice,
"Vicky, we have known each other for a long time and are basically like family. So, don't, even for a moment, think I'm trying to take advantage of your situation or anything, alright?"
Vicky's pupils constricted in confusion, and she looked at me without saying anything, waiting for me to come to the point.
I continued, "I have an offer for you that, if you accept, you won't have to worry about your and Felicity's future."
"Oh?" Surprised, she couldn't help but ask, "What is it?"
'Become my woman!' I was about to blurt this out but hesitated.
Was this really the right timing?
Looking at her exhausted and worried countenance, I reckoned it was not, at least not for such a direct and, if I was to be honest, outrageous proposal.
So, I chose to take a step back for the time being and said, "Right now, I want you and Felicity to stay with us. Don't worry about money and other things. I'll take care of everything. As for what my offer is, I will tell you this when you have rested enough and are in the right state of mind."
Vicky's pretty, hazel eyes widened in surprise, and she asked, "You really have enough savings?" Clearly, she had tuned out the part about the offer, not bothered to think about it since she had no clue about it yet.
I smiled, "Yes."
Vicky let out a sigh of relief but then bit her lower lip and said after some hesitation, "I don't want you to burden yourself, I really don't, but I have no choice but to rely on you right now."
Saying this, he took a step forward and wrapped her arms around me, hugging me. "Thank you, Ryan. I'll be sure to pay you back whatever money—"
My heartbeat suddenly sped up, feeling her warm body pressed against mine, and when I felt her soft breasts and smelled her scent, the dragon in my pants stirred and rapidly hardened.
Thankfully, our lower body parts weren't pressed against each other, otherwise…
Just when I was sighing in relief, I heard her words, and knowing what she was going to say, I grabbed her shoulder with one hand and raised her chin with the other.
Then, looking into her with a serious look on my face, I said, "Did you not hear what I just said about us being like a family? Or is it that you don't think the same?"
Vicky shook her head. "I do, but I can't let you spend your hard-earned money without—"
"We'll talk about it tomorrow." I said, cutting her off once again.
"Alright." Vicky bit her lip and nodded, her eyes turning slightly wet.
Since we had finished talking, I knew she was going to step away and break the hug, but I wanted to feel her warmth for a while longer, so I wrapped my hands, one around her shoulders and, before I knew it, the other around her waist, and hugged her tightly.
It was only when I felt my hardened dragon press against her abdomen and throb in excitement that I realized I had been too hasty.
My heartbeat sped up, and to my dismay, I became harder against her.
Fortunately, even if Vicky noticed it, she didn't make it obvious, allowing me to calmly disengage and say, "Come, let's eat something and then decide where we are going from here."
Saying this, I turned around and started walking away.
"Un." I heard Vicky's soft and almost submissive hum of acknowledgement before she walked beside me. I really wanted to see what kind of expression she had at this moment but couldn't bring myself to look into her eyes.
…
When we returned, the girls were sitting in silence, looking at us in worry that they tried to hide, not wanting to make us feel bad.
Vicky was feeling a little better now, so she leaned down toward them, pinched their cheeks, and clicked her tongue, "Tsk, you adorable little ladies, why the long faces when you have me and Ryan to take care of things? It isn't that you doubt our capabilities to take care of you, is it?"
As she glared at them, Felicity and Cat hurriedly shook their heads and tried to smile through the pain in their cheeks. "No, we don't doubt it, Mom/Aunty, ouch~"
"Good." Vicky nodded in satisfaction and released them. After kissing their foreheads, she walked to the car and started preparing sandwiches for us to eat.
Maybe it was just me thinking too much, but I felt her hips were swaying a little more than usual as she walked away.
Both Felicity and Cat pouted, rubbing their reddened cheeks while glaring at her, but there was a hint of a smile on their faces, and they had clearly relaxed, no longer as worried about our current situation. This was especially true for Felicity.
Inwardly sighing, I looked at my mom, lying unconscious in the car.
I knew if she were awake and healthy, she would have coaxed Cat into not worrying with ease.
Though she had relaxed a little when I promised her that everything would be fine, it was only a little because, subconsciously, she didn't take me too seriously since I was not too much older than her and, thus, not as reliable in her eyes as Mom would have been.
'It's only a matter of time before they see for themselves that I can take care of them all.' I thought.