Chapter 228: Only one for you
Chapter 228
Poppy
"Impossible—you’re mine," Felix says, stalking toward me until my back hits the door.
"I’m not yours," I snap.
He cages me in, one arm braced beside my head, his other hand gripping my jaw and forcing me to meet his golden eyes.
"We both know that’s a lie," he murmurs, voice dripping with arrogant certainty.
My spine shivers.
No.
Not again.
I shove at his chest. He doesn’t budge.
"I don’t belong to anyone—especially not you, your highness," I say.
His mouth crashes against mine. I fight—shoving, twisting—but his lips, his scent, the heat of him... it drags me under like it always has. For years he was my first, my only. My body betrays me before my heart can stop it. I melt.
His kiss is rough, punishing. My mouth parts, and he devours it. His hand slides from my jaw to my thigh, fingers squeezing hard enough to bruise. My knees buckle, but he lifts me easily, my legs instinctively wrapping around his waist as he pins me to the wall.
It’s fast. Messy. Familiar.
His teeth scrape my throat, his hand fists in my hair, his hips slam forward. I gasp, nails digging into his shoulders, every nerve sparking with need and memory. He takes me like he always has—desperate, hungry, claiming. The wall rattles with every thrust. My voice breaks into breathless moans, shame and pleasure tangled into one.
When it ends, he lowers me carefully, though my legs tremble so badly I can barely stand. Warmth slips down my thighs. My chest heaves.
I glance at the flowers on the table—Isaac’s flowers—and something inside me cracks.
I grab a cloth and wipe myself clean, swallowing the lump in my throat.
Behind me, Felix starts speaking, voice softer now. "I don’t know what Velesia said, but don’t listen to her. I was jealous, Poppy. I’m sorry. I’ll do better. When these lessons ease up, we’ll have more time, dates, us again—"
"Why?" I cut him off.
He blinks, startled. "What do you mean why? I’m trying to fix this."
"No, Felix. We’re not together."
His expression twists. "What? Just minutes ago—"
"We had sex," I say flatly.
"Yes!" His eyes flash like I’ve proven his point.
"That doesn’t mean we’re together."
Confusion hardens into anger. "Then what the hell was it?"
"Closure. Impulse. The final Chapter. Call it whatever you want."
"Poppy, you can’t be serious—"
"Your Highness," I cut sharply, and he freezes.
I meet his eyes, steady despite the ache inside me. "Felix, it’s time to close the Chapter. You’re not my Felix anymore. You’re Felix Leonhart. Royalty. The next king."
I force the words out. "And I’m a Longear. Velesia was cruel, but she wasn’t wrong. You’re above my league."
His jaw clenches. "Don’t listen to her! Poppy, I love you—"
"It’s not just her. I’m greedy now. I want what we planned, remember? The little house. The kids. Our jobs. Our stupid future together." My voice cracks.
"But you can’t give me that anymore."
He falters.
"Even if you wanted to, kings don’t get to be monogamous. I’d be nothing but a concubine. My children would be treated less. I won’t do that to them."
"I won’t let that happen—"
"Don’t be naïve, Felix. You lived your whole life as a Longear. You know better."
He flinches.
His jaw locks, wounded.
I sigh, my chest aching. "I’ve thought about this. A lot. Being with you isn’t worth it anymore. The negatives outweigh the positives. And you know me, Felix—I’m selfish. I love you. Gods, I really do. But your love isn’t enough to make it worth the cost."
"I’m not giving up on you," Felix growls after a long staring contest, golden eyes locked on mine.
"Felix, please. It’s over," I whisper.
"No, no, Poppy. You love me. I love you. That’s enough." His voice cracks at the edges.
I stare at him, dumbfounded. How can he still not get it?
"No. It won’t be enough." I wave my hand dismissively, my chest tight.
"I’ll convince you," he insists.
I fold my arms, raising a brow. "Oh really? What if I told you to have only me?"
He freezes. Just for a heartbeat. Long enough.
I roll my eyes. "Exactly."
"But I like them too, and they like me—" he starts.
"Yeah, yeah. Leave, Felix."
His jaw clenches. "I’ll prove it to you. I’m the only one for you." He grits his teeth like he can will it into truth.
"Uh huh," I mutter flatly.
"I mean it! Look at those flowers—you hate them." He jabs a finger at the vase.
I walk over, pluck one out, and bite off a petal. His face twists in shock.
"Pansies," I say, chewing. "Apparently they’re edible. You know how I feel about flowers, and he—" my smile softens despite myself, "—he found me edible ones. Isn’t that cute?"
Felix scoffs, the sound sharp and ugly.
"I mean it, Poppy. I’m the only one for you."
"Seriously, don’t do anything stupid, Felix. Let’s end this clean. Break up on good terms."
***
Daphne
"Wow," I say out loud, staring at the translucent screen floating in front of me.
When the system pinged me—[Felix Leonhart is going to see Poppy Longear]—my heart dropped. I thought all my careful little cracks in their relationship were about to be sealed shut. So I told the system to show me.
And gods, I regret it.
The screen lit up, and what do I get? Ten full minutes of straight people porn. Ten. Minutes.
Of the bunny folding under pressure, gasping against the wall while golden boy played king of the jungle. I nearly clawed my own eyes out.
I seriously, deserve hazard pay.
But to my utter surprise—Poppy held her ground.She looked him dead in the eye and refused to crawl back.
I sit back in the cushioned chair of my palace guest suite, tail flicking with amusement.
"Well, well, little bunny. Maybe there’s more spine in you than I thought."
The system hums softly beside me, the purple orb hovering like a smug witness.
I grin.
This changes everything.