Chapter 197

“Camilla!” Jake shouted, panic tearing through his voice.

Then a tall figure moved.

Silas.

He rushed forward without hesitation.

He threw himself in front of her just as Lincy’s kick came down.

Lincy’s heel landed against Silas’s back.

I didn’t feel satisfaction.

Silas was not weak. I knew that better than anyone.

When he killed me, there had been no trembling in his hands. No mercy in his eyes. Just cold purpose.

Lincy’s strength would not break him.

Beside me, Lewis’s fingers tightened slightly around mine.

He didn’t look at me.

But I knew he felt the shift in me.

He gave Theo a quiet glance.

The hall had dissolved into chaos. Most of the guests stood in clusters, whispering, watching. No one wanted to step in. No one wanted blood on their hands.

Then one of the Hudson relatives stormed forward.

“Camilla! You ungrateful woman! We treated you like family and this is how you repay us p>

Dale had learned the truth.

He finally understood that Camilla had been the one whispering poison into Melissa’s ear. That she had set Melissa against me. And in the end, Melissa was the one destroyed.

Dale had come prepared. His bodyguards moved fast.

Silas shielded Camilla, taking the hits meant for her.

Fists slammed into his ribs.

He couldn’t draw a blade here. Not in public. Not in front of the entire pack circle.

So he endured it.

Dale’s voice thundered. “You thought you could play us all p>

Lincy grabbed Camilla by the hair and slapped her again and again. “You ruined me! You think you’re still untouchable p>

Yenick was worse.

He aimed lower.

Toward her abdomen.

The Morrigans rushed forward.

“Stop! Stop this right now p>

“Call the police p>

But no one moved to make the call.

People always prefer watching to acting.

And yet, somehow, the police arrived quickly.

I didn’t have to ask who made that call.

When they burst into the hall, Malcom and Greg were crouched over Camilla, trying to shield her stomach.

Her face was swollen beyond recognition. Red handprints, blood streaking down her cheeks, mascara smeared like war paint.

Silas wasn’t better off.

He was on one knee, coughing blood. The bodyguards had not used weapons, but their fists were heavy. I could tell from the way he struggled to breathe at least a few ribs were broken.

The polished wedding floor was stained.

A ceremony meant to seal alliances had turned into something else entirely.

Even Malcom had a dark bruise forming around his eye.

The Hudson family stood back now, cold and silent. If Fiona hadn’t cared about her reputation, she might have joined the beating herself.

Grant looked shaken. He had not expected this.

Seeing Lincy still standing near the center, he rushed forward and dragged her down.

“Have you not done enough?” he hissed.

He didn’t want his daughter tangled in another family’s war.

Lena covered her mouth, pale at the sight of blood. She looked like she might faint.

As I glanced toward her, something caught my attention.

A small figure.

A child.

He was charging straight toward her abdomen through the chaos.

My body reacted before my mind did.

I had already arranged for bodyguards to stay close to her.

One of them started to move

But someone was faster.

Nicholas.

He pulled Mom into his arms just as the child lunged.

The boy’s head hit the corner of a table instead.

A dull crack.

Blood trickled down his forehead.

In the noise, no one noticed.

The child didn’t cry.

He stood up, wiped at his face, and disappeared into the crowd like a shadow slipping between bodies.

A chill ran down my spine.

That hadn’t been an accident.

I walked quickly toward Mom.

Her face was pale. Her breathing uneven.

“Mom,” I asked softly, scanning her for injuries, “are you alright p>

Lena stood there, stunned.

Her hand slowly moved to her belly.

She was carrying twins. The curve was already visible beneath her dress. The air around her felt fragile, like something sacred had almost been shattered.

“That was close she whispered.

I exhaled shakily. “Nicholas, thank goodness you were here p>

I honestly hadn’t even seen where Nicholas came from. While the entire hall was busy watching Camilla fall from grace, he had been the only one watching my mother.

That alone told me everything.

Only then did Grant finally notice Nicholas still holding Mom.

And instead of gratitude

Jealousy flashed in his eyes.

Raw. Ugly.

He stormed over and yanked Mom away from Nicholas’s arms.

I didn’t even glance back at Camilla or the chaos inside. I hurried after them.

Outside, Grant shoved Mom toward the car, his face twisted with anger.

“I stepped away for a moment,” he snapped, “and you couldn’t wait to cling to him? Lena, what do you want from me? Do I need to rip my heart out and hand it to you before you believe me p>

His voice carried the sharp edge of a threatened male..

Nicholas stepped forward, calm despite the insult. “It was an emergency p>

Grant shot him a cold glare. “Nicholas, do you have no shame? Lusting after another man’s wife? Or do you still think you have a chance p>

My chest tightened.

I couldn’t stay silent.

“No wonder Mom doesn’t love you,” I said sharply. “You never listen. If it wasn’t for Nicholas, your heirs would be gone right now p>

Grant turned to me, confused. “What are you talking about p>

“I’m saying someone tried to make Mom lose the babies! If Nicholas hadn’t moved in time, she’d be the one bleeding on the floor instead of standing here p>

For the first time, his expression changed.

Fear flickered.

“Who did it?” he demanded.

I let out a cold laugh. “Figure it out yourself p>

I opened the car door again and pulled Mom gently away. “Mom, I’m taking you home p>

Behind us, Grant questioned the bodyguard. The guard quickly reported what had happened the child rushing forward, Nicholas stepping in, the near disaster.

Regret flashed across Grant’s face.

He ran after us.

I leaned into the car and told the driver in a steady voice, “Drive p>

The engine started.

Through the rearview mirror, I saw Grant stumble and fall as he tried to chase us.

For a second, something dark inside me felt satisfied.

Serves him right.

He could dominate boardrooms and command men with a glance, but when it came to protecting his own mate, he was blind.

When we got home, I helped Mom inside and made sure she sat down comfortably.

The house felt quieter than the wedding hall but the tension still clung to my skin.

I went to my bag and pulled out the divorce papers I had prepared earlier.

I placed them on the table in front of her.

“Divorce him,” I said firmly. “You have to. He’s arrogant and foolish. He doesn’t deserve you p>

Mom looked at me and smiled softly.

“Look how angry you are,” she said gently.

“I’ve never met someone so proud and so stupid,” I muttered. “He should spend the rest of his life alone p>

As I spoke, I stood up and walked to the small glass jar on the shelf.

The disappointment jar.

Every time Grant did something that hurt her deeply, she would drop a coin inside. When the jar filled, she had promised herself she would leave.

I took a coin from the tray and dropped it in.

Clink.

Only one space left.

“Mom,” I said quietly, “just one more coin. That’s all it takes p>

She rested her hand over her belly again.

The protective instinct in me stirred violently.

“Riley,” she asked softly, “I’ve noticed there are more bodyguards around lately. Do you know if someone is targeting my babies p>

I looked at her.

The truth was heavy in my chest.

I forced my voice to stay calm.

“Don’t worry,” I said gently. “As long as I’m here, no one will touch them p>