Chapter 545
[ 498 words ]
Chapter 545:
Yet if I was honest with myself, gratitude wasn’t my only motive. A selfish part of me hoped these cold, tangible assets would draw a clear boundary between Frank and Lianne, severing whatever emotional ties still lingered between them.
The moment I stepped onto the lawn in front of the house, Frank emerged from the entrance and walked toward us.
He wore a simple gray sweater, and the glow of the streetlamp stretched his shadow across the ground.
His eyes barely acknowledged my existence. Instead, they settled immediately on Lianne as she stepped out of the car. There was something almost greedy in the way he looked at her. His brows knit together slightly.
He murmured quietly, “You’ve lost weight, Lianne.”
𝖥𝗈𝗅𝗅𝗈𝗐 𝗎𝗌 𝗈𝗇 𝗀𝖺𝗅𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅𝗌.𝖼𝗈𝗆
The words landed like a knife. My wolf reacted instantly. A low growl threatened to rise from my chest as territorial instincts surged through me.
I stepped forward without thinking, placing myself directly between them. “She hasn’t lost weight,” I said coldly. “I’ve taken excellent care of her since she went to Thiynia.”
Even I could hear the hostility in my voice. Petty. Possessive. Almost childish.
But I couldn’t stand the implication behind his concern. I hated the way he spoke as though he knew her better than I did. I hated the suggestion that I had somehow failed her.
As an Alpha, every possessive instinct within me was pushed to its limit. I wanted to take out any man who even looked at my mate.
Frank, however, remained completely unfazed. He merely glanced at me before stepping aside. “Let’s continue this inside,” he said calmly. “It’s cold.”
With a light pull on my shirt, Lianne’s warm fingertips brushed against the fabric, a discreet nudge to curb my envy.
I drew a slow breath and forced the turmoil inside me back under control. For Lianne’s sake, I swallowed my resentment and followed them into the house.
The interior was simple, almost austere.
Yet despite the minimalist decor, warmth lingered in every corner. Building blocks were stacked beside a shelf, children’s picture books rested on the sofa, and bright crayon doodles decorated part of the wall, unmistakably Ruby’s work.
The house was tidy and well-kept, but it carried the unmistakable feeling of a home. Every detail spoke of daily life, of laughter, comfort, and family.
As I took it all in, a bitter ache settled in my chest. Jealousy, regret, and helplessness churned together inside me.
For more than a thousand days, while I had been absent from their lives, Frank had been here. He had stayed beside Lianne through countless lonely nights, comforted my children when they cried, and given them a safe place to call home when I couldn’t. The realization tasted like defeat.
Frank disappeared briefly before returning with a large travel bag packed full of plush toys.
“These are Ruby’s favorites,” he said casually. “She sleeps with them every night.” He set the bag beside the sofa. “As for clothes and other necessities, I’m sure you’ll provide better things than I ever could, so there’s no point bringing those.”
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