Chapter 826
[ 483 words ]
Chapter 826:
Drawing a quiet breath, I gently pushed the phone back toward him.
“Answer it,” I said evenly. “I’ll head upstairs. I won’t interfere with your affairs.”
“Lianne.” His hand shot out and wrapped around my wrist, the grip just a little too tight. Conflict swirled in his eyes. “Philip said Rola’s in the hospital. She’s in critical condition… and she keeps saying she wants to see me one last time.”
My heart lurched. In that instant, I understood exactly why he’d been so unsettled.
In the past, the elders had repeatedly used Rola’s health to manipulate him into returning, sometimes for arranged marriages, sometimes for pack business.
And above all… Rola was the one who had caused my father’s death. That truth was the deepest divide between us, one neither of us could simply ignore.
He was afraid I’d misunderstand. Afraid I’d think he was choosing her over me by going back now.
“You should go.” I squeezed his hand gently, my thumb brushing soothing circles across his palm. “Ethan, my grudge is with her, not with you. She’s your family. She raised you, and I’ve never denied that bond. I’m not selfish enough to stop you from saying goodbye.”
Holding his gaze, I spoke each word with quiet certainty. “I’ve never wanted her dead. What I’ve always wanted is justice, the justice my father should have received long ago, and for her to answer for her crimes under the law. But I also don’t want you carrying the weight of being called ungrateful for the rest of your life.”
R𝖾ad 𝗐𝘪𝘵𝘩𝗈𝘶𝗍 i𝘯t𝘦𝘳r𝘂р𝗍iо𝘯𝘴 o𝗻 𝘨а𝘭ո𝘰𝗏𝖾𝗅s.соm
He stared at me, countless emotions flickering across his face. When he finally spoke, his voice was rough, barely audible. “I thought… part of you wished she’d just disappear.”
“We’re going to spend the rest of our lives together.” My heart softened. Rising onto my toes, I placed a gentle kiss against his lips. “I don’t want this hanging between us forever. If you don’t go, you’ll carry this regret for the rest of your life. And I don’t want my mate living with that kind of guilt.”
I hesitated briefly, then ventured softly, “Perhaps… you could take Ruby and Silas with you? I mean, they are her—”
“No.” His answer came immediately, his eyes sharpening with fierce protectiveness, his voice unshakably firm. “What she did back then almost robbed me of ever having those two children. I will never take them to see her. That’s where I draw the line.”
Seeing the unwavering resolve in his eyes, I understood this wasn’t Ethan speaking as an Alpha. This was a father protecting his children. I let the matter drop.
“Alright.” Smiling softly, I reached up and straightened his slightly rumpled collar. “We’ll do it your way. Go without worrying about us. I’ll stay home with Ruby and Silas and wait for you. I know how to separate love from hatred. I know exactly which belongs to her… and which belongs to us.”
.
.
.
If you find any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc..), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.