Chapter 284

Third Person’s POV
Madison had to cough up the cash since the check couldn’t cover the amount.
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Her family’s wealth was evident as she produced over twenty million dollars without much trouble, though her pained expression suggested it hurt her deeply.
The facade of harmony was shattered, but at least they got back what was rightfully theirs and the stolen money–no loss there.
This hypocritical peace was never worth maintaining.
“Let’s go!”
Madison and her daughter watched Adelaide walk away–her posture, no longer polite, radiated an unassailable strength.
“Adelaide!” Madison gritted her teeth, powerless to act.
Wanda’s mint pheromones turned sour, her wolf ears drooping in anger. “Years of effort down the drain, all because of that woman Adelaide. I won’t let her off the hook.”
Her hardened nails dug into her palm, and the temporary mark on her neck oozed tiny red bumps.
Though Madison also despised Adelaide, hearing her daughter’s words, she swiftly warned, “Don’t provoke her. You’re no match. The Golden Jewelry Store fiasco was your carelessness. How could you leave the ledgers in the store?”
Madison’s white musk pheromones exploded like ice shards, her pupils slitting into blood–red lines in the shadows.
Her Moon Goddess emblem at the nape of her neck scorched hot–a typical glandular reaction for a noble werewolf in rage.
Wanda’s wolf tail curled defensively under her skirt, her mint pheromones chaotic with regrets. “I was afraid of Rowena finding out about the store if I took the ledgers home.”
“You should have sent them elsewhere,” Madison said, her wolf claws subconsciously elongating and scratching the wolfhide chair, “or better yet, shredded them after annual reconciliation-
“Johnson said not to burn them. The Golden Jewelry Store was the only one fully compliant with taxes. He insisted on keeping the ledgers just in case,” Wanda growled, her mint pheromones sharp with frustration.
Madison reined in her pheromones, her white musk now tinged with sulfur.
She frowned, “Forget it. Who would have thought Priscilla would actually leave the palace to live elsewhere, or that Lance would marry Adelaide–a she–wolf abandoned by Ulrik? With no family left and rejected by Ulrik, she has nothing to lose. There’s no point in clashing with her. Keep your other businesses clean–don’t give her a chance to expose you.”
“The other businesses haye nothing to do with her or Priscilla,” Wanda said.
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“Didn’t you hear her? She’s determined to watch our every move.”
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Madison, annoyed and pained by the loss of money, said, “Just be careful. Don’t provoke her. Understand?“.
“I understand.” Wanda replied, though her heart seethed with hatred for Adelaide–this grudge would be settled.
Adelaide and Priscilla exited Madison’s manor to find Lance waiting with Tommy at the crossroads.
Seeing them emerge, Lance approached and asked Adelaide, “Is everything settled?”
He exhaled a visible breath. It was freezing, and the wind howled–no telling how long he and Tommy had waited..
“It’s done. You didn’t need to come,” Adelaide said, stepping forward and stopping Lance from removing his coat.
His hands were ice–cold. “Go back now, we’ll talk in the car.”
Priscilla waved and grinned, unfazed by the cold, her heart warm. “Yes, let’s go back.”
Lance glanced at his mother’s beaming face–a rare sight–and said, “Alright, get in the car, don’t catch a cold.”
“Gladly,” Priscilla said, feeling a rare surge of maternal care from her son.
The dim light hid Lance’s gaze, but the words were clear.
Both the speaker and listener understood.
In the black sedan, with Lance and Tommy up front and Adelaide and Priscilla in the back, the car pulled
away.
Priscilla clutched Adelaide’s hand, her excitement barely contained. “I never thought you could get all the money back. You don’t know Madison–she’s friendly to everyone’s face but extremely domineering underneath.”
Adelaide slowly withdrew her hand and said, “If you know what she’s like, just keep your distance from
now on.”
Priscilla agreed but fretted, “I’m worried that after a fallout with her, she’ll spread rumors about us and ruin our reputation.”
“What’s there to worry about?” Adelaide’s tone was calm.
“You wouldn’t worry, your reputation’s already…”
Priscilla caught herself mid–sentence, flustered, and quickly backtracked, “That’s not what I meant. Zelda is searching for a mate. Madison has connections with many nobles and prestigious packs. I’m afraid her gossip could harm Zelda’s standing.”
Adelaide replied, “Zelda is a royal princess, protected by Lycan Erasmus and Lycan Clarissa, with the Blackthorn Pack backing her. Who would dare slander her? Only those courting death.”
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Recalling Lycan Luna Camilla’s words, it seemed someone had hoped Alger would mate with Zelda.
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