Chapter 471

Madeline:

“What the fuck did you say?” I snapped, watching him raise his hands and laugh as if it were a joke.

“What I meant was that my pack will be the first to receive treatment,” he added.

It felt deliberate. He wanted a reaction.

I shot him a harsh glare. When he started walking toward the house, I pointed at him.

“You wait here. I’ll come out myself,” I warned, blocking his way.

He looked hurt by that.

I stepped inside and found my children playing in the garden with Lord Jonah.

I refused to leave them with Lady Eugenia after the last time she upset my daughter with her words. I hated that she made her uncomfortable.

“It’s okay. You can rest now. I brought food. Can you dish it out?” I asked Lord Jonah, squeezing my eyes and lifting my shoulders.

He laughed and took the bags from me, heading inside.

“Mommy, we were good today. We didn’t bother Grandpa too much,” my children announced.

They began telling me about their day. I wanted to sit with Lord Jonah and share the good news but the alpha was waiting outside.

“Mommy has guests over, so I might be back later tonight,” I told them, kissing each cheek.

“Take a shower and go to bed after that. Don’t bother him again, okay?” I reminded them.

“Mummy, are you going somewhere with the bad uncle?” Elara whispered, making me bend so she could speak into my ear.

“I’ll be fine, okay?” I reassured her, kissing her cheek.

I watched her disappear into the mansion.

Once they walked away, I stepped outside and faced Graham. He did not look ashamed.

He held my gaze with confidence, almost demanding eye contact. That was what annoyed me most.

I wanted regret in his eyes. Even then, I would not forgive him.

Until then, I would play my part and focus on the children’s treatment.

“I’ll take you home with me,” he murmured again, using words he knew I disliked.

It sounded like he was convincing himself. Otherwise, why repeat it?

“I’ll call a cab,” I corrected, sidestepping him and heading toward the main road while opening the app on my phone.

“That’s ridiculous. I came to pick you up. The council leaders wanted me to make sure you got home safely,” he insisted in a low

voice.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head at him.

While I waited for the cab and argued with him about why I would not get into his car, my children ran out of the house with their little bags.

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“Kids, what are you doing?” I called, hurrying toward them to stop them from reaching the road.

Lord Jonah followed behind them, breathing heavily.

“They’re not listening to me,” he complained.

My children shot Graham a judging look before turning to me.

“Mommy, we want to come with you. You’re always away from us. We want to come,” Elara protested, jumping and throwing a

tantrum.

Bodhi stood firm beside her. He did not look ready to give in.

I tried to convince them to stay. They kept complaining until the cab arrived.

“Don’t break their hearts. They’ll be safe in my mansion,” Graham commented.

His words made me tense.

I had been worried they would distract me from the sick children. Now I realized they might not even be safe there.

“Come on, let your mother work,” Lord Jonah urged.

Both children wrapped their arms around my legs, crying and stomping their feet.

“It’s okay, Lord Jonah. Thank you. I’ll take them with me,” I relented.

Every time they asked for more time with me, I thought of Gina. I wondered if there were moments when I should have chosen her instead of work.

The guilt of not slowing down for her childhood still followed me.

I saw the look on Graham’s face. Lord Jonah noticed it too.

I lifted my children into my arms and placed them in the back seat. Then I sat beside them as we headed to Graham’s mansion.

My children were happy the entire ride. I was not.

Something about returning to Graham’s mansion unsettled me. Seeing Kaylee, his father, Penny, and everyone I used to face during my visits made my chest tighten.

A flashback hit me. The last time I had barely escaped their clutches, thanks to Yuvonne.

The thought of Yuvonne pulled me into distress. I ached to see her.

I had dreamed about her last night. She was curled up in a tiny space, crying.

Early that morning, I went to the hospital. Then I stopped by her mansion and asked the guard to tell her I had said hello.

That was all I could do.

When we arrived at the mansion, I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car.

The first person I saw was Kaylee standing at the door, her arms crossed over her chest.

“Okay, kids, remember what I told you. Stay away from this woman and don’t accept food from anyone,” I instructed, patting their bags.

“Only eat what we brought on the way,” I added as I walked toward the door.

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