Chapter 160 The Backstabber Returns
Estelle’s POV
“Daddy!” Finn’s voice cracked as he spotted Asher at the top of the stairs.
I released my grip on his arm without hesitation. Finn immediately bolted up the remaining steps, his small legs carrying him as fast as they could. He crashed into Asher’s arms, sobbing hysterically.
Asher caught him and lifted him up, his eyes never leaving my face. “How come Finn is with you?”
I climbed the last few steps slowly. My expression remained neutral as I reached the top. “I just arrived when I saw him run out with Kendra chasing after him.”
Asher’s jaw tightened slightly. I could see him trying to piece together what had happened.
“You need to be a more responsible father,” I said coolly, brushing past them toward the hallway.
Something flickered in Asher’s eyes. Hope, maybe. He seemed to think my words meant I still cared about Finn’s well-being like before.
“Finn,” Asher said, his voice taking on a gentle tone. “You need to apologize to your mother for running away.”
He gestured toward me as he spoke.
Finn’s head shot up from where it had been buried against Asher’s shoulder. “No!” he screamed, his face red and streaked with tears. “That witch is not my mother! Hazel is my mother!”
Asher’s face went pale. “Finn—”
“She made me eat nasty poison!” Finn continued, pointing an accusatory finger at me. “She’s trying to kill me!”
“What poison?” Asher’s voice sharpened as he looked between Finn and me.
I didn’t see any need to explain myself. The medicine was finished anyway. The bottle I’d grabbed from my car had been an emergency supply I’d forgotten about. Back then, when I found it in my handbag, I had chucked it in the car without a thought. Now it was empty. I’d given Finn the last pill.
“Nothing that will harm your son,” I said simply.
Asher’s grip on Finn tightened. The boy was still crying, still pointing at me with his small, shaking finger.
“Either way,” I continued, “you either need to do a better job as a father, or send Finn to his mother. You seem too busy to take care of him properly.”
“That’s why I need you,” Asher said immediately. “You are his mother.”
Disgust rose in my throat like bile. The sheer audacity of this man never failed to amaze me. Even now, after everything that had happened between us, he still expected me to clean up his messes.
“Didn’t you hear the kid? I am not his mother.” I rolled my eyes. “Since Finn wants Hazel to be his mother so badly, and you’re apparently too busy, just send him to her place.”
“You’re mistaken,” Asher dismissed my words with a wave of his free hand. He turned his attention back to Finn, his voice becoming stern. “You cannot spout such nonsense, Finn. Estelle is your mother. You cannot go around telling lies.”
Finn’s crying intensified. “But she’s not! She’s not my mama!”
Asher’s hand moved before I could blink. The sharp sound of his palm connecting with Finn’s cheek echoed through the hallway.
Finn’s crying stopped abruptly, more from shock than pain. His small hand touched his reddening cheek as fresh tears spilled over.
I could see the conflict written all across Asher’s face. This couldn’t be easy for him. He’d spent years drilling it into Finn’s head that Hazel was his real mother. Now he was trying to force the child to call someone else mom.
The poor kid was confused. Any child his age would be.
The sound of our commotion had apparently carried through the pack house. Heavy footsteps echoed from down the hallway, growing closer.
Jessie appeared first, and Ashley followed close behind. Both women stopped short when they saw me standing there.
Jessie’s lips curled into a sneer. Ashley crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head.
“Look who finally decided to show up,” Jessie said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Ashley’s eyes narrowed as she looked me up and down. “I didn’t think the backstabber would dare show her face in Moonveil again.”
I kept my expression calm and level. “Who are you calling a backstabber?”
“Who else but you?” Jessie spat. “You abandoned Moonveil during our time of need and went missing without a word. Finn is sick, then he goes missing too, and the pack is falling apart. Yet you don’t care about anything. You left your mate to handle everything alone.”
A cold laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it.
“My mate?” I repeated, letting the words hang in the air.
Jessie’s face reddened with anger. Ashley stepped closer, as if she was preparing for a fight.
Finn had quieted in Asher’s arms, but I could feel his green eyes watching me with that familiar hatred.
Asher himself looked tense, like he was waiting for me to explode or break down crying as I might have done so in the past. More than that, he stiffened at the mention of being my mate. It was almost as though he felt guilty.
I took a step forward to close the gap.
“Let me remind you…”