Chapter 22: k********g
Chapter 22 k********g
(Lec’s POV)
When Mom asked for the little girl’s name, my heart started beating really fast. Dad and Aunt Clara had told me so many times never to tell Mom about Rosie
I
They said it would make Mom very sad. They said I had to protect Mom from being hurt
But now Mom was looking at me with those eyes, looking at her expectant eyes, I opened my mouth but
couldn’t speak
don’t know her name,” I mumbled, looking down at my feet.
Mont’s face changed. She looked so hurt, like when I accidentally broke her favorite vase.
“Leo, Lalways thought you were an honest child” Her voice was so quiet and sad. “But your evasiveness now deeply disappoints me”
She turned to leave. My chest felt tight, like I couldn’t breathe
I remembered what happened last time when Dad found out I almost told Mom about Rosie. He had grabbed my shoulders so hard it left bruises.
His eyes had been so scary when he said, “if you ever tell your mother about that child, you’ll be in serious
trouble.”
But seeing Mom walk away hurt even more than remembering Dad’s anger.
I ran after her, my little legs moving as fast as they could.
“Mom, wait!” I shouted. By then we had reached the top of the stairs, and I saw Dad and Aunt Isa talking.
“Mom, her name is Rosie. The words burst out of me before I could stop them
(Olivia’s POV)
The moment Leo spoke that name, my world shattered into a million pieces.
Rosie. Our lost pup’s name. The daughter I had carried for seven months before losing her in that terrible
accident.
I
“Can you tell me why it’s such a coincidence that her name is Rosie?” I grabbed Theodore’s collar with both handa, my fingers digging into the fabric.
Not only had he cheated on me, but he had the audacity to name his bastard child after our lost daughter. And worse he wanted me to raise this child as a replacement. As if our Rosin could be so easily substituted.
–
Theodore looked at me calmly. “It really is a coincidence, I thought you would like it… If you don’t like it we
Isadora looked at us in confusion, “Oll, what’s wrong with you? Why are you so excited? Who is Rosie?” “She’s the girl we want to adopt. Livy doesn’t like her name Theodore explained. His composure calmed mo down.
Chapter 22 *********]
I pushed Theodore away forcefully, turned around, wiped away my tears, and walked downstairs
My chest felt tight. The room started spinning around me.
The last thing I remembered was the cold marble floor rushing up to meet me.
When I woke up, I was in our third–floor bedroom. The familiar ceiling came into focus slowly.
I could hear Dr. Aris Lowell’s voice outside the door, speaking to someone in hushed tones.
“She collapsed due to emotional distress and blood deficiency.” Aris was saying. “Her body can’t handle mu
more stress.”
The door opened, and Theodore entered. His face looked haggard, like he hadn’t slept in days.
He sat beside the bed and took my hand in his. His touch felt cold.
“Darling, I’m sorry, I didn’t expect it would cause such a strong reaction from you,” he said, his voice gentle and seemingly sincere.
“Don’t think about those things from the past anymore. Just think of this child as our lost Rosie, okay?”
I stared at him in disbelief. Even now, he was still trying to manipulate me.
“Don’t think about getting pregnant again,” he continued. “Don’t think about Rosie coming back. I’ve already lost Rosie, I can’t bear to lose you too.”
His words made my stomach turn. I don’t want to talk to him, and silence spreads through the room.
After Theodore left to handle some business that Alistair had reported, I dragged myself to the desk.
My hands shook as I pulled out a piece of paper and began writing.
“Mate Bond Severance Agreement,” I wrote at the top.
In the reason for severance section, I wrote carefully: “Mate bond breakdown due to mate’s infidelity and betrayal.”
1 set up an automatic email to send the severance papers to Theodore on the day I planned to leave.
For the next two days, Theodore didn’t return home. He only sent a new phone through his pack enforcer.
I tested the device carefully, looking for tracking devices, but found none. It puzzled me how he always managed to find my location.
During those two days, I remained in my room while Eleonora and Isadora continued their heated arguments downstairs.
Their voices carried up through the floors, filled with anger and accusations.
On the third day, devastating news arrived.
Alistair knocked on my duor, his face grave. “Luna, I have news about the Drake Pack.”
Alpha Theodore has suspended all cooperation, and other wolf packs no longer dare to work with them. They are already bankrupt. he said quietly.
“Elder Corbin Drake suffered a struke from the shock. He died in the pack infirmary this morning.”
I heard Eleonora’s furious voice from downstairs, confronting Isadora.
Just because of an insignificant mistress, you’ve ignited a blood feud between two packs!” Eleonora roared.
We don’t have nearly enough strength to accommodate the members of Drake’s pack now. Do you know how nuch chaos this has caused in the Northern Territory??
You forced your brother to use his power to destroy the Drake Clan. You’ve damaged the Redgrave family’s eputation among all our allies.”
When Isadora came to my room seeking help as she had in the past, I simply removed her hand from my arm. walked away without saying a word. I didn’t want to be a mediator in their mother–daughter relationship Inymore.
needed to get out of this house. The walls felt like they were closing in on me.
drove away from the manor, seeking solace in the quiet suburban roads.
The villa area on the hillside was sparsely populated. The cool breeze seemed to clear some of the gloom from my heart.
Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed across the road.
I spun the steering wheel and slammed the brakes, but the car veered off the road.
The last thing I saw was a large tree rushing toward me.
The airbag deployed with a loud bang. Then everything went black.
When I awoke, my head was throbbing with pain. My limbs felt numb and heavy.
Itried to move but couldn’t. I was bound to a wooden chair with thick rope.
le room around me was dark and must i
like an
abandoned warehouse.
Alaric emerged from behind a rusty iron gate, his face cold and calculating.
“Call Theodore,” he commanded, holding up my phone. “Tell him to bring Isadora to meet me.”
“Why did you kidnap me?” I asked weakly, my voice barely above a whisper.
Alaric sneered. “Everyone knows you’re the person closest to Theodore’s heart. You’re the perfect hostage to force his surrender.
1 whispered back, “You’re wrong. I’m not that important to Theodore.”
But Alaric dismissed my words with a wave of his hand.
Soon, I heard the sound of multiple vehicles approaching. Theodore’s voice cut through the air like a blade.
Alaric, release her row. His voice could barely conceal his panic.
Alaric pressed a silver dagger to my throat. The metal burned against my skin.
“My pack is finished anyway. I just want to die now, Theodore. I think it would be even better if I died together with your most beloved mate
Theodore stepped forward without hesitation, “Take me instead. Let her go.”
Alaric laughed bitterly. You think I’m stupid? Isadore told me about that hostage exchange years ago. How you turned the tables and killed your captors.
Chruter 22 k
He dragged the silver blade across my cheek. I felt the sharp sting as it drew a thin line of blood.
Theodore immediately raised his hands in surrender. “Stop! I’ll agree to any demands. Just don’t harm her.”
When Isadora arrived as demanded. Alaric erupted in fury.
“Isa, your brother is a hypocrite!” he shouted at her. “Your brother has committed for more shameful acts.
than I ever did.”
His voice grew louder with each word. “Theodore also had a mistress, yet he didn’t allow me to have one, and he made my pack go bankrupt.”
sadora tried to step closer. “Alaric, please stop making mistakes-”
“Don’t you know that I’ve always loved you!” Alaric roared, his voice breaking with emotion.
He threw open his coat, and photographs scattered through the air like snowflakes.
Look at how dissolute your brother really is.”
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