Free Web NovelChapter 182: Chapter 182
Nathan’s POV
Aria shot me a cold and unreadable glare. I was about to answer her question, to tell her I didn’t even know Sophia was here and that I was just as surprised as she was, but she lifted Lana into her arms and walked straight to her bedroom.
The slam of the door echoed through the villa like a slap to my face.
My wolf bristled.
She’s angry... And she has every right to be.
Still, the sting remained.
I exhaled slowly. The noise of the door closing jolted Sophia awake.
She blinked, rubbing her eyes like a startled pup, then practically bounced off the couch when she saw me.
“Nathan! You’re back!” She looked relieved. Then her voice took on a whiny softness. “I waited so long. Where did you go?”
Her gaze flicked toward Aria’s door, a growl rolled silently in my chest.
My temples throbbed. “Who let you in?”
She froze. That definitely wasn’t the greeting she expected.
“I–I couldn’t find you and got anxious, so I asked the guard—”
“I’ll replace the night staff,” I cut in sharply.
Her smile twitched, faltering at my tone. My gaze stayed cold and unmoving—she could feel the distance. I wanted her to feel it. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
“Without my permission,” I said, “don’t ever come to Hemsworth Villa again.”
“Why?” she blurted, panic rising in her voice. Realizing her mistake, she quickly softened her tone. “Nathan... did I do something wrong? Why are you sending me away?”
She reached toward my sleeve instinctively, I stepped back.
My wolf snarled inside me. Don’t touch me.
Her hand froze in the air before falling limply to her side. Her face paled with humiliation.
“You’re my employee,” I said flatly. “And Aria’s sister. That’s where it ends. Hemsworth Villa is my private territory. It’s inappropriate for you to be here.”
I straightened my watch, keeping my expression detached. My wolf had already turned away from her, his attention fixed only on the scent of Aria behind that closed door.
“I’m just... an employee?” Sophia whispered, tears welling.
I raised a brow. “What else did you think you were?”
She didn’t have an answer.
“Go home. If you need a ride, a driver will take you.” I loosened my tie and walked towards my bedroom.
Minutes later, a knock sounded against my door.
I opened it, my jaw tightening the moment I saw Sohia standing there.
My eyes said everything: Why are you still here?
Sophia’s forced smile strained further. “I have something urgent to discuss.”
I held my patience by a thread. “Speak.”
She clasped her hands nervously. “The PR team plans to use the attention around us to suppress the rumors about Aria and the baby. Yesterday, I publicly mentioned wanting to adopt from the orphanage. The director is only available tomorrow.”
My expression cooled instantly.
This was the problem with letting rumors run wild...someone always tried to step into a role they were never meant to have.
“I can do charity,” I said, my voice low and firm, “but I’m not adopting a child with you. Handle it through the company. PR can deal with the noise.”
Her face drained of color.
“But—”
She stopped when I stepped closer. I didn’t touch her, I didn’t need to. My aura alone, my alpha presence, formed a wall so thick she could barely breathe.
“Enough,” I said quietly.
Her wolf instinctively shrank back, her shoulders trembling.
“Go home Sophia”, I added and without sparing her another glance, i turned around and walked back into my room, shutting the door.
She finally left.
Aria’s POV
The moment I woke up the next morning, the air in Hemsworth Villa felt strangely still. The only sounds were the soft chirps of early birds hopping across the garden railings. My wolf stirred sluggishly inside me, stretching, sniffing, sensing nothing unusual...
Still groggy, I had my bath and dressed up, fed Lana and left her in the care of the nanny. I was just about to step out when I saw m Collins standing outside the door, his hair dusted with dew. His scent sharp in the cool morning air. I was startled.
“You...” I blurted, instinctively tightening my grip on the doorframe. My wolf hated surprises.
Collins bowed politely. “Luna Aria, Alpha Nathan has gone to the company. The matter you asked him to investigate... there are some results.”
My ears perked, wolf instincts fully awake now. “Really?”
He handed me a file, its cold edges biting into my fingers. My heartbeat quickened—a mix of dread and anticipation.
“Here, Luna Aria,” he said softly, pointing to a page. “This is the vehicle’s trajectory analysis.”
My gaze followed the inked lines until he traced a path toward the edge of the map. His voice lowered.
“You were right. The driver did have secret connections to the people in the red-light district you suspected.” He paused, scent shifting with unease. “And there’s more. There’s a port near their hideout. We suspect they intended to smuggle you out. A ship was waiting offshore. You... might have been targeted for trafficking.”
A chill slid over my skin like icy claws. My wolf bristled, her hackles rising, a deep rumble vibrating in my chest. They wanted to take me out of my territory. Take me away from Lana...from everything.
I swallowed hard. Dread curled deep in my stomach.
“How did Nathan handle it?” I asked, trying to steady myself.
Collins replied, “Alpha Nathan involved the authorities. Evidence was submitted, but because this crosses borders... results may not be ideal.”
I nodded. Nathan had done what he could. My wolf begrudgingly relaxed, just a little.
But then my thoughts drifted to Sandra and Kara, to the work we’d done, and the sudden urge to check in tugged at me. I decided to visit her first. I turned to leave, only for Collins’s arm to shoot out, blocking my path.
“Luna Aria, you can’t go out right now,” he insisted.
