Free Web NovelChapter 293: Chapter 293
Aria’s POV
My wolf froze, then snarled.
A dizzying mix of fury and disbelief pulsed through me.
Win me back? After everything? After choosing pride over our mate-bond? After letting me go to prison and go through all I went through?
A low growl hummed at the back of my throat before I could stop it. Lana, already asleep in my arms, twitched, her nose wrinkling as if sensing my shift.
Nathan’s words detonated across the media like wildfire. People were losing their minds over all he said.
The richest Alpha in Asterfell acknowledging fault? Claiming pursuit?
Some envied me for it as if heartbreak were a jewel to display.
My fingers halted. Emotions flickered beneath the surface.
"What are you doing, Nathan?" I whispered.
My exhale shook as I swiped the screen away.
I had had enough.
I focused on the monitor before me, on the email I had already drafted earlier which was ready to be sent.
Once the message was sent and erased, I leaned back, steeling myself. The mail I sent was to Margaret, my mother. I anonymously sent her evidence that her best friend, Clarence, who she thought was dead was still very much alive and Patrick, her husband, was having an affair with Clarence.
I sent her several video recordings of them together and audio recordings of them speaking to each other, sometimes even mentioning Margaret and talking about how foolish she was. She would also find out through the recordings that Sophia was Patrick’s biological daughter.
That was my little way of helping her get back to her senses. I would stay by the side and see what she decides to do with the information in her hands.
"The Darvin family seems to have abandoned Sophia," came a voice behind me.
Rowland lounged in the doorway, his arms crossed.
I shut down my computer. "Abandoned her?"
I wasn’t surprised. I could smell it coming even before he broke the news. I had always viewed Patrick’s favoritism as a card to play, for someone as self serving as he was, a secret daughter will be expendable in the face of greater gain.
I had heard that Nathan had Sophia sent straight to a holding cell and was working towards having her imprisoned. That quite came as a surprise to me. Had he finally seen her for the snake she was or was he doing this in a futile attempt to win me back?.
Clarence and Patrick had also visited Sophia the night she was sent to a prison cell and she had begged them to help get her out of there. Patrick had no real power to go after a man like Nathan and making a lot of noise about Sophia being in prison would raise dust and reveal her real identity as his daughter. Was that why he chose to abandon her?
"Tell me," I asked quietly, "If Sophia were your daughter... and you were Patrick..."
"I wouldn’t be him." Rowland’s answer cut like a blade.
"Hypothetically," I pressed.
"No hypotheticals," he countered, dropping into the chair beside me. "Aria, listen. You underestimate me. When I give my loyalty, it’s for life. I don’t abandon my pack. I don’t abandon the ones I love."
My heart stuttered. My wolf froze.
Love.
That word was dangerous. It could ruin kingdoms. It already ruined me once.
His golden eyes held me steady. I couldn’t look away. For a moment, the world narrowed to nothing but his scent, his pulse and his presence. frёewebηovel.cѳm
He was too close.
What was he doing? My thoughts spun.
I swallowed hard.
"Focus," I snapped, my voice rougher than I intended. I forced my gaze to the documents, pretending they were more important than the tremor in my veins. "Patrick holds fifty-three percent of the shares. I only have forty."
Rowland sighed, but leaned in, his chest brushing my shoulder.
He scanned the paperwork. "Asterfell law forbids anyone with a criminal record from being chairman. And Patrick’s infidelity is a major scandal" he smirked, a predator’s smile.
"I know," I murmured. "Patrick will face his consequences."
My chin lifted, slow and deliberate.
The wolf inside me stretched, awake.
Vengeance thrummed through my veins like moonlight on the hunt.
The next day, I got a call from my informant. He informed me that Margaret was on the move and her destination was the prison where Sophia was locked up.
Good. Just as I suspected, she had gone to see Sophia. I decided to go to the prison and see things for myself. Rowland insisted on going with me.
I masked myself from head to toe in scent-dulling herbs. Rowland did the same too.
We arrived the cell in time to see the officers telling Margaret she would not be able to see Sophia.
That was my doing. I had called the officers earlier and told them not to allow anyone visit Sophia, not even her family members. All it took was money to get them to do my biddings.
I went into one of their officers and changed into a warden’s uniform. With a mask shielding part of my face, I went to the counter where Margaret was still arguing with the officers, insisting she wouldn’t leave until she met Sophia.
"Madam, this way, I will take you to her" I said, bowing slightly and leading her deeper into the station.
They officers stepped aside upon seeing me.
I led Margaret to Sophia’s cell her heels clicking against the concrete. When we arrived, I stepped to the side where I would remain almost unnoticed. Inside, Sophia hearing the sound of the heels immediately got up, her face cracking into a desperate smile.
"Mom! You’re here? Can you... can you get me out?" Her voice trembled, desperation tinged with hope.
She thought it was Clarence. As soon as she saw Margaret. Color drained from her face, her eyes widened in shock.
"Mom... what are you doing here? How did you know I was here?" Her voice wavered.
