Free Web NovelChapter 389: Chapter 389
Aria’s POV
My wolf watched Patrick closely. He wasn’t used to being cornered.
He stood abruptly, glancing at his dark phone screen like it had summoned him.
“I have matters to attend to,” he said with a brittle smile. “I’ll leave you all to your meal.”
I simply gave a small nod.
I was glad he was leaving, before he noticed more than he already had.
“Need a ride?” Rowland called, his arms crossed. “You’re not fleeing because of me, right?”
He even covered his mouth in fake shock. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to prevent myself from laughing.
Patrick forced another smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes. “Of course not.”
“Alright,” Rowland said, already losing interest. “See yourself out.”
Just like that, Patrick went from self-invited authority to dismissed guest. The door closed after him.
The tension didn’t vanish, but it loosened.
Rowland immediately looked at the table. “I don’t like this bowl. I want a blue one.”
I closed my eyes briefly. Kara looked at me.
I sighed and nodded.
Moments later, he had a blue porcelain bowl like a spoiled prince and dragged his seat closer to mine.
“Try this,” he said, casually dropping food into my bowl like we’d known each other forever. My mouth twitched.
I’d planned to talk strategy with them, where to move Tyler’s family, and how to stay ahead of Patrick.
I had not planned for... this. I took a bite anyway. He went to add more. freewebnovёl.ƈom
I stopped him gently. “I can serve myself. Eat.”
“Oh.” His shoulders dipped slightly. He looked absurdly like a scolded puppy.
Across the table, Williams watched him with deep concern. He probably thought Rowland was some master emotional manipulator.
Jonathan, the “honest” one, looked at Williams and made some facial expressions. Their silent exchange almost made me laugh.
Francis came down first. Then Jackson, Tyler and his wife stepped out from upstairs where I had hid them.
I asked Rowland to take Jackson with him for a while until everything is sorted out.
Tyler and his wife shared an emotional moment with their son before he left with Jackson.
Now they stood near the doorway, still staring in the direction Jackson had gone, like their eyes could pull him back.
“Alright,” I said, clearing my throat.
The sound cut through the room like a branch snapping in a forest.
They turned back slowly.
“A–Aria!” Tyler’s wife suddenly cried, moving as if to kneel.
Kara reacted faster than instinct. “Hey! Don’t do that!” She grabbed Talia, half-scolding, half-embarrassed. “Are you trying to shave years off her life or what?”
I didn’t move. I didn’t stop her nor did I encourage her.
Talia looked at me, searching for a sign...anger, softness, anything. I gave her nothing.
She exhaled shakily and let Kara pull her back up.
My gaze shifted to Tyler. I tapped my fingers lightly on the table.
“You ran last night.” My voice stayed level, but my wolf stepped forward behind my eyes.
Tyler shivered. “I’m sorry,” he muttered, his head lowering. “I was scared... I don’t want to go to jail...”
Talia’s composure broke. “Ms. Darvin, please... we have a child. If he goes to prison, it will ruin not just our family but our child’s future—”
She reached for my sleeve. Chloe stopped her hand midair.
Talia stared at her in shock. I didn’t react.
Jail ruins lives? If that were the case, shouldn’t I be devastated in a ditch somewhere by now, after I was jailed and left to rot? .
My expression stayed cool.
Chloe stood beside me like a silent guard wolf, her spine straight, her eyes hard. She didn’t tolerate tears used as weapons.
“The law is the law,” she said sharply.
Hope drained from Talia’s face. I looked only at Tyler.
“Once you’re inside,” I said, “your family won’t suffer. I’ll make sure of that.”
That made him look up. Then I tilted my head slightly.
“But you can also try running again.”
Francis shifted subtly in the background.
“And this time,” I continued, my voice turning to ice, “I won’t bring you here. I’ll send you back to the factory.”
His scent spiked with terror, raw and immediate.
I could see it in his pupils. That place had broken him.
Good. Now he understood the stakes.
His lip trembled. “What...do you want me to do?”
“It’s simple, I already told you” I said. My voice was calm, maybe a bit too calm for what we were discussing.
I poured hot tea and slid the cup toward Tyler. Steam curled upward, carrying the sharp, grounding scent of leaves and heat.
His fingers twitched. He didn’t touch it. He probably thought I had laced it with poison to exact my revenge after what he did. I let him be. Drinking or not was his choice.
“You will explain everything Patrick ordered you to do. Every lie, every false record.” My gaze didn’t waver. “And you’ll testify that he locked you and your wife in that factory and cut off all contact with the outside world.”
Each word landed like a stone.
Tyler’s brows stayed furrowed. He knew I wasn’t wrong. That was the right thing to do. His scent carried resignation.
“If I agree... then I...” He trailed off, staring at me like I held a blade above his neck.
His heart thudded loud enough that my wolf could map its rhythm.
“I’ll apply for a reduced sentence for you,” I said. “But the werewolf court decides in the end.”
His expression dipped. Before the silence grew heavy, Amelia spoke.
“When Patrick faked Clarence’s death and kept her hidden overseas, that’s morally rotten,” she said, voice firm. “But not easily prosecutable.”
Everyone listened.
“But illegally detaining you and your wife in that factory?” Her eyes sharpened. “That’s a serious criminal offense if you press charges.”
The shift in Tyler was instant. I could see hope sparkle in his eyes.
“Then... I might not suffer the worst of it... but Patrick will?” he asked.
“Legally, yes,” Amelia said. “But you were complicit before. You won’t walk away untouched.”
Tyler nodded, jaw tight. His anger at Patrick burned hotter than fear now.
“I’ll help,” he said. “But my wife and child come first.”
“I already promised, no harm will come to them.” I said.
He relaxed. His shoulders loosened, his breath became even.
Then he gave a crooked little smile.
“You’re Patrick’s daughter, why should I trust you though?”
