Fake Mating To My Ex's Powerful Enemy

Chapter 144: Chapter 144 Don’t Give Franklin Anything

Christina’s POV

I tugged Hudson forward, desperate to get away from Franklin.

"Don’t let him ruin your mood. Even if he shows up at my studio, I don’t care. I’ll throw him out myself."

Franklin, noticing Hudson’s hesitation, seized the opportunity like the opportunist he was.

"You’re a public figure," he called out loudly, "and Christina has been getting quite a bit of attention online lately. If people found out how you treat family... that wouldn’t look good for you."

Hudson stopped and turned around.

"Come in," he said evenly. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

"No way!" I snapped, jabbing my finger against his arm. "He’s not setting one foot in this house. The second you let him in, he’ll stick himself to the floor like gum."

Hudson patted my hand gently. "I’ve got this under control. He won’t get anything."

"Then why let him in at all?"

"I have something in mind."

"Care to share?"

Hudson might be a powerful Alpha and business legend, but my father had been playing pack politics for decades. Hudson was still young and didn’t know what Franklin was really like.

Franklin could squeeze a gallon of benefits from a single drop of kindness.

Franklin caught up to us in seconds, a small smirk playing on his lips. "I knew you’d understand, Alpha Hudson. I knew you’d be reasonable."

He shoved past me and hurried through the doorway, as if afraid one of us might change our mind.

Once inside, I didn’t even bother sitting down. I glared at him. "Cut the act. What are you really here for?"

His eyes swept the room—the artwork, chandeliers, hand-carved decorations.

His pupils dilated.

I knew that look too well. He was calculating values, figuring out how much he could squeeze from this place.

He hid it well, but I’d lived with him long enough to know what went through his mind: How much can I get?

With a flourish, he placed two gaudy red-and-gold gift boxes on the side table.

"The wine comes from a centuries-old vineyard in France," he announced. "Aged to perfection. And these coffee beans? Hand-roasted with a secret family recipe. Thought you two might enjoy them."

Hudson gestured toward a low couch against the wall. "Sit there."

Franklin shuffled over, perching on the edge.

When Geoffrey came to ask if we needed coffee, Hudson waved him away.

His attitude gave me a small measure of comfort.

Still, I couldn’t figure out what game he was playing.

Franklin cleared his throat. "I just wanted to see Christina. We only just heard about your marriage. Caroline and I had no idea. If we’d known, we would have celebrated properly. You didn’t need to keep it from us."

"I didn’t," I shot back. "I told Caroline. She laughed in my face."

Now he was rewriting history. Classic Franklin move—pretending amnesia when things didn’t suit him.

He laughed awkwardly, rubbing his hands together. "Well, your mother... she’s stubborn. Don’t mind her. You should have come to me directly."

I snorted. "I would have if I could find you."

That shut him up for half a second.

His mouth opened, then closed, as he tried to look wounded.

It didn’t work.

"Christina, I meant what I said earlier. Let’s have a wedding, a big one. So the entire Northern territory knows about The Crescent Pack and The Sabreridge Pack joining. Right at the Sabreridge pack house, invitations sent out, everything arranged. You deserve your special day. We missed it and I deeply regret that. How about it? Don’t worry, I’ll cover everything."

He absolutely would not cover anything. This was just another excuse to get close to Hudson.

I rolled my eyes. "Forget the wedding. You can send a gift to make up for it. Cash works. How much are you putting up?"

His shoulders slumped.

"I wish I could give you everything," he muttered, "but the Crescent Pack is struggling. We’ve lost several contracts, and cash flow is tight. Honestly, I’m barely keeping things afloat."

"Is that why you tried to hook me up with that creep Maxwell?"

"No! Of course not! You’re my daughter. I would never do anything to hurt you. It was meant to be a business meeting. I only found out Caroline tricked you there with that fake recording when the investigators questioned her. She did that behind my back. I’ve spoken with her, told her never to pull such stunts again..."

Always Caroline’s fault. Always someone else’s fault.

As he spoke, he kept stealing hopeful glances at Hudson.

I wanted to stand in front of Hudson to block his view, but I didn’t because it felt too childish.

"...with the economy being what it is, you know how bad things can get. But I heard LGH has some logistics contracts open. Alpha Hudson, if you could let me handle a few of those, or back one of our proposals... we’d be back on our feet in no time. Once we’re financially stable, I’ll treat you both. Anything you want."

Finally showing his true colors.

I opened my mouth to tell him off, but Hudson beat me to it.

"If it’s business matters, we’ll discuss them in the study."

Franklin’s eyes lit up. "Of course. Yes, yes. Let’s go."

I grabbed Hudson’s sleeve, whispering, "Don’t. You can’t give him any deals."

He patted my hand lightly. "Relax. I know what I’m doing."

My stomach knotted. Hudson was too kind, he didn’t understand how Franklin would exploit even the tiniest bit of goodwill.

The two of them headed upstairs.

The moment they disappeared into the study, I tiptoed after them, pressing my ear against the door and holding my breath. freёwebnoѵel.com

Nothing.

My werewolf hearing was usually sharp, but this door completely blocked the sound. It felt like trying to listen through a brick wall.

I pulled out my phone and my thumbs flew across the screen:

[Don’t you dare agree to anything. I mean it. Don’t give him ANYTHING.]

[His logistics company is a joke. Never handled anything bigger than moving someone’s garage.]

[I don’t care if he’s family. It means nothing to me. Don’t do this to please me, because if you help him, I swear I’ll make you regret it.]

[You let him in, he’ll bleed you dry.]

No response.

I stared at the screen, my heart racing. Akira growled low in my mind, sensing my anxiety.

I kept staring. "Read receipts" were on. He’d seen everything but hadn’t replied.

I stomped back to the bedroom, bumping the door closed with my hip, then rolled up my sleeves.

If Hudson was going to do something stupid, at least I could give him all the necessary information.

I started typing again.

Every shady deal Franklin had made, every corner he’d cut, every stupid decision that had damaged the pack’s reputation.

I typed so fast the phone screen blurred.

"Slow down," Akira said in my head. "You’re about to stab through the screen."

"I can’t let Hudson get played," I replied. "He doesn’t know what Alpha Franklin is really like."

I only stopped when my thumbs ached.