Free Web NovelChapter 195: Chapter 195 A Dinner Gone Cold
Christina’s POV
He didn’t get home until after midnight last night. I’d figured it was pack business or company stuff.
After all, he’d been away for almost a week.
Work must have backed up. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Apparently not. He’d been at a hotel with Rowan Hale.
I’d noticed it back in Riverbend—how she always moved toward him. I didn’t get it then, but I did now.
As I sat there, going over every second of my brief meeting with her, Daniel waved his hand in front of my face.
"Can I have my phone back? You look like you’re about to crush it."
I blinked. "Sorry. Is this photo going around?"
"No, just a few fans saw it. They’re saying the guy might be her boyfriend, so they’re keeping it quiet. Rowan’s still flying under the radar here. Most people don’t even know she’s back in the country."
"Boyfriend," I said quietly. "Can you send it to me? I won’t share it anywhere."
Daniel nodded. "Sure, sending it now."
My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I didn’t check it.
I couldn’t focus on anything.
I’d completely forgotten what work I was supposed to be doing.
Around five, the bell over the door rang and Ysolde walked in carrying a cake box.
"I’ve texted you three times and you haven’t answered. Don’t tell me you’re canceling your romantic dinner with Hudson."
I dragged myself downstairs to meet her.
Taking the cake from Ysolde, I mumbled, "Sorry, I’ve been too busy to check my phone." frёewebnoѵēl.com
That was a lie.
I wasn’t busy at all. After seeing that photo of Hudson with Rowan Hale, I couldn’t think straight.
Akira snarled in my head. "If he’s really with that woman, I’m going to go back and tear into him. This feels like betrayal!"
"It might not be what it looks like," I whispered back, but my wolf just growled louder.
Ysolde grinned. "It’s getting dark. Stop working. I’m out. I’ve got a date."
"Then go," I told her. "Don’t let me mess up your love life."
She waved and left.
A few minutes later, Priya and Daniel packed up too.
"Night, boss," Priya called from the stairs. "Don’t forget to sleep."
Daniel caught my expression and asked, "Are you okay? You look... pretty wrecked."
"I’m not wrecked." I forced a smile. "Just tired."
"Well, like I said, don’t forget to sleep. Night."
I waved them out, then went upstairs to clean up the mess from our break.
After everything was put away, I sat down, unlocked my phone, and opened the photo again.
I’d probably stared at it fifty times already.
Hudson wasn’t looking at her, but she was definitely looking at him.
I stared at the screen, biting the inside of my cheek.
They obviously knew each other. Hudson had told me that himself.
But he’d said Rowan was just an old friend.
Was that true?
What if... what if Rowan was the love he could never get over?
What the hell was he doing with me then?
Hudson wasn’t the type to play games. If he wanted someone else, he’d tell me.
He’d say it to my face.
Or more likely, he’d sit me down and explain why our contract was over.
I opened our chat, typed out a whole paragraph, then deleted it.
Then I wrote something simple.[ Coming home for dinner tonight?]
He replied right away. ["I’ll be home early."]
When I walked into the house, Carmen had already set everything out on the counter—washed, chopped, arranged like a cooking show.
"Luna," she smiled at me, putting on an apron, "everything’s ready. Just tell me what you want to do, and I’ll help."
"Thanks."
I walked over and looked at the ingredients.
Carrots cut into perfect circles, chicken sliced evenly, even the garlic minced so fine it looked like dust.
This morning when I left, I was ready to tell him everything. Now I wasn’t even sure I wanted him to eat my food.
Carmen stood near the counter. "Would you like me to take over?"
I straightened up. "No, I said I’d cook, so I’m cooking. But... you should probably stick around. My cooking is questionable at best."
That was being generous.
I washed my hands and dried them on a towel.
I’d had hours to calm down. Enough time to stop obsessing over a grainy photo.
It was dark, the angle was off, it could be anyone.
"But you knew his watch," Akira reminded me. "The one you made for him. No one else has that watch."
I sighed, admitting she had a point. My wolf was right.
"Unless you really looked and wanted to find drama, that place didn’t even look like a hotel. People always loved making up stories about celebrities," I thought back. I was still defending Hudson.
Rowan was a celebrity. He’d be home soon. I’d ask him straight out.
If it was nothing, we’d eat.
If not... then I’d figure it out.
Carmen stepped in, quietly chopping, stirring, and fixing everything I screwed up.
While I hesitated, she adjusted, and somehow it all worked out.
The appetizer was goat cheese drizzled with olive oil and thyme, plus warm sourdough that Carmen sliced perfectly.
The main course was duck breast with cherry sauce, parmesan polenta , and green beans that I remembered to season.
Dessert was a bubbly berry crisp that came out still bubbling. Plus Ysolde’s cake.
I tasted everything.
Not bad.
Carmen’s version would have been better, but nothing was raw or had weird chunks, so I called it a win.
By the time we finished, it was after seven.
Hudson still wasn’t here.
If he wasn’t at some event, he was usually home before six.
Tonight, he hadn’t mentioned any meetings.
I checked my phone. No texts, no missed calls.
Just that earlier reply.
I waited thirty minutes before texting him again.
Nothing.
I called.
The phone rang forever before he finally picked up.
The speaker was full of background noise—shouting, car horns, metal banging.
He spoke first. "Something came up. I’ll be late. Don’t wait up."
His words were rushed, like he was in a hurry.
