Fake Mating To My Ex's Powerful Enemy

Chapter 203: Chapter 203 Ysolde’s New Puppy vs. The Grumpy Ex

Christina’s POV

We turned around at that commanding voice.

Cassian Langford stood in the doorway of an interview room, his Alpha presence immediately taking over the space. His black suit was perfectly tailored, long coat draped casually over one arm like he’d just walked out of a board meeting instead of a police station at almost midnight.

His eyes found me first, then moved to Ysolde before stopping on Cade, who was standing way too close to her.

His expression went dark.

Cade, obviously feeling Cassian’s stare, immediately slumped against Ysolde with a dramatic groan.

"Ysie," he whined, stretching out her nickname pitifully, "everything hurts so much."

Cassian’s jaw clenched, a muscle jumping.

I bit my cheek to stop myself from laughing.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, turning his question back on him.

"Car accident," Cassian answered, his attention clearly split.

His eyes remained fixed on Ysolde, who was now hovering over Cade.

Cade pointed dramatically at his cheek. "Right here. Got hit trying to break up the fight. Hurts like crazy."

Ysolde touched his face so gently. "This spot right here?"

"Yeah," Cade winced with Oscar-worthy performance. "Pretty sure I took a hard punch. Maybe more than one. My vision’s kinda fuzzy."

He peeked at Cassian before dropping his voice to a pained whisper. "I think I’m getting a headache. What if it’s a concussion?"

"He’s really going for it," Akira noted.

"Good acting," I thought back.

"We need to get you to the hospital," Ysolde said worriedly. "Chrissy, is everything handled here? Can we leave?"

"Yeah, we’re done. Nothing else we can do tonight."

"Good. I’ve got my car outside." She looked at me. "You coming too?"

I shook my head. "I’m fine. Not even a bruise. Just take Cade—he’s the one who actually got hurt. Plus I need to make sure Priya gets home okay."

Ysolde nodded. "Call me tomorrow, alright?"

She wrapped her arm around Cade’s waist and helped him limp toward the exit, his act so convincing I almost bought it.

Halfway to the door, Cade turned around and flashed Cassian a smug, victorious smile.

Cassian’s reaction was instant and intense. The Alpha jerked his tie so hard it pulled his collar crooked, his knuckles going white.

"I called an Uber," I told Priya, checking my phone. "Should be here in about five minutes."

She nodded quietly. As someone who preferred staying in, tonight’s chaos probably hadn’t exactly sold her on the nightlife scene.

"That white-haired little boy is her boyfriend now?" Cassian demanded once they were gone, his voice a low growl.

I laughed. "Why do you care? You two broke up months ago."

Cassian’s mouth went tight. His fingers gripped the coat in his hand until the expensive fabric wrinkled.

"Her taste has gone downhill," he muttered. "That kid looks like he still gets carded for energy drinks."

"He’s better-looking than you," I shot back with a grin. "And younger. And definitely has more hair."

I headed for the exit with Daniel and Priya.

Cassian followed, his steps heavy behind us.

He caught up on the front steps. "I’ll give you a ride," he offered, keys already out.

"No," I said without slowing down.

"It’s not a problem," he pressed. "You won’t get a cab out here this late anyway."

A car pulled up next to us before I could argue. I checked the license plate against my app, then opened the back door and waved Priya in.

"Daniel, you too," I said.

A car horn honked behind us. I turned to see a black Maybach pulling up to the curb. My heart jumped as Hudson got out, closing the door. His eyes found mine immediately.

I turned back to Daniel. "Can you make sure Priya gets home okay?"

"Of course," he nodded. "Don’t worry about it."

"Text me when you get there," I told Priya, who nodded nervously.

"You too," I added to Daniel.

"What about you?" he asked, eyeing Hudson.

"I’ll be fine," I said with a smile. "My husband’s here."

The Uber drove off, and I walked toward Hudson, meeting him halfway.

He immediately took my hand, his fingers warm and solid as they laced through mine.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, though Akira was practically humming with happiness at seeing him.

"Didn’t like the idea of you leaving a police station alone at midnight," he said, his voice low and serious.

His grip on my hand tightened protectively. "Tell me exactly what happened. Someone tried to drug you?"

"There’s no proof," I sighed. "I never drank it, and it got spilled during the fight. Police said there’s nothing to go on."

We’d almost reached the Maybach when a familiar voice shouted behind us.

"Hudson! You seriously didn’t even say hi?"

I turned to see Cassian marching down the sidewalk toward us.

Hudson slowed but didn’t stop. "What brings you to a police station this late, Cassian?"

Cassian’s nose wrinkled. "Real nice. I’ve been standing around all night while everyone else hooks up like it’s some supernatural speed dating event."

"Get to the point," Hudson said flatly, glancing at his watch. "It’s late, and I want to get my mate home."

Mate. The word sent a warm rush through my chest.

"We haven’t talked in forever," Cassian said. "Let’s grab dinner soon. Pack stuff to discuss."

"Sure. I’ll check my calendar," Hudson replied. He opened the passenger door for me.

I slid in without looking back, feeling Cassian’s irritated stare on my back.

Hudson got in seconds later, the engine starting before his door was even closed.

The car was quiet except for tires on wet pavement. Streetlights flickered across Hudson’s face as we drove, showing the tight line of his jaw.

"So," he finally said, eyes on the road, "no real evidence of the server drugging the drink? Just Cade’s word?"

"Yeah." I twisted my fingers together. "That’s all we have."

"Do you believe him?"

"I do. Not about everything, but about this? Yes."

"Why?"

"What would he gain from lying? He could’ve stayed out of it, let me deal with it alone. But he spoke up knowing it could get him fired. He didn’t do it for me—he did it for Ysolde."

Hudson made a sound that wasn’t quite agreement, wasn’t disagreement.

"The server," he said after a pause. "You get a name?"

"Jamie Reed."

"I’ll have someone from the pack watch him."

I nodded, oddly reassured by how casually he talked about protection.

"Are you really okay?" His voice got softer, the Alpha becoming the worried husband.

"I’m fine. I didn’t drink anything. But still... I keep wondering what was in it."

"Nothing good," he said.

"You think it’s connected to whoever tried to mess with me at the Aureate Awards?" I asked, the question that had been bothering me all night.

"Maybe," Hudson said. "The timing’s weird. But there’s no proof linking them. Not yet."

"That woman, Dubois. Did she tell you anything useful?" freewёbnoνel.com

"She told the cops everything she knew, but she never actually met her boss. And the old guy from the security footage is apparently out of the country. There’s red tape to deal with before they can question him."

I let out a long breath, frustration building. "What kind of enemy hates me this much? One failed attempt wasn’t enough, so now they’re trying again? I’d barely been back in Highrise City a week when the first thing happened."

Hudson reached over and took my hand.

"Whoever it is," he promised, "I’ll find them."

"I believe you," I whispered, and I meant it.