Free Web NovelChapter 222: Chapter 222 Family Farce
Christina’s POV
Caroline hesitated on the other end.
"Could you talk to Alpha Hudson? Ask him to go easy on your father?"
I didn’t hide my annoyance. "Get to the hospital first. We’ll talk if you actually show up."
"Okay, okay. We’re on our way."
The second I hung up, I texted the police station and told them to send officers to the hospital right away.
Akira rumbled with satisfaction in my head." About time we taught them a lesson, she growled."
"Just a warning, "I reminded her. "They’re still family, unfortunately."
Twenty-five minutes later, they showed up. Caroline, Preston, and Serenna walked in looking pale and jumpy, like they’d spent the whole ride practicing their innocent act.
They pushed through the door.
The first thing they saw wasn’t me.
It was four uniformed cops standing by Cade’s bed.
Caroline stopped dead. Her knees wobbled. She grabbed the doorframe, her face going completely white.
"Christina..." she said through gritted teeth. "You set us up."
I stepped out from behind the officers, crossing my arms. "I said I’d think about it. Never said I agreed. And now I’ve changed my mind."
Her mouth opened and closed like a fish suddenly realizing it was hooked.
Preston pushed past her. He pointed a finger at my face, already red and yelling. "Ungrateful brat. You lied to us! Took your own father to court! You don’t see us as family at all, do you?"
"You’re the ones who never treated me like family," I said coldly. "I have nothing else to say. You didn’t hit me. You hit someone else. Whether he forgives you isn’t up to me."
From the bed, Cade spoke up right on cue. "I don’t forgive them. I make my living with this face. You people nearly cracked it open. Officers, I want to press charges. Full penalty. No mercy."
Caroline switched to begging mode, her voice sickeningly sweet. "Officers, this is all a misunderstanding. Nothing serious. We can work it out privately, no need to bother you."
The lead cop shrugged. "The victim refused to drop the charges. You three need to come to the station. Assault is one thing. Running from the scene is another. You’ll need to be questioned."
Caroline’s hands fidgeted at her sides like nervous birds. "We didn’t run. We came here voluntarily. We’re turning ourselves in. That should count for something, right?"
The officer raised an eyebrow. "You turned yourselves in... at a hospital?"
The second officer snapped handcuffs on Preston’s wrists. The third started reading them their rights, the formal words echoing in the small hospital room.
No one looked at me as they were led out.
"They’ll be out by dinner, "Akira commented dryly.
"I know, but they’ll think twice before messing with my business again."
Once I’d finished dealing with that family drama, Hudson made a quick call to Dominic, then headed to a different floor.
I followed behind him, keeping up through the hospital hallways.
Through the glass window in the door, I could see Reginald lounging against a stack of white pillows, laughing at something on TV. For someone supposedly injured, he looked pretty comfortable.
His bare feet stuck out from under the blanket, and he was holding an apple, half-eaten, the skin still wet where he’d bitten it.
"What’s wrong with him?" I asked, tilting my head for a better look. "He doesn’t look sick at all."
"He’s faking," Hudson said with disgust.
He pushed open the door without knocking.
Still watching the screen, Reginald waved a hand dismissively. "Gwen, you can go. The nurse will handle everything. No need for you to stick around." frёewebηovel.cѳm
No one answered.
A few seconds later, he looked toward the door and froze, his face going from relaxed to terrified instantly. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
Hudson stood in the middle of the room, watching him with cold eyes.
The apple slipped from Reginald’s hand and hit the floor with a soft thud.
It rolled a short distance before stopping against Hudson’s expensive leather shoe.
Hudson looked down at it, then back up.
Reginald’s throat visibly bobbed.
"You—what are you doing—"
"Dad." Hudson smiled, all teeth and no warmth. "Thought I’d check in. Heard your back’s been bothering you. Doesn’t all that sitting hurt?"
His voice was relaxed, almost lazy, but I could feel the Alpha energy radiating from him.
Reginald flinched like someone had just dumped ice water on him.
He blinked rapidly, grabbed at his lower back, and collapsed theatrically onto the pillows.
"My spine can’t sit five minutes without agony. Thanks for coming, though. Been busy with meetings?"
Hudson took a step forward. Then another. He stopped at the edge of the bed and leaned down, pressing his fingers into Reginald’s lower back with pressure.
"Ow! Bloody hell!" Reginald screamed. "You trying to paralyze me?"
Hudson pressed down harder on his lower back without blinking, his expression unchanged.
Reginald screamed again and squirmed like a trapped animal.
"What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?" he shouted, his face turning red.
"You look way too comfortable to be in pain," Hudson said coolly. "Thought I’d help you feel it for real."
Reginald shot upright, face blotchy and furious. "I’m not faking it! Why would I fake an injury? Who checks into a hospital for fun?"
"You’re not thinking straight," Hudson said.
Reginald’s face got redder. "I didn’t fake anything! "
Hudson ignored that pathetic defense. "Doesn’t matter. Your back’s fine. That little act won’t delay your flight. Pack up. You’re leaving for Africa."
"No, I’m not!" Reginald threw himself backwards like a kid having a tantrum, pulled the blanket over his head, and went limp. "I can’t even stand, let alone get on a plane!"
"You think I can’t make you go?" Hudson’s voice dropped lower, clearly threatening.
Reginald peeked out from under the covers, his tone suddenly soft and pleading. "Hudson, son, I’m your father. You can’t treat me like this. Let me rest. It’s freezing here. Let me go in June, okay?"
"You hate the cold? Good. It’s hot in Africa. You’ll love it." Hudson’s smile was terrifying in how calm it was.
"I’m not talking about the damn weather!" Reginald snapped. "My joints are shot. Can’t you let me enjoy retirement like a normal old Alpha?"
"You’re not old, you’re not dying," Hudson replied coldly. "And it’s back pain, not cancer. I just funded three hospitals over there. You’ll be cured before your jet lag kicks in."
Reginald let out an angry huff and shoved his face into the pillow. His voice came out muffled and whiny. "I’m not going. That’s final."
Hudson looked back at the door. "Come in."
Dominic walked in, his huge frame filling the doorway. "Alpha Hudson."
He nodded at me respectfully. "Luna Christina."
The footsteps behind him weren’t subtle. Heavy, in sync, like soldiers marching.
Reginald peeked out like a scared rabbit. Four men followed Dominic inside. Tall, broad-shouldered, all in black suits that barely contained their muscles.
Reginald’s voice shook. "What—what the hell is this?"
