Fake Mating To My Ex's Powerful Enemy

Chapter 88: Chapter 88 A Warm Family Welcome

Christina’s POV

I definitely heard Hudson trying to suppress a laugh.

He grabbed my hand and smiled at me. "Our family heirlooms and jewelry collection are worth much more than ten million dollars. You’re being quite considerate of your in-laws."

I blinked innocently, playing the shy new bride. "I wouldn’t want to ask for too much. I’m sure Alpha Reginald would truly show his generosity by providing ten million dollars all at once!"

"Chrissy, I think she said more than ten million," Hudson corrected with a barely concealed smirk.

I widened my eyes and let out an excited gasp. "That’s incredibly generous of you!"

Gwendolyn looked like she might swallow her own tongue. She’d trapped herself now and couldn’t back down without losing face in front of everyone.

"It’s really nothing," she said with a faltering smile.

She jabbed Reginald sharply in the ribs. The man was still frozen in shock. "Reggie will handle the transfer today, won’t you, Reggie?"

"What?" Reginald blinked rapidly. "Handle what exactly?"

"The gift," she hissed through clenched teeth before turning to me with sugar-coated venom. "It’s Christina, correct?"

"Yes." I shook her hand while fighting the urge to sanitize mine immediately after.

"Did you and Hudson just get married yesterday?" she asked, her eyes scanning me for weaknesses.

"No," I replied cautiously.

Her smile stretched wider. "I only asked because nobody informed us about the wedding. Not a word to the family. So typical of young people these days, isn’t it? All impulse, no tradition."

She gave Hudson a look that attempted to be motherly but failed spectacularly. "If not for Grandpa Edouard’s birthday celebration, we might never have known you two had tied the knot. Such a shame."

I almost rolled my eyes. She didn’t dare target Hudson directly, so I was getting all her passive-aggressive barbs instead. Did I look like some naive little girl who’d just fall apart?

Maybe I wasn’t into this whole veiled insult game, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t play it.

Before I could fire back, Hudson stepped in. "You’re not my mother. And my Luna doesn’t owe you a visit."

Gwendolyn’s perfect mask slipped, her left cheek twitching visibly.

Hudson spoke at normal volume, completely unbothered that the entire room was pretending not to eavesdrop while obviously hanging on every word.

"Hudson..." Gwendolyn’s voice trembled as she pressed a hand to her chest dramatically. "All these years, I’ve treated you like my own son. I never once held your situation against you, even when your mother abandoned you and your father. How can you speak to me like this?"

She was already dabbing at imaginary tears.

I glanced at Hudson, preparing for his reaction. She hadn’t directly called him the rejected son of a failed mate bond, but the implication...

I’d heard the whispers since Hudson returned to Highrise City. The gossip spread fast about how his mother had been his father’s chosen mate, not his fated one. When Reginald found his true Luna in Gwendolyn, Hudson’s mother couldn’t bear the rejection and left, abandoning both husband and son. Different versions circulated, some crueler than others.

Hudson’s face turned to stone. If her words affected him, he didn’t show it.

"Abandoned?" he said with ice in his voice. "You know perfectly well my mother died of heartbreak after your mate bond formed. Father was still married when he pursued you."

He shot Reginald a withering look. The older Alpha seemed to finally realize he’d just committed to giving away ten million dollars. The color drained from his face as the math caught up with him.

Hudson turned back to Gwendolyn. "If you want to air our family’s dirty laundry in front of everyone, I’m more than happy to settle everything right here."

"He was terrifying when angry," Akira whispered admiringly in my mind.

"I know. It’s kind of hot," I thought back. freewёbnoνel.com

A young man who’d been standing quietly nearby finally stepped forward.

"Hudson, don’t talk about Mom that way," he said, his tone more placating than confrontational. "She didn’t mean anything bad. She just meant you two should visit more often. Relax."

This had to be Declan, Gwendolyn’s pride and joy. He had flawless skin, perfect teeth, and the pampered complexion of someone who’d never faced hardship.

Spoiled? Definitely. Useless? Probably. But I had to admire his courage to defend his mother.

From what Hudson told me, Declan didn’t hold any real position at Laurent Global Holdings, which made perfect sense when Hudson casually said,

"Your monthly allowance—"

He didn’t need to finish.

Declan crumbled instantly. He reached for Hudson’s hand, then thought better of it when Hudson didn’t respond to the gesture.

"Come on, Hudson, big brother, don’t do that," he pleaded with a sheepish grin. "You’ve already cut my allowance twice in two months. Any more and I’ll be living under a bridge."

Hudson remained silent, just tapped his finger against his arm.

Declan’s face lit up as if suddenly understanding what was required of him. He turned to me with an enormous smile.

"Christina, right? I’ve heard so much about you! Congratulations on the marriage. May your future together be filled with happiness, prosperity, and all good things. You and Hudson are absolutely perfect together. Anyone can see that."

I shook his offered hand. "Thank you."

Despite his mother, Declan was hard to dislike.

He added, "Don’t mind Mom. Half the time she doesn’t know what she’s talking about."

"Declan!" Gwendolyn snapped.

He waved her off casually. "You should visit more often. I can show you around. Or—" He caught Hudson’s look and quickly corrected himself. "Or Hudson can show you. Wait until you see the indoor pool. I redesigned the whole thing. It’s practically a luxury spa now. You’d love it."

Then he looked at Hudson like a puppy waiting for approval.

Hudson’s voice softened slightly. "Your allowance stays the same."

Declan straightened with relief. "Thanks, bro!"

I watched their interaction, fascinated. Despite Gwendolyn’s behavior, Hudson didn’t hold it against Declan. He actually seemed to care about his half-brother.

Declan turned to his mother. "Mom, seriously, it’s a happy occasion. Don’t say anything to ruin it. Just smile for the cameras and behave."

Gwendolyn stared at him, stunned. "What did I even say?"

She might have brushed off Hudson’s coldness with her practiced composure, but criticism from her beloved son cut deeper.

"Just don’t say anything stupid," Declan said offhandedly.

Gwendolyn’s face transformed through several shades of red before settling on a purplish hue that suggested she might be contemplating murder. Specifically, of her own son.