Free Web NovelChapter 151: Chapter 151 Not the Daughter You Knew
Sylvia’s POV
My mother’s words cut deeper than any claw.
"This matter," I said, my voice rising with each word as fury coursed through my veins, "you could easily ask Hugo about, instead of interrogating me here."
My anger was unmistakable, the hostility in my tone something I couldn’t—and wouldn’t—disguise.
Mother had only intended to placate the crowd, but seeing my defiance ignited her own temper. Her eyes flashed with that familiar Alpha dominance—the look that had intimidated me since childhood.
"Is this how you speak to your mother?" she growled, the authority in her voice making several lower-ranking wolves instinctively lower their gazes.
Then came the words I’d heard countless times before: "Don’t forget everything you have now—who gave it all to you."
My heart froze in my chest. After all these years, after everything I’d accomplished for the pack and the company, nothing had changed. I was still just the ungrateful daughter in her eyes.
"So in your view," I asked, unable to keep the hurt from my voice, "I’m nothing but a tool to make money for you?"
From the corner of my eye, I caught Selene struggling to hide her delight. My sister was practically vibrating with satisfaction, watching the conflict unfold exactly as she’d planned.
Before Mother could respond, Selene inserted herself into the conversation, her voice dripping with false concern. "Sister, that’s not how you should speak. We’re family. Talking about being ’used’—it’s so hurtful!"
I watched Mother’s expression shift, saw her absorbing Selene’s words like gospel. The genuine moment of uncertainty I’d glimpsed vanished, replaced by the rigid mask of the Alpha defending her position before her pack.
Mother’s priorities crystallized before my eyes. Her reputation, her authority as Alpha of the Frostfang Pack and CEO of Frostline Enterprises—these would always come before me.
"Hmph," Mother snorted, "you’ve never been as sensible as your sister." She turned away dismissively. "I won’t waste more words on this. What matters now is whether you are the person they’re accusing you of being. Did you do what they claim?"
"No!" My voice rose sharply, my wolf howling in protest beneath my skin. "How many times must I say it? This has nothing to do with me." The frustration clogged my throat, and I met her gaze with steel in mine. "Mother, you disappoint me."
My words struck a nerve. Mother’s face contorted with rage, her hand rising to strike my cheek.
"You’ve truly become insolent beyond measure!" she snarled.
I didn’t move. Didn’t flinch. What was the point in dodging? This would only give the circling vultures more to feast upon. Let them see the truth of my family dynamics—let them witness firsthand the support I’d always lacked.
Selene was practically trembling with excitement, covering her mouth to contain her glee. The pack members watched the drama unfold with a mix of discomfort and vindication. If my own mother would strike me, surely I must deserve it. Surely I must be guilty.
Mother’s hand descended toward my face, her eyes blazing with Alpha authority, when suddenly—a strong, masculine hand caught her wrist mid-air.
My breath caught in my throat as I looked up to see Caesar standing between us, his tall frame radiating power and command. The air around him seemed to shimmer with dominance—not the forced dominance of a pack Alpha who needed to display strength, but the natural authority of a true apex predator.
Mother’s eyes widened with shock and—was that fear? "You—why are you here?" she stammered, immediately looking chagrined at her own reaction.
She quickly attempted to regain her composure, straightening her spine and lifting her chin in a poor imitation of confidence. But I could see it in her eyes—she sensed something dangerous about Caesar, something that made her wolf want to retreat.
Caesar didn’t even acknowledge her question. His intense gaze was fixed on me, those dark eyes searching my face with concern that made my heart flutter traitorously in my chest.
"Are you hurt?" he asked simply, his deep voice sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.
The intimate nature of his concern, directed solely at me despite the crowded ballroom, made heat rise to my cheeks. He stood there in a perfectly tailored suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, exuding power and wealth in a way that made every other male in the room seem diminished by comparison.
Mother was clearly irritated by Caesar’s dismissal of her authority, but something in his bearing made her hesitate. She looked ready to retreat, making excuses to herself about saving our "faces" in this public setting. freёwebnovel.com
I found myself momentarily speechless under Caesar’s intense scrutiny. His protectiveness was unexpected and... stirring something inside me I hadn’t felt before.
"No," I finally answered, pointedly adding, "Mother wouldn’t hurt me." The words were deliberately loud enough for Mother to hear, a subtle reminder of the line she’d almost crossed.
Mother’s eyes darted away guiltily, and she cleared her throat awkwardly.
Caesar didn’t break character, smoothly playing along. "Good." His voice was velvet wrapped around steel. "I was concerned that someone might take advantage of my absence to mistreat you."
As he spoke those last words, his glacial gaze swept across the gathering, lingering on each face that had joined in the accusations against me. The temperature in the room seemed to drop with each person he marked. Wolves instinctively shrank back, necks ducking in submission before this powerful stranger.
Whispers rippled through the crowd, changing tone completely.
"Is that Sylvia’s mate?"
"Must be—look how protective he is."
"With a mate like that, why would she ever need to pursue another wolf?"
"Maybe we’ve misunderstood something..."
I watched in amazement as the pack’s collective opinion swayed simply because of Caesar’s commanding presence. The same people who had been ready to tear me apart minutes ago were now questioning their assumptions. One man’s appearance had accomplished what all my protestations could not.
Mother was studying him too, with new wariness in her eyes. She was clearly reassessing her daughter’s "ordinary" husband, sensing something formidable beneath his refined exterior.
Caesar stood closer to me now, his proximity sending my wolf into a confused frenzy. She recognized something in him that my human side couldn’t quite grasp.
"Sylvia," he asked, his voice deceptively casual while his eyes remained vigilant, "are these people gossiping about you?"
The threat underlying his innocent question was unmistakable. He was memorizing faces, marking those who had wronged me. The predatory focus in his gaze made several wolves shift uncomfortably, their instincts warning them of danger.
Understanding his intent, I smiled softly. "I’m not sure. Perhaps they’re discussing something else entirely."
Caesar didn’t respond, but his steady gaze continued its methodical survey of the room, promising consequences that made my wolf purr with satisfaction.
The woman in the red dress began to panic as she watched the mood of the room shift against her. The crowd that had supported her accusations minutes ago was now silent, intimidated by Caesar’s unspoken authority.
Her panic quickly transformed to indignation. If she was going down, she’d go down fighting.
"Is this how you wealthy people handle things?" she suddenly called out, her voice brittle with resentment. Her lips curved into a mockery of a smile as she looked directly at me. "Just bring in someone powerful and the truth doesn’t matter anymore?"
The room erupted in shocked murmurs at her audacity. Even Caesar raised an eyebrow, seemingly impressed that someone would dare challenge him so openly.
From the shadows, I caught Selene’s expression shifting from disappointment to renewed hope as this unexpected ally continued her attack.
Morgana stepped forward, bristling with protective fury. "What exactly are you implying? We don’t even know you. Why are you attacking Sylvia? This must be deliberate."
The woman in red lifted her chin defiantly. "I simply can’t stand your kind. Just because she has a husband doesn’t mean she can’t cheat. It’s laughable how you defend her."
I placed a restraining hand on Caesar’s arm as he moved to intervene. For the first time tonight, I didn’t need someone else to fight my battles. This was my moment to stand my ground.
With deliberate steps, I approached the woman, each click of my heels against the marble floor echoing like a countdown. My gaze locked onto hers, unwavering and coolly assessing.
"So," I asked, my voice clear as crystal and twice as sharp, "you’re absolutely certain I’ve been unfaithful?"
