Free Web NovelChapter 97: Chapter 97 Mother’s Distrust
Sylvia’s POV
By the time I made it back to Frost Enterprises, I’d mentally replayed this morning’s trainwreck of a confrontation more times than I cared to admit—each run-through making me cringe harder than the last.
Honestly, Zane Thorne was less of a man and more of a recurring nightmare with great cheekbones and zero boundaries.
The guy showed up like a bad Wi-Fi signal: right when you least needed him, and impossible to block.
No matter where I went, he managed to pop up—like he had me microchipped or something.
I half-suspected he’d made a blood pact with the universe to haunt me until I either forgave him or committed a felony.
"Sylvia?" Lily’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.
She stood in my office doorway with a stack of reports, her expression concerned. "What’s going on with you? I’ve never seen you this distracted in the morning. This isn’t like you at all."
I blinked, forcing my gaze to focus. "It’s nothing," I offered a weak smile. "Please continue with your report. I’m listening."
“This about what happened outside this morning?” she asked.
I sighed, dragging a hand down my face. “How fast does word travel around here?”
She quirked a brow. “You got confronted by the Alpha of Stoneclaw Pack in front of the main entrance. Half the finance department was placing bets on whether you’d punch him or shift and bite his face off.”
“Well, sorry to disappoint,” I muttered. “But yeah. That was... a scene.”
I leaned back in my chair, letting out a breath that felt like it had been stuck in my chest for three years. “A toxic ex is basically the supernatural version of a felony charge. You can try to move on, but it still shows up on your emotional background check.”
Lily’s eyes softened with sympathy. "You don’t need men like that. Don’t let him make you feel bad."
Something about her earnestness made me reach out and playfully pinch her cheek. Her shocked expression was priceless.
"You—you can’t just—" she sputtered, her cheeks flushing.
Her expression softened. “You don’t deserve that. You know that, right? You’re a badass. Don’t let that man-child dim your shine.”
Something about her sincerity was so sweet it hurt. So naturally, I did the only mature, emotionally responsible thing I could think of—
I reached out and pinched her cheek.
Her jaw dropped. “You—you did not just—!”
I grinned. “Oh, I did. That’s what you get for being adorable and supportive. I punish kindness.”
Her cheeks flushed a bright pink, and she swatted at my hand.
"Back to work," I chuckled. "That’s what really matters now."
As if on cue, a knock sounded at my office door.
We both turned to see one of the administrative assistants standing there, looking apologetic.
"Ms. Frost, the Alpha Astra would like to see you immediately."
My smile vanished. "I’ll be right there."
After the assistant left, Lily gave me a knowing look. "Do you think it’s about this morning?"
"Probably," I nodded, gathering my tablet. "I’ll find out soon enough."
I made my way to my mother’s office. I knocked on the heavy oak door and waited for her permission to enter.
When I stepped inside, she was hunched over her desk, writing something with deliberate focus.
She didn’t acknowledge my presence.
After standing there for an uncomfortable minute, I cleared my throat. "CEO, you wanted to see me?"
She continued to ignore me, signing documents with practiced efficiency.
This was a power play I knew well—the Alpha asserting dominance by making others wait.
Fine. Two could play that game.
I settled into one of the visitor chairs and pulled out my phone, beginning to answer emails.
If she wanted to waste my time, I’d make productive use of it.
Finally, she sighed dramatically. "Do you know why I called you here today?"
"Alpha, you haven’t told me, so I wouldn’t presume to guess," I replied with practiced deference, though my wolf growled inside me.
She stood and walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline. "The Frost name has remained at the top of both pack hierarchy and business circles for generations because of our reputation for dignity and control."
I knew exactly where this was going.
"Yet this morning, you and your... former pursuit... created quite the unseemly spectacle."
The accusation in her voice was unmistakable.
I lowered my eyes, more from restraint than shame.
"I’ll handle it properly," I promised, choosing my words carefully.
She turned to face me, arms crossed, expression carved from ice. Her eyes—same shape, same color as mine—held zero warmth.
“You won’t just handle it,” my mother said, voice sharp enough to cut glass. “You’ll make damn sure it never happens again. The company’s image isn’t something you and I can afford to tarnish.”
She took a step closer, her heels clicking like a countdown. “And don’t forget—just because this company has your last name, doesn’t mean it belongs to you.”
The words hit like a slap, cool and precise.
No questions.
No concern.
Not even a flicker of interest in what that Alpha bastard might’ve said to light the match.
Just blame.
Straight-up, boardroom-level blame, wrapped in silk and served ice cold.
I swallowed hard, jaw tight.
“Crystal clear,” I said, even though my fists were clenched so tightly my nails nearly broke skin.
I forced myself to breathe evenly.
She was right about one thing—the company’s reputation affected everyone who worked here. But her complete lack of maternal concern still stung, even after all these years.
"That’s all," she dismissed me. "Continue following up with Noah on the Eastern territories project."
I stood frozen for a moment before turning to leave her office.
Once outside, I inhaled deeply, centering myself.
Zane was now affecting my professional life, and that was unacceptable.
The legal charges I’d pressed against him last time clearly hadn’t been enough of a lesson.
My wolf stirred again, no longer content to be suppressed.
Next time, I wouldn’t be so merciful. freёwebnovel.com
If Zane Thorne wanted to play, he would discover exactly what happened when you provoked a true Alpha female.
And it wouldn’t be pretty.
