Free Web NovelChapter 53: Chapter 53 Weaving the Web
Camilla’s POV
The satisfied smirk refused to leave my face as I lounged on our renovated couch, phone in hand.
"What has you grinning like that?" Mother emerged from her bedroom, eyeing me with curiosity.
Our home bore no resemblance to the cramped, deteriorating space we once called shelter. Hugo’s generous renovations had transformed everything, creating the peaceful sanctuary I now enjoyed.
"Have you checked the latest online buzz, Mother?" I asked, my smile widening.
"No, should I? What happened?" She approached with interest, her expression sharpening. freewebnoveℓ.com
I gestured to the cushion beside me. The moment she settled down, I thrust my phone toward her, displaying the content that had entertained me for hours.
Her face lit up with pure delight as she watched the viral footage spreading across social media. I knew she would relish seeing Bella’s public humiliation.
"After all these years, she still creates chaos wherever she goes," Mother commented, returning my phone with obvious satisfaction.
"You can thank me for this masterpiece," I declared proudly. "I personally directed my journalist contact to the perfect location for this story."
Learning from Hugo’s assistant that he was caring for Bella’s children in some hotel suite had triggered an inexplicable rage within me. The assistant’s explanation that Hugo remained there while Bella and Derek handled some mission only confirmed my worst suspicions.
Something was definitely happening between them.
Bella’s talent for creating disasters never surprised me, and discovering she had been photographed kissing Derek instead of Hugo actually brought relief. My greatest fear involved her attempting to reconcile with Hugo.
This scandal served my purposes perfectly, making her appear involved with another man and reducing any chances of returning to Hugo. My strategy involved amplifying rumors about her affair with Derek until her mission concluded and she would be expelled to protect Derek’s marriage.
I intended to destroy Bella’s reputation so completely that she would never dare return.
"Tell me about her children. Do you know anything about their father?" Mother inquired, settling more comfortably beside me.
Mother’s desperate desire to destroy Bella had consumed her for years. Bella’s successful escape from our control years ago felt like a personal failure that haunted us both.
Had we eliminated her then, we would not be dealing with this threat now.
"I am still investigating, but apparently she has been claiming marriage in human territory," I replied, tapping my phone thoughtfully.
"Impossible," Mother scoffed. "No one would marry that worthless creature. If someone had, she would not be here alone, unless her husband was foolish enough to trust her."
Her desperate need to believe Bella remained unwanted was obvious, and frankly accurate. Bella possessed neither kindness nor importance, which made her current fame utterly baffling.
Her mysterious rise to prominence frustrated and enraged me because it protected her from direct action. Harming her now would bring serious consequences if anyone traced the attack back to me.
Her presence here for some critical mission, combined with her recent heroic act saving those children, had elevated her status dangerously. Even with scandalous affair rumors circulating, people still viewed her as a hero for her rescue efforts.
"I will invite Hugo for dinner tonight," I announced.
This marked his first visit to our pack, yet he had not visited our home. I refused to accept that Bella might be the reason for his absence.
"Act quickly before Bella steals him from you," Mother hissed, highlighting my exact fear about losing him to my half-sister.
My jaw clenched as fury built within me.
"I will never allow that," I growled through gritted teeth, shaking my head decisively.
"I will summon him immediately. Prepare your finest feast, Mother. Then I will discuss arranging our official engagement ceremony. We have planned this moment for months, and announcing our relationship publicly is overdue."
Only one person needed to learn about my possession of Hugo. My irritating half-sister, who should have perished long ago.
Mother smirked and headed toward the kitchen to prepare Hugo’s favorite dishes, her special recipes that always impressed him. frёewebnoѵēl.com
I retrieved my phone and dialed the number of someone who would appreciate hearing from me.
"What do you want?" Serena answered with characteristic sharpness.
Despite maintaining contact because I would soon marry her husband’s best friend, she consistently treated me as inferior. Her status as the Royal Beta’s daughter versus my Omega heritage created this dynamic, though she remained unaware of who truly held Hugo’s affection.
"I hesitated to worry you," I began sweetly, "but something disturbing came to my attention that I felt compelled to share. Have you seen the recent viral content?"
Her silence encouraged me to continue. "I am sending you the footage now. This situation has escalated beyond anything appropriate. I apologize, but I hope your mate can provide explanations."
I paused deliberately, biting my lip to contain my laughter at her anticipated reaction.
"What are you implying?" Her voice grew distant, indicating she had activated speaker mode to examine my message.
Her sharp gasp confirmed she had viewed the compromising footage.
"Serena? Are you there?" I continued innocently. "You recognize this woman, I assume. That is Bella, my half-sister. Let me be clear, she and Alpha Derek definitely share a romantic history."
"I hate causing additional distress," I added, but she disconnected before I could finish. Laughter bubbled up from my chest.
"She will have such interesting conversations with her husband tonight. I guarantee they will argue spectacularly."
I laughed again, imagining Bella finally receiving appropriate punishment for pursuing other women’s mates.
