Chapter 10%
My steps were heavy as I walked into my mother’s office. She called me in because of the news blowing up in the tabloids #
“Mom,” I greeted, stepping inside.
She gave me a look like I was the last person she wanted to see.
“Can’t you keep your wife under control? This is humiliating,” she snapped, tapping the tablet in front of her. “The wives of Supreme Court members are asking questions. Even the divorce paper made it into our circle”
“I told you I’d fix it,” I said, keeping my tone in check./
She looked at me like I was already a disappointment. “Lucian, how could you let this happen? What’s wrong with her? She’s dragging the Ducani name through the mud. And don’t forget, your role in the pack is on the line too. You’d lose everything because you can’t keep your marriage working?”
My hands curled into fists. I knew all of that. But the more she spelled it out, the more I realized just how much was at stake if I didn’t fix whatever was going on between me and Hestia.
All this in just two days. She caused this mess like it was nothing.”
“I’ll see her today. I’ll fix it today,” I said almost hissing.”
“Did she agree to meet?” my mother shot back, prideful.
I clenched my jaw. She rolled her eyes and took a slow sip of her tea.
“Even her stepmother can’t handle her tantrums. I warned you this would happen the moment you shut down the idea of having a child with her.”
“This isn’t about that.”
“It absolutely is,” she cut me off.
That’s how she was. Always had the last word. Always reminded me she was still my mother.
“She wanted a child with you. And maybe you neglected her. Maybe you drowned yourself in work and forgot to show up where it mattered.”
Even Hestia doesn’t want a child yet because she wants her focus solely on Lorde. But I didn’t respond to my mother. What was the point? No matter what I said, I was always the one at fault in her eyes. I just let her talk, let her unload until she waved me off
That’s the only time I went to the court and start my day as an alpha with so much problems at hand.
“What did you find out?” I asked Matthew, my beta.
Allan was sitting next to him, halfway through a meal. He gave me a nod.
“His name’s Theo Rockwell. Widower. Has one son. He owns the custom brand Hestia always buys gifts from.“%
“So the meeting is a business deal?” I asked.
The two exchanged a look, then slowly shook their heads.
“They didn’t meet for business. They bumped into each other and started talking. The man’s probably eyeing your wife,” Allan said, brushing off his hands.
“She hasn’t left the country either. Divorce papers only got finalized today. She’ll probably send them right before evening.”
I leaned back and rubbed the bridge of my nose. Matthew clicked his tongue.
“You know, maybe she’s only this stubborn with you. If you bring up Lorde, she’ll come running. She raised and loved him after all.”
I didn’t lift my head. That idea was stupid. She left even when Lorde pushed her. Maybe I wore her down. Maybe Lorde’s breakdown was the final blow.
“Or maybe you could just swallow your pride, ask her to come back. For your kid,” Matthew added.”
I looked at him, sharp this time. He raised both hands.
“Hey, chill. You said Lorde threatened to hurt himself if you don’t get her back. You want to risk that over pride? Give her a call, Lucian, or fetch her on her hotel.”/
Their advice hit harder than I thought. I ended up frozen in my office, ignoring every paper waiting for my signature. I kept playing the idea in my head: should I really be the one to reach out first?
Even just imagining what Hestia might say if I did made me want to slam something.
But when the sun dipped and I got a message from Lorde that read: ‘Make sure I’d have Mommy on my doorstep, Dad,‘ I couldn’t sit still anymore.”
I cursed under my breath, searching for her number in my phone. I said a quiet prayer that maybe, just maybe, this call wouldn’t blow up in my face.
I took three rings before her voice came.”
“Why are you calling, Lucian? Can’t you give me a break?”
I sighed. Her tone was sharp, distant, proud. My temper flared, but I held it in.
“Lorde needs you “%
“No, he doesn’t. He hates me, remember?“W
“He’s asking for you. He hasn’t eaten since you left. He’s starving himself.”
ed Subaltice Luns
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10:37 AM
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‘What about Beverly? The cook? They have the meal plan. Just tell them to follow it.”
My jaw clenched. “I’m lowering my pride here, Hestia. What do you want from me? To beg? Kneel? Apologize? Buy flowers and do all that romantic crap?“}
I was hanging by a thread. And when I heard the call end, I nearly threw my phone. But before I could move, a new message popped up on my screen.!]
It was from our butler.
I tapped it, annoyed. But the second I read it, everything froze.}
‘Alpha, Young Master Lorde has been rushed to the hospital. He consumed the same poison he once used on Luna Hestia.
What?!
صرف
