2/2
Chapter 0142
Third Person POV
The look Ethan had on his face when Judy left the party with her father did not go unnoticed by Irene. There was a look of longing; almost like he was a lost child, and it made Irene’s heart ache. She bit her bottom lip, refusing to cry in front of Ethan’s family. She had already made a good impression on them and didn’t want to ruin it.
“Irene, darling, don’t let that awful woman bother you,” Meredith said, giving her a gentle smile.” She’s just a nobody.”
“Yeah, my brother loves you. The thought of him being with her again makes me sick,” Kelsey muttered, folding her arms across her chest.
Something she had said struck Irene’s interest and she narrowed her eyes at her future sister–in–law.
“What did you just say?” Irene asked, her heart weighing heavier in her chest.
Kelsey glanced up at her with a frown.
“Which part?” she asked.
“You said the thought of them being together again makes you sick. What do you mean by again?”
Kelsey opened her mouth to reply, but her mother stopped her. She grabbed Kelsey’s arm and squeezed it tightly, making her whimper in distress.
“She didn’t mean anything by it. It was a slip of the tongue,” Meredith said with an obnoxiously loud laugh. “She must be exhausted,” she added, giving Kelsey a pointed look.
Kelsey’s cheeks flushed and then she nodded.
“Yes, I didn’t mean anything by it,” she murmured, glancing at Irene apologetically.
Irene, however, was not convinced.
She glanced across the yard at Ethan who was still staring longingly in the direction Judy had left. She pressed her lips in a thin line and turned to face Ethan’s mother and sister.
“It was very nice to meet you ladies. I hope we can get to know one another even more soon. Perhaps we can have brunch?” Irene suggested.
Meredith and Kelsey both lit up.
“Yes, we would love that,” Meredith answered for the both of them.
“Excellent, I’ll get your contact numbers from Ethan, and we can go from there. Perhaps we can meet at the Silver Crescent Country Club later this week or next week,” Irene said. “If you’ll excuse me, I should be going.”
They both nodded eagerly; the Silver Crescent Country Club was for the most elite wolves, and you couldn’t get in unless invited by a golden member. Being invited by Irene Landry herself was a huge honor and they wouldn’t pass up the opportunity.
Before either of them could say another word, Irene was already walking in the direction of Ethan. He was too lost in his own thoughts to notice her approaching; that is until she put a hand on his shoulder.
“I’m very tired, Ethan. Can we go somewhere and rest?” She asked.
He was still lost in thought and barely heard a word she said. He almost looked sad and that made Irene even more furious.
“Ethan, I’m speaking to you,” she said firmly, folding her arms across her chest.
Her harsh tone of voice was enough to snap Ethan back to the present moment.
“I’m sorry, what?” He asked.
“I said, I’m tired. Can you take me somewhere to rest, she said again, her tone dry.
He narrowed his eyes at her and examined her face. He realized she was upset, but he was upset too and could hardly care about her mood. He ran his fingers through his hair and took a deep breath.
“Yes, you can rest in my room upstairs,” he told her. I need to stay here a little longer so we can’t leave just yet.”
She nodded, already assuming this.
He guided her into the manor and up the winding stairs until they reached his bedroom. She had never been in this room before and she wasn’t sure what to expect. She only ever spent the night in his house, never in his family’s manor.
She was surprised to see that his room was very boyish; it was clear that this was his childhood room. Hé had trophies on his shelves and video game posters. I honestly warmed her heart a little and made a smile tug at the corner of her lips.
If only she wasn’t so upset with him, she might indulge the setting a little.
“I have to get back to my family. You can rest here, and I’ll come back later,” he told her.
She nodded, wrapping her arms around her body as she watched him leave the room. Her stomach tightened once she was finally alone. She sat on the bed, glancing around at all the stuff. It was a typical boy room, not many personal pictures but he did notice a picture on his nightstand that looked as if someone was cut out of the frame. She frowned as she stared at the picture; Ethan was standing beside someone, but the other person wasn’t there.
Her brows furrowed as she ran her fingers down the frame. Whoever was in this photo seemed to be cut out of his life. Could it have been Judy?
The words of Kelsey continued to play in her mind; it almost seemed as if Ethan and Judy had a previous relationship, but they had both told her that they only knew of one another because they’ve been a part of the same pack for most of their lives. Why would they lie to her?
Ethan was supposed to be someone she trusted most, and Judy was someone she considered a friend. But when she saw them pressed against a tree yesterday… her entire world shattered. She could still feel the crack in her heart from the betrayal she felt.
