Chapter 0255
Adam narrowed his eyes.
“It’s kind of short notice, don’t you think?” He asked, raising his brows.
1 folded my arms across my chest.
“I didn’t really have a lot of notice,” I told him. “But this kind of a big deal. I can’t pass up the opportunity.”
After a brief pause, Adam nodded.
“I’ll let the Alpha know,” Adam said. “He’s finally allowing me to speak again. Next week is school vacation so it’s not like Master Matthew needs a tutor during those weeks.”
1 nodded and thanked him before going to search for Matt, However, I was stopped by Irene who hurried down the steps. Her eyes were wet, and I knew she had been crying. She froze when she saw me, and she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
“Oh, Judy…” she breathed. “You are early.“‘
“I didn’t have much going on today,” I admitted. “I figured I’d come early and get a head start.”
Things were strained between us no doubt; I knew she no longer thought of me as a friend, and truth be told, after these last few weeks, I no longer thought of her as one either. But something in my stomach twisted when I saw the pained look in her eyes and her pale features. She was letting herself go; it was clear from her weight loss that she hadn’t been eating and she’d been crying a lot.
I sighed, relenting.
“Is everything okay, Irene?” I asked her, hating that I still cared so much.
She was quiet for a moment, shuffling in her feet before she lifted her gaze to meet mine.
“Can I ask you something?” She asked me.
I nibbled my lower lip nervously as I nodded.
“Of course,” I replied.
“What happened with you and Ethan?”
I was surprised by her question and my brows raised.
“What?” I asked her.
“What happened?” She asked again. “Why did you break up? Tell me the truth, Judy.”
I thought about lying to her, knowing the truth would confuse and maybe even hurt her. But the reason why Irene hated me so much was because I lied to her in the first place, and I didn’t want to pile on more lies.
“He cheated one me with you,” I told her without batting an eye.
“What?” She whispered; her voice filled with horror.
“He met you and your father at a conference, right?” I said with a shrug. “He fell in love with you, and he left me. He and I were already marked and mated for two years at that point. Every time he’s with you, I can feel the pain of our bond severing. It won’t go away until he marks you, which won’t happen until after you get married. But yeah, that’s what happened. He met you, and he left me.”
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Chapter 0255
+25 BONUS
She let out a breath of air that I’m sure she’s been holding since she originally asked that question.
She looked so defeated and gutted by my confession.
I wanted to tell her the rest of the story, about how Ethan had been trying to get me to be his dirty little mistress because he wanted to have his cake and eat it too. I wanted tell her that he didn’t love her and was only using her to get close to her father. I wanted to tell her how he’s been blackmailing me and I’m pretty sure he’s the reason my father is in prison with loan sharks after him. But my mouth was locked shut and I could get those words out.
She was going through enough right now and she didn’t need all of that too. Besides, it’s not like I’m lying to her by not telling her that information. I answered her question and that’s all that was required of me at that moment. Unless she asked anything more, I didn’t need to tell her anything else.
“I’m sorry I had to be the one to tell you that, Irene. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” I told her, truly meaning that apology.
She didn’t say anything; she stared at a spot on the ground, completely unmoving.
“Are you okay?” I asked after a long silence.
She blinked a few times as if she was remembering where she was.
“Um, I don’t know…” she admitted in a hoarse whisper. “I had no idea…”
I sighed, hating that she was so upset and hated that I cared so much about it, but I couldn’t help myself. She was once my friend and she is Gavin’s daughter, there was a part of me that still felt connected to her. 1
“I know I might be the last person you want to talk to. But if you need anything, I’m here,” I told her, trying my best at a reassuring smile.
I turned to walk away, not sure what more to say and needing to find Matt for our daily lessons. Plus, I didn’t think Irene truly wanted to talk to me any further; she was just in shock and once she recovered, she would remember that she thought of me as an enemy.
“I think he’s cheating on me,” she blurted, halting my steps completely.
