Chapter 162
Chapter 161 Years of Abuse
Steven’s body tensed like a beast ready to strike, his gaze locked on Lucien and the wheelchair.
For me, though-shock, fear, and struggle all dissolved the instant I saw my Grandmother’s face.
My tears surged, unstoppable. The fragile woman before me was a shadow of the warm, full-figured elder I remembered. Her skin is pale from prolonged illness, and the years of misery and age have taken their toll. Her once-bright eyes now clouded, struggling to focus.
But then, finally-Grandma’s gaze found me. Her withered lips trembled, and a hand thin as a brittle branch lifted weakly toward me in desperation and disbelief.
“Moonbeam-is that my tiny Moonbeam p>
“Grandma p>
My voice broke. A cry torn from the depths of my heart as I stumbled forward, sobbing.
Nearby, I heard Liyah gasp. “Wha-how did Lucien even-? He brought Claire’s grandma here? That’s-
incredible p>
Liam was struck dumb, muttering more so to himself, “How does Lucien know so much about Claire’s past, yet I know next to nothing? He even knew that her Grandmother was still alive? I-I never even knew
she had one p>
His voice was laced with a crushing sense of failure.
Steven, who was standing there livid, finally dropped all pretense.
“Alpha Thorne! You had no right to bring my mother here without the Reese family’s permission! If anything happens to her, can you bear the consequences p>
Lucien’s gaze swept the hall, cold and contemptuous, finally settling on Steven. A razor-sharp smile curved
his lips.
“Oh, my apologies then. I was merely passing through the outskirts of Calgary and stopped at a rundown, shabby farmhouse for water.” His voice wasn’t loud, yet it carried to every corner of the hall.
“And what did I see, Mr. Reese? A group of disgraceful servants were shoving this elderly woman from her wheelchair. Worse-they forced her to crawl on the ground, picking up spilled rice one grain at a time to eat. I couldn’t imagine anyone treating an elder that way, much less a member of my family. Could you? Unless, of course, you permit this abuse of your mother p>
Every word was a slap across Steven’s face.
Lucien took this stunned silence from Steven to continue.
“You know, the ground was scorching hot, we’re in a heatwave, after all! Imagine, someone subjecting an eighty-year-old woman, frail and immobile, to such cruelty-tell me, Mr. Reese, is this the proud family
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tradition of your family nowadays p>
“Wait… what?” The exclamation rippled through the crowd. “The Reese family parade their virtue about being a respectable, community-strong family, yet they abuse their own matriarch behind closed doors?” “Oh my god, this is unbelievable!” another voice cried out. Mrs. Reese raised three sons and six grandchildren. How could they possibly treat her this way at her age p>
“Forcing an elderly woman to crawl in a heatwave for grains of rice for food? You wouldn’t even oppress a stray dog! No wonder she looks as frail and malnourished as she does in that chair!” a third person shouted, their voice thick with disgust.
“And, you know that those servants were just following orders. They would never treat a family’s matriarch with such disrespect without consent. That excuse will fool no one p>
Lucien’s explosive revelations landed like a match in a powder keg, setting the entire crowd ablaze with
fury.
Stealing and labelling yourself as a false founder was one thing; the business world was ruthless, but treating the matriarch so disgustingly was another matter. Calgary was like a big community, and family
was important.
There were no packs in the city; it was ruled by the Lycan King himself that one major city in each province would always remain neutral. Alberta has two: Edmonton and Calgary. The towns, villages and rural areas
were another story.
Because it wasn’t a pack territory, family and community became much more critical to those residing
there.
Outraged shouts erupted from every corner, while hundreds of scandalized stares lashed the Reese family
like invisible whips.
Steven and his sons flushed and then paled, their faces morphing between rage and sheer panic.
Humiliated beyond endurance, Steven slammed the table with a thunderous bang in a desperate attempt
to drown out the uproar.
“That is complete nonsense!” he roared. “How dare you, Alpha Thorne, come into my city and smear my family’s good name with such blatant lies? Every caretaker I assigned has served this family faithfully for decades. The idea that they would commit such atrocities behind my back is utterly laughable! I will bring this slanderous matter to the Council, and your pack shall suffer the consequences. I trust that you are
aware of the rules regarding neutral territories p>
His voice cracked with a forced bravado, using volume to mask his growing terror.
Lucien’s lips curled into an arctic smile. His piercing gaze, alive with cold amusement, pinned Steven in
place.
“Mr. Reese,” Lucien growled low, his tone deceptively calm, “I deal exclusively in hard evidence, not fairy
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tales. Your desperate denials only make me wonder if I should broadcast that incriminating footage
globally and let the world judge for themselves p>
The word “footage” visibly struck Steven like a dagger. His face turned a sickly shade of pea soup.
Lucia Morh
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.