Chapter 125
Evelyn’s POV
Leon stood before me, no longer the struggling college student I’d once known.
His tailored Tom Ford suit and the Bentley waiting with a uniformed driver nearby showed how successful he’d become. Yet there was something familiar in his eyes, that same earnest intensity that had captivated me ten years ago.
“Evelyn, are you still in love with me?” He looked at me hopefully.
I couldn’t help but smile wryly. It had been almost ten years since we’d broken up. Ten years since I’d made the hardest decision of my life.
“It’s been a long time since we were together, Leon,” I said carefully, watching his expression. “Nearly a decade p>
“Ten years is nothing,” he replied, even though his neck was clearly tense. “I’ve loved you since university, Evelyn. That hasn’t changed p>
A part of me softened at his admission. When I’d first met Leon, he’d been working three jobs to pay for business school. Now he stood before me as Alpha of the Brownfur Pack, commanding respect in wolf societies.
“You’ve changed,” I said. “So have I. We can’t go back p>
Leon’s lips curved into a smile. “My circumstances changed. My feelings for you never did p>
I felt a small flutter in my chest that I quickly suppressed. After everything with Calvin, after the constant threats to my children, romance was the last thing on my mind.
“I appreciate your honesty,” I said, making up my mind. “But my priority has to be my children. I don’t have room for anything else right now p>
“I understand that,” Leon stepped closer, his scent drifting between us. “But I want you to know that I’ll wait. I’ve already waited ten years. What’s a little longer p>
I shook my head. “That’s not fair to you p>
“Let me decide what’s fair to me,” he countered. “You gave up what we had for your pack’s survival. I understand that now. Back then, I was nobody—no pack, no position, nothing to offer the daughter of an Alpha. But things are different now p>
The memory of our painful breakup surfaced despite my attempts to keep it buried. I’d been young, grieving my parents’ sudden death and facing the collapse of the Norse Pack. Calvin’s father had offered salvation through an arranged mating that would unite our packs. I’d had no choice.
“Leon, that was a lifetime ago,” I said softly.
“Was it?” His eyes locked with mine. “When I was lying in that hospital bed, poisoned and dying, you were the one who saved me. Not just with your medical skills, but with your presence. I felt you there, Evelyn. Every day p>
My throat tightened. During those weeks when Leon had been fighting for his life, poisoned by the same toxin that had nearly killed my sons, I’d spent countless hours monitoring his treatment, adjusting his medications, willing him to live.
“That was my job,” I insisted. “I would have done the same for any patient p>
“Would you have held any patient’s hand when you thought they couldn’t feel it?” His voice was gentle but knowing. “Would you have cried when they finally opened their eyes p>
I felt heat rise to my cheeks. “You weren’t supposed to remember that p>
Leon’s smile deepened. “I remember everything about you, Evelyn. Always have p>
A sudden gust of wind made me shiver, and Leon immediately removed his suit jacket, placing it around my shoulders before I could protest.
“I’m not asking for an answer tonight,” he said. “Just a chance. Let me show you that we could build something real. Let me prove that I can be there for you and your children p>
Leon’s words hung in the air between us. For a moment, I almost wavered. But then I thought of everything that had happened today, the threats to my children, the chaos in our lives. Although the past was beautiful and full of regrets, I really didn’t want any more emotional complications right now. My rationality overcame the small bit of fondness that remained in my heart.
I looked at him directly. “It’s an honor to be liked by someone like you, but I’m sorry. I’m not ready for this, Leon. My life is complicated enough as it is p>
Hearing my rejection firsthand, Leon Robinson didn’t seem surprised at all.
“I know,” he said.
His eyes stayed intense as he looked at me. “But could you give me a chance to pursue you p>
I had my three children with me, and that was enough for me.
“Leon, don’t waste your time on romantic feelings with me p>
Leon smiled bitterly. “You really are direct, aren’t you p>
I knew I was being too blunt, but this way would save us both a lot of unnecessary trouble.
I shrugged. “That’s just how I am. Can’t help it p>
“If you ever need my help with anything, just ask. The kids are waiting for me, so I should go p>
I nodded at him and turned to walk away quickly.
As I drove away, I could see Leon in my rearview mirror, still standing where I’d left him. I forced myself not to look back again.
As soon as I got in my car, I received a video call from Rowan. The moment I answered, I saw three adorable smiling faces. All the tension from the day melted away, and my whole heart instantly calmed down. This was what mattered. This was enough.
I didn’t get Liri’s public apology. Instead, what I got was something much worse. The cyberbullying got worse, and nasty rumors were spreading like crazy online.
Thankfully, I’d been ready for this. I’d asked Jackson to watch the internet closely. I told him to hack and delete any posts with photos of my kids right away. My children weren’t going to get hurt in this mess.
That night, I was sitting in my home office looking over research data on the latest LDS stabilizer trials. My phone kept buzzing with notifications. I opened it and found several messages from Jackson.
“They’re going nuclear,” his text said, followed by a bunch of links.
I had a bad feeling as I clicked the first one. Tons of new accounts had popped up online at the same time, all posting photos from my five years married to Calvin. Those were the years when I was basically a hidden Luna, hardly ever acknowledged as his mate in public.
The caption under one post that was going viral said. “This woman is a serial homewrecker! She was married before but got divorced after her husband caught her cheating p>