Chapter 102
Evelyn’s POV
Just when I thought the situation couldn’t become more complicated, Leon appeared, wheeling himself toward us with that gentle smile.
“Evelyn, what a pleasure to see you again,” he said warmly.
Since returning to Ravenshade, Leon had been diligently following my treatment plan with two hours weekly at my temporary lab, plus daily rehabilitation exercises for his legs. The summer had brought impressive improvements. Despite the awkwardness of this encounter, I couldn’t help feeling pride in his progress.
“What a coincidence,” I replied with a polite nod.
Calvin stood beside me, his perfect lips pressed into a thin line, his jaw clenched tight as he silently appraised Leon. The tension between the two Alpha wolves was palpable, though Leon handled it with characteristic grace.
“Alpha Calvin, it’s been quite some time,” Leon greeted him with a smile.
Calvin merely nodded, his imposing figure next to my black velvet gown creating a striking contrast. He truly looked like royalty, tall and commanding in his perfectly tailored suit. Keith had finally realized he was still on his knees and was now awkwardly rising to his feet, stealing glances at me with puppy-dog eyes that I deliberately ignored.
The three handsome men around me created quite a scene that had several diners completely forgetting about their meals just to stare at us. Husara picked that perfect moment to join our little drama, and I could see the mischief sparkling in her eyes as she approached.
“Well, well, Ms. Blackwell still drawing a crowd wherever she goes, I see,” she teased.
I maintained my composure. “Hardly. You’re the impressive one with your photography exhibition coming up so soon p>
Leon tactfully excused himself to join his dinner party in one of the private dining rooms. I caught a glimpse of an elegantly dressed woman waiting for him there, apparently his blind date. Poor Leon. The Brownfur Pack clearly wasn’t wasting any time finding their heir a suitable mate.
Keith stayed behind, and I could see how desperate he was. Since I’d moved Lynn somewhere safe, he had no idea where to find her. He’d tried having people follow me, but it was pretty obvious and easy to stop.
“Keith, stay away from Evelyn,” Calvin warned.
But Keith was beyond caution, his judgment clouded by desperation. “And in what capacity are you issuing that warning, Alpha Calvin p>
I felt the atmosphere shift dangerously as Keith continued, his voice rising with each word. “I may be trash, but what about you? Weren’t you the one splashed across social media having candlelit dinners with another woman while still married? Oh wait, I forgot—you’re the mighty CEO of Wolfe Haven International, the great man who takes his sons to dinner with his mistress. What an exemplary father p>
His voice was dripping with sarcasm, and he made sure to emphasize each word to hit as hard as possible. People around us started recognizing who Calvin was.
“Did someone just speak to Alpha Calvin that way p>
“Who is that guy? He’s got a death wish p>
“That’s Keith Frost. His girlfriend attempted suicide after discovering his affair with some influencer. She was pregnant too. Tragic p>
Keith’s face turned ashen as the memories of Lynn’s suicide attempt clearly hit him full force. His knees almost buckled beneath him.
I had to admit, Calvin’s natural dominance was impressive. Even standing perfectly still, his Alpha aura commanded absolute submission.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees as he spoke.
“Regardless of my relationship with her,” Calvin said, “test me by bothering her again, and you’ll see exactly what happens p>
I quickly stepped in to smooth things over. I really didn’t want Calvin to actually kill Keith.
“Lynn is awake now. If she agrees to see you, I’ll arrange it p>
Keith nodded gratefully after hearing this and left this messy situation behind.
After Keith left, Calvin said to me, “Stop attracting all these men p>
What the hell? These guys have absolutely nothing to do with me.
I couldn’t be bothered to give Calvin a pleasant look.
I turned to Husara, more than ready to escape this circus.
“Shall we?” I gestured toward our reserved table.
“Lead the way, darling,” Husara replied, linking her arm through mine. “I’d say dinner just got a lot more entertaining than I anticipated p>
Dinner with Husara proved refreshing after that confrontation. We laughed over the amazing food and wine, sharing stories about Alex’s latest antics and Husara’s adventures in the photography world. It was exactly what I needed, a good reminder that life existed beyond all the drama of pack politics and my complicated ex-husband.
It wasn’t until later that evening, settling into my plush hotel room bed, that the bubble burst.
Jackson had sent me a video that made my stomach clench.
The footage showed Calvin escorting a woman into a private elevator. Though I could only see her back, there was no mistaking Calvin’s face. Jackson had been monitoring Calvin’s movements since our custody battle began, diligent as always in keeping me informed of any developments.
What caught my attention wasn’t Calvin with another woman, since that was hardly surprising, but the dress she wore. It was identical to mine. Exactly identical.
My mind immediately went to the darker possibilities. Was this a coincidence, or had Calvin deliberately arranged this after I’d rejected him earlier? With everything that had happened recently, my paranoia was at an all-time high. Any threat could potentially target my children.
“Jackson, find out who she is,” I texted back. “Start with the dress p>
The gown I wore tonight was a limited edition piece Husara had brought back from overseas. Only one other existed in Ravenshade’s boutiques. For Jackson, this would be child’s play.
Less than five minutes later, he delivered.[Liri Johnson, heiress to the Summit Industries p>
I frowned, searching my memory for any connection to this woman. Nothing came to mind. Perhaps it was just coincidence after all?
Then Jackson sent another message. [Liri Johnson and Clara Whitmore were college roommates p>
My blood ran cold. Clara. Of course. This was no coincidence.
“By the way, boss, this Liri woman is at the restaurant tonight too. She’s on a blind date with the Brownfur Pack’s Alpha Leon p>
That explained Leon’s presence. I sent Jackson a thank-you message along with a generous bonus. His reply came immediately.[Hehe, thanks boss p>
I tried to settle back into bed, but sleep eluded me. Something about this whole situation felt wrong. Why would Calvin meet with Clara’s friend? What game were they playing now?
The next morning, another notification from Jackson awaited me. This one showed a woman leaving what appeared to be Calvin’s hotel suite. Her head was bowed, but her disheveled clothing and unsteady gait against the wall told the story clearly enough.
Jackson had noted the time.[Only twenty minutes. That’s quick p>
Following my previous instructions not to invade Calvin’s privacy too deeply, he hadn’t recorded anything inside the room, just captured the woman’s exit. Because her head was down, her face wasn’t visible.
The familiar sting of betrayal washed over me, even though I had no right to feel betrayed. Calvin and I were divorced. He could sleep with whoever he wanted.
So why did my chest feel so tight?
I set my phone aside and stared at the ceiling, trying to rationalize the hollow feeling spreading through me. This wasn’t jealousy—it couldn’t be. This was concern about Clara’s connections potentially threatening my children.