Chapter 55
Evelyn’s POV
I was awakened by a barrage of text messages from Astrid.
Groaning, I reached for my phone on the nightstand, squinting at the bright screen in the dim morning light.
Opening my messages,I found a recording of Clara’s Instagram Live.She sat there in a black lace nightgown—my old nightgown, the one I’d bought hoping to wear for Calvin when I was still Luna. My throat tightened at the sight of it on her.
In the video, Clara was smiling sweetly, what looked like fresh marks on her neck.
I let out a harsh laugh, remembering hearing her call Calvin’s name before I hung up last night. Well, didn’t take them long to get busy, did it?
Clara’s cheeks were pink as she smiled coyly at her viewers.
“Yes,I stayed at his place,”she said with fluttering eyelashes.”Someone was threatening me. He’s keeping me safe p>
She paused, playing shy. “He’s… been so good to me p>
Every word was carefully chosen to suggest more than it said. I knew that game,let people’s imaginations run wild.
Really, Clara? Broadcasting your hookup online? Want the whole world to watch your little show?
The entertainment sites were flooded with screenshots and comments:
#ClaraWhitmore at Wolfe mansion—romance heating up p>
#Rising Starlet and Billionaire’s True Love Story#
“Girl looking freshly loved up p>
“My ship is sailing p>
As I was scrolling, something interesting happened. All mentions of Clara’s livestream suddenly vanished from the trending topics. Any reference to “Wolfe Haven International” or “Calvin Wolfe” disappeared as well.
Clara’s fans immediately went wild with speculation:
“The posts are gone! Bet he bought out the media companies to protect her privacy. How romantic p>
“OMG! Real-life billionaire protecting his girl! I can’t even p>
Not even two minutes after the news disappeared, Clara posted a new photo on her personal account,”Beautiful morning. Even more beautiful company p>
The image showed her in the Bloodbane Pack’s private garden, holding a handful of freshly cut purple roses. She smiled shyly at the camera, while Calvin’s unmistakable silhouette could be seen on the second-floor balcony behind her.
My grip tightened around my phone. Those weren’t just any roses. They were roses that I’d planted during my first year of mateship with Calvin. I’d tended them carefully, and they had barely bloomed that second year.
Ironically, the year Calvin and I divorced, the entire garden had exploded in a sea of purple blossoms.
Astrid called me during her filming break.
“Girl, have you seen those posts?” Her face on the screen was tight with anger. “Calvin and that Clara… Is he seriously thinking of making her the twins’ stepmom p>
I managed a dry laugh. “Looks like it p>
“This is ridiculous! He can’t let that woman near the boys. I’m telling you, Eve, fight for full custody. I’ll back you up p>
“Thanks, Astrid p>
“I mean it. That man’s lost his mind if he thinks Clara’s fit to be around your kids p>
After assuring her I was fine, she reluctantly returned to her shoot.
I set my phone down and looked at my three children sleeping peacefully in the oversized bed. My heart might be wounded, but it was wrapped in layers of warmth and love.
I was doing well now. I had my sons and daughter beside me. Even without a mate, I was happier than I’d been during those five years of marriage.
Alexis woke up without fussing. Seeing her brothers still asleep, she searched the room for me. When she spotted me emerging from the bathroom, she reached out her little arms.
As I picked her up, she kicked her legs playfully and wrapped her soft hands around my neck, pressing her cheek against mine in our morning ritual.
“Good morning, Mommy,” she whispered.
By the time we returned from the bathroom, Rowan and Rhys were awake too. After breakfast, I took Alexis with me to drop the boys off at preschool.
Calvin’s POV
“The trending stories have been removed, Alpha p>
I barely acknowledged Zeon as I sat at my desk, exhausted from the international conference call. My head was pounding again.
“Have the children gone to preschool?” I asked, rubbing my temples.
“Yes, Evel—Ms. Blackwell took them herself p>
I waved him away, needing silence. At the door, he paused. “Should I call Dr. Chandler? You don’t look well p>
“I’m fine,” I said flatly.
Once alone, I reached for painkillers in my drawer. Empty. I opened a new bottle, my hands shaking slightly.
These headaches had gotten worse over the past two years, and the medication barely helped anymore. The aromatherapy diffuser and herbal tea Evelyn gave me were long gone. Pride kept me from asking her to make more.
I leaned back in my chair, suit pants stretching as I tried to relax. The family photo on my desk caught my eye.
I picked it up, studied it briefly, then set it down as I forced myself back into the cold Alpha everyone expected.
The pain only intensified through my next meeting. By the end, it felt like hammers were splitting my skull.
They rushed me to the Pack’s medical facility.As I lay there with an IV drip, movement caught my eye through the open door. Evelyn was walking into the next room.
“Zeon,” I called my Beta. “Who’s in that room p>
He hesitated. “Leon Robinson, Alpha. The Brownfur Pack heir just returned p>
My jaw clenched. I stood up, ignoring the IV in my arm and the pounding in my head. Cyra growled inside me.
I waited by the door. When she emerged, her face was tight with worry,worry for him.
“Since you’re already here,” I said dryly, “care to visit your ex-mate too p>
She didn’t even look at me. “No, thank you p>
“Already checked on your first love. What’s one more ex on your visiting list p>
“Alpha is quite ill Zeon tried to mediate.
Evelyn’s laugh was sharp. “If he’s unwell, he should call Clara. I’m sure she’d love to play nurse p>
Her eyes finally met mine, cold as ice.”That’s what girlfriends are for, isn’t it? Not ex-wives from years ago p>
“Funny,” I leaned against the doorframe, fighting my headache. “You had time for Robinson, but not the father of your children p>
“At least Leon never let his mother take my children away,” she shot back.
The corridor fell silent. Even Zeon stopped breathing. Cyra whined inside me, but I kept my face blank.
“You’re right,” I said finally. “And now you can’t take my children away from me either p>