Chapter 0363

Yes, Alpha. Do we know how much he owes?"

"It doesn't matter," I said through my teeth. "I want it all paid off. No questions asked."

"On it," Taylor agreed. "I'll let you know when he's released and when Ethan is in custody."

"His family isn't to go anywhere either. If they try, put them in custody as well."

There was slight hesitation on his end for a moment.

"Yes, Alpha," Taylor finally said after a beat of silence.

Without another word, I hung up the phone.

I needed to get out of here for a few minutes. I needed air and the fact that Judy kept something this important from me made me furious beyond belief. If I wanted to face her, I needed to have a clear head.

Judy's POV

"Well, that was one way to tell him," Irene said, staring at the closed door with a frown. “I'm sorry that happened," she added.

I sat frozen, staring at the doorway that Gavin just disappeared through, my heart pounding in my chest and tears threatening to spill out of my eyes. I couldn't

believe that just happened. Now Gavin knew the truth about everything and there was nothing I could do about it.

"Maybe it's for the best," Irene said with a shrug. "Now he can do something about it. You shouldn't have kept this to yourself, Judy. He can help get your dad out of prison."

"My father's pride is at stake," I said softly.

"He's being tortured in prison. I think this goes beyond pride," Irene said, folding her arms across her chest. "Don't you think?"

I knew she was right, so I nodded slowly.

“Maybe I should go after him,” I said as I started to stand, but Irene grabbed a hold of my arm, keeping me in place.

"I think you should give him some space. I know that look in his eyes and it never ends well for anyone. When he's ready to talk, he'll come back," she assured me gently.

It was odd having her be on my side right now; it's been months since I considered her a friend, but now it almost seemed as if she was back to her old self. I could tell she still had some questions and things on her mind as well, so I settled back onto the bed and took a deep breath, trying to calm my anxious

nerves.

"I shouldn't have believed a word Ethan said to me," Irene said softly, tears filling her eyes as she studied my face. "I'm really sorry Judy. For everything."

I gave her a small smile as I wrapped her in my arms and held onto her tightly.

'I'm the one who's sorry, Irene. I'm sorry you got hurt and you were forced to be in the middle of this," I whispered. "But it's not your fault... none of it was ever your fault. You were a victim of his cruel games."

She nibbled on her lower lip for a moment before she nodded, realization setting in.

"You were a victim too," she told me gently. "You and your family. What he did was cruel and sickening. He can't get away with this."

"And he won't," I told her. "Especially now that Gavin knows everything. He would never let Ethan get away with hurting you like that."

'Not just me," Irene said, nudging me gently. "He wouldn't let Ethan get away with hurting you either."

My cheeks burned from her words, and I stared down at my lap.

"Maybe," I said softly. "Either way, Ethan is a dead man."

We talked for a bit longer and it was nice having her back as a friend. She asked some more questions such as, "Were you two still together when I met him?" And "Did he cheat on you with me?"noveldrama

She looked pale after I confirmed that he did cheat on me and that I had been marked by him when I turned 18. Whenever he's intimate with anyone, my mark burns. It got easier over time, especially since I was spending time with Gavin, it almost seemed as if Gavin eased the pain from the broken mate bond. But the ghost of the pain is still there.

After a while, I decided to return to my room and get some rest. I waited around for a while for Gavin to return, but he didn't. I said goodbye to Irene and went to my hotel suite, expecting to see Nan tucked away in bed with Chester beside her or something. But when I got there, neither of them was in the room.

Instead, I was being grabbed the second I stepped into the room and pressed against the wall, my breath hitched when I heard the low and threatening words that were whispered in my ear, "Now, it's time for us to talk."