Garrett hummed a tune as he looked around.
His casual attitude was obscene in the face of such tragedy.
But every servant in the Blackwood house hung their heads low with grief.
Some were openly crying. Others stood with clenched fists.
Not one of them acknowledged his words.
The head butler, who had served the family for thirty years, turned his back in disgust.
Seeing this, an uneasy feeling crept into Garrett’s heart.
The silence was too heavy. Too real.
“What’s wrong with everyone? Cat got your tongues?”
He began searching through the villa.
“Come on, this isn’t funny anymore. Where did you hide him?”
He threw open doors, checked closets, even looked under beds.
After finding nothing, his voice became unnatural.
Higher pitched. More frantic.
“Where are you hiding my child?”
“This is getting ridiculous. I want to see my son right now!”
He spun around to face his grandfather.
“Grandfather, I know what I did last time was a bit excessive. I shouldn’t have gotten physical with Aria.”
His tone became wheedling, manipulative.
“But you know how she is. Always so dramatic. She probably exaggerated everything to you.”
“But the child’s already born. She can’t really leave me and the baby, can she?”
He laughed, but it sounded hollow.
“Just tell me where she is and I’ll go apologize and sweet–talk her.”
“I’ll buy her some jewelry. Women love that stuff. Maybe a new car.”
Garrett didn’t take Aria’s anger and grievances seriously.
He knew Aria couldn’t leave him.
She’d never had the backbone for it before.
No matter how outrageous his behavior, for her mother’s sake, Aria had to swallow all her grievances alone.
She was weak. Dependent She needed him.
Besides, now they had a child.
Aria had one more thing tying her down.
One more chain binding her to him.
Garrett didn’t believe she would leave.
He refused to believe she could leave.
‘She’s probably at that hotel downtown. The one with the spa. She always goes there when she’s
The old Alpha grabbed his walking stick and struck Garrett hard.
The blow landed across his shoulders with a sharp crack.
upset.”
“You beast! How did the Blackwood family raise such a monster!”
“Hey!” Garrett rubbed his shoulder. “That hurt!”
“You don’t want such a wonderful mate like Aria, but you treasure some slutty omega who’s been with everyone.”
“Don’t call Scarlett that,” Garrett said automatically, then caught himself.
The old Alpha’s eyes flashed with fury at the casual defense.
Garrett shrugged dismissively.
He simply crossed his legs and sat down on the sofa.
Making himself comfortable like he was watching a TV show.
“You saw that trending topic, so you’re all working together to put on this show, right?”
“This is all very convincing. Really. But I’m not buying it.”
His smirk was infuriating.
“Grandfather, I was just playing around with those women. Boys will be boys, right?”
“Aria is the most important woman in my heart. I never thought of letting any woman replace her.”
The lies rolled off his tongue so easily.
“If you don’t believe me, I’ll prove it to you right now.”
With that, Garrett pulled out his phone and called Scarlett.
The phone rang twice before she picked up.
“Garrett? I saw the news about your grandfather. Are you okay?”
“Do you like the wedding dress? I already bought it for you.‘
Scarlett’s voice grew excited. “You mean it? We’re really getting married?”
“You’re not getting any younger–find some honest guy to bind with. Don’t appear in front of me anymore.”
The silence on the other end was deafening.
“What? But you said… last night you said…”
Without waiting for a response, Garrett smoothly blocked Scarlett.
He tossed the phone onto the coffee table with a satisfied smile.
Then he spread his hands and smiled at his grandfather.
14
a
“Are you satisfied now?”
“I just cut ties with her completely. See how much I love
The old Alpha stared at
t him in horror.www
Aria?”
“Alright, have Aria bring the child home with me.”
Garrett stretched like a cat, completely relaxed.
“At worst, I’ll promise her I’ll come home Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to spend time with her and the baby.”
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays I’ll go out with the guys. Sundays can be family day.”
He nodded, pleased with his compromise.
‘See? I’m being very reasonable here. She can’t ask for more than that.”
The old Alpha was infuriated by Garrett’s careless attitude.
This wasn’t compromise. This was continued cruelty disguised as generosity.
+25 Bonus
He was determined to properly discipline this worthless grandson.
His vision blurred with rage and grief.
But just as he raised his walking stick, he felt dizzy and disoriented.
As the pack’s Alpha, the old man had led pack warriors in countless battles in his youth.
His body already carried old injuries from decades of warfare.
Days of shock and exhaustion had completely broken down this aged warrior.
The death of his great–grandchild. The loss of Aria. The revelation of his grandson’s true nature.
It was too much for his failing heart.
He clutched his chest and collapsed straight down.
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