Chapter 17
He didn’t bother with Evelynne’s body-just left it outside-and returned to the pack house.
The place had been cleaned by the maids, restored to its former state. The strange stench and the unsettling buzz of flies were gone. But every time Carmen stepped inside, he still felt as if some invisible insect was buzzing around him.
He ignored the feeling and went up to the second floor, loosened his tie, and sank onto the sofa.
“Liora, you should be satisfied now. Evelynne is dead. I told you I’d take care of you for life, whether I love you or not. I’ve
done it. I made her pay.”
He paused, speaking into the empty pack house.
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“I’ve already figured out what happened with Grandma. I was wrong to blame you all this time. I’m sorry, Liora.”
It was the first time he’d ever apologized to her. They’d argued so many times before, and sex was the only thing they ever shared. Now, with the person he used to lie with gone and Evelynne dealt with, Carmen suddenly felt empty.
He leaned back on the sofa, gazing up at the ceiling. The nonexistent buzzing insect still hovered in front of his eyes. His gaze unfocused, he muttered to himself.
“When will you come back? I’m running the pack for now, but when you return, you’ll pay back every single thing, with
interest.”
“Liora, weren’t you always too proud to bow to me? Why don’t you like to argue with me anymore?”
“Well, you’re dead now. You can’t even smash my car anymore.”
A crooked smile tugged at the corners of his lips before he staggered out.
Carmen headed to a private room in a bar and immediately ordered eighteen stripper Omegas. He lay drunk in the arms of a she-wolf, surrounded by countless empty bottles underfoot.
Friends who heard the news burst in and were amazed at the scene.
“Of course it’s Carmen. Handles business, then comes out to party. I told you, Liora was nothing. Carmen could never
have loved her.”
“How about we hit that new bar tomorrow? I heard the strippers there are all good.”
“Let’s just go to the usual place. The old bar’s the best.”
They settled in and chatted as usual. Carmen said nothing, but a faint smile played on his lips, his eyes hazy as he
sneered.
“If Liora heard that, I’d have to buy a new car again.”
Everyone laughed. The story of Carmen spending a day with stripper Omegas only for Liora to smash his car had become the laughingstock among the packs. No one expected Liora’s temper to be so fierce, always clashing with Carmen,
cementing their “bitter enemies” status.
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They talked for a while longer. Carmen didn’t say much but just kept his head down, drinking quietly. Suddenly, his phone rang. He squinted and clicked his tongue, irritated.
“It must be Liora again. She’s losing it because I didn’t come back. Forget her, let’s keep going.”
His words silenced the room except for the persistent ringing.
After about thirty seconds, he finally answered and immediately started yelling.
“Liora, what do you want? You’ve called me all night! I’ll come back soon, alright?” Then he slammed down the phone with
a snap.
The room fell silent.
After a while, someone spoke softly.
“Carmen, Liora’s dead, you know. No one’s bothering you anymore.”
Those casual words made Carmen pause.
Right, Liora was dead. How could he forget? The person he hated most was gone. No more pestering, no more demanding if he loved her endlessly, no more fierce confrontations with hidden affection in her eyes.
A sharp pang of bitterness hit him, and his pale lips twitched.
“I was so happy that I forgot it. Let’s keep drinking. It’s on me tonight.”
The party picked up again, but his heart was nowhere in it.
Every memory of Liora haunted his mind, leaving an ache in his chest, as if a piece of his heart had been torn away.
He numbly drowned himself in alcohol, hoping to fill the void. But the more he drank, the clearer he felt the shadow before him, glaring at him with that same infuriated expression.
“Do you want to die? You always drink this much. Why don’t you just die here at the bar?”
“You think you’re something, spreading rumors about me? Get your ass home!”
“Carmen, are you crazy? You locked me in the freezer! Do you know I almost died? You should die too. I’ll come save you
when I’m in a better mood!”
Scenes from the past played on repeat, and a faint smile flickered on his lips.
Chapter 17
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