Chapter 118: Read It

I gently handed Snowflake to the driver, whispering for him to take her back to the Hale estate and make sure she was cared for properly.When I stepped back into the Morrigan living room, the air felt... wrong.

Vivian, who had never bothered hiding her dislike for me before, was suddenly all smiles. Soft. Polished. Too polished.

"Mrs. Hale," she said sweetly, as if we had always been on good terms. "I know there were a few misunderstandings in the past. I wasn’t myself back then. Losing Elena affected me deeply. With the history between our families, we shouldn’t treat each other like strangers, don’t you agree?"

Before I could respond, Malcom leaned forward with an awkward grin.

"She’s right. If Elena were still alive, you and I would’ve remained connected. Funny how life changes things."

Under the table, my hands clenched in my lap. My nails dug into my skin.

They spoke her name so easily. So lightly. As if they hadn’t crushed her. As if they hadn’t stood by and watched.

Their sudden kindness felt like a blade twisting deeper.

Lewis sat beside me, calm and steady, his presence grounding. He didn’t speak. Neither did I. The silence stretched, thick and cold, until Malcom shifted uncomfortably.

"Oh one more thing," he said quickly, forcing a laugh. "Your marriage didn’t have a proper ceremony, but we wanted to offer a small gift."

At his signal, Vivian placed a velvet box in front of me.

I recognized it instantly.

The jewelry inside had once been bought with my dowry. The same set they’d handed to Camilla years ago. I remembered how she wore it in front of me on purpose, flashing it like a claim.

So this was how far they’d fallen.

The Morrigans were struggling now. Bad enough that they couldn’t even pretend to find something new. But it told me something important Camilla’s standing here was slipping. If not for the child she carried, she’d already be pushed aside.

"Thank you," I said calmly and opened the box.

The stones glittered under the lights, sharp and cold.

How ironic. Once, they said I wasn’t worthy of this. Now, they offered it willingly, hoping to stay in my favor.

I would never wear it.

But I would keep it.

"I’m glad you like it," Vivian said, though her smile strained at the edges.

"I do," I replied simply, passing the box to Theo.

Malcom stood and raised his glass. "To the two of you. May your bond be long and happy."

Lewis lifted his glass with an easy smile. "Riley doesn’t drink much. I’ll drink for her."

"You’re very considerate," Malcom said.

"She’s worth it," Lewis replied, turning his gaze toward me. "Winning her wasn’t easy. Now that she’s mine, I plan to treasure her."

He probably meant it as polite words.

But the way he said it steady, certain sent warmth creeping up my neck.

Just then, the front door creaked open.

Cold air rushed in.

Julian stood there, snow clinging to his coat. His eyes were red. Hollow. He looked like someone who hadn’t slept.

He had read the diary.

For the first time, he saw it all the pain, the traps, the isolation. Everything I survived in silence.

And as his gaze lifted and met mine, I knew one thing for sure.

He finally understood.

At first, my diary was full of excuses.

I wrote about confusion. About doubt. I told myself Julian and Camilla were just close because of work. I told myself I was imagining things. I tried to be reasonable. I tried to be calm.

Then I lost my child.

That was when everything broke.

The pain became too heavy to carry. It turned sharp. Bitter. Every page after that was soaked in grief and anger. I wrote everything down. The betrayal. The loneliness. The rage that kept me awake at night.

Now Julian had read it.

Now he finally knew what I went through.

When he walked back into the room, Lewis’s earlier words clearly hit him hard. Julian’s eyes were red, bloodshot, locked onto Lewis with a look that made my skin prickle. It wasn’t just anger. It was something raw and ugly. Possessive. Uncontrolled.

I didn’t understand it.

Out of everyone who hurt me, Julian and the Morrigans had done the most damage. So why was he staring at Lewis like he was the enemy?

The Morrigans rushed to smooth things over, pulling out a chair and urging Julian to sit. Their smiles were stiff. Their eyes darted around nervously.

I was tense about the diary. Without solid proof linking Camilla to Elena’s death, it was dangerous. It could raise questions, but not justice. Worse, if the wrong person got hold of it, it could destroy everything I was building.

Thankfully, Julian stayed silent.

He sat down beside Lewis without saying a word.

Lewis didn’t even acknowledge him. He lifted his glass calmly.

"Let’s continue."

Vivian seized the moment. Her voice softened, careful.

"Mrs. Hale, there’s one more thing. With Camilla preparing to marry into the Hudson pack, and considering the child she’s carrying, this situation ties our families together."

I smiled faintly.

"I see. So you want me to stay quiet." I tilted my head. "But Camilla has been pregnant for over a month. It won’t stay hidden forever. What happens when it starts to show?"

Vivian didn’t hesitate.

"As long as you don’t speak, we have ways to handle it."

Of course they did.

They weren’t being kind. They were trying to muzzle me.

"Don’t worry," I said softly. "As long as Camilla doesn’t provoke me again, I won’t say a word."

I paused, then added lightly,

"When someone gives you a generous gift, it’s only polite to be... understanding."

They wanted everything. Favor with the Hales. Ties with the Hudsons. Control without consequences.

Fine.

I could wait.

Camilla always got careless when she thought she’d won.

Still, I felt Julian’s gaze on me the entire time. Every time Lewis leaned closer to refill my glass or place food on my plate, Julian’s expression twisted. Dark. Violent.

It was the kind of look a betrayed mate gives when territory has been taken.

Absurd.

His body wasn’t the problem. His mind was.

I ignored him. When dinner ended, I left without looking back.

In the car, I mentioned the diary to Lewis. He heard the worry in my voice and reached over, resting his hand over mine.

"Don’t worry," he said calmly. "I’ll handle it."

I nodded.

Not long after we arrived, Julian approached Lewis and asked to speak privately. Lewis agreed without hesitation.

But my instincts screamed.

I didn’t trust Julian. Not with this. Not with me.

So while they walked away, I circled back toward the building. Snow fell thick and heavy. Holiday lights swayed in the wind. The cold bit into my skin.

I climbed onto the first-floor balcony, my fingers stiff as I leaned toward the door and pressed my ear against the glass.

Julian’s voice carried through, sharp and raised.

"You knew all along! I knew something was wrong! Do you have any idea she’s my "

My heart skipped.

My what?

The wind howled, stealing the rest of his words. I slid the door open slightly, just enough to hear

But it swung wide.

Both men turned at once.

The silence hit like a punch.

I lifted my hand awkwardly and smiled weakly.

"I was... just checking how easy the door opens."

Lewis smiled softly.

"If you want to listen in, you should come inside. It’s freezing."

"It really is," I admitted.

"Come here," he said, patting the seat beside him.

I stepped in and shut the door quickly. Julian looked like he was about to explode.

Lewis tapped his leg.

"Sit."

I didn’t think twice. I’d done it countless times. It felt natural. Warm. Safe.

But the moment I settled, Julian snapped.

He surged forward, grabbed my arm, and yanked me away. Before I could react, his fist swung.

"You bastard!" he roared. "How could you?!"

"Lewis !"