Chapter 150: Small Favours
In Chapter 150 of "Mated To The Crippled Alpha": I gave Julian a cold look, sharp enough to cut."What I call him has nothing... Discover the next events!
I gave Julian a cold look, sharp enough to cut."What I call him has nothing to do with you," I said flatly. "Donât forget your place."
Julian stiffened. His jaw tightened as if he wanted to argue back, but before he could speak, I leaned closer and lowered my voice so only he could hear.
"Remember this," I whispered. "Everything that happened... it started with you."
No matter how much regret sat in his eyes, the truth didnât change. We were never meant to walk the same path.
Julian froze, his gaze darkening as memories clearly caught up with him. Whatever he saw there made his breath hitch.
I smiled faintly. "Donât look at me like that. Or are you trying to get me killed again?"
The word killed struck deeper than I expected.
His face drained of color. Without another word, he turned away, grabbed a glass of wine, and walked off. His back looked stiff, his steps uneven, like someone carrying weight he could no longer pretend wasnât there.
But this misery was his own doing.
I didnât feel pity.
When I turned back, Lewis was already looking at me.
With him, my shoulders loosened. The tension melted away. Around him, I didnât need to calculate every move. I could breathe.
I spun lightly in my gown, letting the fabric catch the light. "Do you like it?"
Lewisâs lips curved into a small smile. "Like it? Youâre breathtaking, Darling."
To anyone watching, we probably looked like a perfectly matched pair close, natural, at ease. A woman being cherished by the man standing beside her.
Even if I wasnât the same Riley as before, it was easy for others to assume this was what a bonded couple looked like.
Just as I was about to speak again, I noticed a familiar figure in the crowd.
Nicholas.
He stood alone in a white suit, quiet and distant, as if the noise around him couldnât reach him. There was a loneliness about him that made my chest ache.
For twenty years, he had endured everything on his own.
While others moved on, remarried, rebuilt, he had stayed exactly where he was living only on memories of my mom.
If she had married him back then... if the Wilchers had chosen long-term vision over short-sighted gain... so much pain could have been avoided.
Instead, they sacrificed her happiness for status, then turned around and lived comfortably on Grantâs success.
I watched the Wilchers enter the hall, dressed in expensive clothes, moving as if they truly belonged.
To me, they were nothing more than leeches.
They fed on pride and pretended dignity while draining my mom dry. Just looking at them made my stomach turn.
Grant wrapped an arm around Lenaâs waist and began introducing her to others, even leading her straight toward Nicholas.
My momâs expression tightened. She forced herself to remain calm, unable to even exchange a glance with him.
It hurt to watch.
They stood only a few steps apart, bound by years of love they were never allowed to finish.
It felt cruel like fate mocking them.
Tonight, Grant and Lena were the center of attention. With the coming alliance involving the Hales, the room buzzed with excitement.
I stayed near the wall, watching quietly as Nicholas finally walked toward me.
"Nicholas," I said softly. "Iâm sorry. Mom never wanted things to turn out like this."
He shook his head gently. "I understand."
Then he smiled a tired, helpless smile. "Has Lena been unwell? Sheâs been avoiding me. As a man, I canât visit her freely, so all I can do is worry."
I nodded. "Sheâs been having a hard time. Pregnancy at her age isnât easy. Sheâs been vomiting a lot these past days, but today was better. Still tired, though. It should ease up in about a month."
He exhaled slowly. "She looks thinner."
"Yes," I replied. "Sheâs enduring it for the baby. The doctor says itâs a good sign. Everything is stable. Sheâll have her next scan in two weeks.
"Riley... could I ask you for a favor?"
"Of course, Nicholas," I replied gently. "What is it?"
He hesitated, his fingers tightening around the glass in his hand. "I donât often get the chance to see her. When she goes for her prenatal checkups... could you let me know? I wonât go near her. I just want to see her from a distance. Just to know sheâs alright."
My chest tightened instantly.
This wasnât a request born of entitlement. There was no demand in his voice. Only restraint. Only longing held carefully in check.
He loved my mom. Truly. Quietly. Without asking for anything in return.
My eyes stung.
"Nicholas," I said softly, "can I have your WhatsApp number? If you ever need anything... please tell me."
His eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"
For a moment, he didnât look like a man who had endured decades of loneliness. He looked like a boy who had just been given permission to hope.
"Yes," I nodded, already pulling out my phone.
As I saved his number, he looked at me with warmth. "Seeing you like this now makes me truly happy. I worried this bond would only bring you hardship. But you look stronger. Healthier. Even Lena... her pain seems lighter."
I inhaled slowly. "That day, when I almost didnât make it... it forced me to see things clearly. After that, Lewis treated me with patience and respect. He gave me something Iâd never had before. Thatâs when my life began to change."
"Thatâs good," Nicholas said quietly.
Before he could say more, music drifted through the hall.
The atmosphere shifted.
Grant had invited the Spring Willow Orchestra
, and the moment the first note rang out, everyoneâs attention turned toward the stage.
That was when I saw her.
Lincy.
She stepped forward with a violin in hand, posture flawless, confidence woven into every movement. While she lacked talent in other arts, music had always been her strongest weapon. Grant had invested heavily in her training, and it showed.
The moment she appeared, Grantâs expression darkened.
Today, he had brought my mom and me. That alone meant he was trying to be careful. Snowville was new territory. He wanted control. Order. Respect.
Lincyâs presence disrupted all of it.
She shouldnât have been here tonight.
But now that she was already on stage, Grant couldnât openly send her away. He could only hold his expression cold and distant.
Lena stiffened beside him, clearly upset. She despised both Monica and Lincy. Her body leaned subtly away, ready to leave.
Grant noticed immediately. He wrapped an arm around her waist and leaned in. "Darling, I swear I didnât expect her to be here. Please donât be upset. Iâll make sure she leaves as soon as sheâs done playing."
Lincy took her place as first violinist, dressed in an elegant evening gown, makeup flawless, presence commanding. The audienceâs attention snapped to her instantly.
Applause followed the performance. Some clapped out of appreciation. Others clapped because they knew exactly who she was.
"She plays beautifully," someone murmured.
When the music ended, Lincy stepped off the stage and walked straight toward Grant, lifting her skirt slightly as she spoke in a soft, teasing tone.
"Dad," she said sweetly, "you donât care about me at all anymore. You only have Riley in your heart. Is it because you think her playing is better than mine?"
The air grew tense.
I met her gaze calmly.
If she thought tonight was meant to challenge me, she had already misunderstood the situation.
What she showed was skill trained, polished, predictable. Anyone with enough years and money could reach that level.
Talent is common.
Depth is not.
She tilted her head, eyes sharp, and smiled. "Riley," she said aloud, "why donât you play something too?"
It sounded polite.
But it was a test.
And as I looked at her so sure of herself, so desperate for validation I wondered quietly
Who was really about to embarrass themselves?