Chapter 157: Me or Her
Discover the story in "Mated To The Crippled Alpha" Chapter 157: That kiss hit me so hard my mind went blank.I couldnât think at all. I... Continue exploring!
That kiss hit me so hard my mind went blank.I couldnât think at all. I could only nod, again and again, clinging to him like Iâd forgotten how to stand on my own.
That night, I stayed quietly in his arms.
The awkwardness I used to feel was gone.
The invisible wall in my chest the one I never knew how to explain started to crack.
Little by little, I let Lewis in.
From the start, our mateship had been an arrangement.
A strategic pairing.
He needed my connection to the Ashbourne s.
I needed his protection within the Halesâ territory.
We both thought it was clean. Simple. Temporary.
But somewhere along the way, it changed.
What he wanted was never influence or leverage.
He wanted me.
And my heart once shattered by Juilain, sworn never to trust again began to mend under Lewisâs quiet care. Slowly. Carefully.
For the first time in a long while, I felt safe enough to hope.
I wasnât afraid of what came next, because I knew he would always be there.
He was always one step ahead, guarding every angle.
Not just because he cared but because losing me once had carved something deep into him.
Now that I was here again, he made sure no one would ever touch me the same way.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed my face against his chest.
"Thank you," I whispered.
He exhaled softly. "Weâre together. You donât need to thank me."
Then his voice lowered.
"When I tracked down the man behind the crash, I had another thought. Youâve been trying to push Lena and Grant apart, havenât you? You couldâve used this tonight. Why didnât you?"
I was quiet for a moment.
"It was tempting," I admitted. "But I knew he wouldnât agree. Grant âs problem was never lack of love it was confusion. Now he finally understands what he wants."
"So Lena matters more to him than Lincy?"
"Yes. And now that my mom is carrying his child, thereâs no way heâd walk away. I didnât want to force it and risk everything."
In the darkness, I frowned.
"When a man finally chooses, you canât drag him elsewhere. Lincy can make him hesitate but she canât make him leave. Starting today, heâs already drawn a line with Monica. He wants to return to his true family."
Lewis was quiet, then asked gently,
"If he really changes... could you accept him?"
I shook my head.
"Thatâs like asking if I could forgive Juilain. A man who crossed the line can never step back. Even if I end up alone, I wonât forgive that kind of betrayal. But I donât want things to turn ugly between him and my mom either. I know he wonât agree to separation easily."
Lewis patted my back, steady and warm.
"Donât think about it tonight. Rest. Weâll find a way."
I hesitated, then said softly,
"I do have an idea. Even if he refuses... he wonât have a choice."
By the next morning, Lewis moved fast.
Everything Monica and Lincy owned surfaced before they could hide a thing.
All of Monicaâs luxury items were stored overseas in Lincyâs villa.
By dawn, every bag, every piece of jewelry gone.
Hundreds of rare items. Worth more than I cared to count.
We also traced every account.
I looked at Monica calmly.
"Transfer it now. If you delay, your daughter stays inside."
She looked exhausted, hollowed out.
For Lincy, she complied with every demand.
She still believed that as long as Lincy was safe, she could rebuild.
She was wrong.
What came next would be the real beginning of her nightmare.
"Riley," she said tightly, "Iâve done everything. Save Lincy now."
I nodded.
"Sheâll be out within twenty-four hours."
Then I added evenly,
"But the villa youâre staying in belongs to my father. Youâll need to pack up and leave."
Monica froze.
"Riley, Iâve already given you everything," she said shakily. "I donât even have a place to stay now. Itâs freezing outside. Are you trying to kill me?"
I sent her some money without even looking at my phone.
"Whether you rent somewhere or go back to your old country is up to you," I said lightly. "But just so you know, whatever you left behind there doesnât belong to you anymore. Even if you go back, you wonât get anything."
I looked at her steadily.
"Aunt Monica, twenty years ago, you were dancing in clubs, living wherever someone would take you in. No home. No roots. Iâm not doing anything cruel. Iâm just returning you to where you started."
She always bragged about her love for my dad.
"So Iâm curious," I added softly. "Without money, how long will that love last?"
She broke down instantly, clutching Grant âs arm, crying like sheâd been wronged by the world.
"I can suffer," she sobbed. "But Lincy sheâs your daughter! She grew up protected. How can you let her live like this?"
Before Grant could speak, I cut in.
"Didnât you say you wanted to make things right with my mom and me? Then cut ties with them. Completely."
My voice stayed even.
"Lincy pushed me to the edge once. This woman destroyed my motherâs happiness. Back then, my mom was ready to settle down with you. It was Monica who leaked those photos. She wanted to provoke her. Otherwise, you wouldnât have wasted twenty years."
I watched realization hit Grant like a delayed wound.
He had been happy once.
So happy heâd even given my mom part of his power.
Then she turned cold overnight.
Now he finally understood why.
"It was you," he roared.
"I didnât mean to " Monica started.
The sound of his palm against her face cut the air.
I inhaled sharply and stepped in.
"Dad. Enough."
Then I looked him straight in the eyes.
"You canât stand in two circles anymore. You have to choose. Them or us."
I paused before adding calmly,
"If you choose them, Iâll understand. Youâve spent twenty years together. But then set my mom free immediately. Donât trap her."
The word separate didnât even finish leaving my mouth before he answered.
"Lena is my mate," he said firmly. "I wronged her once. I wonât do it again."
Just as I expected.
His heart had never truly left my mother.
Good.
He didnât know it yet, but he had already stepped into the path I laid out.
A leader stands by his choice.
And now that heâd chosen us, there would be no shadows allowed behind his back.
Lincy was still his blood. No parent can truly turn away.
I was forcing him into a corner.
No matter what he chose next, something would break.
All I needed now was one final reason.
One truth that would leave him with no way out.
After a full day of questioning, Lincy came out barely holding herself together.
I waited in the car, playing the part of the worried sister.
In truth, I was just there to watch.
She collapsed into Monicaâs arms, both of them crying like victims of fate.
What a touching scene.
I leaned back in my seat, calm and patient.
I couldnât help wondering
What would her face look like when she found out that while she was locked away for one day...
Everything she owned had vanished?
The thought made my pulse quicken.
This was going to be beautiful.