Chapter 214: Me or Her
Explore the latest events in "Mated To The Crippled Alpha" Chapter 214: I calmly lifted my spoon and took another sip of soup before looking up at...
I calmly lifted my spoon and took another sip of soup before looking up at Grant. "Go ahead," I said evenly. "What is it you want to talk about?"He sat across from me, shoulders slightly slumped, the usual pride in his posture gone. "I know Iâve spoiled Lincy," he began quietly. "And I know Iâve neglected you and your mother all these years. I understand why you resent me."
For once, he didnât meet my eyes. Grant, the man who always spoke with authority and confidence, now looked smaller somehow.
"The mistakes Iâve made," he continued, his voice low, "have brought nothing but misery to your mother and to me."
I set my spoon down gently. "Isnât that your own doing?"
He didnât argue. "Yes," he admitted with a heavy sigh. "Thatâs why no matter how much your mother looks down on me or how much she hates me, I can bear it. I truly want to make things right. I can let go of Monica... but Lincy..." His voice softened. "Sheâs my flesh and blood."
The words made something sharp twist inside me.
"What if," I asked slowly, watching his reaction carefully, "she isnât?"
He froze for a second, then frowned deeply. "Thatâs impossible!"
There it was. The stubbornness. The blind certainty. Grant would rather deny the possibility than question what he believed.
"Riley, Iâve thought about it," he went on, almost pleading now. "In a few days, Iâll send her back overseas with some money. Enough to cut ties completely. Think of it as a final gift. Maybe even her dowry. After that, Iâll focus on our family. I wonât run back and forth anymore. You and Lena wonât have to suffer."
I leaned back slightly and folded my arms. "How much money are you planning to give her?"
He hesitated. "Lincy has always liked expensive things. If I give her too little, it wonât last."
I couldnât stop myself from letting out a dry laugh. "You think money will cut your bond with her? As long as youâre not willing to truly let go, you never will. Today you send her away with money. Tomorrow sheâll ask for more. Will you give it? When she gets married, will you walk her down the aisle? If she has children, will you stay away from them? If her husband mistreats her, wonât you step in?"
I looked at him directly. "Youâre not ending anything. Youâre just covering it up."
My voice stayed steady, but every word carried years of anger. "For twenty years, Mom and I have been bullied by Monica and Lincy. I canât pretend to understand them. I canât forgive what theyâve done to us. Iâve said it before. Choose. If you want them, divorce Mom."
His face darkened immediately. "Why are you so stubborn?" he snapped. "What good does it do to destroy your motherâs marriage?"
"It might not be good for me," I replied calmly, "but at least Mom will be free. She wonât have to live in this miserable marriage anymore. She wonât have to wait for you or share you. She can live her own life."
"Donât be ridiculous!" he shouted. "When have I ever controlled her? When have I denied her freedom?"
I looked at him quietly. "Dad, every day she spends with you is a day she suffers."
"Thatâs absurd!" he barked, pushing his chair back and storming out of the room.
I watched him disappear up the stairs. The house felt colder after he left. Slowly, I put my spoon down and stood up. There was nothing more to say.
Back at the estate, Lewis was in his study, speaking on the phone about an upcoming public offering. His tone was calm and controlled, as always. When I stepped inside, he ended the call immediately and turned toward me.
"Youâre back," he said, his expression softening. "Howâs Lena?"
"Sheâs fine physically," I answered. "But seeing Grant drains me. I donât want to wait anymore, Lewis. Whatâs the latest on that Cinderella man?"
Lewisâs lips curved slightly. "Heâs gotten bold."
He held out his hand, and I walked over without hesitation. I settled onto his lap, letting him wrap his arms around me. His warmth steadied me in a way nothing else could.
"What did he do?" I asked.
"He bought drugs on the black market," Lewis said calmly. "From what weâve gathered, theyâre meant for Grant."
My stomach tightened instantly. I remembered how he once persuaded Monica to take out a large insurance policy on Grant. I hadnât expected him to go this far.
"What do the drugs do?"
"In small amounts, nothing obvious," Lewis explained. "But taken regularly, they slowly damage the brain. Confusion. Memory loss. Poor judgment. My guess is he wants Grant mentally weakened, easy to manipulate into signing documents. And when Grant becomes useless... an âaccidentâ happens. The insurance payout would be huge. After that, most of the Ashbourne assets would fall into Lincyâs hands."
"Thatâs disgusting," I said through clenched teeth.
Lewis stroked my hair gently. "Donât worry. The only way they can give him the drugs is through Monica. And Grant hasnât been eating there much. He bought them a house, but he rarely visits."
I suddenly sat up straighter. "Lincy said she cooked for him today. He must have eaten something."
"One or two meals wonât make a difference," Lewis reassured me. "It only works with long-term exposure. If you want to expose her, you could just show Grant the paternity test results."
I shook my head. "No. Thatâs too simple. He loves that daughter of his too much. I want him to see with his own eyes how she plans to destroy him."
Lewis studied me. "Whatâs your plan?"
"Heâs avoiding Monica, which means Lincy is the only one who can act. If heâs coming home for dinner, then lunchtime is her only opportunity."
A slow smile spread across my face. "I want to catch her in the act."
Lewis chuckled softly. "Whatever makes you happy."
I leaned against him for a moment before asking, "Did the police get anything from Linda?"
His expression shifted. "Sheâs dead. She died in custody."
Silence filled the room.
Another life gone. Just like that.
Silas had bitten off his own tongue rather than reveal anything about the organization. And Linda... she chose death outright.
"What about Camilla?" I asked quietly.
"Sheâs still trying to save the baby," Lewis replied. "But it doesnât look promising. If she suffers another shock, she probably wonât be able to keep it."
Karma works in strange ways.
I hadnât touched her child, yet she still couldnât hold on to it. I remembered my own desperation back then, fighting to protect a fragile life inside me.
"Get some rest," Lewis said gently but firmly. "Stop thinking too much. Iâll handle everything else."
"Okay."
"Iâve already transferred Rileyâs school records overseas," he added. "The school has been notified. You just need to show up for enrollment when the semester starts."
"Thank you," I said softly.
He laughed and ruffled my hair. "Since when do you need to thank me?"
I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my forehead against his. "Lewis, youâre the best."
The next day, I went to Grantâs branch office. I had never visited before, so no one recognized me.
When I told the receptionist I was his daughter, she looked at me with disbelief. "Ms. Ashbourne is already upstairs with Mr. Ashbourne. Pretending to be someoneâs daughter? Thatâs bold."
I smiled politely. "Have you considered that I might be the real one?"
Her eyes swept over my outfit, taking in the details. She hesitated before picking up the phone. "Let me call his office."
"Tell him Riley is here," I said calmly.
A few minutes later, Grantâs head secretary rushed out, smiling widely. "Ms. Riley! Why didnât you contact me directly?"
"I didnât have your number."
"Thatâs my fault. Iâll give it to you now."
In the past, no one around Grant had treated me with respect. But as Mrs. Hale, everything had changed. Status reshapes attitudes quickly.
I followed the secretary upstairs. When the office door opened, I wasnât surprised.
Lincy was inside.
She had brought lunch and desserts, arranging everything carefully, playing the perfect, loving daughter.