Chapter 142

**Chapter 0142**

Ethan’s expression when Judy left the party with her father did not go unnoticed by Irene. He wore a look of longing, almost as if he were a lost soul watching someone dear walk away.

Irene felt a deep ache in her heart as she watched the child. She bit her bottom lip, determined not to cry in front of Ethan’s family. She had already made a good impression on them and didn’t want to spoil it.

“Irene, darling,” said Ethan’s mother gently, “don’t…”

“Don’t let that awful woman bother you,” Meredith said with a gentle smile. “She’s just a nobody.”

“Yeah, my brother really likes you. The thought of him being with her again makes me sick,” Kelsey replied.

Irene crossed her arms and muttered under her breath. Something her future sister-in-law had just said caught her attention. Irene narrowed her eyes, intrigued.

“What did you just say?” Irene asked, her heart feeling heavy in her chest.

Kelsey looked up at her friend with a frown.

“Which part?” she asked.

“You said that the idea of them being together again makes you sick. What do you mean by ‘again’?” her friend replied.

Kelsey opened her mouth to respond.

Kelsey was about to respond when her mother stopped her. She grabbed Kelsey’s arm and squeezed it tightly, causing Kelsey to whimper in distress.

“She didn’t mean anything by it. It was just a slip of the tongue,” Meredith said, trying to defend Kelsey. Her tone was loud and annoying, making it hard to take her seriously.

Kelsey laughed loudly. “She must be exhausted,” she said, giving Irene a knowing look.

Kelsey’s cheeks turned red, and she nodded in agreement.

“Yes, I didn’t mean anything by it,” she murmured, glancing at Irene with an apologetic expression.

Irene wasn’t convinced. She looked across the yard at Ethan, who was still gazing longingly in the direction where Judy had just left. She pressed her lips together tightly and turned to face Ethan’s mother and sister.

“It was…

“It’s great to meet you ladies! I hope we can get to know each other better soon. Maybe we can have brunch?” Irene suggested.

Meredith and Kelsey both smiled brightly.

“Yes, we would love that!” Meredith replied.

“I’ll get your contact numbers from Ethan, and we can go from there,” Irene said. “Maybe we can meet at the Silver Crescent Country Club later this week or next week.”

“I should be going now,” she said politely.

They both nodded eagerly. The Silver Crescent Country Club was known for being exclusive, reserved only for the most elite wolves. You couldn’t enter unless you were invited by a golden member. Being invited by Irene Landry was a special honor.

Irene felt that meeting Ethan was a great honor, and she wasn’t going to miss the chance to talk to him.

Before either of them could say anything else, Irene started walking towards Ethan. He was so deep in his own thoughts that he didn’t notice her coming. It wasn’t until she got closer that he finally looked up.

She gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

“I’m very tired, Ethan. Can we go somewhere and rest?” she asked.

Ethan was still deep in thought and barely heard her words. He almost didn’t respond.

Irene felt even angrier when she saw Ethan looking sad.

“Ethan, I’m talking to you,” she said firmly, crossing her arms over her chest.

Her sharp tone was enough to bring Ethan back to reality.

“I’m sorry, what?” he asked.

“I said I’m tired. Can you take me somewhere to rest?” she repeated, her tone flat.

He narrowed his eyes and looked closely at her face. He noticed she was upset.

He was upset too and could barely care about her mood. Running his fingers through his hair, he took a deep breath.

“Yes, you can rest in my room upstairs,” he told her. “I need to stay here for a little while.”

“We can’t leave just yet,” he said.

She nodded, already expecting this answer.

He led her into the manor and up the winding stairs until they reached his bedroom. She had never been in this room before, and she wasn’t sure what to think.

She never expected to spend the night at his house. She had only ever stayed in his place, never at his family’s manor.

When she walked into his room, she was surprised to find it very boyish. It was clear this was his childhood room. He had trophies on the shelves and decorations that reflected his younger days.

She looked at the video game posters on the wall, feeling a little warmth in her heart. A small smile appeared at the corner of her lips, but it was clear that she was still upset with him. If only she could let go of her anger, she might enjoy the moment more.

“I have to get back to my family,” she said, breaking the silence.

“You can rest here, and I’ll come back later,” he said to her.

She nodded, wrapping her arms around herself as she watched him leave the room. Once she was alone, her stomach tightened with tension. She sat down on the edge of the bed, feeling the weight of silence around her.

He sat on his bed, looking around at his room. It was a typical boy’s room, not filled with many personal pictures. However, he noticed a photo on his nightstand that seemed odd. It looked like someone had been cut out of the frame.

As he stared at it, a frown appeared on his face. He couldn’t help but wonder about the missing person in the picture.

Ethan stood next to someone in a picture, but that person was missing.

A frown crossed her face as she ran her fingers along the edge of the frame. The person in the photo seemed to have been removed from his life. Could it have been Judy?

Kelsey’s thoughts were filled with the words she had heard earlier. It felt like Ethan and Judy might have had a past together, but both of them insisted that they only knew each other because they had been part of the same pack for a long time. Kelsey couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to their story.

was confused and hurt. She couldn’t understand why Ethan, someone she trusted deeply, would betray her. And Judy, who she thought was a friend, was right there with him.

Just yesterday, when she saw them together, pressed against a tree, it felt like her whole world came crashing down. She never expected this kind of betrayal from people she cared about. Now, she was left with a heavy heart and a mind full of questions. Why would they lie to her?

She could still feel the crack in her heart from the betrayal she had experienced.