Chapter 147

**Chapter 0147**

Gavin sighed and shook his head.

“Not even a little bit… but Irene… she’s so fragile,” he murmured, still shaking his head. “Taking Ethan away from her would destroy her.”

I worry about what my daughter might do if something happens. She’s my daughter, and all I care about is her happiness. I really hope that Ethan can step up when it’s time to marry her, so he never hurts her again.

When I didn’t say anything,

His expression softened.

“Plus, Irene is an adult now. I can’t exactly tell her what to do, even though I really want to,” he continued.

“You’re a Lycan chairman, Gavin. And let’s not forget about her father…”

“I reminded him, ‘You have every right to tell her what to do.'”

“But at what cost to my daughter?” he replied. “I can’t lose her, Judy. Of all people, you should understand.”

“Family is so important,” he said.

His words touched something deep inside me, and for some reason, I felt a bit hurt. I took a step back from him.

“Of course, I know how important family is, Gavin,” I replied.

“I’m struggling, and everything in my life feels like it’s falling apart. I would do anything to make things normal again, but that doesn’t seem to be happening, does it?”

He frowned, looking confused.

“What exactly are you talking about?” he asked.

I stared at him, completely shocked. Did he really not know what was going on in my life? Was he so self-centered that he had no idea how badly my family and I were struggling? It felt like a slap in the face, and suddenly, reality hit me hard.

Gavin doesn’t really care about me. He only wanted to have sex and to get his mother off his back. That was our arrangement, so I shouldn’t be surprised. Still, it hurt just the same.

I bit my lip, trying to push the feelings away.

I fought hard to hold back my tears.

“I think I’m going to go home,” I told him, turning away. “My mother is probably wondering why I haven’t been home, and I really don’t want to worry her.”

“Are you upset?” Gavin asked, his voice heavy with concern.

“No,” I replied, not telling the truth. “It’s just been a long day, and you should probably spend some time with your family. They need you more.”

“Judy—”

“I’ll see you later, Gavin,” I said quickly as I rushed out the front doors of the Villa.

Luckily, the driver was waiting outside. When I stepped into the car, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I was on my way to an important meeting, and I didn’t want to be late. As the car pulled away from the curb, I took a deep breath and prepared myself for what lay ahead.

Leroy saw me running out the door and quickly opened the back door of the car for me. I smiled through my tears, feeling thankful for him.

“Are you going home?” he asked.

I nodded and slid into the car.

Gavin sat in the backseat of the car. He closed the door and quickly ran around to the driver’s side.

As I got into the car, Gavin stood at the doorway, watching me leave. The car pulled away, and I could see him standing there. He didn’t try to come after me, which stung a little more because I knew he cared.

I realized he didn’t care enough to stop me from leaving.

By the time I got home, I was worn out. I thanked Lerby and got out of the car. As I walked into the house, I froze when I saw my mother sitting there.

Ethan’s mother, Meredith, was sitting on the couch, laughing and sharing tea with a friend. They looked so happy together, and seeing them made my heart drop. I felt a wave of nerves wash over me when they both turned to face me.

“Well, look who decided to come grace us with her presence,” Meredith said with a warm smile.

My mother looked at me with a sarcastic tone and said, “Where have you been? It’s been days since I last saw you.”

I felt my cheeks turn red as I looked down at the ground.

“I’ve been spending the nights with Nan,” I lied.

Both ladies in the room…

They raised their eyebrows when they saw me leaving the party with Gavin the other night. After that, they didn’t see me again. I could tell they were suspicious, especially after Gavin made a scene in front of everyone. He was very protective of me, and it was clear he wanted to make a point about it.

The whole evening had been filled with tension.

“So, you’ve made up your mind then?” my mother asked, her face showing a quick flash of disappointment. “You are going to be living with her?”

I hadn’t even considered that possibility, to be honest.

I completely forgot that my mother was planning to sell the house.

“I… uh, I’m not sure,” I said, looking down at the ground, feeling a little embarrassed.

“That’s too bad,” Meredith replied, her eyes lighting up with interest.

“We would have welcomed you into our home with open arms.”

“So, it’s official then?” I asked, keeping my gaze locked on my mother’s face. “You’re selling the house?”

She sighed and looked into my eyes, a hint of sadness in hers.

She nodded, her gaze steady.

“The deal is done. Meredith just gave me the contract. One of her friends wants to buy the house and paid for it in cash. We’re moving in a couple of days…”

Once upon a time, there was a magical forest filled with towering trees and sparkling streams. In this forest lived a brave little fox named Felix. Felix loved exploring the woods and making new friends.

One sunny day, Felix decided to venture deeper into the forest than ever before. As he trotted along, he came across a wise old owl named Oliver perched on a branch.

“Hello, Felix!” hooted Oliver. “What brings you here today?”

“I want to discover new places and meet new friends!” Felix replied, his eyes shining with excitement.

“Be careful,” warned Oliver. “There are many wonders, but also some dangers. Stay on the path and trust your instincts.”

Felix thanked Oliver and continued on his journey. As he walked, he saw beautiful flowers and heard the cheerful songs of birds. Everything felt magical.

Suddenly, Felix heard a faint cry for help. He followed the sound and found a small rabbit named Ruby stuck in a bush.

“Help me, please!” Ruby pleaded.

Without hesitation, Felix used his sharp little teeth to carefully nibble away the branches, freeing Ruby.

“Thank you so much, Felix!” Ruby exclaimed, hopping with joy. “I was so scared!”

“You’re welcome!” Felix said with a smile. “Now, we can explore together!”

From that day on, Felix and Ruby became the best of friends. They shared many adventures in the forest, always looking out for each other and helping those in need.

And so, Felix learned that true friendship is one of the greatest treasures of all.