Chapter 253

**Chapter 0253**

“So, he left me? His mate?” Nan asked, her eyes widening as she looked up at me. “How does that make sense, Judy?”

I stayed quiet for a moment, trying to gather my thoughts.

For a moment, I wasn’t sure how to respond to her.

“I don’t know,” I finally said. “It’s all too much right now. I’m sorry you have to deal with this.”

She sighed and tossed the pillow aside.

“I just don’t want to think about it anymore,” she said, shaking her head as she wiped her eyes. “Let’s talk about you instead.”

I smiled. “What about me?” I asked.

She rolled her eyes playfully, trying to lighten the mood.

“Come on, Judy. I’m not stupid. You’re living in his mansion. You’ve already told me you’ve been sleeping together, but I think there’s more to it. You have real feelings for him, and it’s obvious.”

“He has feelings for you too,” she said.

“What are you talking about?” I asked, feeling a flush rise on my cheeks.

“We’re just having a bit of fun,” she replied. “We both agreed it’s just a show. It’s not that serious.”

“A bit of fun? Seriously, Judy? He’s letting you live in his mansion,” she said, gesturing to the huge space around them. “You’re basically a princess right now.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’m not a princess,” I said, playfully swatting her arm. “And Gavin has barely been here the last few days.”

I couldn’t hide the bitterness in my voice. The smile I had been wearing slowly disappeared from my face.

“What do you mean?” Nan asked, frowning. “Is everything okay?”

I shrugged and nibbled on my lower lip.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “One minute he can’t get enough of me, and the next…”

He doesn’t want to spend any time with me. He keeps canceling our plans whenever Irene cries for him.

“Irene is causing problems again?” Nan asked, raising her eyebrows.

I nodded and sighed.

“She’s his daughter, so I can’t blame him for choosing her. But it’s just so constant. Whenever she’s in a bad mood or has a sniffle, he cancels our plans to take care of her. I haven’t seen him in days, and it feels like I’m always waiting.”

When I see him while I’m tutoring Matt, he usually brushes me off. He says he’s too busy to talk. I don’t even think he’s actually sleeping at the villa. This makes me wonder where he’s been sleeping if not at the villa and not with anyone else.

I was talking a lot, but I couldn’t stop myself. I felt so confused about what was happening that the words just poured out of my mouth.

“He’s Gavin Landry. He’s probably just…”

“Maybe you’re just busy,” Nan suggested, a worried frown on her face. “I’m sure it’s nothing to stress about. Don’t worry too much.”

“I could say the same to you,” I teased. “You seem worried too.”

“I’m worried about a guy I’m sleeping with. What happened to us?”

—

**Chapter 253**

“Is this what growing up is like?” Nan asked, scrunching her nose. “Because I don’t like it.”

“Too many emotions,” she said with a laugh. I chuckled and put my arm around her as she rested her head on my shoulder.

“I’m not a fan either,” I admitted. “But I don’t think what I’m doing is very grown-up. This is…”

“I can’t believe it’s my own fault for thinking I could separate my feelings,” she said.

Nan sighed. “I wish I could separate my wolf from me sometimes. It’s her feelings that confuse me.”

I understood exactly what she meant.

When Ethan left me for Irene, I wanted nothing to do with him. I felt like walking away, but my wolf kept me grounded. She made me wait, holding onto the hope that Ethan would come back to me.

I didn’t want him to come back after what he did.

Our wolves believe one thing: our mates are ours and only ours. They would never want anyone else.

Focusing on Nan and Chester helped take my mind off my own troubles.

“I need to tell you something,” I said, breaking the long silence between us.

She looked up at me, her eyes curious.

“You can tell me anything,” she replied with a warm smile, making me feel more at ease.

It was great to see her smiling again, especially after everything she had been through in the past few days.

“I was nominated to participate in the Gamma Competition,” Judy said.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Judy, that’s amazing!” she gasped.

“Congratulations! That’s everything you’ve wanted!”

“Thanks,” I replied. This was the first time I had ever said those words out loud to anyone. I really wanted Gavin to be the first person I told, but he had been missing in action for a while.

“I’ll be gone for a few weeks,” I said. “It’s across the country.”

Her expression changed suddenly, and she looked disappointed.

“Oh,” she whispered. “So, you’re leaving?”

I nodded, biting my lower lip nervously.

“I leave next week,” I said.

She nodded, her shoulders drooping.

“I’m going to miss you. I don’t know what I’ll do without you,” she murmured. “But maybe some time away will be good for both of us.”

“That was when I had an idea.”

“Yeah, it would,” I replied. I then turned to look at her. “And it would do you some good too. Come with me.”

Once upon a time, there was a little village where everyone knew each other. Among them were two best friends, Lily and Max. They loved to explore the forest near their homes.

One sunny day, they decided to go on an adventure. “Let’s see if we can find the hidden waterfall,” Lily suggested excitedly. Max agreed, and they set off, filled with curiosity.

As they walked through the trees, they listened to the birds singing and admired the colorful flowers. After a while, they came across a narrow path that led deeper into the woods. “This must be the way!” Max said, pointing ahead.

They followed the path until they heard the sound of water. “We’re getting close!” Lily exclaimed. They hurried along the trail, and soon, they saw the sparkling waterfall. The water cascaded down the rocks, creating a beautiful mist.

Lily and Max couldn’t believe their eyes. They laughed and danced around the waterfall, splashing each other with cool water. “This is the best day ever!” Lily shouted joyfully.

After a while, they decided to sit by the water and enjoy some snacks they had brought. As they shared their food, they talked about all the adventures they still wanted to have.

As the sun began to set, they knew it was time to head home. “We should come back here again,” Max said. Lily nodded, “Definitely! There’s so much more to explore.”

With happy hearts and memories of their wonderful day, they walked back home, excited for their next adventure together.