Chapter 255

**Chapter 0255**

Adam squinted, looking thoughtful. “This is kind of short notice, don’t you think?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.

I folded my arms across my chest. “I didn’t really…”

“I have a lot of notice,” I told him. “But this is a big deal. I can’t pass up this opportunity.”

After a short pause, Adam nodded.

“I’ll let the Alpha know,” Adam said. “He’s…”

Finally, I was allowed to speak again. Next week is school vacation, so Master Matthew won’t need a tutor during that time.

I nodded and thanked him before I went to look for Matt. However, I was stopped by Irene, who…

She hurried down the steps, her eyes glistening with tears. I could tell she had been crying. When she saw me, she stopped in her tracks and quickly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

“Oh, Judy…” she whispered, her voice shaky. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“I’m early,” I said.

“I didn’t have much going on today,” I admitted. “I thought I’d come in early and get a head start.”

Things were a bit tense between us, and I could tell she no longer thought of me the same way.

As a friend, I have to admit that after the past few weeks, I no longer saw her in that light. However, when I noticed the pain in her eyes and the pale look on her face, something inside me twisted. She was clearly struggling, and it affected me deeply.

Irene looked different. Her weight loss showed that she hadn’t been eating well, and I could see tears in her eyes. She had been crying a lot lately.

I sighed, feeling a mix of concern and frustration.

“Is everything okay, Irene?” I asked her, wishing I didn’t still care so much about her well-being.

She paused for a moment, shuffling her feet. Then she looked up to meet my eyes.

“Can I ask you something?” she said.

I nervously bit my lower lip and nodded.

“Of course,” I replied.

“What happened between you and Ethan?” she asked.

I was taken aback by her question, my eyebrows shooting up in surprise.

“What?” I replied, slightly confused.

She repeated herself, “What happened? Why did you break up? Tell me.”

“I need to tell you the truth, Judy.”

I considered lying to her. I thought that telling her the truth might confuse her or even hurt her feelings. But I realized that the reason Irene disliked me so much was that I had lied to her before. I didn’t want to make the same mistake again.

“I didn’t want to add more lies,” I said.

“He cheated on me with you,” I told her, not flinching at all.

“What?” she whispered, her voice shaking with shock.

“He met someone else,” I continued, feeling a mix of anger and sadness.

“You and your father were at a conference, right?” I asked with a shrug. “He fell in love with you, and he left me. We had already been bonded for two years by then. Every time he was with you…”

“I can feel the pain of our bond breaking. It won’t go away until he marks you, but that won’t happen until after you get married. So, yes, that’s what happened. He met you, and then he left me.”

**Chapter 255**

She let out a breath that I knew she had been holding since she first asked that question.

Her expression was one of defeat and sadness. My confession had clearly hit her hard.

I wanted to tell her the rest of the story, but I hesitated.

Ethan had been trying to make me his secret mistress because he wanted the best of both worlds. He wanted to keep his current relationship while also being with me. I felt the urge to tell his girlfriend the truth: that he didn’t love her and was only using her to get closer to me.

I wanted to tell her about my father. He has been blackmailing me, and I believe he is the reason my dad is in prison, with loan sharks after him. But I felt unable to speak; I couldn’t get the words out.

She was listening, and I knew I had to find a way to share my truth.

was asking for more details, I didn’t see the need to share everything. She was already dealing with a lot, and I didn’t want to add to her stress. Besides, I wasn’t hiding anything from her; I just answered her question honestly. That was enough for the moment. If she needed more information later, she could always ask.

“I didn’t need to tell her anything more,” I thought.

“I’m sorry I had to be the one to tell you this, Irene. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” I said to her, genuinely apologetic.

She didn’t say a word. Instead, she just stared at a spot on the ground, completely still.

“Are you okay?” I asked after a long silence.

She blinked a few times, as if trying to remember where she was.

“I don’t know…” she whispered, her voice shaky. “I had no idea…”

I sighed, feeling frustrated that she was so upset. It bothered me to see her like this, and I hated that I cared so much. But I couldn’t help it. She was important to me.

Gavin’s daughter was once my friend. Even though we have drifted apart, I still feel a connection to her.

“I know I might be the last person you want to talk to. But if you need anything, I’m here.”

I tried to reassure her with a smile. After a moment, I turned to walk away. I wasn’t sure what else to say, and I needed to find Matt for our daily lessons. Besides, I didn’t think Irene really wanted to talk to me anyway.

She was still in shock. Once she gathered herself, she would realize that she saw me as an enemy.

“I think he’s cheating on me,” she suddenly said, stopping me in my tracks.

Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a young girl named Lily. She was known for her kind heart and adventurous spirit. Every day, she would explore the nearby woods, discovering new paths and secret spots.

One sunny afternoon, while wandering through the trees, Lily stumbled upon a hidden clearing. In the center, there was a sparkling pond surrounded by colorful flowers. She had never seen this place before, and it felt magical. Excited, she decided to sit by the water and enjoy the beauty around her.

As she dipped her toes into the cool pond, Lily noticed a small frog sitting on a lily pad. The frog looked up at her and spoke, “Hello, Lily! I’ve been waiting for you.” Surprised but curious, she asked the frog, “How do you know my name?”

The frog smiled and replied, “I am a guardian of this pond. I can grant you one wish if you promise to use it wisely.” Lily thought carefully. She wanted to help her village, which often faced troubles like bad weather and crop failures.

“I wish for good weather and bountiful harvests for my village,” she said. The frog nodded and splashed his webbed foot in the water. A soft glow surrounded them, and Lily felt hope fill her heart.

From that day on, the village flourished. The sun shone brightly, the rains came at the right times, and the crops grew strong. Lily often returned to the pond to thank her frog friend, who reminded her to always be kind and share her blessings.

And so, Lily’s adventure taught her that true magic comes from the heart and the choices we make. The village thrived, and Lily’s spirit of adventure continued to inspire everyone around her.