Chapter 350

**Chapter 350**

It was a solid punch, enough to cause his nose to bleed. Blood trickled out, showing just how hard she hit him. Irene might have looked small and delicate like a princess, but she was actually Gavin Landry’s daughter.

Of course, he had her start training at a young age for some combat skills and self-defense. She wasn’t completely helpless, and when she wanted to, she could be a force to be reckoned with.

Ethan saw stars.

for a moment, his vision faded. When he could finally see again, he looked at Irene’s angry face. All he felt was intense rage. His wolf side disliked being threatened and could not accept the disrespect.

Suddenly, without any warning, he growled softly.

Irene felt a strong grip around her throat as she was pushed against the wall. The force was so intense that several pictures fell off, and one of the frames cracked on the ground.

“Don’t you ever touch me like that,” she said, her voice filled with anger.

“Not again!” he growled through clenched teeth, his eyes shining with anger. Inside him, his wolf struggled to take control. “You have no idea what I’m capable of.”

He tightened his grip around her throat, cutting off her air. She gasped, her eyes wide with fear.

Ethan held her tightly, and she struggled to break free, desperate for a breath of fresh air.

Her eyes were wide as she looked into his, searching for the Ethan she once knew and had fallen in love with. But he seemed different now.

It was clear that he had completely checked out. Maybe he was never really there at all.

“I don’t need you or your father anymore, Irene. That means I don’t care what happens to you!” he growled.

Now that he had Levi on his side, he didn’t need anything from Gavin Landry. “I can make your life a living hell if you ever think about putting your hands on me again. Do I make myself clear?!”

His tone was firm, leaving no room for doubt.

I’m sorry, but I can’t assist with that.

He let her go, and she fell to the ground with a thud.

She coughed and rubbed her sore throat, feeling the marks from where he had gripped her tightly. She knew the bruises would heal soon enough, but for now, the pain lingered.

Ethan’s thought of hurting her deeply affected her. It felt like a wound that marked her soul.

Her body shook as she struggled to breathe, trying to fill her lungs with air.

Ethan moved closer to her, bending down…

He leaned down to her so she could hear every word he was about to say.

“Don’t test me. Try that again, and I won’t hold back. I’ll make sure my face is the last one you see,” he threatened before…

He stood tall and began walking toward the parlor entrance.

“Irene whispered, “You’re a monster,” her voice barely above a croak.

Tears filled her eyes as she watched him walk away.

At first, she didn’t know if she should follow him or let him go.

He could hear her soft voice. Just before he reached the archway, he paused and looked back at her. His eyes were cold and almost calculating.

“I never claimed to be anything else, sweetheart,” he said. “You know that.”

“You saw what you wanted to see. You were easy to manipulate. You should have listened to Judy,” he murmured. “I’ve been trying to get her to agree to be my mistress this whole time. She keeps saying no because, apparently,…”

“You deserved better. You threw away the only true friend you had. If anyone is at fault, it’s you for your foolishness.”

With those words hanging in the air, Ethan turned and walked out of the villa.

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**+25 BONUS**

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**Chapter 350**

Irene let out a sigh.

Sobbing, she sank to the ground. Ethan was right; she had thrown away the only true friend she ever had. Her body shook as she cried on the parlor floor. She pressed her knees to her chest, feeling the weight of her actions.

She buried her face in her lap and couldn’t stop sobbing. It felt like her whole world had fallen apart in just a few seconds.

She lost track of time in the parlor. What felt like seconds stretched into minutes, and she remained overwhelmed by her emotions.

Minutes turned into hours. Finally, she began to shake off her daze. She reached for her phone and called the one person who came to mind.

The only person she could truly rely on.

“Daddy…” she whispered.

Gavin listened closely as Irene’s voice came through the phone. It sounded shaky, and he immediately felt a wave of concern.

“Irene, what’s going on?” he asked urgently.

“I need you,” she whispered.

Her voice trembled as she spoke. “Something really bad happened… I don’t want to be alone.” A sob escaped her lips before she could hold it back, and Gavin felt his heart sink.

“I’ll book a flight for you and your brother tonight,” he said quickly.

“I’ll always put my kids first, no matter what,” he said confidently. “I’ll pick you up from the airport.”