Chapter 354

**Chapter 354**

“Dad?” Irene called out as she came closer.

It was 9:30 now.

When I looked at her, I noticed her eyes were puffy, and her bottom lip was quivering. I stood up from my seat and walked towards her.

She held her luggage in one hand while Matt stood behind her, carrying his own bag.

I couldn’t help but think about the person who had hurt her. Whoever they were, they would pay dearly for what they had done to my little girl.

“What happened?” I asked as she wrapped herself in my arms, tears glistening in her eyes.

Her tears soaked into my shirt.

“Can we talk on the way to the resort?” she sniffled.

I nodded, trying to keep my temper in check.

Matt smiled at me as I gently ruffled his hair with my hand.

“Do I…”

“Are you going to see Judy in action?” he asked, his eyes shining with excitement.

I chuckled. “Yes,” I replied.

He pumped his fist in the air, overwhelmed with joy. He couldn’t stop talking about how he was looking forward to it.

He had been watching her on TV through the streaming service, and he was excited to see her in person.

Meanwhile, Irene was deep in thought. She was staring out the window as they drove toward the resort.

“So, tell me what’s going on?” he asked, breaking the silence.

After a long wait, I finally asked, “What’s going on?” Matt was in the backseat, starting to drift off to sleep. I was trying to remain calm, but my worry and frustration showed.

“My engagement ended,” she whispered.

“What?” I asked, my fists tight around the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The last thing I expected her to say was that she had feelings for someone else. She had been so in love with Ethan. I still remember the day they first met. It felt like just yesterday when she couldn’t stop talking about him, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

When he refused to let her date him, she felt heartbroken. She even threatened to harm herself. I had no choice but to allow her to be with him, even though I really disliked the guy.

I could see right through him; he only wanted the title of being her boyfriend.

Alpha was part of the Redmoon pack. He believed that getting close to my daughter would help him get close to me. I was used to dealing with guys like him. After all, he had cheated on his own fated mate with my daughter.

I let him date Irene because she threatened to end her own life. I couldn’t risk anything happening to my daughter.

“He was using me,” she said, tears streaming down her face.

“He cheated on me… or he’s been cheating on me.”

I reached over and took her hand, squeezing it tightly.

“I’m sorry,” was all I could think to say.

“I was just telling her,” I thought, but deep down, I was planning all the ways I could get rid of Ethan.

“I really loved him,” I said. “I thought he loved me too.” My voice faded as I lost my train of thought, staring out the window once more.

“I believed everything he told me.” She said this last part more to herself than to me; it was almost a whisper.

“None of this is your fault, Irene. I won’t let him get away with hurting you,” she continued firmly.

I told her, my voice turning cold as I thought about Ethan’s behavior.

She turned to look at me, her eyes red with tears that were not yet falling.

“I said and did some terrible things because of him,” she said hoarsely. “A lot of things were done to Judy…”

“He made me believe the worst about her. I thought she was trying to steal him and that she was obsessed with him. I treated her like an enemy. Yes, I was manipulated, but I still made a choice. That’s on me.”

My heart twisted at her words. I didn’t say anything because I wasn’t sure what to respond at that moment.

“Do you think Judy would ever forgive me?” she asked softly.

I nodded without thinking much about it. Judy wasn’t the kind of person to hold a grudge. Once Irene explained what happened, I was sure Judy would understand and forgive her.

Back into her friendship circle.

“I think if you talk to her and explain what happened, then yes, she will forgive you.”

She nibbled on her lower lip and looked out the window again.

“I’m sorry, Dad.”

“Sorry I brought him into our lives,” she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I don’t know what to do…”

“It’ll be okay,” I assured her. “I’ll make sure of it.”

My words carried a threat.

She nodded but didn’t say anything else. It broke my heart to see her like this. Once we reached the resort, Matt, though tired, started chatting my ear off about the upcoming events.

The competition was getting close, and he was really excited to see the finals next week.

Finally, we arrived at my hotel suite, but I was running late for my watch duties. I needed to hurry before Judy left with another Lycan. I intended to quickly drop off Irene and make my way to the event.

Matt and I were getting ready to settle into the room, and I planned to leave soon after. But the moment I opened my door, I froze.

The air inside smelled just like her.

Judy had been here not long ago.

But she’s not that person anymore…

Then I remembered I had asked her to meet me here before her watch duty.

Damn!