Chapter 56

**Chapter 56**
**Judy’s POV**

“Return the favor?” I asked, feeling my heart drop into my stomach. “What are you talking about?”

He cleared his throat and straightened his posture. The tension in the air was thick, and I could tell he was getting serious.

His soft expression from earlier in the day was completely gone. Now, he wore a cold look that sent a chill down my spine. I instinctively stepped away from him, not wanting to be anywhere near him.

“You know exactly…”

“What I mean, Judy,” he said, his brows furrowed as he looked at me, “is that I want you to be my mistress. If you do what I ask, I’ll make sure your mother is taken care of and that your father comes home safely.”

the end of the night.

My heart ached for the man I once loved more than anything in the world. There was a time when I would have done anything for him. But now, as I looked at him, I felt a deep sadness.

I found myself staring into the eyes of a stranger. His gaze was cold and unfamiliar, and his lips were pressed into a tight line as he glared at me.

He asked me the same question over and over, but no matter how many times he repeated it, I couldn’t wrap my head around what he wanted me to do.

He wanted me to be his fated mate, but only as his mistress while he married another woman. This woman didn’t deserve to be treated like that. Irene was a sweet girl, and it was obvious that she loved Ethan more than anything. It hurt to see her in this situation.

I knew that another woman had feelings for Ethan, my mate. It made me uneasy, but I understood that the heart often desires what it wants, and her heart was set on Ethan.

“How could you ask me something like that, Ethan?” I said, my voice trembling.

“Did our two years together really mean nothing to you?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, his expression softened.

“Of course it meant something to me,” he replied, stepping closer to me.

“That’s why I can’t let you go, Judy. You are my mate… you belong to me, and I will do everything I can to keep you. Wouldn’t you rather be with me in secret than not be with me at all?”

“Do you want to end up like your mother?”

My wolf had been quiet throughout the whole conversation. I could feel her watching closely, taking in every word. I knew it hurt her to hear this, especially with the memories of Ethan still fresh in her mind.

She was talking to us. She didn’t want to be a mistress, but she also didn’t want to let her mate go.

“And your wolf is okay with making his mate a mistress?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at her.

Ethan shrugged casually. “He knows what needs to be done. That’s what makes him an Alpha,” he said simply.

I murmured, “You aren’t an Alpha yet.”

“I’ll have the official title soon, thanks to Irene. I have Alpha blood and Alpha traits,” he said confidently.

I rolled my eyes at him.

“You make me sick,” I murmured.

He smirked and took another step closer to me.

I was getting tired, and the distance between us was closing. I couldn’t keep walking away from him. He had already overwhelmed me with his words. The only thing I could do was stand there and look up.

**Chapter 0056**

him, willing to wipe my tears away.

“We’ve always been so good together, Judy. Don’t break us apart just because you can’t see what needs to be done,” he said quietly. He reached out his hand, trying to connect with me.

As he lightly touched my cheek, it felt like his fingers were burning my skin. I quickly pulled away from him, glaring with anger in my eyes. I was furious that he dared to put his hands on me.

I was upset with him for using my poor mother to manipulate me into doing what he wanted. It made me sick to think about it. I could never forgive him for what he had done to me and my family.

I clenched my fists at my sides and stepped back from him.

“Don’t touch me,” I said through gritted teeth. “You have no right to touch me ever again!”

“You are mine, Judy!” he shouted, his voice filled with anger.

He growled and reached out to grab my arm, but I pulled away from him again.

“Correction,” I said firmly. “I was yours. You lost every right to me the moment you chose another woman. The moment you decided to be with someone else.”

Knee dropped to one knee and proposed to someone else right in front of me. Ethan, you didn’t even tell me about her. I had to find out the hard way, and I will never forgive you for what you did. It wasn’t just about me; it affected so many others too.

“My family is involved in this too. I can’t prove it, but I know you had a part in my father’s business going bankrupt.”

He smirked at me and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Exactly,” he replied. “You can’t prove anything.”

Ethan spoke with pride, as if he was proud of himself and his actions. “It’s your word against mine, and guess who everyone is going to believe?”

Just then, Ethan’s phone began to ring.

The phone rang in his pocket. It wasn’t the first time it had rung that evening, but he hadn’t answered any of the calls. He sighed and took his phone out of his pocket, frowning at the name on the screen. I hoped he would finally pick up this time.

He decided to make the call. Whoever was trying to reach him must have been important, especially since they seemed to be in such a hurry.