Chapter 73

**Chapter 0073**

Matt walked closely behind us.

We didn’t stop walking until we were outside the school, near the car where Beta Taylor was waiting. The other Gamma warriors were standing nearby.

Gavin stood nearby, keeping an eye on the situation. He was close enough to step in if needed, but not so close that he could hear every word of the conversation.

“Do you want to explain what you two were thinking?” Gavin asked, finally breaking the silence. He let out a frustrated sigh, ready to hear their response.

“Hold on my hand,” I heard someone say.

I looked down at the ground, feeling a mix of guilt and sadness.

“It’s my fault, Dad. I asked her to pretend to be my mom,” Matt said quickly, trying to explain himself to his father. “I didn’t want to…”

He trailed off, searching for the right words.

“I understand why you might be upset. I was scared too, so I asked Judy for help during our tutoring session last night,” I explained.

Gavin looked at me with surprise. “And you actually agreed to that?” he questioned, narrowing his eyes.

“I probably should have asked him more questions about what happened,” I admitted. “I’m Alpha. I didn’t mean to deceive you.”

“I’m sorry,” I added.

“You are both foolish and acted childishly. Did you not think…”

“Do you really think they would ask me questions about my marriage? The whole world would have known if I had gotten married, right?”

I nodded and bit my lower lip.

“I wasn’t thinking straight. I shouldn’t have suggested that we…”

“I’m sorry,” I murmured.

He shook his head, looking disappointed in me. I felt like a child being scolded by a parent.

“Please, don’t be upset with her,” I pleaded.

“It was my idea,” Matt said, reaching for his father’s arm. “Don’t be mad at Judy.”

“She’s the adult,” Gavin replied, narrowing his eyes at his son. “She should have known better.”

“It’s okay, Matthew,” I said, trying to hold back my tears. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make this work for you. But you don’t need to defend me. I will accept whatever punishment he gives.”

I turned to face Gavin and took a deep breath.

“If you want to fire me, that’s okay. I’ll find a new job,” I said confidently.

Gavin narrowed his eyes at me, and I could feel the tension between us.

He stared at me for a long moment, then rolled his eyes and walked towards the car. I turned to face him, watching his back as he left. I furrowed my brows, feeling confused about what had just happened. I looked down at Matt, who was standing next to me.

Matt shrugged and walked towards the car. I stood there, feeling stuck, unsure if I should follow him and the others or stay put. It was only when they were a bit farther away that I finally made up my mind.

**Chapter +25 BONUS**

Gavin glanced at me from the car.

“Get in, we don’t have all day,” he muttered.

I quickly hopped into the backseat with them.

Beta Taylor was sitting by the window, which separated the backseat from the front.

The front seat rolled up, giving us some privacy. We were stuck in traffic for a while, and the ride back to Gavin’s villa was taking longer than usual. At one point, Matt fell asleep. He seemed so relaxed, resting against the window as the cars crawled by. I glanced over at him and smiled, grateful for this moment of calm amidst the chaos outside.

Gavin rested his head on my arm, and I could feel his breathing calm down.

Gavin looked down at his son and let out a sigh.

“I’m sorry,” I said softly. “I’m sorry for how things went today. I shouldn’t have gotten involved.”

“Along with it,” he said.

“No, you shouldn’t have,” he replied sharply. He kept his voice low so he wouldn’t wake Matt.

I sighed and looked out the window, unsure of what else to say.

“But thank you for…”

“Being there for him,” he said, surprising me.

I turned to look back at him, blinking a few times.

“You’re thanking me?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.

“Don’t let it get to your head,” he replied with a smile.

“Matt doesn’t have a mother figure in his life, so it’s nice that you were there for him when he needed one,” Gavin said softly.

I bit my lip, trying to hold back my smile, but it was hard not to beam with happiness.

“I’m sorry if this is a bold question, but who is Matt’s brother?”

Gavin was silent for a long time, and I thought he might not answer me. To be honest, I didn’t really expect him to respond.

He looked my way for a moment.

“My sister,” he said.

I gasped and turned to look at him, surprised.

“What?” I asked, my voice filled with shock.

“Don’t get the wrong idea,” he replied sharply. “Matt is…”

“I’m Matt, my sister’s child. I’m his uncle,” he said.

Suddenly, it hit me: Matt wasn’t actually Gavin’s son. That explained why his identity had been kept out of the spotlight for so long!

“What happened to your sister?” I asked.

“She’s in a rehab facility getting the help she needs. Matt was young when he was taken out of her home. It wasn’t a safe place for him. I didn’t want him to grow up as a foster child, so I took him in myself. I wanted to give him a better life.”

A few years ago, he started calling me “Dad.” It was a simple moment, but it meant a lot to me. Seeing him grow and take on that title brought a sense of joy and connection. It felt like a new chapter in our relationship, one that I cherished deeply.