Seducing My Ex's Father In Law Chapter 455

Chapter 455

Judy’s POV
My chest felt heavy as I looked up at Gavin. A scowl darkened his face, and he looked like he was one second away from punching something at the mere mention of his sister. Gavin hadn’t shared much about her, but I knew she’d fallen on hard times. She wasn’t like the rest of the Landrys. She cut ties with them long ago, and from what I’d heard, no one really knew what had happened to Cassandra Langry. She vanished from newspapers and magazines, as if she had never existed, and everyone just seemed to move on with their lives.

Matthew was only a year old when he went to live with Gavin and his family, and no one ever questioned it. If anyone happened to catch a glimpse of Matt, they assumed Gavin had a child with someone. But for the most part, he went out of his way to keep the boy out of the spotlight because of that.

“Why does she want to see Matthew?” Gavin finally asked, trying to keep his emotions in check.

“Because she’s his mother, and she hasn’t seen him in years,” Donna replied, narrowing her eyes at him like it was the most obvious thing in the world. She seemed genuinely surprised he’d even asked.

“Matthew barely knows who she is,” Gavin said, his lip curling in disgust. “This would just turn his world upside down, and I won’t put him through that.”

“Or maybe it won’t,” Donna said with a shrug. “He knows his mother is your sister. He’s a smart kid, Gavin. He knows she fell on hard times and that she’s trying to do better.”

“Is she, though?” Gavin folded his arms across his chest. “Because I keep close tabs on her, and her doctors are saying she refuses to cooperate. She’s erratic, with manic episodes. I’m not going to let Matt get hurt… not again.”

“I visited her, and she spoke about Matthew with real emotion,” Donna said, a frown tugging at her lips. “She’s truly sorry for what she put him through as a baby.”
Gavin growled, cutting off his mother mid-sentence. She stared at him with wide eyes, clearly shocked that he’d dare growl at her.

“Did you just growl at me?” she asked, uncertain if she’d heard him correctly.

His wolf was on edge—I could feel it. I wasn’t sure what compelled me to act, whether it was the high tension or the start of a nervous breakdown, but I reached over and touched his hand. He tensed immediately, his yellow-glowing eyes snapping to where my hand met his. Still, I laced my fingers with his and leaned into him, my wolf stirring within me, as if she, too, wanted to comfort him. It was the kind of thing I would do for a mate… not for Gavin. I had done this for Ethan many times when we first discovered we were mates—back when things were simple and my fated mate still wanted me. That had been the last time I offered someone this kind of comfort. I didn’t know what I expected to happen now, but I certainly didn’t expect it to work.

With a shuddering breath, Gavin’s body slowly relaxed. The glow in his eyes dimmed, replaced by a rare softness—an unexpected vulnerability that took my breath away. Our eyes met for the briefest second before he turned back to his mother, now completely composed.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to growl, Mother,” he said.

Her eyes darted between us, growing even wider. Her expression shifted, thoughtful and almost intrigued.

“Interesting,” she murmured, taking in the moment that had just unfolded before her.

“I won’t allow her any access to him. He’s no longer her son—she gave up all her rights, and I signed the adoption certificate years ago. He is legally my son, and I know what’s best for him.”

That surprised me. I hadn’t known Gavin had actually adopted his nephew, making Matthew not just his nephew, but his legal son. It made sense, though. Without official adoption, it would’ve been impossible to keep the truth about Matthew’s parentage hidden.

Donna opened her mouth, possibly to argue, or maybe to surrender and let it go. But before she could speak, one of the maids entered the parlor and bowed her head politely.

“Dinner is being served in the dining hall,” she announced.