Chapter 73

Judy’s POV

For the last couple of days, the pain continued only at night. It would go on until the morning, but with Gavin holding me almost every night, it wasn’t as bad. I was able to get through it. It made no sense because I’ve noticed Irene around the mansion, she’s been avoiding me… ignoring me when I say hi, or pretending that I’m not around. She spends most of her time in her room alone though and Ethan hasn’t come by once to check on her.

However, the pain intensified. I visited with the pack doctor, and he told me the same thing Gavin and I had already guessed… my fated mate was having sex with another woman and it was damaging to my body and wolf.

After the third day of excruciating pain, Gavin sent someone out to get Ethan. He had to answer for his crimes. He was cheating on Irene, and it was painfully obvious. The only one who wasn’t aware of it was Irene.

Unless she was aware of it and that was why she kept herself in her room.

“We found him,” Taylor said as he walked into the villa, his arms folded across his chest as he motioned over his shoulder. Ethan was being dragged in by a couple of guards and he looked completely out of it. It was disgusting to look at and it made me recoil. I couldn’t believe I was once so in love with this fool. “He was passed out at the pub.”

Gavin curled his lip in disgust as he stared down at Ethan.

“So, that’s what you’ve been doing nightly? Going to the pub? And then What? You find a woman and take her home?” He asked, his voice filled with a rage I had never heard before.

Ethan lifted his head to look at Gavin… it was like he didn’t even register who was standing in front of him, or where he even was.

“Why am I here?” He murmured incoherently. “Where’s Daphnee?”

Taylor ran his fingers thought his hair, looking uncomfortable.

“There was a prostitute with him, and it looked like she was about to take him out of the bar before we got there,” he explained.

I raised my brows and glared down at the man who used to be my mate.

“A prostitute Ethan?” I asked him, dumbfounded. “Seriously? You are better than that…”

At least I thought so. But now I wasn’t so sure… he had done some pretty awful things… but cheating on Irene with a prostitute was disgusting. I shook my head at him, unable to look at him any longer.

“How could you do that to her…” I asked, tears filling my eyes as I thought about how hurt she would be if she were to find out about this.

“How dare you hurt my daughter,” Gavin said through his teeth. “I had given you enough chances, Ethan Cash…”

“It’s possible he didn’t even know what he was doing,” Taylor intervened. “He’s pretty out of it and the lady didn’t seem to care despite her being sober. I think he was more taken advantage of than anything. He’s been spending a lot of money lately and I’m assuming it’s on them. He’s obviously not okay…”

Gavin glared down at Ethan and studied him for a long while.

“If he wants to continue seeing my daughter, he needs to man up and start treating her right. He needs to work on himself and stop this drinking nonsense.”

“I think it’s better if you told him this once he’s sober,” Taylor said, staring down at Ethan who was slumped against the ground, his eyes drifting closed.

Gavin sighed, sounding aggravated.

“Get him cleaned up and have him sleep it off in one of the guest rooms. Irene doesn’t need to know that he’s here right now. It’ll be better that way,” he murmured.

“Yes, Alpha,” Taylor said with a nod as he motioned for the guards to grab Ethan and follow him.

They did so right away and started to drag Ethan up the stairs and towards the guest rooms. As he got further away, I heard him murmuring, “They looked so much like her….”

I furrowed my brows.

I wondered who he was talking about, but my attention was quickly turned when Gavin grabbed my shoulders and spun me around to face him.

“The pain shouldn’t continue after tonight,” he told me gently. “Once he officially mates and marks Irene, it’ll be over completely.”

I nodded and forced a smile.

“How could you still want him to be with your daughter?” I asked him, shaking my head and trying to wrap my brain around what had just happened. “He’s been cheating on her for days… he’s obviously ill, Gavin. Do you really trust him with her?”

He sighed and shook his head.

“Not even a little bit… but Irene… she’s fragile,” Gavin murmured, shaking his own head. “Taking Ethan away from her would destroy her and I worry about what she might do if that happens. She’s my daughter and I only care about her happiness. I just hope Ethan shapes up once it’s time to marry her, so he never hurts her again.”

When I didn’t say anything, his expression softened.

“Plus, Irene is an adult now. I can’t exactly tell her what to do, as much as I want to,” he continued.

“You’re a Lycan chairman, Gavin. Not to mention her father,” I reminded him. “You have every right to tell her what to do.”

“But at the cost of my daughter?” He asked in return. “I can’t lose her, Judy. You out of everyone should know how important family is.”

His words struck a chord inside of me and for some reason, I felt a little hurt. I took a step back from him.

“Of course, I know how important family is, Gavin,” I told him. “Mine is falling apart and I would do anything to get things back to normal, but that doesn’t seem to be happening, does it?”

He furrowed his brows.

“What exactly are you talking about?”

I stared at him dumbfounded. Did he really not know what was happening in my life? Was he that self-centered that he had no idea how badly my family and I were struggling? It was like a slap in the face and reality came crashing down around me. Gavin doesn’t truly care about me… he only cared about having sex and getting his mother off his back. This was the arrangement, so I shouldn’t be surprised, but it still hurt just the same.

I bit my lip, fighting hard to keep the tears away.

“I think I’m going to go home,” I told him, turning away. “My mother is probably wondering why I haven’t been home, and I really don’t want to worry her.”

“Are you upset?” Gavin asked, I could hear the frown in his words.

“No,” I lied. “It’s just been a long day, and you should probably spend some time with your family. They need you more than I do.”

“Judy—”

“I’ll see you later, Gavin,” I said quickly just as I rushed out the front doors of the Villa.

Luckily, the driver was waiting outside and when he saw me running out the door, he opened the back door of the car for me. I smiled through my tears, grateful for Leroy.

“Are you returning home?” He asked me.

I nodded and slid into the backseat of the car. He shut the door and ran around to the driver’s side, getting into the car. Gavin stood at the doorway, watching me as the car drove off. He didn’t bother coming after me and it hurt a little more knowing that he cared so little about me that he didn’t bother to stop me from leaving.

By the time I got home, I was exhausted. I thanked Leroy and slid out of the car. I made my way into the house, and I froze when I saw my mother seated on the couch beside Ethan’s mother, Meredith. They were both sipping on tea and chuckling about something. My heart nearly fell into my stomach when they both turned to face me.

“Well, look who decided to bless me with her visit,” my mother said sarcastically. “Where have you been? It’s been days since I last saw you.”

I blushed and glanced at the ground.

“I’ve been spending the nights with Nan,” I lied.

Both ladies raised their brows; they both saw me leaving the party with Gavin the other night and then neither saw me again after that. I knew they were suspicious after Gavin caused a scene in front of everybody, making it a point to protect me the entire evening.

“So, you’ve made up your mind then?” My mother asked, a flash of disappointment crossing her face. “You are going to be living with her?”

I hadn’t even thought about it honestly; I completely forgot that my mother was planning on selling the house.

“I… uh, I’m not sure,” I told her, glancing at the ground sheepishly.

“That’s too bad,” Meredith said, her eyes flashing with mischief. “We would have welcomed you into our home with open arms.”

“So, it’s official then?” I asked, my eyes never leave my mothers. “You are selling the house?”

She sighed and met my eyes, sorrow in her gaze as she nodded.

“The deal has already been made. Meredith just brought me the contract. One of her friends is interested in the house and purchased it with cash. We are moving in a couple days….”