Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 241

Chapter 241

Evelyn

I left my friends behind and made my way through the castle’s winding corridors, each step feeling heavier than the last.

Ten years. It had been ten years since I’d last seen her.

69

The guest quarters for distinguished visitors were lavish-all polished wood and expensive tapestries. I found her room easily enough and stood outside the partially open door, watching.

Arabella sat at an ornate desk, her vibrant red hair cascading down her back exactly as I remembered. Still that same impossible shade of crimson that never seemed to fade or dull with age. She was completely absorbed in whatever document she was drafting, quill moving

with practiced precision across parchment.

That expression. That intensely focused, don’t-disturb-me-I’m-working expression. I’d seen it a thousand times as a child. It always

preceded her waving me away, telling me she was too busy for whatever trivial thing I needed.

The sight of it made something sour twist in my stomach.

I stood frozen in the doorway, uncertain how to begin. My purpose was clear enough—I was here to tell her exactly how much I’d hated

everything she’d forced on me, to finally voice all the resentment I’d never been allowed to express. But actually starting that

conversation? My throat felt tight.

Just as I steeled myself to step inside, she stood abruptly and turned around.

Her eyes found me immediately, as if she’d known I was there all along. A pleasant, diplomatic smile curved her lips-the same smile she

gave to political allies and business partners.

“Evelyn! You came.” Her tone was warm but utterly unsurprising, as if my appearance was merely expected rather than momentous. “How

lovely to see you.”

The casual greeting-after a decade of silence-ignited something hot and furious in my chest.

“Arabella.” I refused to call her ‘mother.’ “I’m your daughter. We haven’t seen each other in ten years. And that’s the best reaction you can

manage?”

She walked toward me slowly, still wearing that infuriatingly calm expression. “Oh, Evelyn. I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist seeing me at least once before you left. You always were predictable in that way.” She reached out as if to touch my hair. “Good girl.”

“Don’t you dare call me that!” I jerked back from her hand.

She let it drop, completely unbothered by my rejection. “My, my. Where’s your emotional control? All those lessons in composure I arranged, and you still react like a temperamental teenager.” She tilted her head, studying me. “Speaking of which-I heard you’re

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14:47 Thu, Jan 22

Alpha’s STOLEN Mate