HIS DOE, HIS DAMNATION (An Erotic Billionaire Romance) novel Chapter 176

Alaric’s POV:

Anyone who knew Meadow as much as I did could tell when she was lying, and the video chat we had confirmed it all. Something was bothering her, and I would be a fool to not know what it was.

Her sister and aunt had hurt her in ways that no one would expect, and there was no way I could fix that for her-that was what fucking pissed me off. That she was hurting and there was nothing I could do to help her emotionally.

I could solve any physical problems she had, but the mental ones? There were a few things I could only try to change and Meadow’s feeling of guilt wasn’t one of them. No matter what I tried.

But I let her go. I let her end the call so I would give her the privacy that she most certainly needed.

We’d talk about it later, when I got home in a few hours. Right now, there was something else I needed to tend to. Something very important.

A few soft knocks dragged my gaze from my laptop to the door.

“Come,” I said firmly, and almost instantly, my newest assistant poked her head into the office.

“Sir, your mother is here to see-”

“What nonsense is this, Alaric?” Ingrid suddenly cut in, pushing past my assistant so she could step into my office. “Since when does your assistant have to speak to you before letting me in?”

I rose to my feet, walking around the table. “It’s protocol, Mama.” My lips twitched. “You aren’t exactly on my schedule for today.”

Granted, I didn’t let my assistant know she was coming on purpose. I knew that simple act would make my mother furious, and Rosa was good at her job.

Maybe a little too good.

I tilted my head slightly, and Rosa got the message. She stepped back and shut the door, leaving my mother and I alone in my office.

“You asked me to come here, and somehow, I wasn’t on your schedule?”

She looked the same way she always did-platinum blonde hair tied in a low bun, heels making her taller than she really was… I expected nothing less. Nothing deterred my mother.

Not even committing grave sins.

When I didn’t say anything in response, she walked over to me, her heels clicking lightly against the floor.

“You’re upset,” she observed, her brows pulling together. Her eyes didn’t leave my face. “I can see it on your face even though you’re trying your damndest to hide it.”

She could always see through my defenses.

“Of course, you’re upset. It’s why you summoned me here instead of coming to see me.” She continued, stepping closer. ” What’s the matter, mein herz?”

My mother reached out to cup my cheek, and I let her even though I was fucking pissed. Part of the reason was that I’d just started to feel her again, and it was nice.

Another part was that I wasn’t exactly pissed at her for what she did. I was pissed that she thought she could keep it from me. “I should be asking you that,” I finally spoke, making sure to keep my tone leveled. “Shouldn’t I?”

For a moment, she seemed confused as her eyes continued to search mine. And then, it suddenly clicked.

I saw the exact moment it did. Her eyes widened slightly, and her hand moved from my face. She tried to cover it with her poker face, but I had already seen it all.

“You know,” she said matter-of-factly, taking two steps backward.

My jaw ticked. “Did you really think this was something you could hide from me? Did you think I would never find out?”

My mother flinched at my tone. I never raised my voice. Never. Guilt threatened to claw at my chest but my reasoning won. ” He was locked up. He would’ve never been able to hurt anyone anymore.”

Most especially, Meadow.

“You don’t know that,” she scoffed. “People always find their way around in prison. Even if he was never released, he would’ve found a way to hurt us. Maybe even hurt Meadow-”

“Nothing will ever happen to her,” I seethed as a burning sensation rose from the bottom of my stomach to my chest, threatening to explode. “Meadow’s safe. She’s safe, and you just killed her father.”

Frustrated, I combed my fingers through my hair. “Why does this bother you so much? You do not like this man.” When I didn’t say anything in response, she sighed, stepping closer again as she reached for my arm. “You’re worried about what Meadow will think.”

That wasn’t a question.

Meadow was already going through so much. How the fuck was I going to tell her that her father was dead?

“What she doesn’t know won’t kill her,” Ingrid said softly.

I arched a brow at her.

“You’re asking me to lie?” I couldn’t lie to Meadow again-especially not after everything our lies had cost us.

“I’m asking you not to say anything. What she doesn’t know won’t kill her, you understand?” she repeated. “You love this girl so much. I’m sure you don’t want her to be upset.”

My jaw clenched tightly. But as I opened my mouth to give her a piece of my mind, my phone began to buzz in my pocket.

It was Trip.