Jealousy Alpha's Regret novel Chapter 102

Jealousy Alpha’s Regret

Chapter 102

Iris’s POV

“So that’s it. No more pretending to be mates.” I tried to keep my

voice neutral, but a hint of bitterness crept in.

Sebastien’s face remained impassive as he replied, “From this point

forward, we have no pack connection whatsoever.”

“Don’t worry about that,” I said quickly. “I’ll be leaving Crescent

Design on my own.”

Something flickered in his eyes then–satisfaction? Amusement? It

vanished before I could identify it.

“Suit yourself,” he said coldly. “For now, that would be for the best.”

The way he emphasized “for now” sent an involuntary chill down my

spine. It sounded more like a temporary concession than a final

goodbye.

With that, he turned and walked to his car without looking back. I

watched him drive away, feeling oddly hollow despite getting exactly

what I’d wanted for so long.

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“Sebastien,” Iris’s voice came through, sounding uncertain. “About the

paperwork for the werewolf council…”

“Tomorrow morning at nine,” I cut her off. “Same place as last time.”

I hung up immediately, not giving her a chance to say anything else.

Ethan was still holding my collar, but his grip had weakened,

confusion evident in his expression.

“That was rude,” he said, finally releasing me and stepping back. “But

then again, you’ve never treated her with the respect she deserves.”

I straightened my collar, taking my time. “You seem to think you

know a lot about my relationship with Iris.”

“I know enough,” he said, his mouth curving into a satisfied smile.

“And soon, knowing your marriage is officially over will be public

knowledge. Everyone will know she’s available.”

I watched him turn to leave, that smug confidence in every step.

“Good luck with your divorce proceedings tomorrow,” he called over

his shoulder. “I hear the council chambers can be quite cold this time

of year.”

As he walked away, I allowed myself a small, cold smile. The poor

bastard actually thought he’d won something. He had no idea that

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Chapter 102

knocking lightly on the door.

“Come in,” his voice called from inside.

Marcus sat behind his desk, papers spread out before him. He looked

up and smiled warmly as I entered.

“Iris, thank you for coming. Please, sit down.” He gestured to the chair

across from him. “How’s the internship going?”

“Fine,” I said noncommittally, not wanting to get into the politics and

drama at Crescent Design.

He nodded, seeming to understand my reticence. “I have some news I

thought you’d want to hear in person.” He slid a folder across the

desk. “The academy has approved my research proposal for innovative

materials in werewolf–safe jewelry design.”

I flipped through the pages, impressed by the scope of the project.

“This looks amazing.”

“There’s more,” Marcus continued, his eyes bright with excitement.

“I’ve taken the liberty of submitting your name for the 32nd North

American Jewelry Design Competition. Your work has always been

exceptional, and I think this would be an excellent opportunity for

you.”

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My heart skipped a beat. The competition was prestigious, attracting designers from across the continent. “You did what? Marcus, I don’t

know what to say.‘

“Say you’ll participate,” he urged. “Your talent deserves recognition,

Iris.”

A genuine smile spread across my face. “Thank you. I’d love to. This is

exactly what I need right now–a chance to prove myself away from…” I trailed off, not wanting to mention Sebastien or the Grey family

influence.

“Away from certain complications?” Marcus suggested tactfully.

“Exactly,” I agreed. “This is perfect timing, actually. I could use a fresh

challenge.”

After promising to visit the academy more regularly and discussing the competition details, I left feeling more optimistic than I had in weeks. This was a chance to focus on my career, to build something for myself and my baby.

When I returned to Crescent Design after lunch, I immediately sensed something was off. The receptionist at the front desk gave me a

strange look–part pity, part curiosity.

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“Is everything okay?” I asked her.

“Oh, yes,” she said quickly, her eyes darting away. “Everything’s fine.”

In the elevator, two junior designers fell silent when I entered, then

exchanged meaningful glances. My wolf senses picked up on their

discomfort, the subtle shift in their scents indicating awkwardness.

What the hell is going on?

As I walked toward my desk, I noticed several colleagues watching me

with expressions ranging from sympathy to morbid fascination. I kept

my head high, refusing to show any reaction to their obvious

scrutiny.

Lisa approached as soon as I sat down, her face concerned.

“Iris, how are you feeling?” she asked in a hushed voice.

“I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”

More coworkers were gathering nearby, pretending to work while

clearly eavesdropping.

“Well, after what you went through…” Lisa hesitated, looking

uncomfortable. “It must have been difficult.”

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“What exactly did I go through?” I asked, my suspicion growing by the

second.

Lisa blinked in surprise. “The… procedure. Megan told everyone you

had to take time off for a… you know…” She lowered her voice to a

whisper. “An abortion.”

My blood turned to ice, then immediately boiled with rage. Of course.

Megan decided to spread some twisted rumours about me.

ure my

I stood up, making voice would carry across the open–plan

office. “If I had gone through an abortion, do you really think I’d be

back at work the

sam

day?”

A heavy silence fell over the office. I could see realization dawning on

several faces as they processed the logical inconsistency in Megan’s

story.

“Megan lied to you,” I continued, my voice steady despite my anger.

“Again. I think you’re all smart enough to figure out why.”

As I sat back down, I caught a glimpse of Megan watching from her

office, her expression dark with frustration. I allowed myself a small

smile of satisfaction.

Nice try, Megan. But your games aren’t going to work anymore.