Jealousy Alpha's Regret novel Chapter 173

Chapter 173

Iris’s POV

I stared at Catherine’s fingers wrapped around my arm, her perfectly manicured nails digging into my skin. Something inside me snapped. After years of tolerating her manipulation, her fake tears, her constant undermining–this was it. My breaking point.

“You can’t just walk away from me!” Catherine’s voice had transformed completely from grieving mother to demanding tyrant. ‘You can t be this cold. I’m your mother!”

I instinctively checked in with my wolf and the little life growing inside me. Both seemed fine, just irritated at Catherine’s touch. Good. That meant I didn’t have to hold back anymore.

With a swift movement, I yanked my arm free from her grasp, watching as surprise flickered across her face. She wasn’t used to me fighting back. Well, she’d better get used to it.

“Still putting on a show, I see,” I said coldly, watching as she quickly rearranged her features back into the devastated mother act. God, she’d been playing this role for so many years, you’d think she’d be better at it by now.

Kim rushed to Catherine’s side, her eyes suddenly brimming with tears as she stumbled against her mother. I couldn’t help but laugh–a short, humorless sound that caused several bystanders to step back.

“Finally, some real tears,” I said, my voice carrying clearly through the now–silent lobby. “Amazing what actually getting pushed can do, huh?”

Catherine steadied Kim, then turned to me with that familiar look of righteous indignation I’d seen a thousand times before. “What are you doing? This is your sister!”

My stomach churned with disgust. She was still at it, still trying to paint me as the unreasonable one. Still expecting everyone to believe her performance. The crowd around us shifted uncomfortably, some people clearly confused by the dramatic shift in Catherine’s behavior from sobbing victim to aggressive accuser and back again.

1 took a deep breath and walked toward them, measuring each step. My mind was clear now, I knew exactly what I wanted to say, what I

needed to do.

“You know what? I’ve had enough.” My voice was steady, calm. Much calmer than I actually felt. “You’ve been playing this game for years, and I’m done.”

Catherine’s eyes widened slightly. This wasn’t part of her script. I was supposed to either crumble under guilt or storm off in frustration, giving her more material for her victim narrative. Instead, I moved closer.

“Since you came all this way to make a scene, I continued, “I might as well give you what you came for.”

Without hesitation, I raised my hand and delivered a stinging slap across Catherine’s face. The sound echoed through the lobby, followed

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Chapter 173

by collective gasps.

“That’s for years of embezzling Stone family assets,” I said evenly, watching a red mark bloom on her cheek. “Every penny you siphoned into your personal accounts while my father was dying.”

Before Kim could recover from her shock, I turned and slapped her too–not as hard, but enough to stop her fake crying instantly.

And that’s for your pathetic performance and threats today,” I told her, feeling a slight sting in my palm but no remorse whatsoever.

The lobby had gone completely silent. I could practically feel dozens of eyes on us, could smell the shock and fascination pouring off the onlookers. Someone was definitely recording this on their phone. Good. Let them.

Catherine recovered first, her hand pressed against her reddening cheek, all pretense of maternal concern vanishing as rage twisted her features.

“How dare you?” she shrieked, her voice cracking. “After everything I’ve done for you! You ungrateful little bitch, we came here for the

money you owe us! You have to give it to us right now!”

I couldn’t help but smile. “There it is. Finally showing your true colors, Catherine? No more ‘heartbroken mother‘ act?”

Her eyes darted around, suddenly realizing how many witnesses were watching her transformation. She’d slipped, revealed too much of

her real intentions.

Kim tried to salvage the situation, stepping toward me with her hand still pressed to her cheek. “Iris, please don’t be like this,” she

whimpered, her voice honey–sweet again. “We’ve hit some rough times, and we’re family. You don’t have to be so cruel.”

I raised an eyebrow, studying her. “Still trying, Kim? Really? I just caught you both in the act, and you’re still going with this?”

I glanced around, noting several phones pointed in our direction. “I wonder if anyone got that slap on video? The part where I hit you

both, I mean.” I watched their expressions shift to panic. “It would be awful if that footage got out, wouldn’t it? People might see how you

really reacted afterward.”

Kim’s face went pale as she backed away from me. For once, I was seeing a genuine reaction from her–fear. She knew exactly what I

meant. Catherine’s mask had slipped badly, revealing her true motives on camera.

“You wouldn’t dare,” Catherine hissed, her voice low now, threatening.

I stepped closer, close enough that only she could hear me. “Try me. I’ve got nothing to lose anymore, remember? You made sure of that

years ago.

Then, louder, so everyone could hear: “If you’ve got such a strong case against me, why don’t you take it to the authorities? Go ahead and

report me for assault. I’m sure they’d love to hear your side of the story.”

Catherine’s eyes darted nervously around the lobby. She was trapped, and she knew it. Any formal complaint would invite scrutiny into

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Chapter 173

their financial dealings with the Stone estate–scrutiny that would reveal who the real thieves were.

“This isn’t over,” Catherine whispered, her voice trembling with rage.

“It is for me,” I replied simply. I turned away, adjusting my bag on my shoulder and walking toward the elevator with measured steps.

Behind me, I could hear Catherine’s theatrical sobs starting again, but they sounded hollow now, unconvincing.

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