Jealousy Alpha's Regret novel Chapter 196

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Jealousy Alpha’s Regret

Chapter 196

Iris’s POV

The steering wheel felt cool beneath my fingers as I drove away from the Grey family medical facility. My hand still throbbed where Sebastien had gripped it

-the skin red and tender. I flexed my fingers experimentally, wincing at the slight burn.

“Whatever his reasons were, it doesn’t change anything, I muttered to myself, eyes fixed on the road ahead. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the pavement. “The humiliation that day was real. The two years of coldness were real.”

My wolf stirred restlessly inside me, confused by the conflicting signals–concern for Sebastien warring with self–preservation. I pressed my hand against my stomach, a gesture that had become instinctive lately. The tiny life growing inside me needed stability, not the emotional rollercoaster that came with Sebastien Grey.

By the time I pulled into my driveway at Blue Harbor, exhaustion had settled deep into my bones. The house looked peaceful, welcoming–a sanctuary I had created for myself away from the Grey family drama. Inside, I kicked off my heels and headed straight for the kitchen, filling a glass with cold water and drinking it in long gulps.

“Design sketches won’t complete themselves,” I reminded myself, glancing at the clock. Despite everything that had happened today, I still had deadlines to meet,

First, though, I needed to take care of my plants. I filled my watering can and moved methodically around the house, giving each potted friend exactly what it needed. The routine calmed me, as it always did–a small ritual of normalcy in my increasingly complicated life.

“There you go,” I whispered to the African violet on my windowsill, watching the water darken the soil. “At least you’re simple. You just need water, light, and a little attention.”

With the plants tended to, I grabbed my sketchpad and settled on the living room couch. The jewelry design I’d been working on–an intricate necklace with woven gold and small sapphires–needed refinement. I lost myself in the curves and angles, the precise measurements and calculations that made a piece not just beautiful, but wearable.

Design had always been my escape. When Catherine was at her cruelest, when Kim’s jealousy turned vicious, when Sebastien’s coldness cut deepest–my sketchpad had been there, waiting for the ideas that flowed from my pencil like water.

The sharp ring of my phone jolted me from my creative trance. I glanced at the screen, surprised to see Ethan Lowell’s name. My finger hesitated over the answer button.

“He wouldn’t call this late unless it was important,” I reasoned, accepting the call. “Hello?”

“Iris,” Ethan’s voice came through clearly. “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

‘Just working on some designs,” I replied, setting my sketchpad aside. “Is everything okay?”

There was a brief pause before he continued, “I know about you and Grandfather Jack. That you’ve… reconnected.”

I inhaled sharply. “Yes. Just yesterday, actually.”

“I suspected it might be you,” Ethan’s voice softened. “I’ve been investigating for months, trying to find the truth. I needed to be absolutely certain before I told Grandfather.”

My fingers traced an invisible pattern on the arm of the couch. “So you knew? Before Jack did?”

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12:19 pm

Chapter 196

Ppp.

I had strong suspicions,” he admitted. “Your design style, certain mannerisms… they reminded me of old sketches I’d seen of Lily’s work.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. The revelation that I had my mother’s talent was still new, still raw,

Ive spoken with Grandfather, Ethan continued into my silence. “We want to give you something–a gift to make up for the years lost.”

My back stiffened instinctively. “That’s not necessary.”

“Grandfather feels terrible about all the time you’ve spent without knowing your heritage, your real family, Ethan pressed. “You can ask for anything, Iris.”

‘I understand, but… I trailed off, standing to pace the living room. ‘I don’t need anything.”

Ethan’s persistence was gentle but firm. ‘Grandfather is quite insistent. He says you can name anything at all.”

glanced around my comfortable home, at the life I’d built for myself piece by painstaking piece. “Let me think about it,” I finally said. “This is all very udden.

After ending the call with Ethan, I stood by the window, staring at the moon hanging low in the sky. What did I really want? What could possibly make up or a lifetime of not knowing who I really was?

ly contemplation was interrupted by another call. I glanced at the screen and felt my stomach tighten–Catherine Stone.

very instinct told me to ignore it, but some masochistic curiosity made me answer. “What do you want?”

So it’s true, Catherine’s voice was sharp, accusatory. “We already know about your real identity–Lowell blood flowing through your veins.”

ind?” I kept my tone neutral, refusing to give her the emotional reaction she wanted.

Ve raised you for years, invested resources in you,” she hissed. “Now that you’ve latched onto the Lowells, you should give the Stone family something in

turn.”

cold laugh escaped me. “You think I owe you something?”

er wouldn’t want to see the Stone family’s human–world assets completely destroyed,” Catherine’s voice turned threatening. “You should consider

She was right about one thing–my father, despite his flaws, wouldn’t have wanted his family’s legacy completely erased. But…

I said slowly. “My father wouldn’t want to see his work destroyed. But if there’s any protection for the Stone pack, the resources won’t go to 1. You’ve proven you can’t be trusted with them.”

herine’s voice rose, rage evident. “You ungrateful-! We’ll expose your shameful behavior to the werewolf council!”

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