Jealousy Alpha's Regret novel Chapter 232

Chapter 232

Tris’s POV

The harsh ring of my phone yanked me straight out of deep sleep. My hand fumbled across the nightstand, knocking over a water glass before finding the vibrating device. I squinted at the too–bright screen: Sebastien Grey.

My stomach tightened. He’d just been discharged from the hospital today.

“Hello?” My voice came out scratchy with sleep as I pushed myself upright.

“Iris…” His voice sounded weak, strained. “I don’t… I don’t feel well.”

I jolted fully awake, already swinging my legs over the side of the bed. “What’s wrong?”

“No…” He paused, breathing heavily. “I just need… could you…”

“I’m coming over,” I said automatically, yanking a sweater over my pajama top. “Just hang on.”

I grabbed the first pair of jeans I found and was halfway to my front door when a thought stopped me cold. The Grey estate was fully staffed with Pack members who knew exactly what to do in emergencies. Why would he call me instead?

My hand froze on the doorknob. “Sebastien,” I said, my voice hardening, ‘where’s Daniel? Or any of your staff?”

There was a telling pause before Sebastien’s voice came through clear and strong, without a trace of weakness. “They’re around. But I

wanted to talk to you.”

The realization hit me like a slap. “You were faking being sick?”

“I wouldn’t say faking. More like… embellishing.”

I closed my eyes and counted backward from ten, feeling my cheeks burn with humiliation. After everything–the hospital, the care I’d given him, the paperwork I’d handled–this was how he treated me?

65

“Sebastien,” I said, struggling to keep my voice steady, “if you’re not feeling well, you have an entire household staff and Pack members who can help you contact a doctor. Don’t call and disturb me.”

“Iris, wait-

I hung up and tossed my phone onto the bed, collapsing beside it. My heart hammered in my chest, now from anger instead of fear. God, I’d been ready to rush out in the middle of the night because I thought he needed me. What an idiot I was.

I glanced at the clock: 2:17 AM. I’d been asleep less than three hours after finally finishing a design sketch I’d been working on. The

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Chapter 232

adrenaline crash left me feeling hollow and even more exhausted.

Why did I still care? Why had I jumped up ready to race to his side at the first hint he needed me? After everything we’d been through, all his coldness and games, I should know better by now.

But I had cared. And that realization stung worse than his deception.

I crawled back under the covers, but sleep wouldn’t come. I just stared at the ceiling, replaying the call and thinking of all the things I should have said. By the time I finally drifted off, dawn was already breaking outside my window.

65

The next time my phone vibrated, it was just past nine in the evening. I’d been hunched over my desk for hours, trying to finish a jewelry design sketch, my fingers stained with colored pencil marks. I was ready to call it a night, wash the stains off, and fall into bed.

I glanced at the caller ID: Blake Thompson. Not Sebastien. I hesitated, then answered.

“Hello?”

“Miss Stone?” Blake’s voice sounded tense, urgent. “Where are you? Are you available right now? Grey sir collapsed at the estate, just like last time. He’s refusing to go to the hospital…”

My stomach dropped. Was this another trick? Another pathetic attempt to lure me to the Grey estate?

“Blake,” I said carefully, “is this real? Because Sebastien called me last night with the exact same story.”

There was a beat of silence. “He did what?” Blake sounded genuinely surprised. “No, Miss Stone, this is happening right now. He was fine one minute, then clutching his chest and falling the next. The household staff is panicking. He keeps refusing medical help and… he’s

asking for you.”

I bit my lip hard enough to hurt, torn between skepticism and genuine concern. If Sebastien was truly ill and I ignored it because of last night’s prank call…

“I’ll be there in twenty minutes,” I finally said, already standing.

“Thank you, Miss Stone.”

I changed quickly, debating the whole time whether I was being an absolute fool. But the memory of Sebastien jumping in front of me to take that bullet kept flashing through my mind. He’d saved my life. I owed him this much.

As I drove to the Grey estate, my hands tightened on the steering wheel. What if this was serious? The silver poisoning could have complications. He’d been discharged too soon, acting tough as usual, pretending he was fine when he clearly needed more rest.

“Stubborn, insufferable man,” I muttered through clenched teeth. But beneath my irritation was real worry that made my chest tight.

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Chapter 232

Despite everything, I couldn’t stand the thought of him suffering.

• )

The imposing gates of the Grey estate appeared ahead, opening automatically as I approached. As I parked and stepped out, that familiar prickling sensation of being watched returned. I scanned the darkness surrounding the property, seeing nothing unusual but unable to shake the feeling.

At least with Dina somewhere nearby, watching over me, I had protection if this turned out to be a trap.

I approached the massive front door and raised my hand to knock. Before my knuckles could make contact, the door swung open to reveal Blake. His expression was a strange mix of concern and something else–was that guilt?

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