Rejected and Pregnant I Fled The Pack novel Chapter 104

Chapter 104

“Was there ever anything resembling actual threat or intimidation, in your dealings with her,” I asked carefully. “Anything she might be drawing from, twisting into something worse than it actually was?”

He considered the question seriously before answering. “I was firm, when I ended things. Clear that I wasn’t interested in continuing, regardless of her feelings on the matter. I don’t believe I ever threatened her directly, but I won’t pretend I was gentle about it either. Given everything happening in my life at that point, I wasn’t particularly concerned with softening the message.”

“That could be a problem,” Callum said carefully. “If she’s building her account partly on your interaction with her, using it to lend credibility to claims about Damon’s conversation as well.”

“I need to speak with the council myself,” my father said, already attempting to shift, though he winced

with the movement.

“No,” I said firmly. “You’re not testifying, not with your heart still this fragile. I’ll handle this myself.”

“Damon-”

“I mean it,” I said, meeting his eyes with steady, determined authority. “I’m not risking another cardiac episode over this. I’ll manage the investigation, present whatever evidence and context I can gather. You focus on actually recovering.”

He studied me for a long moment before finally nodding, some reluctant acceptance visible in his expression. “Alright. But if you need anything from me-written statement, whatever the council might accept without requiring my physical presence-I’ll provide it.”

“That might actually help,” Callum said thoughtfully. “A written statement, properly notarized, could offer some context without requiring the stress of live testimony.”

“I’ll write it today,” my father said, already reaching for the small notepad on his bedside table. Everything relevant-the history, the timeline of ending things, my own interaction with her that might have prompted this retaliation.”

I nodded, grateful for his cooperation despite the obvious physical strain still evident in his careful movements, and left him to work on the statement while Callum and I made our way back toward my office to begin preparing for tomorrow’s hearing.

Evelyn was waiting when I finally made it home that evening, exhaustion and frustration both weighing. heavy after the day’s unexpected complications, and I explained everything as we sat together, Willow settled quietly in her bassinet nearby.

“That’s absurd,” Evelyn said, genuine anger evident in her voice once I’d finished. “She provoked a health crisis and now she’s trying to paint you as the aggressor?”

“Essentially,” I said, rubbing tired eyes. “Callum thinks your testimony about the original hospital incident could help establish context, even if you can’t speak directly to my later conversation with her.”

“Of course,” Evelyn said immediately. “Whatever you need. I saw exactly how she behaved that day, the

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smirk, the obvious provocation. I’ll tell the council exactly what I witnessed.”

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“Thank you,” I said, grateful for her immediate, unwavering support. “I don’t know exactly how tomorrow will unfold, but having your account, combined with my father’s written statement, should hopefully be enough to counter whatever fabricated narrative she’s constructed.”

“It will be,” Evelyn said, with more confidence than I currently felt myself. “The council saw through your father’s manipulation before, when he tried to force us back through enforcers and threats. They’ll see through this too, especially once they understand the actual context.”

I appreciated her confidence, though old anxiety still simmered beneath the surface, understanding how unpredictable council proceedings could actually be, how easily narratives could shift once formal accusations entered the mix.

“I keep thinking about the timing,” I said, working through my own analysis out loud. “She waited until after my father’s second cardiac episode to file this complaint. That has to be relevant somehow, doesn’t it? Either she’s genuinely furious about being restricted and decided to retaliate immediately, or there’s something more calculated happening that I’m not fully understanding yet.”

“Maybe both,” Evelyn said thoughtfully. “Genuine anger providing the motivation, but also recognizing that the timing might make her accusations feel more urgent, more credible, given everything else happening with your family’s leadership right now.”

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