TRADING MY CHEATING HUSBAND FOR THE LYCAN KING novel Chapter 48

CHAPTER 30: GOOD BYE, MOTHER–2

Claim

Devika opens her mouth–probably to hurl more venom, more threats, more of the poison she’s been feeding me my entire life–but Queenie steps forward, her expression pleasant

and her voice icy.

“Security is already on its way,” Queenie says. “I’d leave before they arrive, if I were you. Knox Volkov isn’t known for his mercy toward people who upset his partner.”

For a moment, Devika looks like she might argue. Then her eyes flick to the two uniformed guards approaching from the spa entrance, and something like survival instinct kicks in.

She snatches up her shopping bags–the ones I apparently just paid for–and stalks toward the exit, her heels clicking furiously against the marble.

“You’ll regret this,” she throws over her shoulder. “Mark my words, Ember. You’ll regret this.”

And then she’s gone.

I stand there shaking, tears still streaming down my face, the black card clutched in my white–knuckled grip.

Queenie’s arms wrap around me from behind, holding me together when I feel like I’m about to shatter.

“You did the right thing,” she murmurs into my hair. “You did exactly the right thing.”

“Then why does it hurt so much?”

“Because she’s your mother. Because you wanted her to be different. Because some part of you still hoped she’d finally choose you.” Queenie’s arms tighten. “But she was never going to, Em. Some people only know how to take. And you deserve someone who knows how to give.

I close my eyes and let myself be held.

An hour later, Queenie and I are sitting on the spa’s outdoor terrace, wrapped in cashmere blankets, drinking wine that costs more per glass than I used to spend on groceries for a week.

The view is stunning–mountains and snow and that frozen lake that looks like something out of a fairy tale. Christmas is beautiful out here.

I should appreciate it more. Instead, I’m just tired. Bone–deep, soul–weary tired.

“Everyone’s talking about you, you know,” Queenie says conversationally, swirling her wine.” You’re the hottest topic at the Summit. More interesting than the actual political discussions.

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* CHAPTER 30. GOOD BYE, MOTHER–2

Claim

“Great. That’s definitely what I wanted.”

“Some people think you and Knox are real,” she continues. “Some think it’s a rebound from Rayana. Some think it’s purely political and you’re just convenient.”

“What do you think?”

Queenie looks at me for a long moment. “I think you’re both idiots who are so scared of getting hurt that you’re hurting each other instead. But that’s just my opinion.”

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