Chapter 6
Six
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“Lisa, I’m not okay with this p>
My mother shook her head repeatedly. The wrinkles around her mouth deepened. She looked at me with a devastated expression, as if she were the one who had failed to protect me from the world.
“Mom, I’ve told you a million times, it’s not your fault. I’m not a child anymore. No one is forcing me. And besides, he hasn’t chosen me yet Why are we already arguing p>
She wasn’t listening to me. She never listened when worry took over. She moved closer, her gaze scrutinizing mine. The whitish film in her left eye seemed thicker today.
“I can’t let you do this,” she sobbed. “I’ve already lost my marriage. I’m losing my home. And now, to save us, you want to rent your body to an Alpha Lycan p>
Her voice broke on the last word.
“The chances of you getting out of this unscathed are slim, Lísa.
“I’ll be fine,” I said. I reached out to her, but she pulled away, clutching her arms to her chest.
“I just want us to survive,” I continued. “With this money, we can find a better hospital. We can hire specialists. Maybe they can finally operate on your eyes p>
“I don’t care about the operation,” she retorted sharply. She stepped forward and grabbed my shoulders. Her grip was surprisingly strong. “I don’t care about going completely blind. All I want is for you and James to be here with me p>
She studied my face for a long moment. She recognized the look in my eyes. It was the same look I had every time I made a decision.
“You’re as stubborn as your father,” she murmured. “That inflexible side that just can’t be changed p>
I gave her a tired smile. It wasn’t a compliment, but it was the truth.
“Mom, stop blaming yourself,” I said. I took her hands. “This isn’t a love match. Alpha Cameron looked at me like I was just a line item in the accounting during the interview. He barely tolerated the process p>
I squeezed her fingers,
“You taught me how to fight when things get tough. Let me use that now.
Tears trickled down her eyelashes. “I let you down,” she whispered. “Look at me. I have nothing left. The only thing I was holding on to was 30 years of marriage, and it’s all gone. I have no savings, nothing to fall back on p>
She let out a ragged breath.
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“Maybe it was my eyesight. Perhaps blindness drove your father into the arms of a woman who could see him p>
“Stop it, Mom.” I took her firmly by the shoulders. “It’s not your fault p>
She pulled away and walked to the window, staring at the darkening street. When she spoke again, her voice was monotonous.
“We have to tell him p>
“Hell no.” The word was curt. “I won’t tell him anything p>
I folded my arms.
“Did he tell us when he cheated with his secretary? I have lost every respect for him. By the time he finds out, I’ll already be on the other side of the border. If I am even selected p>
I took my suitcase out of the closet and opened it on the bed. The instructions were clear: be ready to leave immediately. Looking at the empty bag, the truth hit me hard. I owned nothing worth taking to a Lycan domain. My sweaters and jeans were no match for the life that awaited
“I don’t even have the right clothes to be around a man like him,” I whispered.
My mother turned away from the window. “I thought you were just a surrogate p>
I froze. I’d been vague about the details. I hadn’t told her the conception had to be natural. I hadn’t told her Alpha Cameron and I were going to sleep together. She saw my guilty look and gasped.
“ Lisa! What are you doing? You can’t sleep with another woman’s mate. She’ll kill you p>
“He asked for this arrangement,” I replied. I zipped up the side pocket of my bag. “If his mate is okay with it, that’s their business. I just want the money p>
She glared at me with utter horror.
“They say she can’t have children, I’m sure she wants an heir as much as he does. ”
She sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. She picked up a shirt and tried to fold it.
“I don’t know him well,” she said quietly. “But I heard your father tell a friend that Cameron is very rich and surrounded by people who want him dead p>
She tried again to fold the shirt, but it wouldn’t do. I took it from her and folded it myself.
“A man like that must have quite a temper,” she continued. “And if you don’t get pregnant soon enough, it could become dangerous for you
“Mom, I’ve not even been chosen yet. But if I do, we’ll leave this house and finally have a life where you don’t have to apologize for existing p>
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Her shoulders slumped. She knew she couldn’t stop me. She stood up and took my face in her trembling hands.
“Come back to me,” she whispered. “Whatever happens, come back p>
I nodded. A lump formed in my throat, making it hard to swallow.
An hour later, the sound of an engine drew my attention to the window. I’d been glued to my phone for forty minutes. My stomach was in knots.
My father’s sedan was parked in the driveway. He was probably there to discuss selling the house or the divorce papers. Then the passenger door opened.
My mouth dropped open. He’d brought his secretary here. To our house.
I tightened the belt of my bathrobe and rushed down the stairs. James was already at the front door. He was yelling, his face bright red.
“You’re a disgrace! You’ve ruined everything p>
Mom was standing behind him. She looked exhausted, drained of blood. Dad filled the doorway. He was wearing a suit, looking like he was getting ready for an important meeting.
“How dare you?” I said. I tried to stay calm despite the heat burning in my chest. “How dare you bring that woman here p>
“Calm down, everyone,” said Dad. He let out a weary sigh. “Why are you acting like I killed someone p>
The secretary stood behind him on the front steps. She looked younger than my mother and half as attractive. She kept her eyes fixed on her shoes, acting as if she weren’t there.
“I want this to end without an argument,” Dad continued. He pointed at the woman. “This is Victoria. We’re in love. As your mother knows, the marriage is over. There’s no point in pretending you can fix something that’s been broken for years p>
James let out a bitter laugh. “It’s nice of you to remember the word ‘family‘ now. You were planning to put us in a council flat. Did you really think we wouldn’t notice p>
My father paled. He didn’t think I’d have access to his phone.
“I saw everything,” I snapped. “I saw the text messages about selling this house. I saw your plan to relocate her while we were struggling in public housing p>
He looked like a child caught in a lie. “That’s not what I meant. I was trying to get my own situation under control before making any other decisions p>
He looked over my shoulder at my mother. His expression hardened in disgust. “It’s all your mother’s fault. She gave up a long time ago. She stopped taking care of herself. Do you know what it’s like to come home to a burden every night p>
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“She went blind, you coward!” James roared. “She stayed here and raised us while you were out with your ugly secretary p>
The secretary gasped in surprise.
“James,” my father said coldly. “I didn’t raise you to be so disrespectful p>
“And I didn’t grow up expecting my father to be a liar,” James retorted. “You bring your lover here and expect a warm welcome p>
“Perhaps we should leave,” the secretary whispered from the front steps.
My father shook his head. “You don’t have to like this, but we can find a solution. We can fit in. I was planning to move you into a smaller apartment while my money problems are sorted
out. ”
James lunged forward. I grabbed his arm and held him back.
“Don’t do it,” I told him. “He’s not worth it p>
“You’ll regret it,” James said to our father. “One day, you’ll see what you’ve messed up p>
“You’re just a child,” Dad replied. “When you grow up, you’ll understand that relationships aren’t simple. Your mother and I don’t love each other anymore. Why stay in a house that makes me unhappy p>
“Because you made a promise,” Mom whispered from the shadows.
Silence fell over the room.
“Because I sacrificed my life for you,” she said. She stared blankly at him. “And because of you, our daughter volunteered to carry a Lycan’s child for money p>
My father paled. He turned to me.
“What?” he boomed. “This is madness! We’ve been talking about the Selection for weeks, but I never imagined you’d be one of them p>
I shrugged carelessly.
“Lisa,” he said sharply, entering the house. “You’re selling yourself to a Lycan like an orphan. You didn’t even ask for my permission p>
“Your permission?” I laughed harshly.
“This isn’t funny,” he barked. “Do you know what the pack will say? That I’m incapable of providing for my own children p>
“Well, are you p>
“I never said I wouldn’t help you. You’re ruining your life because you were offered a check p>
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I stood my ground. “I’m fixing the damage you’ve caused p>
He turned back to my mother. “It’s your fault, Susan,” he yelled. “You turned them against me. You made her a martyr. If you’d been a better wife, she wouldn’t be desperate enough to do this. ”
He looked at me again. “How much is he paying you to risk your life p>
“Five hundred thousand chips,” I said.
The silence that followed was heavy. Even my mother seemed shocked. I’d told her it was enough for a house, but I hadn’t given her the exact figure.
“Five hundred thousand?” James said, his eyes widened like saucers.
My phone vibrated.
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.