CHAPTER 15%
Lucas stared at the boutique’s elegant exterior. Every shop they’d visited so far had been a waste of time, and his patience was weaning
thin.
“We need nice gowns,” Clara insisted. “First impressions matter when meeting the Blackthorn heir. If we want her recommendation to Dominic Blackwood, we need to look the part.”
Lucas nodded absently. “The sooner we find this mysterious heir, the sooner I can claim what’s rightfully mine. Alpha position is within our grasp.“!
As they entered, Clara’s eyes widened at the clothing displays. “These are exquisite,” she ran her fingers along a dress.
“Wait” Lucas attention was fixed on a rack of recently retumed items waiting to be restocked. A familiar red dress hung there “Where did you get this?”
The saleswoman glanced at the dress. “Oh, that was part of a collection sold to us recently. A young woman brought in several designer pieces. They were quite valuable.”
Clara stepped closer to examine the dress. “This looks exactly like the one you bought Evelyn last year for the pack gathering. She checked the label. It IS the same one!”
“That’s impossible. She couldn’t be in Blackthom territory. She doesn’t even have the money to travel here, It must be a coincidence.”
Clara nodded quickly. “Definitely a coincidence. She’s probably out there somewhere working as a maid or something pathetic.” She pushed the dress back on the rack. “Let’s look for something else. I can’t bear to have a lookalike of her clothes.”%
Lucas hesitated, still staring at the dress. “Ask for the seller’s information.”
I’m afraid that’s confidential- the saleswoman began.2
“Just describe her Lucas demanded.
The saleswoman paled slightly. “She was pretty, average height, with long dark hair. She came with a friend–very energetic girl. They seemed… close.”
Clara scoffed, “See? It’s not her. Evelyn doesn’t have friends.”
Lucas rolled his eyes but followed Clara to another section of the boutique. “Let’s hurry up. We have more important things to do than shop all day.”
I watched Lucas and Clara browse through the store. They hadn’t seen me yet, thank goodness.
I watched as they talked, smiling lovingly at each other while I was hiding behind clothes like a coward.
“You shouldn’t spy on people it’s not polite, little wolf.” A deep voice whispered in my ear.!!
Without thinking. I whirled around and slapped the face of whoever had snuck up on me. My hand quickly covered his mouth to stop any sound from escaping.
“You again!” I hissed, recognizing Dominic’s amused eyes. “What are you doing here?”
He gently removed my hand. “You didn’t reply to my text, so I had to track you down.”
“Seriously?” I whispered furiously. “Now is not the time!”
Just then, Lucas’s voice carried across the store. 1 bet Evelyn is out there somewhere looking for a job, or maybe cleaning in some dirty motel. She’s probably miserable without me.”
My face burned with humiliation and anger
“Is that your infamous ex mate who hurt you?” Dominic’s eyes darkened as he glanced toward Lucas.X
“No, it’s a coincidence.” I whispered back. “Don’t think much of it. Please just go.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened as he studied my face. “You’re lying. I can feel your distress through our band.“”
“It doesn’t matter I insisted. Just leave before they see you.
But as I tried to shift positions, my elbow knocked against a display of bracelets.X
“What was that?” I heard Lucas ask sharply.8
I was doomed. I spotted a cleaning cart nearby and lunged for the map, positioning myself like I was in the middle of cleaning.}
“Hello there,” I said in a high–pitched voice, keeping my head down and pushing Dominic away so he could escape. He seemed to understand and slipped behind a curtain leading to the back rooms.}
Clara’s eyes narrowed as she approached. “Excuse me. cleaner girl. You missed a spot.
She deliberately knocked over another display which sent bracelets scattering across the floor!
“Opps,” she said with a cruel smile. “Looks like you have more work to do.
Lucas joined her “Don’t waste your time talking to the help, Clara. They’re all the same–worthless.
I kept my head down as I gathered the scattered jewelry #
“Actually,” Clara said, “she reminds me of someone. That pathetic posture, those trembling hands–doesn’t she remind you of Evelyn?”
Lucas laughed. “Every weak woman reminds you of Evelyn. That’s because she was the definition of weakness.”
“You know what,” Clara said loudly, “I should thank Evelyn if I ever see her again. If she hadn’t been such a doormat all those years, you might never have realized what you were missing with me.”
11:20 AM c c
I was done hiding and cowering. Tintentionally raised my head to stare directly into Clara’s shocked face.
Her mouth dropped open. “Oh my god! It really is Evelyn!”
Lucas’s face was filled with shock and anger. “What the hell are you doing here?“%
Clara recovered quickly. “After rejecting him, you still had the audacity to stalk us? Following us all the way to Blackthom? How pathetic!”
I scoffed. “Stalking you? I came here to claim my throne.”
They both burst into laughter as they glanced at each other
“Your throne?” Clara wheezed. “What are you claiming to be? The queen of mops7%
Lucas shook his head. “Someone who only depends on me for everything, now pretending to have royal blood? Not only are you pathetic, but you’re also delusional.
Clara stepped closer, grabbing my uniform and rubbing the fabric between her fingers. This cleaning job suits you perfectly. Evelyn. Finally found your true calling, scrubbing floors and picking up after your betters.
Lucas joined in. “You’ll always be nothing, Evelyn. That’s why I never loved you. How could anyone love someone so worthless?”
Clara held her finger against my cheek. “Poor little Evelyn. So desperate for attention she has to make up stories about being royalty”
I dropped the mop. “At least I wasn’t sleeping with someone else’s mate while pretending to be their friend. Tell me, Clara, how does it feel knowing you’re just his second choice? Maya was first, I was second and you’re just the desperate leftover”
Clara slapped me hard across the cheek. Before I could retaliate, another slap rang out but it was Clare who was clutching her face in shock.
I looked up to see Dominic standing beside me. He’d changed into casual clothes and wore a face cap.
“I suggest you remove your hand from my fiancée,” His voice was deadly calm.
way
to the locker room./
“That’s her…”
“Can’t believe she would do something like that..“1
“Poor Lucas…”
Before I could change into my uniform, Sarah appeared in the doorway. “Evelyn. I need to speak with you Now“:
She led me to her office and closed the door. “You lied to me. I knew you looked familiar. It was driving me crazy until I saw this “%
She turned her tablet toward me. On the screen was a Woll Net post with multiple pictures of me. In one, I was smiling with Lucas at a pack gathering. In another, I was leaving the Silverstone territory with my suitcase. The caption read “EXPOSING EVELYN BENNETT THE TRUTH ABOUT THE WOMAN WHO DESTROYED LUCAS WALKER’S LIFE.“”
The post was brutal, claiming I had driven Lucas’s first mate to suicide, abused him emotionally for years, stolen his money, rejected our mate bond and now was flaunting his wealth in Blackthorn territory while he suffered
BEWARE: She’s unstable, ungrateful, and cannot be trusted!X
My stomach dropped. “Sarah, I can explain-“!
“So you were the wife of the Head Enforcer,” she cut me off. “How could you do this to them? To him? A sacred mate bond, rejected? And you didn’t think to mention any of this when I hired you?”
“It wasn’t relevant to-
“Not relevant?” Sarah’s voice rose. “Every customer in my cafe is talking about it! I can’t have someone like you working here. You’re fired, Evelyn. I’m sorry. I can’t have someone like you working here.“\
I stared at her in disbelief. “Someone like me?!
“Alar. A mate–bond rejector.” She shook her head. Pack your things and leave.”
I walked out in humiliation as people snapped photos of me. By the time I reached my apartment building, I was in tears. But worse was waiting for me.
My door was covered in red paint with foul words: “HOMEWRECKER,“}
*THIEF’S
“MATE–KILLER.” At the bottom was a tag: “L&C – Enjoy your parting gift.”
Inside was worse all my belongings were destroyed, furniture overturned, walls vandalized.
As I stood amid the wreckage, the landlord appeared behind me.!!
“I don’t accept liars, thieves, manipulators, or cheaters in my building.” he announced coldly. “You have 24 hours to leave. Your security deposit will be refunded, minus damages.
I watched in humiliation as people gathered in the hallway, some even taking photos of me standing in my destroyed apartment.
In that moment, I realized I had nothing left. No job, no home, no money and no dignity. Lucas and Clara had taken it all from me, again X
I pulled out my phone and dialed the one number td been avoiding
“Evelyn?” Dominic’s voice answered immediately!!
1 accept your offer” I said through gritted teeth. “Let’s fuck up these bitches!
11:30 AM c d
