Chapter 19

As the judge left the courtroom, Rowan immediately approached me just as I was about to leave.

“Samantha, you still have a chance to return to me,” he said. “We can start over, and I promise I will be a better person for you.”

I glared at him, feeling disgusted with my soon-to-be ex-husband. “You’ve said those words hundreds of times, but it is nothing more than an empty promise.”

Rowan’s jaw clenched, but he forced a smile, trying to keep his composure. “This time I mean it, Samantha. Look, I know I’ve made mistakes, but don’t let the people around you manipulate you into thinking I’m the enemy.”

I raised an eyebrow and scoffed. “The only person manipulating me is you, Rowan.”

Rowan raised his hand to touch my face. But before he could put his fingers on it, someone pushed him away.

“Back off, Rowan.” Zephyr glared at him.

Rowan stumbled slightly but quickly regained his balance. His eyes narrowed as he looked at his uncle. “She’s still my wife, so why can’t I touch her?”

Zephyr gritted his teeth, looking like he was trying his best not to punch Rowan in the face in the courtroom. “She’s my mate now. If you hurt her, every werewolf in the Silverclaw pack will come after you.”

“Is that a threat?” The corner of Rowan’s mouth lifted slightly. “My dear uncle, did you just threaten me? Hey, Mr. Anders, you have to take note of this!”

Zephyr’s face darkened further, his patience clearly reaching its limit. He took a step toward Rowan. “This is not a threat, Rowan. It’s something I will do if you dare to hurt Samantha again.”

“You scare me, uncle.” Rowan taunted him with a smile. “Do you think my father would let you hurt his only son?”

Rowan’s father—Raymond Fell—was not only the Alpha of the Blood Creek Pack but also the Governor of Suncreast City, a position that was crucial to both werewolf and human society.

He was also the intermediary between the human government and the Nocturnal Order, so many believed Raymond to be untouchable on both sides.

“Your father means nothing to me,” Zephyr said confidently. “He may hold the politics, but I’m the one who runs the economy in this country.”

Raymond might control the law and business in Suncreast City, but Zephyr’s investments extended throughout Hamary Country, even into the Nocturnal Order’s covert operations.

So in his eyes, Rowan’s talk was nothing more than a kid’s bluff.

Rowan wanted to say something else, but I had already pulled Zephyr away. “Don’t talk to him anymore. He’s not worth your time.”

Besides, I didn’t want him arguing with Rowan in the courtroom and making things worse.

Zephyr let himself be led away, but his eyes never left Rowan. Veronica stood beside her son the entire time, but she didn’t say anything except to give Zephyr her fierce glare.

It seemed that Veronica was beginning to notice her son’s misdeeds, but she refused to believe in those things.

I gripped Zephyr’s arm tightly as if to tell him not to fall into Rowan’s provocation.

“You’re right.” Zephyr finally turned his eyes to me. “He’s not worth my time. But if he crosses the line again, I won’t hold back.”

I tightened my grip on him. “No. I don’t want you to get into trouble because of him.”

Zephyr’s expression softened as he looked down at me. My concern was evident in my eyes because I didn’t want Rowan to bring chaos into his life.

He placed his hand on my head and patted it gently. “Don’t worry,” he said, “I know how to deal with people like him without touching them. Rowan has a perfume business, right?”

I nodded. “Why?”

Zephyr smiled. “Just asking.”

I sensed something suspicious in his tone, but I remained silent. I had forbidden him to hurt Rowan in the courtroom, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t be happy to see Rowan finally get what he deserved.

After all, my ex-husband deserved more than a slap on the face.

“Zephyr,” I said carefully, “whatever it is, just ... make sure it’s legal, or at least it won’t cost you to jail.”

Zephyr laughed softly, then opened the car door for me. “No one can put me in jail.”

Before I got in the car, I heard someone call my name.

“Mrs. Cole!”

I turned to see Carla running toward me. She was out of breath, but clearly determined to catch me before I left.

“Carla?” I asked, stepping back from the car. “Why aren’t you with your bodyguard?”

Honestly, I had been trying to avoid Carla and not meet her face-to-face ever since Zephyr had brought her to this city. It was because I felt guilty for not being able to help her when Rowan sent her away.

“I just want to see you, Mrs. Cole.” Carla stood before me, catching her breath before smiling broadly at me. “All this time I couldn’t stop thinking about you and I was afraid I was going to hear bad news about you.”

She continued, “But it looks like, I don’t have to worry anymore.”

I froze. Even though Carla had experienced so many bad things because of me, she still cared for me.

How could she? How could someone care about me so much?

“Carla, I’m sorry ...”

“It wasn’t your fault, Mrs. Cole.” Carla held my hands. “We both suffered, but you suffered more than I did, ma’am.”

She looked at Zephyr and me in turn. “I’m so glad to see you getting better now, Mrs. Cole.” Carla smiled warmly. “I truly hope you’ll get the happiness you deserve.”

Happiness? Would I be able to find true happiness in my life?

My trauma still ran deep in my heart, making me unable to live without thinking of my past self.

How could I feel happy when my heart was still bleeding?

“Thank you, Carla.” My eyes softened and I tried my best to put a smile on my face. “Thank you for everything. Without you, I’d never be able to survive alone in that hell.”