Se connecterStella's POVFor the first time since our brief time of meeting, that smirk didn't make me feel the complex stream of emotions that came with seeing it.Instead, there was just one. Relief.Anya surged forward, almost lunging herself at the phone, which Eli quickly pulled out of her reach."There's... there's no need for that!" she screeched, jumping up to reach the phone in his hand.The sound was absolutely ridiculous, and knowing the context only made her look even more pathetic."Why not? As you said, she stole money from you. We might as well confirm it."Eli was openly smirking now, clearly amused by the drama playing out before him.Sloan came to his side, forcing a small smile. "It's already sorted out. Alpha Mattias was so kind, he even gave her some money instead of punishing her. There's no need to anger him more by showing Stepmother enter that room with the money."My eye twitched at her innocent tone.The naivety she'd carried since day one was nothing more than an act s
Stella's POVAnya slammed the envelope against me. The contents flew out.I barely had enough time to see the money before her palm came crashing down against my cheek.Matthias stepped forward, his eyes narrowed. "Leave her face. I like her pretty."My chest ached. There wasn't much I expected from him, even as my husband, but knowing that no one in this house would stand by me brought along with it a different, foreign kind of pain."This is the leftover money you got after buying me fake shoes. Did you think I wouldn't notice? I'm not a fool, you little untrained whore.""I didn't put that there. I haven't even entered that room since I got here, and you know it. She's framing me."Sloan gasped dramatically, pressing a palm over her mouth. "Mother-in-law, you can't say things like that. You might be equal to Anya in rank, but she's senior to you by age.""Does age mean I should ignore it when I'm being framed for a crime I didn't commit?" I snapped, glaring at all of them at once.
Stella's POVMy spine stiffened, my eyes still fixed on my so-called husband while his eyes trailed my body hungrily.Without thinking, my eyes darted to Eli, who was watching with so much disinterest that I regretted making eye contact with him.He raised an eyebrow and, to my relief, burst out laughing, stealing his father's attention away from me."Father, you're always claiming to be such a busy man, but you have time to punish your wife for something you know Aunt Anya made up," he said after laughing for a while.Matthias's ears grew red, but he maintained his nonchalant frown. "Right. Her face is still swollen anyway, and I certainly didn't agree to that deal for a busted face."I still stared, unsure of what to do with myself, until Matthias raised an eyebrow and pointed to the door."Well, what are you waiting for? My son doesn't want to see you. The least you could do as his stepmother is honor his wishes."I fought the temptation to talk back. Eli had bought me a way out, a
Stella's POVMy sleeves were rolled up, ready to lunge forward and aim straight for Anya's throat.Then the doors flew open, and Eli came in, his eyes narrowing as soon as he spotted us and the pair of shoes sitting in a pile where Anya had tossed it aside."Eli, thank God you're here!" She dashed to him, fake tears trailing down her faker face. "All I wanted was for her to help me get a pair of shoes from the mall. I'd initially asked Sloan to do it so I could use it as a surprise for this brat when she eventually hosted her gala, but you wouldn't imagine what she did.""I'm guessing I'm supposed to ask now?" Eli said, completely uninterested.His gaze was fixed on me, twinkling like he knew something I didn't."Whatever she says next, she's lying," I mumbled, unsure as to why I cared so much about him hearing me.Sloan stood aside, either buying into Anya's bullshit or being the two-faced psycho I'd deduced her to be after today."She brought me fake heels for the price of real ones
Eli's POVJoel glanced up from where he sat on his couch at the center of the room, his pen hanging off one finger as two omegas, male and female, who looked way too young to be there, danced around him.His expression went from calm, to irritated, and then frightened."Boss!" He was up on his feet in a second, just as those two men charged in."Sorry about him, boss. We'll get him out in a second," the one I'd shoved said, already placing a hand on my shoulder.Jax tutted, stepping aside just as my hand closed over the one on my shoulder, my weight shifting so the man came toppling over me and onto the floor, groans of pain filling the room as bones cracked and separated.The other one pulled out a gun, pointing it at me with a dull frown.Seconds later, Joel was in front of him, the gun snatched and pointed towards him instead. "If you plan on living past today, I suggest you take your big oaf of a partner and get out. Maybe make yourselves useful and get my guest something to drink
Eli's POVThe drive with Jax downtown took an agonising amount of time.My knuckles flexed every now and then, and Jax had to remind me that we were only here to have a 'friendly' chat with this man, and nothing more.Eventually we reached the district, and he parked as carelessly as expected, considering this was my car."Alright then. Still not sure why you care so much about your new stepmom, though. Don't you have, like, a hundred former ones?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.I hummed in response. "This one's hot as fuck and has an attitude too. I'm helping her.""That's disgusting, dude. That's your stepmom. She's fucked your dad and is probably doing it for the money too," he said, staring at me skeptically.I unbuckled my seat belt, staring ahead at the run-down building the loan shark had set as the base for his gang."No, she hasn't slept with him. And from what I can tell, if this man tells me what I want to hear, then no, she didn't marry him for money. Someone else married h







