Chapter 53: The Matriarch’s Fury
Chapter 53: The Matriarch’s Fury
(Matriarch Evelyn’s POV)
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across my sitting room as I paced back and forth. Olivia was three
hours late for our w****y tea–something that had never happened before.
“Bernard,” I called sharply. Any word?”
My faithful butler appeared, his face showing concern. “No, Matriarch. Alpha Ethan’s phone remains
unanswered”
A knot of dread tightened in my chest. Olivia was always punctual, especially for our meetings.
“Get Maxwell Chen on the phone,” I ordered. “Immediately.”
When Maxwell answered, I didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “Where is my grandson?”
“Alpha Stone is in a pack meeting, Matriarch. Shall I have him call you when he’s finished?”
I’d lived too many years to be fooled by such an obvious lie. “Don’t insult my intelligence. Where is Ethan?”
After a pause, Maxwell finally admitted, “Alpha Stone is at the Silvercrest Pack Medical Den with Victoria Frost and her daughter.”
My grip tightened on the receiver. “And where is Olivia?”
His silence spoke volumes.
“I will ask you once more. Where is my grandson’s mate?”
His response was barely audible. The basement of Rosewood Haven, Matriarch.”
The word ‘basement‘ hit me like a physical blow. I remembered finding eight-year–old Olivia huddled in that same basement, covered in rat bites, her eyes wide with terror.
“Get my grandson on the phone,” I demanded, my voice trembling with fury.
“I can’t. He’s with the doctors and has given orders not to be disturbed.”
“How long has Olivia been in that basement?”
“Since early this afternoon,” Maxwell admitted.
“Bernard! Have my car brought around immediately. And summon my bodyguards.”
The drive to Rosewood Haven seemed endless. When we finally arrived, I marched toward the house, my bodyguards flanking me.
“The basement,” I commanded, and they moved ahead, forcing open the heavy door.
The darkness was absolute. One guard found a light switch, illuminating the stone staircase.
“Olivial” I called. “Olivia, dear, are you there?”
A faint whimper answered me, so weak I might have missed it.
I descended the stairs as quickly as my aging body allowed. At the bottom, I found a small form huddled
Chapter 51 The Matiarch
against the far wall, curled into a tight ball.
“Get her out of here,” I ordered, my voice breaking “Now!”
My guards moved swiftly, one gathering Olivia’s limp form into his arms. Her face was deathly pale, her breathing shallow.
“Take her to the Silvercrest Pack Medical Den, I instructed. “And inform Dr. Fletcher that if she doesn’t receive excellent care, he’ll answer to me personally.”
At the medical den, Dr. Fletcher rushed to meet us. “Get her into treatment room one,” he ordered his staff. “And prepare the cardiac equipment.”
“What’s happening to her? I demanded as he attached monitors to her still form.
“She’s experiencing cardiac arrhythmia,” he replied gravely. “Her heart rhythm is dangerously irregular”
“Will she recover?”
“We’re doing everything we can. But her condition was already weakened. This confinement may have pushed her body beyond its limits.”
Fury surged through me. My grandson had knowingly placed his mate in a situation that could kill her.
Hours later, Olivia’s eyes finally opened. “I’m hungry,” she whispered.
The simple statement nearly broke my composure. After everything she’d endured, her first thought was of hunger.
“I’ll have food brought immediately.” I promised.
“Not hospital food,” Olivia added, “Real food. Venison, if possible.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Of course. Nothing but the best for you.”
Her expression grew serious. “I need to ask you for a favor, Grandmother.”
“Anything, child.”
Her eyes held a determination I hadn’t seen since before Lily’s death. “I need your help with Victoria Frost.” (Ethan’s POV)
ching her
The beeping of Emma’s heart monitor had become a constant companion. I sat beside her bed, watching chest rise and fall, relief washing over me as her fever began to subside.
Victoria dozed in the chair opposite me. She’d refused to leave Emma’s side, even to eat or rest.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I slipped into the hallway before answering
“Alpha Stone.” My grandmother’s voice, colder than I’d ever heard it, sent a chill down my spine. “You will return to Rosewood Haven immediately.”
“Grandmother, I can’t leave right now. Emma-
“Is stable and well–attended, she cut me off. “Olivia, however, nearly died today. Because of you.”
Her words hit me like a physical blow. “What are you talking about?”
“The basement, Ethan. You locked her in that basement knowing her history, knowing her fear.”
Charter 54 The Matrime
“She’s fine.” I said, though doubt had begun to gnaw at me. It was just a few hours in the dark.”
“She’s in the medical den with cardiac arrhythmia, my grandmother replied, her voice shaking with fury. “Dr. Fletcher says if we’d found her even an hour later, she might not have survived”
The ground seemed to shift beneath my feet. Olivia, dead? Because of my actions?
Tll come immediately,” I said, already moving toward the exit.
I returned to Emma’s room, finding Victoria now awake
“Is everything alright?” she asked softly.
“I need to go. My grandmother has summoned me.”
Victoria’s eyes widened. “Now? But Emma needs you here.”
“The doctors say she’s stable. Her fever is breaking.”
“But what if it returns? What if she wakes and asks for you?”
I hesitated, torn between my responsibilities. “I have to go. Olivia… she’s in the medical den.”
Something flashed in Victoria’s eyes before quickly disappearing.
“Of course,” she said, suddenly understanding. “You should check on her. I’ll stay with Emma.”
“Thank you,” I said, already heading for the door. “I’ll return as soon as I can.”
(Victoria’s POV)
I watched Ethan leave, my mind racing. Olivia in the medical den? That wasn’t part of my plan.
Emma slept peacefully, her fever having broken hours ago despite my efforts to prolong it.
*TII be back soon, sweetheart, I whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
I needed to see the damage for myself. How badly was Olivia hurt?
As I exited the medical den, two large figures approached from either side.
“Mrs. Frost,” one said emotionlessly. “You’ll need to come with us.”
I recognized them immediately–Matriarch Evelyn’s personal bodyguards.
“I have an appointment,” I lied. “Perhaps another time.”
The guard’s expression didn’t change. “This isn’t a request, Mrs. Frost.”
Before I could protest, they flanked me, guiding me firmly toward a waiting vehicle with tinted windows.
“What is the meaning of this?” I demanded, struggling against their grip. “Do you know who I am?”
They made no response as they pushed me into the backseat. The door closed with a definitive click, and I found myself face to face with Olivia Winters.
(Olivia’s POV)
Victoria’s shock at seeing me sitting upright was almost worth all my suffering. Her perfectly made–up face went slack with surprise.
“Olivia,” she managed, quickly composing herself. “How… unexpected. I thought you were in the medical den.”
Cluster 53 The Matoimely
I smiled coldly. “Disappointed to see me alive, Victoria?”
She arranged her features into concern. “Of course not. I was worried when Ethan told me you were ill.”
“Spare me your act,” I said. “We both know you’re the reason I was locked in that basement.”
The car pulled away, heading toward Matriarch Evelyn’s Villa. Victoria glanced nervously out the window.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she insisted. “Ethan made that decision himself.”
“After you manipulated him,” I countered. “Just like you manipulated that poor man into attacking you and
Emma.”
Fear flashed in her eyes before she could hide it.
“That’s absurd,” she said unconvincingly. “Why would I arrange an attack on my own daughter?”
“Because you knew Ethan would blame me,” I replied simply. “You’ve been trying to destroy me for years. First by stealing my husband’s attention, then by ensuring your daughter received preferential treatment over mine. And when Lily died, you saw your opportunity to replace me completely.”
Victoria’s lips curved into a cruel smile. “And I succeeded, didn’t I? Ethan chose to stay with Emma today
rather than check on you. He loves us, not you.”
Her words were designed to wound, but I felt nothing. The basement had burned away my last hopes
regarding Ethan.
“Did you know I nearly died today?” I asked conversationally. “Dr. Fletcher says my heart almost gave out from
the stress.
Victoria shrugged indifferently. “A pity it didn’t.”
“And yet here I am,” I said, my voice hardening. “While you’re the one being taken against your will.”
Real alarm showed on her face. “Where are you taking me?”
“Somewhere you can reflect on your actions,” I said, echoing Ethan’s words to me. “Somewhere no one will
hear you scream.”
Victoria’s composure shattered. “You can’t do this! Ethan will-‘
“Ethan will what?” I interrupted. “Search for you? Like he searched for me?”
She tried to protest further, but I’d had enough of her voice. I nodded to one of the guards, who produced a dirty rag.
“Gag her,” I ordered.
Victoria’s eyes widened in panic as the guard forced the rag between her lips.
I watched her struggle, feeling nothing but cold satisfaction. The woman who had caused me so much suffering was finally experiencing a fraction of what I’d endured.
The car eventually pulled up to Matriarch Evelyn’s Villa. I stepped out, standing tall despite my weakness. Victoria was dragged from the vehicle, her eyes burning with hatred.
I met her gaze unflinchingly. The time for mercy was long past. Now was the time for revenge
