Chapter 116 116.Cuddlebear
Tabitha’s POV
The next few days pass in a similar rhythm. My mother stays in the hospital for the next four days for observation while I go back and forth to take care of her on two of those days. Alpha Emery takes the other shifts, so we are basically alternating on duty.
Honestly, I don’t like the arrangement, but I’m not about to challenge the man who runs this house. What would I even say to Alpha Emery? Sorry, but I’m not comfortable with you taking care of my mom because I don’t want you to find out she’s spying on you? Yeah, no. I might as well walk up to him and hand over my head myself.
Also, my mom seems to be okay with it, anyway—or at least that’s what her calm demeanor says. Her treatment of her husband doesn’t really change. She’d still smile at Alpha Emery and call him darling just like before. I guess only now, I have learned to see through her show. That the face of a caring wife is nothing more than just a mask she wears to sniff some dirt behind Emery Aldair.
I don’t like it. But you can’t stop a woman who is desperate for revenge. I’ve tried, but my mom won’t change her mind. She’s dead set on finding the Aldairs’ ultimate weakness. I just hope Alpha Emery won’t find out what she’s planning.
The only positive thing is that my mom seems to be getting better. She has her color back and she’s smiling again, although I’m unsure if I’ll ever think of those smiles as truly genuine or just a mask she’s working hard to wear. Although doesn’t talk to me again about what we discussed at the hospital. In a way, I understand. She’s probably wary of ears that might be listening. Especially because the maids stationed to take care of her are she-wolves. Werewolves have impeccable hearing, so talking about anything high-risk would be careless.
Especially after what I found out the day I returned to the estate after going fishing with the brothers…
I notice a group of house helps gathered near Alpha Emery’s study. Boxes and equipment line the hallway and there are a dozen unfamiliar men dressed in black polo shirts—err—uniform? Seems like it. Their shirts have a huge printed name of a famous tech company that I’ve heard of.
What are they doing here?
I stop beside one of the maids. “What’s going on here? Who are these guys?” I ask.
She glances around, a worried expression on her face. “They are here to install cameras around the estate.”
“What?” I gape in shock. “Cameras? Like CCTVs?”
“Yes, miss Tabitha. It’s the Alpha’s orders.”
Holy shit.
“When did our father order this?”
I jump in surprise when Evren speaks behind me. He and his brothers look a bit sweaty as they stride inside the estate. Seems like they just got home from their scouting duty.
“J-Just earlier this morning,” the maid sheepishly answers.
“Did he say why?” Reed demands, frowning as he observes the tech team installing one camera right in front of his father’s study.
The house help shakes her head. “No reason was given. We were just told to follow instructions.”
“The hell is that old man up to again?” Reed grinds his teeth while glaring at the newly-installed cameras.
Jace, Luca, and Evren also look genuinely taken aback by this new development. I guess their father didn’t tell them about the cameras. The Aldair estate is an old structure. I heard it was built in the fifties and only renovated every few years. The architecture is solid and timeless, and for all these years, there was no reason for cameras or anything like that. This is an Alpha’s domain. And arguably the most powerful Alpha on the island, so why would they need CCTVs when no one would be stupid enough to do something foolish inside the Aldairs’ territory?
Except my mom did. She stole that file from Alpha Emery’s office and he has probably realized it by now. He probably thinks there’s a traitor among his people, so he resorted to installing these cameras.
I knew it. Alpha Emery is making a move.
“I think he’s finally going senile,” Jace spits.
I stay quiet.
The days that follow that feel heavy. Everyone in the estate seems tense. The maids and other staff whisper more often, but they’re not the usual lively gossip I used to hear. This time, they look on edge.
The days that follow feel heavy. Everyone in the estate seems tense. The maids move more quietly now and their usual chatter fades into low murmurs. Even the air feels watchful, as if the walls themselves are listening.
One afternoon, I pass by the garden and catch a fragment of conversation between two maids and the gardener who is trimming the hedges.
“Did you hear what happened to Rina?” one of the maids whispers a little too loudly.
“I did,” the other maid replies. “They say she was dismissed without warning. Just like that.”
The first maid frowns. “People say it’s because Alpha Emery is in a foul mood again. Ever since Madam fell ill, nothing’s been the same.”
“Or maybe it’s something else,” the second maid says, her voice dropping further. “You know how things have been lately. The cameras, and patrols became more frequent recently. Then there was that body they found near the—”
“Enough,” the gardener cuts in sharply, his eyes darting around the grounds anxiously. “You should not be talking about this. Do your work and keep your heads down, or you might be the next ones sent away.”
The maids fall silent at once, and I move on before anyone notices I was listening.
On the fifth day, my mom is finally discharged and brought home to rest. She heads straight to her room to rest. Alpha Emery and his sons are also out, doing some pack stuff so the estate is quieter than usual. By late afternoon, I sit alone with nothing to do and too many thoughts circling my head.
I feel like either my mind will explode from overthinking or I’ll die of boredom. Sighing, I take out my phone and consider hitting up Evelyn and ask her if she wants to go to the mall or something to kill some time.
But as I scroll through my contacts, my thumb stops on Andrew’s name. Oh, crap. I just remember that I have not spoken to him since the Tropical Thunder Circuit! Shit, I got too caught up in a lot of things that I totally forgot to catch up with him after the race. I let out a slow breath and realize that over two weeks have passed since that night at the yacht. Guilt settles in as I stare at the screen, and then I type out a message.
Me:
Hey, Andrew. Sorry I didn’t get to hang out with you after the circuit. A lot of things came up and I kind of disappeared.
Me:
You probably already left the island by now, but I just wanted to say I hope you got back safe.
A few minutes pass before my phone lights up again.
Andrew:
It’s okay. I figured you got busy.
Andrew:
And actually… I’m still on the island. :)
I set my phone down and stare at the ceiling, half-expecting him to leave me on read. I tell myself it’s fair if he does. I deserve it. A minute passes. Then another. I reach for my phone again just as the screen lights up.
Me:
Wait, really?!
Andrew:
Yeah. I ended up staying a bit longer.
I sit up on the couch, my curiosity stirring.
Me:
Are you planning to stay until the end of summer?
Andrew:
Maybe. It’s a long story, but I can tell you about it when we hang out again.
Andrew:
I mean if you’re free, that is.
I feel a pinch of guilt settle in my chest. I really did vanish on him without a word. I think I owe him a lunch or something!
Me:
If you’re free, do you want to meet up tomorrow? I know a nice café near the market.
Andrew:
That works for me. :)
Me:
Awesome. Let’s meet up at the market at around… 11AM?
Andrew:
Sure. See you. :D
A small smile tugs at my lips as I set my phone down. I decide to skip going out tonight and just eat something light before heading to bed. I do some light scrolling through social media to feel sleepy. Damn, with everything that’s been going on since I got here, this is honestly the first time I’ve even had the headspace to open an app and actually scroll.
It doesn’t take long until I finally feel sleepy enough to doze off.
It lasts until the quiet of dawn, when a strange warmth at my back pulls me out of sleep. I shift, confused, and turn over.
To my shock, Jace is there, stretched out on my bed, fast asleep, one arm wrapped around my pillow like he claimed it sometime in the night.
What the… what is he doing in my bed?