Alpha's Regret: Marked By The Lycan King

Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Transactional Warmth

Estelle’s POV

Her words were so cold that I could hardly believe it came from the same woman that I knew. She spoke of me like I was a business venture that should’ve shown some returns by now.

My hands trembled as I continued listening to Dorothy’s rant.

This woman, whom I had looked up to as a grandmother figure, whom I had respected and admired, whom I thought genuinely cared about me, didn’t actually see me as family at all.

All the kindness and warmth she had shown was because she hoped to get something back in return. Unlike Jessie and Ashley, who weren’t able to keep their thoughts a secret, Dorothy Daniels had hidden her intentions perfectly well.

In her eyes, I was just a useful tool—a breeding mare to produce heirs for the Daniels bloodline.

All those years of thinking Dorothy was different from Jessie and Ashley, and all those moments when I believed she truly valued me as a person had all been a lie.

My heart felt like it was cracking apart in my chest. The phone was still connected, Dorothy’s angry voice continuing to spill from the speaker, but I could barely process the words anymore.

I had been so naive. So desperately hopeful that at least one person in that family had genuinely cared about me.

Never had I thought that I was so wrong all this time.

Clenching my jaw, I quickly hit the red button to end the call before turning my attention back to the road. I shifted the gear and started the car, flooring the pedal as I veered back onto the main road.

Then, I pressed a few buttons, and the car’s call system immediately connected to Caleb’s number.

“Luna?” Caleb’s voice came through from the other end.

“I need you to do something for me,” I said, trying to keep my voice even.

As much as I hated to admit it, Dorothy’s heartless words brought me more pain than many other things that had happened in the last few months.

I thought that only Jessie and Ashley hated my guts. For years, I had grown used to their contempt and the way they ordered me around as though I was a servant. I had also served them to my best abilities, half in gratefulness, and the other half because I believed that they might eventually warm up to me.

I thought that if they saw how devoted I was, their opinions of me might change. I loved Asher enough to hope his family accepted me as well.

As such, I had expected such cruel words to come from them. However, never had I thought that Dorothy, the woman who cared and loved for me, sometimes even more than she outwardly expressed to her own biological grandchildren, could say such awful things.

Nevertheless, this made me realize something. The Daniels were all the same. Their family was filled with cruel and selfish people who wouldn’t know kindness and acceptance even if it hit them in the face.

“Are you alright?” Caleb asked. I could hear the frown in his voice. “You sound... off.”

“I’m fine,” I said, clenching my jaw. “I need to know—is Oliver back yet?”

“No,” Caleb said. “But my dad did say that Oliver is scheduled to return tomorrow. He did drop a message earlier to confirm that he will be back by tomorrow morning.”

“Great,” I said. I quickly glanced at my handbag in the backseat via the rearview mirror. “I have something I need him to take care of.”

Kendra had helped me gather some DNA samples from Asher and Finn. Even Hazel’s room hadn’t been properly cleaned out yet. It had been kept as is by Asher, probably because he hoped that she would return soon. According to Kendra, he refused to let the omegas in to clean the room.

Which worked perfectly for me.

Because of that, Kendra was able to get an old hair sample from Hazel. Unless Asher had brought yet another woman home, this should be the correct one.

Ironically, Oliver had been the one to assist in the DNA match between James Harper and me. Now, I needed to trouble him one more time for yet another DNA sample to prove that Finn was indeed Asher’s biological son.

Dorothy’s worry about not having an heir would soon be gone. However, the child’s mother would not be her first choice.

Originally, I didn’t want to drag Finn into this mess. No matter what, he was still a child. This entire situation was a result of his parents’ actions, not him.

However, he had tested my patience time and time again. I had treated him with love even though he wasn’t my biological son, but all he could think of was how I was the villain who tore his parents apart.

Fine by me. If Finn wanted Hazel back so badly, then he would get his wish soon enough. Only, this time, I would no longer be the villain who tore their family apart. Once the Daniels family knew that Finn was actually their son, there would be an uproar.

The call ended just in time. I drove into the garage, handing the keys to the staff after grabbing my bag. I had every intention to drop off the DNA samples at Oliver’s office prior to his return, but stopped in my tracks when I noticed someone at the bottom of the stairs.

“Zayne?”