Chapter 164: Chapter 164 Rumors and Revelations
Author
The Vance family had been having a terrible time lately.
Selina had consulted with every famous lawyer in the city about her lawsuit. Without exception, they all said the chances of winning were very low.
Alpha Enzo sighed. "If Attorney Patterson would take the case, there might be some hope. But Attorney Patterson only takes five cases a year. Once he’s reached that number, he won’t accept any more."
Anthony grew anxious. "Dad, then you need to find someone to contact this Attorney Patterson! We’ll pay him. Double, triple whatever he asks!"
"Anthony, you don’t understand. Attorney Patterson takes cases based on his personal interest, not money! He doesn’t need money!"
Alpha Enzo looked at his wife once more. "Nadia, this whole situation started because of your daughter. We don’t have to get divorced, but only if you can convince Dominic to back off. Just ask him to help us find Attorney Patterson."
"Exactly, Mom! Look what you’ve done to my sister! It’s all because you spoiled that ungrateful brat! Elara used to care about you most. If you try hard enough to ask her, she might agree."
Nadia felt sick to her stomach. She never imagined her own husband would threaten her with divorce.
But she didn’t want a divorce.
She didn’t want to become a social outcast. She knew that once she lost her status in their elite circle, she could never get back in.
Having grown used to designer clothes and country club memberships, she would do anything to keep her lifestyle.
"Fine. I can only say I’ll try. Whether it works or not, I can’t promise anything."
--
Alpha Zack discovered that every storefront beneath his office building had been plastered with those annoying ads about betrayal and cheating.
Unable to stomach the constant visual reminder, he opted to wear sunglasses to work.
However, his attempt at avoidance backfired when he passed the break room and overheard his employees gossiping.
"Hey, have you noticed Alpha Zack’s been wearing sunglasses to the office every day lately? I heard his wife gave him a black eye."
"What? Isn’t Alpha Zack’s wife that delicate Vance family heiress? She looks too fragile to hurt a fly. You really think she’d hit someone?"
"Come on, does Alpha Zack strike you as the type to be afraid of his wife?"
"Ha, who knows? Maybe our boss got caught cheating. If that’s true, wouldn’t it make perfect sense for an angry wife to throw some punches?"
Fury erupted through Alpha Zack’s veins.
He ripped off his sunglasses and, right in front of the gossiping employees, threw them into the break room trash bin.
"Is everyone so bored that you have time for this nonsense?" His voice cut through the room like a blade. "Have your supervisor report to my office immediately. I need to discuss your work assignments with him."
The employees immediately kept quiet, not daring to make a sound.
But Alpha Zack’s reaction only made the rumors worse.
Even if there were no visible marks on his face, surely he must be using makeup to hide the evidence.
--
Alpha Zack’s streak of bad luck continued without end.
When a former business associate visited the city on vacation and invited Alpha Zack to dinner, he reluctantly agreed.
"Zack, it’s been too long." Luke approached with open arms.
Alpha Zack managed a smile and returned the embrace. "Luke, good to see you."
Luke had brought his wife along for the trip. "Zack, I can’t believe you’re married now. Time really does fly."
"I still remember when you used to constantly fly to London just to see your girlfriend back then."
Alpha Zack’s smile faded. Being reminded of those crazy days now only filled him with regret and self-hatred.
Luke was a talkative companion. After praising the city’s culture and scenery, he asked Alpha Zack to recommend some tourist attractions.
Alpha Zack immediately made arrangements. "I’ll have a professional guide go with you tomorrow. The city’s too big and complicated to navigate alone. You’ll have a much better experience with someone knowledgeable."
"That’s incredibly thoughtful of you, Zack. Thank you."
Luke’s expression shifted as he changed topics. "Do you remember that massive snowstorm last year? You were supposed to catch a flight home but got stuck by the snow. You couldn’t leave until the following day, remember?"
Of course Alpha Zack remembered.
It had been Elara’s birthday.
He’d planned to return home, but London had been hit with an unusual snowstorm. London rarely saw snow, and when it did, there usually wasn’t much.
But that particular day, heavy snow had fallen without warning, completely shutting down transportation.
Alpha Zack couldn’t even get his car out of the driveway. He’d contacted Luke for help, but there was no emergency snow removal service available at night.
Alpha Zack had been forced to give up his plans.
Strangely, by the next morning, all the snow had melted.
"I remember. Why do you bring it up?" Alpha Zack’s tone remained neutral, though something uneasy stirred in his chest.
Luke’s laugh sounded odd. "I only recently heard from someone that it wasn’t actually a natural snowstorm. Apparently, some American created artificial snow as a romantic gesture for his girlfriend. Didn’t expect it would trap you in the process."
He paused. "Pretty selfish, really. Though I suppose since yours was the only house in that area, you were the only one affected."
Alpha Zack’s eye twitched. "Luke, do you remember that person’s name?"
"I believe the surname was Wolfe," Luke said, his pronunciation slightly awkward. "I’m not entirely sure how to say it correctly. Zack, do you know him?"
Alpha Zack’s expression darkened instantly, his jaw clenching so hard his teeth ached.
So it was Dominic Wolfe. Again.
But a year ago, Alpha King hadn’t had any mate.
Which meant he’d deliberately arranged that snowstorm to prevent Alpha Zack from returning home.
Fear ran through him.
How long had Alpha King been planning this? Had he been plotting to take Elara even back when she was still Alpha Zack’s girlfriend?
"Zack, you look terrible. Did I say something wrong?"
Alpha Zack forced his lips into something like a smile, though it felt more like a grimace. "No, not at all. Thank you, Luke."
If Luke hadn’t mentioned this, Alpha Zack might have never known.
The thought made his blood run cold.
Alpha King had been making moves against him for far longer than he’d realized.
