Chapter 81

Judy’s POV

I was about to protest that I couldn’t just leave with him without others being suspicious. But before I could utter a single word, there was a knock on the door. My entire body tensed, and I felt my cheeks burning hot. Gavin didn’t seem to be as worried because he backed away from me and then he winked. It made my cheeks burn even more and I wanted to jump in front of him to keep him from opening that door, but it was too late.

He swung open the door, and my mother stood on the other side with wide eyes. She stared up at Gavin, her body trembling before her eyes found mine.

“Judy, sweetie,” she breathed as she brushed past Gavin and entered the bathroom. “Are you okay? What happened to you?”

“It’s okay,” I rushed out, not wanting her to worry. “I’m okay. Gavin patched me up. I’m good as new.”

I showed her my hand and she cradled it gently, tears filling her eyes. I knew my mother was aware of what was going on with me, but she was pretending that everything was okay, acting as if she wasn’t seeing or hearing things through the grapevines. I couldn’t blame her; she was only doing all of this for my father. She wanted him out of prison desperately and she would do anything to make that happen.

At one point, I would have done the same thing for Ethan.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

“It’s honestly okay, Mom,” I reassured her. “It was only an accident. It happens.”

I hated lying to her, but I didn’t know what else to say to make her feel better. Gavin’s eyes darkened because he knew it was a lie; he saw what had happened and he was furious on my behalf. I gave him a slight head shake as my mother threw her arms around me to hug me; I didn’t want him to reveal my lie.

He sighed and folded his arms across his chest.

“I have a separate mansion in my pack,” Gavin went on to say as my mother untangled herself from my arms. “It’s fully staffed and I’m only there when I have business at the Northern Border. I want you both to live there. There are no stipulations.”

My mother’s eyes widened as she stared up at him; I was at a loss for words. He was offering my mother a way out as well. My heart swelled and tears filled my eyes.

I expected my mother to jump at the opportunity right away, but when she said nothing, my heart began to grow heavy as I stared at her concerned face.

“Alpha, would you mind if I spoke to my daughter alone?” She asked him.

He looked a bit taken aback as well as he met my eyes; I was just as confused. But he soon nodded.

“Of course,” he told her. “Take all the time you need.”

He gave me one last look before he turned and walked out of the bathroom. I looked at my mother and she turned to me with a sad smile.

“Mom, what’s going on?” I asked her.

“Firstly, can I ask you if something is going on between you and Gavin Landry?” She asked, raising her brows.

I was shocked by her question, and I felt my cheeks burning.

“No, of course, there’s not,” I told her, lying once again. “Why do you ask?”

She shrugged.

“He seems to show you a lot of concern. I know you’ve been working in his pack as a tutor and that’s how you know him… but he seems to treat you with a care that seems almost intimate.”

“Nothing is going on,” I said quickly, staring down at my hands. “Is that why you wanted to talk to me?”

“No,” she said, stepping closer to me and taking my hands in hers. “I can’t leave here Judy.”

I sucked in a sharp breath.

“What? Why not?” I asked her, shaking my head, not wanting to believe her words.

She looked sad as she sighed.

“Because then we won’t have the Cash family to help us,” she murmured. “They offered me money to do some housework for them. I get to live in one of their pristine guest rooms and eat with the family, but I’ve been given basic chores. In return, they will give me a large sum of money that’ll help pay off your father’s debt.”

I raised my eyebrows.

“They want you to be a maid?” I asked her, my lips pressing in a thin line. I’ve seen firsthand how they treat their servants, and I didn’t want my mother to be a part of that. My stomach twisted at the very thought, and I suddenly wasn’t feeling too well.

“Not exactly,” she told me. “It’s different because they still treat me like an old friend and a part of their family.”

I shook my head, tears filling my eyes.

“Mom, you can’t be serious. Please, Alpha Landry is giving us a way out of here…”

“Is he offering to pay your father’s debt?” She asked. “Have you asked him?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat; I hadn’t exactly told him about my father’s debt. Of course, he knew I was desperate for money from all those times I’ve tried to seduce him before truly getting to know him… but I never told him of my family issues. I was a bit embarrassed about it if I were to be honest and I truly didn’t want him to know about it.

At least not right now.

My mother could read my expression, and her gaze softened.

“It wasn’t fair of me to ask you to get Ethan’s help, and it wouldn’t be fair of me to ask you to get Gavin’s help. So, I’m doing my part and trying to get help without making our family look pathetic,” she explained. “This is something I have to do. If all goes well, I should be able to get him out of prison in a few months and we can be a family again.”

Tears slipped down my cheeks as I nodded, not sure what else to do or say.

She cupped my face with her warm hands and brought my face up to meet her gaze.

“But I think you should go to that mansion and take him up on that offer,” she continued.

I narrowed my eyes at her.

“What?” I asked, shocked. “I can’t just leave you here…”

“I’ll be fine, sweetie,” she assured me. “But I know things aren’t okay for you here and I don’t want to subject you to any more of this. I know your injury wasn’t an accident and I’m so sorry to put you in this position.”

I shook my head.

“No, it’s okay, Mom. It truly was an accident…”

“You can’t lie to me, Judy,” she told me, releasing her hold on my face. “I only want what’s best for my family and for right now, I think you living in the Landry mansion would be best. Once your father is out of jail, we will get back on our feet. We will get a new home and be a family once again. But until then, I think this would be best.”

I bit my lower lip as more tears slipped out of my eyes.

“I love you,” I whispered hoarsely.

She smiled and wrapped me in her arms.

“I love you so much,” she murmured. “You were the best decision we had ever made. I love being your adopted mother and I’m so sorry this is happening.”

I sniffled and wiped my moist cheeks.

“It’s not your fault,” I assured her, knowing just how true that was.

It was Ethan’s fault; I didn’t trust him or his family and now my mother was a victim to them. There was nothing I could do about it, which was even worse.

After a moment, my mother opened the bathroom door and stepped into the hallway.

Gavin wasn’t anywhere near the bathroom, and I was relieved by that because it meant he hadn’t heard the conversation. I followed my mother out of the bathroom and down the hallway until we reached the parlor; we heard the voices of the Cash family as they spoke every excuse known to man to Gavin about how I got injured.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

When we entered, the conversation started to subside as their attention was fixed on me.

“Oh, Judy, you’re back,” Meredith said as she rushed over to me, acting like she cared. “How are you feeling? How’s your hand? I’m so sorry about what happened.”

“It’s okay,” I murmured, glancing at Gavin who only looked pissed. He could see through it as well and I was relieved by that.

“How about you get back to your room and rest for the evening,” she told me.

I looked at my mother and she gave me a faint smile.

I nodded.

“Okay,” I murmured. “Good night.”

I turned and left the parlor but as soon as I stepped out and the door shut behind me, it reopened and then shut. I turned and saw Gavin following me, his eyes dark with rage.

“You’re living with me whether you like it or not. I don’t want you here any longer,” he told me, fully expecting that I would put up a fight, but I had already made up my mind.

I nodded.

“Okay,” I told him, defeated.

His expression softened and he looked almost surprised.

“Okay, then,” he murmured. “And your mother—”

“She’s staying here,” I told him, stopping whatever he was about to say. “It was her choice. She doesn’t want to come.”

He raised his brows.

“Are you sure?”

“She’s made up her mind, Gavin,” I told him. “But if we leave… you have to promise me that you’ll make sure they treat my mother with respect and kindness. Don’t let this…” I held up my injured hand. “… happen to her too.”

His eyes darkened and he nodded.

“I’ll speak with them,” he said without hesitation. “They won’t lay a finger on her.”

I was relieved to hear that, and I turned to walk back to the servant's quarters, but he grabbed my arm to stop me.

“Pack your things. Beta Taylor will be by tonight to grab you. Tell them you’re staying with a friend going forward.”