Chapter 514: Not So Easy to Deal With

Hayley’s POV:

From outside the bathroom, Irving’s mocking voice carried through the door. “Hayley, why are you up so early? You were so tired last night; you should have slept in.” His tone dripped with arrogance, the kind that made my blood boil. With a seething expression, I glared at the door, wishing I could release Hera and dig my teeth into his neck. Yet, the wolfsbane coursing through me left Hera weak and unable to take over. Even without his wolf, the unmistakable aura of witchcraft surrounding Irving made it clear he had struck a deal with a witch, making him far from defenseless.

I forced myself to calm down, carefully checking my body. To my relief, there were no signs of mating. A small breath escaped me, but I could not relax completely. How could I know for sure that nothing had happened between us? After a moment of thought, an idea formed in my mind.

Irving’s POV:

I leaned casually against the bathroom door, listening intently to the faint sounds inside. Then, the sharp sound of glass shattering made my heart lurch. What was she doing in there? Had Hayley done something drastic? Though I knew she was not one to give in easily, a pang of panic hit me.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Hayley?” I pounded on the door, my voice losing its usual arrogance. “Can you hear me? Open the door, Hayley!”

Silence.

My patience snapped, and I took a few steps back, bracing myself to kick the door down. Whatever was going on in there, I was not about to wait to find out. I was gathering my strength to force the door open when it creaked open from the inside. Hayley stepped out slowly, wearing a dress stained with blood near the hem, the vivid red stark against the fabric. Before I could process what I was seeing or ask what had happened, she collapsed to the floor. I immediately knelt beside her, supporting her limp body in my arms. Shaking her gently, I tried to wake her.

Panic clawed at me as I instinctively reached out, touching the blood on her leg. My fingers came away stained. Human blood. “How could this be?” I murmured, confused. “I didn’t…” I had not touched her, so where had the blood come from? The possibility hit me like a bolt of lightning—could Hayley have been pregnant with Benjamin’s child? Was the jostling on the journey yesterday enough to cause a miscarriage? The thought stirred a twisted sense of satisfaction within me. If that child were gone, I could have her all to myself.

Hayley’s POV:

From the moment I saw Irving’s reaction, I was certain—nothing had happened between us last night. However, I did not let him know I was awake just yet. If there was even a sliver of humanity left in him, maybe he would take me to the hospital. I could use that as my chance to escape.

I was clearly too optimistic. Irving did not even consider taking me anywhere. Instead, he placed me on the bed, retrieved a first-aid kit, and prepared to treat me himself. Disgust churned in my stomach. The thought of him touching me made my skin crawl.

I opened my eyes abruptly, pushing myself to sit up at the edge of the bed, putting as much distance between us as I could. “Why so nervous?” I asked, my tone sharp and mocking. “It’s just a scratch on my leg. No need to bother yourself.”

Irving’s face darkened. Realizing what I was doing, his anger flared. He threw the gauze onto the floor, muttered something unintelligible, and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

As the echoes of the door reverberated through the room, I took a moment to examine my surroundings. It was a space clearly designed for confinement—no windows, no sharp objects, just a bed and a small bathroom. Unless Hera regained her strength and recovered from the wolfsbane, escaping from here would be nearly impossible.

At the same time, both Benjamin and the Carsons received a set of photos sent by Irving. Among them were images of Hayley lying unconscious after being poisoned with wolfsbane and staged “intimate” photos of her and Irving in bed. Along with the photos came a threatening letter. The two elderly members of the Carsons were so shocked they nearly fainted, but thankfully, Hayley’s assistant, Thomas, arrived just in time with Claudio, preventing a full-blown crisis. In their panic, the Carson elders and Thomas even considered revealing Hayley’s Alpha identity to rally all the beta enforcers for an attack on Irving.

Meanwhile, Benjamin faced a different battle. Irving’s letter demanded he transfer all his Southwell Group shares and assets or risk Hayley’s life. He rushed back to the Midnight Pack that very night, where his employees had already prepared all the necessary documents. Lawyers stood by, waiting for him to sign and finalize the transfer. Time was against him as Benjamin entered the office, ready to hand over everything for Hayley’s safety. However, just as he sat down to begin the notarization, Odessa suddenly burst into the room, dragging her frail body through the door!