Chapter 542: Open to Anyone

Hayley’s POV: 76% +8 Pearls

Hera’s anger surged within me, fierce and sudden, a storm waiting to break. For a fleeting moment, I found myself longing for the Shadow Pack’s estate. If we were there, my warriors would have swiftly subdued her, bound her up, and administered punishment the moment she had the audacity to step inside uninvited.

“Ms. Carson, it’s been quite some time. Do you remember me?” Freya called, her eyes locking onto mine with calculated intent. She strolled into the room, her presence filling the space with careless authority, as though the world revolved around her.

I didn’t respond, my mind wandering elsewhere. Should I send two beta warriors to guard the door, protect Grandpa and Grandma? I couldn’t let anyone think they could simply stroll into my territory without consequence.

Freya, as expected, ignored both Mrs. Laurel and Virginia. Instead, she lavished her praise on my grandparents, the words dripping with fake sweetness. “You must be the esteemed Mr. and Mrs. Carson of the Shadow Pack,” she said, her voice honeyed yet insincere. “Your presence is truly remarkable.”

“It’s no surprise that Ms. Carson turned out so brilliant and capable!”

Grandpa, however, was having none of it. He turned his face away, a clear sign of his disinterest. His voice dripped with sarcasm as he replied, “Hayley’s always done fine on her own. She didn’t need us to teach her,” he said sharply. “Some people, though, might need more guidance—otherwise, they’ll veer off course. If you wish to learn, I suppose we could give you a lesson, though I doubt you’re interested.”

“There are rules, after all,” he continued. “In any pack, wolves don’t oppress one another. That’s a rule that applies to every pack.”

Freya understood the message, and the frown on her face deepened. She was clearly irritated.

“There’ll be time for lessons later,” she said stiffly, her words laced with tension. “But not today. My mother and grandmother were in an accident. They’re shaken up, and I need to take them home to make sure they’re okay.”

She moved forward, grabbing Mrs. Laurel’s arm without hesitation. The older woman resisted, but Freya didn’t care, dragging her toward the door. Her voice turned icy, tinged with something far darker. “Grandmother, we should leave now. Without you and Mom around, the family would fall apart. I can’t hold everything together on my own!”

Virginia’s reaction was immediate. Her eyes widened in panic as she rushed forward, slapping Freya’s hands away in desperation. “Let go! You monster, let go!”

Freya, unphased, released her grip for a brief moment, then shoved Virginia aside with a brutal push. “What’s wrong with you?” she spat, her voice venomous.

Virginia crashed to the ground, but Freya didn’t even blink. She stood there, her eyes cold and calculating, watching without a shred of sympathy.

As if nothing had happened, she straightened her hair, her earlier composure replaced with a look of pure disdain. Seeing Virginia crumple to the floor stirred something deep within me, a sharp tug at my chest that I couldn’t ignore. The ache in my heart was sudden and fierce.

Hera’s voice buzzed in my head, impatient as always. She wanted control, to take over and deal with Freya herself. I shut Hera down, pushing aside her urge, and rushed to Virginia’s side. “Are you alright, Mrs. Virginia?” I asked, my voice laced with concern.

In her dazed state, Virginia mistook me for the late Michelle. “Michelle, my darling daughter, I’m fine,” she murmured weakly.

“I’m not Michelle,” I said gently, careful to bring her back to the present. Her eyes fluttered open, confusion fading as she blinked, finally recognizing me. A wave of regret washed over her face. “Hayley, I’m so sorry for the trouble.”

Her apology struck a chord in me. I quickly reassured her. “Don’t worry about it. It’s no trouble at all. If you’d like, you and Mrs. Laurel can stay here for a few more days.”

“Really?” Virginia’s eyes brightened, her grip on my arm tightening as hope flickered in her gaze.

I gave her hand a gentle pat, then turned to Mrs. Laurel. “What do you think, Mrs. Laurel?”

I knew that Virginia’s mind was fragile; thus, it was Mrs. Laurel who held the true authority. Mrs. Laurel hesitated. Her lips parted, but no words came out. I could see the conflict in her eyes. Freya, for all her faults, was right about one thing—the Sanders family had already fallen under her control. If Mrs. Laurel and the others stepped aside, their legacy would crumble. I understood her reluctance. Mrs. Laurel was reluctant to relinquish the family’s power, the legacy that had been built over generations.

Freya and Daniel, the pair of them corrupt to the core, were a problem I would trash down the line. I didn’t care for them. I could take control of the Sanders business, deal with them, and later return it all to Mrs. Laurel, if she agreed. But that plan depended entirely on whether Mrs. Laurel was willing to accept my help.

She remained lost in thought, torn between what was right and what she couldn’t bring herself to let go of. At that moment, Freya caught sight of me weighing the decision, and her gaze sharpened, filled with simmering rage. Ignoring my grandparents nearby, she directed her fury at me. Without warning, she bared her teeth, her true nature emerging—ruthless and vicious.

She stepped forward, her voice low, dripping with venom. “This is none of your concern, Hayley. The Sanders’ matters are mine alone to handle. Stay out of it.” Her glare burned through me, and with a sneer, she added, “What gives you the right to keep my mother and grandmother here without my permission?”