Chapter 122

Grayson’s POV

I always went for the best. It wasn't vanity, but a necessity born from knowing what I deserved. However, a vast gap existed between what I considered worthy of my attention and the cheap illusion of perfection people often presented. Perfection, after all, was a myth—a lie fabricated by those too weak to embrace their flaws.

And this restaurant practically reeked of it. The marble floors gleamed as if polished hourly, chandeliers sparkled with almost desperate brilliance, and every server moved with an air of manufactured grace. I hated places like this—too perfect, too curated. But then again, wasn't that the very essence of the Pierces? A family built on a foundation of façade and pretense, masquerading behind their so-called perfection.

Today, however, I only had to contend with Evelyn Pierce.

The hostess opened the door, her gaze briefly meeting mine before she looked away, a faint tremor in her hands betraying her nerves. My reputation preceded me, as it should. Without a word, I strode inside. The moment I entered, heads turned—not because I demanded attention, but because my presence commanded it.

Evelyn Pierce sat in the far corner, dressed in her signature suit, poised and immaculate. When our eyes met, a smile of calculated superiority spread across her face.

“I see I finally have your attention,” she said, her voice slicing through the restaurant's quiet atmosphere like a blade.

I walked toward her table with deliberate steps, circling to take the seat opposite her. “And I see that your definition of ‘better uses of your time’ now includes poking at wolves you don’t understand.”

Evelyn’s perfectly arched brow twitched, but her composure held as she carefully set down the menu. “Your… tainted aura is polluting the atmosphere here, Grayson. Let’s get to the point, shall we? I want my daughter back, and you are going to hand her over to me.”

I leaned back, a faint, cold smile curving my mouth. “I didn’t realize I was holding Ava hostage. She’s free to make her own decisions, last I checked.”

Her nostrils flared, but her tone remained icy. “I don’t know what lies you’ve fed her, or what tricks you’ve employed, but this ends now. You will let her go.”

“Let me make sure I have this straight,” I said, my voice laced with dry amusement. “You hired someone to target my assistant’s boyfriend, hoping to gather intel on my company. Predictably, I caught him, and he confessed under the slightest pressure. And now you’ve called me here… to demand I return Ava? A woman you disowned without hesitation? You’re losing your touch, Evelyn.”

Her calm façade cracked for a fleeting second, rage flickering in her eyes before she regained control. “I will not engage with the likes of you. This is your one warning, Grayson. Send her away, or—”

“Careful,” my voice dropped an octave, the air growing heavy. “Choose your words wisely before you say something that will ruin my mood.”

Her hand fluttered to the pearls around her neck, adjusting them as though they were suddenly too tight. The faint flash of fear in her eyes didn’t escape me.

Good.

“Leon—the man you sent—was more than willing to talk after a little… motivation,” I continued, my tone casual but laced with menace. “Whatever pathetic scheme you’ve been cooking up for the past month is irrelevant now. Go ahead, use whatever scraps of information you think you’ve gathered against me. But understand this: no matter what you do, Evelyn, you will never beat me. And now, let me tell you why I bothered to come here at all.”

Her lips parted as if to respond, but I didn’t give her the chance. I unleashed my Alpha aura, an invisible force that rippled through the room like a wave. The chatter ceased instantly, heads turning in our direction. Even the servers froze, their gazes darting nervously toward me before quickly looking away.

Evelyn’s fingers clutched her pearls so tightly I thought they might snap.

“When I speak,” I said, my voice sharp and commanding, “you do not interrupt. And from this moment forward, you will address me by my title. I am the Alpha King to you.”

She swallowed, her lips pressing into a thin line, but she didn’t speak.

“As for Ava,” I continued, my tone softening slightly, “it’s tragic that someone as brilliant, kind, and strong as her was born to a mother who sees her as nothing more than a tool. A puppet to manipulate. But that ends now. Ava is mine. I’ve marked her, and I have no intention of letting her go.”

Her eyes widened in shock, the composed mask slipping entirely. “You… you marked her?”

I ignored her question. “That’s not even the best part,” I said, leaning forward. “Ava has her wolf.”

The blood drained from Evelyn’s face, her eyes widening in disbelief.

“That’s right,” I said, my smile widening. “You made her feel inadequate for the past six years, and likely years before that, because of her latency, but she has a wolf. And perhaps you and Luther were the reasons her wolf refused to reveal itself before. Also, Ava is the only reason you’re still breathing right now. I am trying to be a better man—for her. But don’t mistake mercy for weakness. If you make another move against me or her, I won’t hesitate to rip your perfect little world apart.”

Evelyn stared at me, her lips trembling.

I rose from my seat, adjusting my suit cuffs. “This is your only warning, Evelyn. Stay away from Ava. Stay away from me. And stay away from my company. If you cross me again, you’ll wish you hadn’t.”

I turned to leave, satisfied, but her voice stopped me.

“I wonder,” she said, her tone deceptively light, “how much longer your family’s curse will haunt you.”

The words hit me like a blow, but I didn’t react. I refused to give her the satisfaction.

I heard the scrape of her chair as she stood, her heels clicking on the floor. A triumphant gleam shone in her eyes, and I realized she thought she had the upper hand. She solidified this with her next words.

“Knowing my daughter, she can be… stubborn,” Evelyn said, her voice dripping with condescension. “So I’ll give you one week to convince her to come back where she belongs. In exchange, I’ll tell you everything I know about the Blackwood curse and just maybe how to undo it.”

Her lips curled into a smug smile. “So, Your Majesty, what’s it going to be?”