Chapter 193

Ava’s POV

The silence hung heavy between us. Eighteen seconds stretched into an eternity before Monica finally sighed, her gaze shifting from Isabella to me. Her eyes flickered to my stomach. "I guess congratulations are in order?" she said, her tone surprisingly soft.

The words caught me off guard—not just their content, but the sincerity in her voice. I blinked, stunned, unable to respond.

Isabella, however, didn't miss a beat. "I know you have an obsession with Lilian," she retorted sharply, "but following her here? That's a new level of crazy, even for you."

Monica's irritated expression hardened. "Do you always have to be so aggressive?"

"Do you always have to be a bitch?" Isabella snapped back.

I opened my mouth to intervene, to stop the escalating argument, but I couldn't muster the energy. Whatever Monica wanted, whatever scheme she had in mind, I was too drained. "I have to get back to the food truck," I said, turning to leave.

"Oh no, you don't," Isabella said, stepping in front of me. "We're not done talking, and we're definitely not done discussing the fact that you're—" she gestured vaguely towards my stomach— "with child."

Eliza, still chewing a muffin, chimed in, "Saying 'with child' is weird."

Isabella glared at her. "When did you take that, and why are you eating it?"

Eliza shrugged, unfazed. "Because you dragged me from work. You're lucky Grayson—" The air crackled. Tension tightened. Eliza stopped, her face paling. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to—"

"It's fine," I interrupted, though my voice wavered. I took a deep breath. Turning to Isabella, I said, "I really am sorry, but I can't do this now. I promise I'll call you later. Please, I just can't handle this."

Isabella opened her mouth to argue, then stopped. Her jaw tightened, but she nodded reluctantly.

I nodded to Eliza and walked away.

"Excuse me?" Monica called after me.

"Can you not see we're ignoring you?" Isabella said, spinning around. "We're pretending you don't exist."

I heard Monica click her tongue, then speak softly, "I need your help, Ava."

That stopped me. I didn't turn around.

"I didn't come here to fight," Monica continued, her words rushed. "I know I've done terrible things—"

"Terrible is an understatement," Isabella interjected, crossing her arms. "I made a list. Want to hear it?"

I finally turned, narrowing my eyes at Monica. "You need my help?"

Isabella threw up her hands. "Lilian, you can't seriously consider helping her. This is probably a scheme from the Threesome of Evil. Or—what did we call them?"

"The Threesome Alliance of Doom," Eliza supplied, finishing her muffin.

"Eliza!" Isabella groaned, looking betrayed. "You didn't even save me a bite?"

An argument erupted. Monica sighed and stepped closer, her voice low, "Something bad happened to Elaine and Grayson, and no one will listen to me."

My heart clenched at his name. I'd locked him—the pain, the heartbreak—away.

I backed away, shaking my head. "That's not my business anymore."

"Ava, please—"

"No," I said sharply. "It's not my problem, Monica."

I returned to the food truck. The line had grown longer, and I rushed inside to help Tessa. Later, I turned to her, guilt gnawing at me. "I'm sorry about earlier. Isabella is just…" I trailed off.

Tessa smiled knowingly. "A friend who'd follow you to the ends of the earth, no questions asked?"

I nodded. A friend who would follow me to the depths of the earth. That's what Isabella was.

The rest of the day blurred. The food truck became my sanctuary, a place to shove away Grayson, my mother, and Monica's arrival. I focused on each customer, ignoring the ache inside.

Tessa worked beside me, but I felt her curious glances. Not until the rush died down did I step outside for a breath of fresh air. But before I could find any reprieve, my wolf growled.

My mother stood several meters away.

I groaned. How did they find me? First Isabella, then Monica, now her. What part of "leave me alone" didn't anyone understand?

I turned to leave, but she spoke.

"I permitted you to be angry for two weeks, Ava," she said, her voice calm yet sharp. "It's time you stopped this and came home."

I froze. Permitted me?

I whirled around. "You permitted me to be angry?" My voice dripped with disbelief. "Permitted me?"

Chapter 198 (Continued from previous editing)

"Ava," she sighed, as if my reaction was out of line. "I didn't come here for your tantrum. This isn't the place for you, especially in your condition."

"Oh," I laughed bitterly. "You've suddenly found your maternal urge? Don't make me laugh." I shook my head. "I told you I didn't want you in my life. Don't make me get a restraining order, Mother."

Her expression faltered, before she sighed. "I understand you're angry—"

"No," I interrupted. "You don't understand anything."

I wasn't just angry; I was tired. Tired of the pain, the ache I couldn't escape. I was tired of pretending I was okay. All I wanted was to be left alone.

"Please," I said, my voice softening. "Just leave me alone, Mother. Please."

I turned toward the food truck, but Isabella's voice rang out.

"Lilian!"

I groaned. I thought they'd left.

Seeing the truck, then Isabella—approaching with Eliza and Monica—I sighed. Chaos refused to leave me alone, but I could keep it away from Tessa. Stepping away from the truck, I waited.

"What is it now, Bels?" I asked tiredly.

Isabella paused, her eyes narrowing on my mother. My mother returned an icy glare. Without a word, she turned back to me, her face softening.

"I'll be back tomorrow," she said simply.

I didn't respond. I knew she would. She walked away, and we stood in silence.

Then Isabella turned to me, her expression urgent. "I didn't want to listen to Monica earlier, but then Eliza said… Grayson." She paused, apologetic. "I'm sorry, Lilian, but Grayson hasn't left his office in two weeks. Then Elaine showed up, and they both left. No one has seen them in three days."

"Bels—"

"Please, just listen, Lilian."

I fell silent. Grayson was missing again. It wasn't my problem anymore.

Isabella took my silence as permission to continue. "Remember when Ivan said the mole was Elaine? Well, Monica says Elaine has been acting weird for months. Like, something's been… off."

(The following section seems to be a continuation of Chapter 193 and then a jump to 194. The numbering is inconsistent.)

I sighed, tired of the intrigue. "So, Elaine really is the mole?"

Monica answered, "I don't know about any mole, but I've known Elaine a long time. She's opinionated, sharp, and manipulative. Most of what we did to you was her idea. But lately, she's been… different. Like she's under someone's control. Not to mention the pregnancy. Almost four months in, she should have a bump, or symptoms."

I frowned. "What are you saying?"

Monica stepped closer. "I took a sample of her blood and had it tested. Elaine isn't pregnant."

I blinked. "What?"

Isabella cut in, clearly irritated. "And I still think that's creepy, but listen to this. Ivan thought she was the mole, but maybe someone else was making her act that way. Who's the perfect person no one would suspect? Who has enough power to eliminate Alphas subtly? And if the King were to fall…" She trailed off.

"If the King falls," Monica picked up, "who's positioned to take over, especially if Grayson doesn't have an heir?"

I shook my head, but the name slipped out.

"Liam?"

Chapter 194 (This should be a new section heading)

(The text continues here with Chapter 194 content.)