Chapter 5 A Trap For Her

Irene's throat felt parched, the harsh realization dawning on her that she had been ensnared in a trap from the outset.

At that moment, the sound of rapid footsteps neared from outside.

As Irene turned, she saw Cade returning, his attire unkempt, presumably from an intimate encounter with Dolores.

"Why are you troubling my mother? Enough with your disturbances. Leave with me now!" Cade forcefully grabbed Irene's hand, attempting to lead her away.

Irene forcefully shook off his hand. "I decide my actions. Keep your hands to yourself."

With a steady, resonant tone, Cade addressed her, "Irene, the staff has already informed me of your earlier visit. Since the truth is out, there's no reason to pretend. Yes, I'm with Dolores. And just so we're clear, if divorce is on your mind, you can forget about it. It's not going to happen!"

Dolores, the woman having enjoyed a rendezvous with Cade in his office, belonged to the James family, a detail that made Kyra's lack of disapproval no surprise.

"And what about Miss James? Do you intend to keep her just as a mistress forever?" A chill settled in Irene's heart as she looked at Cade and Kyra. Kyra's attitude had shifted subtly as the Dixon family's fortunes fell. Kyra used to share pleasantries with Irene, but now neither she nor Cade made any pretense of cordiality.

"Your concerns are irrelevant. I'll end our marriage when it's convenient for me," Cade coldly replied, viewing Irene merely as an asset. "You remain a member of this family and have duties to fulfill. When the situation with the Scotts is resolved, you'll receive compensation."

Rage burned within Irene. The Hudsons' overt contempt was seizing the Dixons' vulnerabilities, knowing she had no one to defend her.

Kyra chimed in, "Irene, given your father's incarceration and your task to salvage the Dixon Group, you should be aware of what you should and shouldn't do. Let's avoid creating a scene."

At that moment, Irene fully recognized the deplorable character of the entire Hudson family. Her eyes flashed with fury. "What I should and shouldn't do? I'm not so sure anymore!"

Irene lamented deeply. If only she and her family had known what the Hudson family was truly like, her mother would never have intervened to save Cade.

As Irene turned to depart, Cade seized her arm. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Why should you care? Release me!" This time, however, Irene was unable to break free from his firm grasp.

With a cold tone, Cade issued a warning. "I don't care about your intentions, but you better toe the line. Any sign of trouble from you..." He left his threat unspoken, but the menacing look in his eyes conveyed the rest.

Abruptly, Cade pushed Irene away, causing her to lose her balance and fall to the floor.

From the floor, Irene looked up to see the same ruthless expressions etched on the mother and son. Wordlessly, she gathered her bag from the floor and made her way out. As she walked away, Kyra's arrogant scoff echoed behind her.

Once outside Riverbend Villa, Irene continued alone, limping slightly as she walked under the shade of the roadside trees, her knee aching sharply. Her knee had already been injured before her arrival at the Hudson family's villa, and the day's events had only worsened the pain.

A car trailed quietly behind Irene, its occupant speaking into a phone, saying, "Mr. Scott, Mrs. Hudson faced mistreatment at the Hudson estate."

"Understood. Bring her back," Braydon responded before hanging up, his attention returning to the documents spread across his lap regarding the Hudson family. They were oblivious to the gravity of whom they had provoked.