Chapter 8 Chapter 8

IRENE'S POV

Hours passed in a blur of anxiety and fear. Finally, the doctor returned, his face tired but hopeful.

"The surgery went well," he said. "Maria is stable, but she'll need plenty of rest."

Four hours had passed since Maria had lost consciousness. Each minute dragged by like an eternity. I sat by her bedside, holding her hand, praying for her to wake up. The tension in the room was thick, with Luke pacing and Matthew and Thea standing off to the side, their presence like dark clouds in the already gloomy hospital room.

Finally, Maria stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, and I rushed to her side, my heart pounding with relief and worry.

"Maria, how do you feel?" I asked softly, trying to keep my voice steady.

Instead of answering me, Maria's gaze shifted to Matthew and Thea. A flicker of pain crossed her face, but she quickly masked it. She knew the truth now, kudos to Luke who couldn't keep a secret, but despite Thea's betrayal, I could see that Maria struggled to blame her completely. Family ties ran deep, even when they were strained by deceit and infidelity.

"You both should leave now." Maria's voice was weak but firm. "I need you both to leave. I don't want to see either of you right now."

Thea's eyes widened in shock. "Mum, you don't understand! This is all Irene's fault! She's trying to turn you against us!"

But Maria's resolve didn't waver. "Thea, I know what you've done. This is not the time for lies or blame-shifting. Please, just leave."

Thea opened her mouth to argue, but Matthew, sensing the gravity of the situation, placed a hand on her arm.

"We should go, Thea," he said, his tone leaving no room for debate. He knew that staying would only make things worse for their already fragile standing.

Before they left, Matthew leaned in close to me, his voice a low growl.

"Don't think this means you'll escape being expelled, Irene. This isn't over."

I met his gaze, my anger boiling over.

"You can go to hell for all I care," I retorted. I was way past that feeling of wanting to stay where I wasn't wanted. "No one will love you for the rest of your life, Matthew," I whispered fiercely. "Everything you desire will disappear."

Matthew's jaw clenched, and I could see the fury in his eyes, but he said nothing. He couldn't afford to cause a scene in the hospital ward. With a final glare, he turned and left, dragging a reluctant Thea with him.

As the door closed behind them, I felt a surge of triumph. Seeing Matthew look so aggrieved filled me with a sense of satisfaction. He deserved every bit of pain and humiliation coming his way.

Maria's hand tightened around mine, pulling me back to the present.

"Irene," she said softly. "Are you alright?"

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I held them back. "I should be asking you that, Maria. You're the one who's been through so much."

She shook her head slightly. "I'll be fine, Irene. But I'm worried about you."

I nodded, the reality of the situation settling over me like a heavy blanket.

Maria's eyes filled with tears. "I'm so sorry, Irene. I should have seen what was happening. I should have protected you better."

"Don't blame yourself," I said, squeezing her hand. "This isn't your fault. Matthew and Thea made their choices. Now, I have to make mine."

She nodded, and a small, sad smile crossed her face. "You're stronger than you know, Irene. Don't ever forget that."

"Of course, I am. If I may ask, why didn't you say anything or blame Thea?"

Silence ensued. I could sense Maria's guilt and shame. She looked at me, her eyes filled with sorrow and regret, before closing them again, pretending to sleep. She didn't want to answer my question definitely. It was a transparent attempt to avoid facing me. I understood her need to escape the painful reality, even if just for a moment.

Seeing her like that made my heart ache. I wanted to comfort her, to tell her that none of this was her fault, but I knew that words wouldn't suffice. She needed time to process everything. Quietly, I stood up and adjusted her blanket, making sure she was comfortable. Then, with a heavy heart, I left the hospital room, closing the door softly behind me.

In the hallway, Luke was waiting for me. As soon as I stepped out, he pulled me into a tight hug.

"Irene, I'm so sorry for everything," he whispered. "I never expected Thea to be a bitch. Heaven knows who she took that stupid attitude from."

His words were simple and filled with genuine emotion which touched me deeply. I hugged him back, smiling at his sincerity.

"Thank you, Luke," I said, my voice trembling. "It means a lot to have you by my side."

"I'll always stand by you, of course. I know who you are," he said firmly, pulling back to look me in the eyes. "But remember, Matthew is still the Alpha. You need to be careful. You can't disrespect him openly."

I nodded, understanding the delicate balance we needed to maintain.

"I know, Luke. I'll be smarter I'm the future. Besides, we can't let our emotions get the better of us. Your little act back in the ward was unnecessary."

Luke gave a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about me. I'll handle my own issues. You focus on what you need to do."

His words gave me strength. I took a deep breath, feeling a sense of resolve settle over me.

"I will. And thank you, Luke. For everything."

After saying our goodbyes, I walked to my car, my mind racing with thoughts and plans. I started the engine and pulled out of the hospital parking lot, then my phone rang. Glancing at the screen, I saw it was the real estate agent handling the sale of my house.

"Hello?" I answered from my end.

"Ms. Irene, I wanted to let you know that we've received an offer on your house," the agent said, his tone professional yet enthusiastic. "It's a good offer, and I think you'll be pleased with it."

Selling the house was a crucial step in severing my ties with Matthew and his pack. But it also meant letting go of a place that held so many memories, both good and bad. "Thank you for letting me know," I replied. "Can you hold off on accepting the offer until I've had a chance to review it personally?"

"Of course, Ms. Irene. Just let us know when you're available to come in."

"I will. Thanks again," I said before ending the call.

As I drove through the quiet streets, my thoughts wandered back to the house. It had been a place of comfort and joy, but also one of pain and betrayal. Letting go of it felt like shedding a part of my past, painful, but necessary.

Arriving at a stoplight, I took a moment to collect my thoughts. The light turned green and I pressed down on the accelerator, feeling a surge of confidence.

This was just the beginning, and I was ready to embrace it with all the strength I had.