Chapter 146 The Grapevine

"Mom, that’s insane." Isabella shook her head. "Serena has always been good to me. She’s bought me dresses, handbags, and shoes. Whenever Sebastian and I argued, she took my side."

To Isabella, Serena had everything the Hales valued. A respected family name, beauty, charm, and confidence.

"She doesn’t have to be a genius to be loved," Isabella added. "Not everyone can be Eira."

Luna Margaret’s temper finally snapped.

"You’ve been letting Serena play you for years." She slapped her hand against the arm of the sofa. "Your brother lost that bid because investigators found a paper trail between him and Serena. Huge payments. They suspect he bribed her."

Isabella’s face paled, but she still refused to believe it.

"Where did you hear that? Did Eira tell you? Maybe she’s trying to turn us against Serena."

"The evidence came from Sebastian’s financial records," Luna Margaret said. "Do you think I nearly passed out for no reason?"

Isabella fell silent.

"Your brother sent Serena three hundred thousand dollars every month," Luna Margaret continued. "Every meal, hotel room, designer outfit, and luxury car was paid for with his money. While she lived like royalty, Sebastian kept the rest of us on a budget."

"She didn’t force him to give it to her," Isabella muttered.

"No, she just knew exactly how to get him to open his wallet." Luna Margaret pointed at her. "You are not going anywhere with Serena tonight. If you keep seeing her, I’ll drag you home myself."

Isabella stared at her mother. Luna Margaret was completely serious.

"But that can’t be true."

"Look at Eira," Luna Margaret said. "She never lived better than us or wasted Sebastian’s money on herself. She used her own salary to cover the household expenses. Serena, on the other hand, took everything she could get."

Her gaze fell on the designer handbag hanging from Isabella’s arm.

"All those gifts bought your loyalty. You thought Serena was generous, but she was spending Sebastian’s money and making you feel grateful for it."

Isabella slowly lowered her arm.

For the first time, the handbag no longer felt like a gift.

Luna Margaret looked away, her anger replaced by bitter regret.

She had wanted Serena as her daughter-in-law. She had defended her and blamed Eira whenever Alpha Sebastian was unhappy.

Now she understood the difference.

Eira had worked, managed the household, cared for Isabella, supported Alpha Sebastian, and handled the pack’s daily affairs. Serena had offered expensive gifts, while Eira had done the actual work.

No wonder Roger had been afraid to tell Alpha Sebastian about the divorce. No wonder he had asked Luna Margaret to keep quiet while he searched for a way to undo it.

But the divorce was final.

Eira was gone, and the family had driven away the woman who had held everything together.

Luna Margaret made up her mind. She was going to get Alpha Sebastian’s money back, even if it meant swallowing her pride and asking Eira for help.

"That woman fooled this entire family, especially your brother. He handed her everything he had. How could he be so stupid?"

"Mom, is all of this really true?" Isabella asked.She already believed most of it. Anger burned in her eyes as her hand curled into a fist.

"I’m going to find Serena and make her tell me the truth. If she really took my brother’s money, she and I are done."

Luna Margaret didn’t stop her.

Instead, she picked up the note Eira had left behind and dialed the number on it.

Eira glanced at the unfamiliar number."Hello?"

"Eira. This is Margaret Hale."

Eira leaned back in her chair. So she’d finally figured out what Serena had been doing.

"What can I do for you?"

Luna Margaret hesitated. Her pride clearly hated what she was about to say. "I think we need to talk. About the money Serena took from Sebastian."

Eira almost laughed.

"I’m busy tonight," Eira said. "Call me tomorrow. We can talk in person."

"Fine. But don’t make me wait."

Eira smiled faintly at the impatience in Luna Margaret’s voice and ended the call.

Lila was leaning against the yacht’s railing nearby.

"Who was that?"

"Sebastian’s mother."

"What does she want? Don’t tell me she’s calling to pick another fight."Lila asked. Mrs. Jones had complained about Luna Margaret often enough that the description came naturally.

"She wants to make a deal." Eira looked out over the dark water as the wind moved across the deck. "She wants to help recover the money Serena took from Sebastian."

Lila’s eyes lit up. "Now that’s interesting. With Luna Margaret on your side, this just got a lot easier. Did Susan give you a list of the evidence she needs?"

"She did. Bank records, transfer details, messages, photos, and anything else that connects Sebastian to Serena."

"Susan is good," Lila said with a grin. "Even if Serena hires Vincent, she’s still going to have a serious fight on her hands. Financial recovery isn’t his area."

Before Eira could answer, someone appeared on the deck below them.

Lila leaned over the railing.

"Is that Vincent?"

Eira looked down.

Vincent had taken off his black coat and placed it around Serena’s shoulders. Serena stood beside him in a thin dress, looking cold and miserable. From above, she appeared to be leaning against his chest.

Lila’s mouth curved with amusement."Well, that’s convenient. Does Vincent know he’s comforting another man’s mistress?"

"He probably doesn’t know the whole story," Eira said.

She pulled out her phone and took one picture.

Lila stared at her. "Why are you taking photos?"

"To give Sebastian something else to worry about." Eira sent the picture. "Maybe it will keep him busy and stop him from calling me."

Her phone had been flooded with calls and messages from unknown numbers lately. Alpha Sebastian never said anything openly threatening. He only kept asking to see her, always polite and careful.

That made him harder to shut down.

Lila glanced at Eira’s phone. "Why not block him?"

"He keeps using different numbers."

"Block them. Turn on call screening. Or just change your number."