Chapter 153 Two Cats in an Alley

Lila pulled Eira behind a neatly trimmed hedge near the flower beds. They crouched beside a mature oak, using its broad trunk as cover while they watched the lobby entrance.

"What did you say to Isabella?" Lila whispered. "She looks ready to tear Serena apart."

"I compared her to Serena and asked which one Sebastian had actually spoiled."

Lila blinked. "You compared his sister to his mistress?"

"Isabella thinks she should always come first with her brother. Even his mate shouldn’t outrank her."

"Family is important," Lila said, shaking her head. "But once a male has a mate, that mate becomes his immediate family. His sister doesn’t get to compete with her."

Eira touched her arm and nodded toward the lobby.

"There she is."

Serena stepped outside. When she saw Isabella waiting alone, her brows pulled together.

"Isabella? Where’s your brother?"

"He didn’t come." Isabella’s eyes moved over Serena’s face, designer clothes, and handbag. Everything about her looked expensive.

Serena noticed the scrutiny and felt a flicker of unease.

"If Sebastian isn’t here, why did you ask me to come down?" she asked, smoothing her hair behind one ear. She still had no idea the Hales had discovered where Alpha Sebastian’s money had gone.

"All these years, Sebastian gave you the money, didn’t he?" Isabella asked. "Not Eira. You."

Serena went still.

How did she find out so quickly?

She forced a smile. "That’s not true. Who told you? Eira?"

The moment she mentioned Eira, Isabella’s expression changed.

"I knew it," Serena continued quickly. "Eira has always tried to turn this family against me. She’s probably been filling your head with lies."

"My mother told me!" Isabella shouted. "Everyone knows. I was the last person to find out!"

Serena’s face drained of color.

"So Sebastian spent everything on you?" Isabella demanded.

"That isn’t what happened. Let me explain."

"And you used his money to buy gifts for our whole family!"

Isabella swung the diamond-studded handbag from her arm and slammed it into Serena’s shoulder.

Serena stumbled back.

"Isabella, stop. Let me explain!"

"I don’t want excuses. I want my brother’s money back!"

She swung the bag again. Serena raised her arms to protect her head, but the heavy bag struck her temple. Her skin flushed red, and a bruise began to form.

Lila stared from behind the hedge."Wow. Isabella can really throw down."

Eira nodded. "She’s no pushover."

Across the courtyard, Serena finally snapped.

When Isabella paused to catch her breath, Serena shoved herself upright.

"That’s enough!" she yelled. "You came at me before checking the facts. How can you be this reckless?"

Lila’s eyes widened. "She’s already trying to turn this around."

"Serena never admits anything unless the evidence is right in front of her," Eira said.

Lila leaned closer. "Did you bring the records?"

Eira pulled a thin folder from her bag.

"Not everything. This is enough to get her attention."

Lila’s face lit up. "You actually brought them?"

Eira gave her a calm look.

"I never meet with the Hale family without bringing proof."

Lila reached for the folder, but Eira held on to it.

"I’ll give it to Isabella. I don’t want you getting clipped by accident. She swings like a wrecking ball."

"Then you’re not going over there alone."

Serena was still yelling at Isabella, trying to assert some kind of dominance, when Eira and Lila stepped from behind the oak. They crossed the courtyard at an easy pace.

The moment Serena saw the folder in Eira’s hand, all the color drained from her face.

"Eira." Her glare sharpened. "You put Isabella up to this, didn’t you? What lies have you been spreading about me now?"

Eira ignored her and handed the folder to Isabella.

"Read it. You’re not the only one who knows."

Isabella flipped through the documents. Her hands began to shake.

"Three hundred thousand dollars a month," she said. "It’s all here."

She looked up at Serena, her face twisted with rage.

"You shameless little liar!"

Serena took a step back. "Isabella, listen to me. This isn’t what you think."

"You stole my brother’s money!"

Isabella grabbed Serena by the hair and slapped her across the face.

Serena cried out and tried to pull free, but Isabella was stronger and completely out of control. Another slap cracked through the courtyard.

Eira and Lila immediately stepped back.

"Is that really Isabella?" Lila asked.

"This time, she thinks she’s the one in the right," Eira said. She pulled Lila farther away. "Once Isabella believes she has the moral high ground, nobody can stop her."

The two women stumbled and went down in a tangled heap. Isabella ended up sitting across Serena’s legs, swinging the handbag in her hand and shouting insults between every hit.

"She really does love money," Lila muttered.

"She learned it from Luna Margaret," Eira said. "Isabella just took it to another level."

The noise brought security running.

Two guards pulled the women apart. Serena’s hair was a mess, her dress was twisted, and dust streaked one side of her clothes. She covered her face with both hands.

Her cheeks were mostly untouched, but her hands and neck were bright red.

Lila winced. "Lots of hits. Terrible aim."

"Ma’am, do you want us to call the police?" one of the guards asked Serena.

Serena shook her head.

She still had something to lose. If the police got involved, the financial records could become public, and Isabella could tell Alpha Sebastian everything.

She lowered her hands and forced a calm expression.

"Isabella, you’ve made your point. Go home, and I won’t tell your brother about this."

Isabella spat onto the pavement.

"Like I care what you tell him."

Lila glanced at Eira, clearly enjoying the chaos.

"What do you think would happen if Sebastian showed up right now?"

Eira gave her a knowing look.

Then she took out her phone, snapped a picture of Serena’s disheveled appearance and Isabella’s furious expression, and sent it to Alpha Sebastian.

The caption read:

Your sister and your favorite woman are throwing hands at the Celestia Residences.