Tempted By My Ex's Brother-in-Law (Aria and Grayson) novel Chapter 146

Chapter 146

Chapter 146

Aria’s POV

Isla yanked hard against the cuffs.

67

7 59 vouchers

“You’re not going to convict me guilty,” she snarled at Quentina. “Just wait and see. Tomorrow’s trial will prove me innocent, and when I walk away free, every single one of you will fucking pay.”

Selena rolled her eyes. “Please. You keep saying that. How exactly are we supposed to ‘pay‘? We’re not scared of your Alpha daddy. Why would we be scared of your pathetic little threat?”

“And don’t be so sure you’ll walk,” Lady Quentina replied in a cool voice. “I’ll be on the jury myself tomorrow. And I already know where my vote’s going.”

Isla spat a curse, but her butler immediately grabbed her arm.

“You’ve made enough of a scene for one night. We’re leaving.” He snapped and dragged her, hurrying out of the restaurant.

After they left, the whole place burst into applause. A few people even stood up from their tables to cheer for her.

“Well done, Lady Quentina!” people called. “About time someone taught those rich brats a lesson!”

Quentina gave the crowd a quick yet elegant nod and headed back to our table.

I slid in beside her, my heart thumping with excitement. “God, that was amazing! I’ve never seen Isla humiliated like that. She’s always the one doing the bullying, not the other way around.”

“That’s because you’re special, Aria,” the maid Selena said dryly. “I’ve never seen our lady abuse her power like that.”

“It’s not called abuse of power. It’s called holding the evil to account,” I shot back. Pretty sure Selena and I aren’t cut off to be friends.

“One perk of being noble,” Quentina said, giving me a quick wink, “is I get to punish people I don’t like. And you’ve given me plenty of reasons not to like Isla.”

“But my lady…” Selena still had a lot to say. But Quentina ignored her and turned to study the wine list.

After dinner, we checked into the hotel upstairs. Quentina had Torvi book me a suite next to hers. I tried to insist on paying. But Torvi shut that down without hesitation.

“This is nothing to Lady Quentina. So just shut up and accept her kindness,” she told me. “Someone will come in the morning to dress you up. And you’ll ride with us to the trial. Try to get some sleep. It’ll be a long day

tomorrow.”

She shut my door and left me alone in this huge room.

14:04 Thu, Oct 9

Chapter 146

67

46. 46.

Yet I wasn’t sleepy at all. I paced around the place once, twice, then finally found the courage to turn on my phone, which I’d switched off before boarding.

I braced for a flood of missing calls and texts from security back home, maybe even from Grayson,

But nothing. No calls. No messages. No one.

I sank onto the sofa, staring at the air blankly.

Maybe it was good Grayson hadn’t noticed I’d slipped the net. Nova did a pretty good job keeping that as a secret. I didn’t want him to know I was here yet, especially after seeing him with Isla tonight.

Why did he agree to meet her? Does that mean he still loves her?

He said he’d always feel guilty. Would guilt make him help her in the trial tomorrow? I didn’t know. I didn’t even have the courage to find the answer.

But speculating from a sofa wouldn’t change a damn thing. I guess I’ll just have to wait till tomorrow and see.

At dawn, someone knocked at my door. Lady Quentina had sent maids with my outfit for today. She knew that I must’ve rushed here with no clothes, so she prepared everything for me. And the outfit was perfect: tasteful, low–key, not attention–grabbing. She even anticipated I might want to be invisible today.

We met in the hall and went down together. She was radiant. The pearls at her neck and ears, a lake–blue suit that made her look perfect.

“Nervous?” she asked once we were in the car.

“…A little,” I admitted.

She patted my hand gently. “Don’t worry too much. News of Isla slipping out to the restaurant last night got out, and people are furious. It won’t play well for her in court.”

I managed a thin smile. My stomach was tied in knots. I kept rubbing the hem of my sleeve just to steady myself.

We pulled out of the hotel and immediately hit traffic. No wonder the airport was restricting entry. The crowd on the street was crazy. Cars were all heading toward the packhouse. And sidewalks were crammed with people holding signs.

My chest went cold when I found out that some of those signs actually had my face on them. And my faces were slashed with big red Xs and words like “FUCK OFF.” “GO TO HELL.” “FAKE BITCH.”

I couldn’t breathe. This was the first time I saw my haters in real life. It’s terrifying.

“These people are Isla’s fans,” Selena said from the front. “Believe it or not, she’s still very popular with her own members.”

“Because they’re blinded by her fake sweetness,” Quentina said coolly. “Torvi. Do something about it.”

14:04 Thu, Oct 9

Chapter 146

“Yes, my lady.”

1673

Torvi hopped out, muscled through the protesters, and ripped their signs apart. They looked at her size and most people got scared. They quickly scattered, clearing a path for our car.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let them touch you,” Quentina said as we rolled forward.

“Thank you,” I said, and I really meant it.

In the mirror, Selena was glaring at me again. She clearly couldn’t understand why her lady would go soft for a stranger. And honestly? I didn’t understand it either. But I let myself enjoy it–this rare, shimmering sense of being protected, chosen, cherished.

I never even get this feeling from my own mother.

We stopped at Spike Hill’s packhouse. Today’s trial would be held in the court inside. Nobles from packs all over the world were slowly arriving. Almost everyone’s face was hard and serious like a stone. I could already feel the tension in the air.

Quentina stepped out of the car and headed inside. I tucked my head and blended into her entourage, pretending to be her maid.

“Ah, my lady!” a deep voice boomed.

An old man in a black suit strode over. He must be older than Grayson’s father. His hair and beard were all white, but he still looked powerful and strong, his movements quick like a young man, and his eyes were sharp like X–rays. Like he could see straight through you.

“Alpha Vladimir,” Quentina said, shaking his hand.

Vladimir. This was Isla’s father!

My gut clenched nervously. I glanced up just as his gaze swept over our group. For one split second our eyes met. A chill cracked down my spine. My instincts immediately told me that this man was freaking dangerous.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify