2 Million? No, Just 200! So I Fled With My Twins Chapter 04

On the day of the product launch, the room was packed with reporters and business partners. The elders of Nightstalker Pack sat in the front row, and even Eleanor Nightshade, Corin’s grandmother and the pack’s former Luna, had come, though she hadn’t shown her face in ages.

Before things even started, Eleanor sat front and center, sighing over and over. She wore the family’s silver wolf brooch pinned to her chest, and her guards kept a respectful distance behind her.

“Corin, Morgana was always so thoughtful, and she truly treated us like family. And those kids are adorable. They’re the spitting image of you!”

“I don’t understand it. Why would you throw away a good life and drag out this fight with her?”

Corin sat beside her. Her words seemed to sting, but he refused to back down. “Grandma, I want her to learn that money doesn’t grow on trees. I can’t let her get spoiled.”

“With her temper, if I keep giving in, she’ll end up being a bad influence on the kids. These three years were a lesson. Once she admits she was wrong and comes back, the Luna’s spot is still hers.”

Eleanor shook her head. “Morgana’s got a fiery temper. You can win her over with kindness, but you’ll never force her. Push her this hard, and she’ll dig in her heels.”

Corin sounded sure of himself. “When she really hits rock bottom, she’ll come back and apologize. And when she does, even if the kids aren’t mine, I’ll still…”

The words were barely out of his mouth when the doors burst open. I stormed straight onto the stage and glared at Corin. “Where the hell are my kids?”

I gritted my teeth. “I went to pick them up from daycare, and the teacher said someone showed up with a signed authorization from your family and took them. Nobody but you would pull a stunt like that.”

Corin frowned, and a flicker of confusion crossed his face. “I didn’t send anyone for them.”

Nyx came out from a side door and took her place next to him, the picture of righteousness. “Alpha, I had someone pick them up early. I was afraid Morgana would use them to milk sympathy again and wreck the launch.”

“This is the perfect chance. The kids can tell everyone themselves whether their mom taught them to fake being sick for money.”

My blood ran cold. I opened my mouth, but Corin spoke first. “Good thinking.”

He nodded at Nyx, then turned to me. “Mine or not, the way you’re raising them is a problem. You play the victim and use the kids as props. That ends today, before you mess them up any worse.”

At his signal, Nyx had someone bring the kids out.

My pups carried the scent of unfamiliar guards, and my wolf’s hackles rose. I clenched my fists so hard that my nails nearly broke the skin.

The second the twins saw me, their eyes lit up. They tried to run to me, but the bodyguards clamped hands on their shoulders.

The audience buzzed, and I could feel the contempt in every stare that landed on me.

Nyx walked over to the kids and crouched down. “Sweetie, tell everyone. Did Mommy teach you to pretend you were sick so you could get money from Daddy?”

My son, Dorian, pressed his lips together. Isolde hid behind him and peeked at me, too scared to say a word.

“Morgana, how long are you going to keep up this act?”

Nyx stood and turned to me, raising her voice. “Admit it and apologize already. Are you really going to drag your kids through a lifetime of scams? When they grow up, are they supposed to be con artists like you?”

The murmurs got louder.

“That’s terrifying. What kind of mother teaches her kids to lie?”

“She had a good life and got greedy. Now she’s even using her kids.”

Satisfied that the crowd was on her side, Nyx sauntered over and lowered her voice. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll fess up. Otherwise, I’ve got plenty of ways to take your kids away from you.”

“The lawyers are ready. Once the fraud charges stick, I’ll be raising the Alpha’s kids for him, and you can spend the rest of your life rotting in prison.”

I looked up and locked eyes with her. “Don’t pop the champagne yet. You really think you’ve already won?”

Right then, the doors swung open again, and two people walked in.