He Chose Her, I Took Back Everything Chapter 03

He Chose Her, I Took Back Everything Chapter 03

Helena’s POV

The next morning, something downstairs woke me: pots clanging, cabinet doors banging. Way too early for that kind of noise.

The Omegas on staff knew better. They’d never make this kind of racket, not at this hour.

I headed downstairs. The entire Reed family was already seated in the dining room, and there in the kitchen, moving between the stove and the counter like she owned the place: Chloe.

She spotted me and flashed a wide, sunny smile. “Good morning, Mrs. Reed. Breakfast is almost ready.”

My jaw tightened.

Vanessa strolled over, arms crossed. “You should take notes, Helena. Look at her, up early, making breakfast for Caleb. Now that’s a proper mate who knows how to take care of her Alpha.”

I didn’t blink. “How much is Caleb paying her for this? And remind me, what’s my salary?”

Vanessa’s mouth opened. Nothing came out.

Chloe set a large platter on the table, all sweetness and composure.

“If you don’t know how to cook, Mrs. Reed, I’d be happy to teach you. After all, you’re a stay-at-home mate. Taking care of your Alpha is kind of the whole point, isn’t it?”

Her gaze drifted toward the yard, almost casually.

“That Phantom in the driveway, that’s yours, right? Mr. Reed must really spoil you, buying you a car like that.” She sighed softly. “I really envy you. Having a mate like that. Some of us don’t get that lucky. I’ve had to earn everything myself.”

Vanessa didn’t miss a beat. “Three years you’ve been in this family, Helena. And you’ve never once cooked for us.”

Caleb’s mother sighed. “She’s right, Helena. I hate to say it, but as Caleb’s mate, you’re not exactly measuring up.”

I met her eyes. “So who does, Mom? Chloe?”

The dining room went dead silent.

I stepped off the last stair, taking my time.

“Sure. She’s better at serving people. I’ll give her that. She’ll wake up at dawn to cook for the whole family. She’ll smile and nod at everything you say. She’ll keep every single one of you happy.”

“But can she give each of you an unlimited Voss Pack Bank black card? Can she put you in an estate like this? Can she buy you luxury cars, hire private drivers, make sure you never have to lift a finger?”

Caleb’s mother had nothing to say to that. Chloe stopped mid-step, a plate still in her hands.

I walked up to Chloe and looked down at her.

“I’m not the kind of mate you think I am, the kind who needs an Alpha for his money and his name.”

“If you knew the first thing about the Voss family, you wouldn’t be standing in my kitchen running your mouth.”

“The Voss family seal wasn’t built on anyone’s charity. It was built on lineage, banking power, and generations of authority recorded in the Pack Registry.”

The color drained from Chloe’s face. She hadn’t expected me to push back this hard.

Her sweet she-wolf scent shifted, going sour. My wolf cracked one eye open, bored. Chloe wasn’t even worth the effort of a growl.

Caleb’s father slammed his fist on the table. “That was out of line! You’re acting like the Reed family can’t survive without you!”

“Dad.” I held his stare, perfectly steady. “If the Reed family doesn’t need me, then great. Stop using my Pack’s cards.”

I sat down and tried a bite of Chloe’s cooking. The quiche was bland. The sausage tasted off, too greasy.

I set down my fork. “Not great. The estate’s chef could do this in his sleep.”

Chloe’s eyes rimmed with red. Vanessa shot me a glare. “God, Helena, nothing’s ever good enough for you, is it?”

I ignored her and turned to the estate manager.

“If the family enjoys Chloe’s cooking so much, let her make breakfast for them every day. Starting tomorrow, the chef prepares my meals only.”

The estate manager dipped his head. “Yes, Miss Voss.”

That name landed hard. Every face in the room shifted.

Because in this house, the person who actually paid for everything was never Caleb. It was me.

Vanessa’s lip curled. “You should be worried, Helena. Chloe is younger than you, prettier than you, and she actually knows how to take care of an Alpha. Keep acting like this, and don’t come crying when Caleb rejects you for her.”

I finally looked at Caleb. He hadn’t said a word this entire time.

His Alpha scent hung thick in the room, fury barely held in check, waiting for me to back down.

But the mate bond in my chest was dead quiet. No pain. No pull.

My wolf didn’t even lift her head. Not a flicker of weakness.

“Caleb. If you want a divorce, fine. Have the lawyers draw up the papers, and we’ll sever the bond today.”