Mated To The Crippled Alpha-Chapter 184: Who Hit My Wife

When Lewis appeared, I was still gripping Linette’s hair in one hand, a sharp shard of porcelain pressed against her cheek.

I had pushed hard enough to break skin. A thin line of blood slid down her face.

My own hand wasn’t any better. The porcelain had cut deep into my palm. Blood dripped down the shard and onto the floor.

The Wilchers had dragged and shoved me around. My hair was a mess. My clothes were wrinkled. I must have looked wild.

But I stood straight.

I refused to bow.

Then I saw Lewis.

All the anger holding me up suddenly cracked. Something heavy rose in my chest.

"Lewis..." I whispered.

He rolled his wheelchair forward calmly, like a king entering his territory. Theo moved faster, reaching me in just a few steps.

"Madam," Theo said quietly, "let go. Leave the rest to me."

I released Linette.

Blood covered my hand.

The moment I let her go, Linette touched her cheek and shrieked. "My face! There’s blood!"

Her scream pierced my ears.

I slapped her.

"Shut up."

She froze, then turned desperately toward Benjamin. "Dad! Harper! Help me!"

"Riley!" Harper finally found his courage. "She’s your aunt!"

Now he remembered how to act like a man.

For years, they had controlled my mother and me, thinking we would always submit. Now that I dared to challenge them, their pride couldn’t handle it.

Harper raised his hand to hit me.

Lewis didn’t say a word.

Theo stepped forward and kicked Harper so hard he flew backward. His body crashed into the fish tank with a loud explosion. Glass shattered everywhere. Water and fish spilled across the floor.

Harper writhed on the ground, gasping and soaked, like a fish thrown onto land.

Linette stood frozen.

Only Benjamin remained standing straight.

He glared at Lewis. "Mr. Hale, this is a family matter. You have no right to act so arrogantly here."

Lewis didn’t even look at him.

He stopped beside me and pulled me gently into his arms. His fingers brushed over the marks on my face.

"Does it hurt?" he asked softly.

Earlier, I hadn’t felt much. My anger had numbed everything.

But now, hearing his voice, the pain came rushing back.

"It hurts," I admitted.

He patted my head gently. "I’m sorry. I’m late."

His tone was soft.

But the air around him felt cold and heavy. His presence filled the room. No one dared move.

"Riley," he said quietly, "be good. Let them treat your wounds."

I knew what that meant.

He was about to deal with the rest.

The Wilchers had crossed a line today. They had touched what belonged under his protection.

Lena rushed over with the first aid kit. "Come here," she said, her hands shaking. "Let me stop the bleeding. Why did you have to go so far, silly child?"

She was scolding me, but tears streamed down her face.

This life this new bond I shared with her had changed everything. She used to endure in silence. But not anymore.

"If we don’t fight back," I said softly, "they will never stop. You’ve been bullied for too many years. From now on, I’ll protect you."

She looked at me deeply. "Silly child."

"As long as you’re safe," I replied.

I had promised Riley that I would protect her mother.

And I meant it.

Seeing things turn against them, Vere suddenly pulled out his phone.

He was going to call the police.

But Lewis’s bodyguard moved faster.

With a sharp twist, Vere’s arm was forced behind his back. A cracking sound followed. He screamed. The phone dropped to the floor.

The bodyguard picked it up calmly and handed it to Lewis.

Lewis held the phone loosely in his hand.

He didn’t raise his voice.

He didn’t shout.

But when his gaze lifted toward the Wilchers, the entire room seemed to shrink.

His dominance pressed down on them silently.

Lewis sat in his wheelchair, calm as ever.

His face showed nothing.

"You want to call the police?" he asked lightly. "Should I report it for you?"

Vere spat on the floor. "You think you’re clever?"

Lewis’s eyes didn’t change.

"Perfect," he said quietly. "I have a few things to report as well. Like how you trespassed into my territory. Stole luxury goods worth millions. Intentionally injured my mate."

The room went silent.

He continued, his voice steady.

"And that’s just tonight. I also heard about your other little businesses. Forcing women into prostitution. Breaking a man’s legs because he refused to pay. Driving someone to jump from a building."

My skin prickled.

He wasn’t guessing.

He knew.

He turned his gaze toward Rubie. "Mrs. Wilcher, your hands aren’t clean either. Bribing officials to secure a position for your son. Lending money at criminal interest rates."

"You’re lying!" Benjamin shouted, but his voice lacked strength.

Lewis gave a faint, cold smile.

"And you," he said, looking directly at Benjamin. "Head of the Wilchers. The dirtiest hands of all. Smuggling, illegal deals, hidden accounts overseas. Should I hand everything over tonight?"

The air felt heavy.

Even I could see it.

Each crime he listed was enough to bury them forever.

Vere swallowed hard. His arrogance faded quickly. "Mr. Hale... we’re family. This is just a small misunderstanding. Do we really need to escalate this?"

Family.

The word tasted bitter.

Rubie, who had stayed quiet, finally spoke. "I’ll take my husband to the hospital. His arm is dislocated."

She tried to pull Vere toward the door.

"Leaving?" Lewis’s voice stopped her mid-step. "Did I say you could?"

He casually turned the phone in his hand.

His face was calm.

But the pressure in the room tightened.

Suddenly, he lifted the phone and smashed it against the floor.

The sound echoed sharply.

"You think," he said slowly, "that after laying hands on Riley, you will walk away untouched?"

His voice was no longer soft.

It was cold.

Sharp.

"Theo," he ordered. "Close the door."

Outside, heavy snow had begun to fall. Theo shut the door firmly, sealing the room. The storm outside felt distant now.

My mother was still tending to my bleeding palm. Even she looked shaken by Lewis’s presence.

"Lewis, you..." she started.

He cut her off gently. "Riley. Take your mother upstairs."

His tone toward us was soft.

But toward them

It was merciless.

"Okay," I said.

I helped Mom stand. "Don’t worry. Let him handle it."

As we moved toward the stairs, Rubie suddenly grabbed Lena’s arm.

"Lena, please," she begged. "We were wrong. Talk to Mr. Hale for us. We only came for dinner. We didn’t mean for things to get out of control."

"Dinner?" Lewis let out a cold laugh.

He gave Theo a look.

Theo picked up a fruit knife from the table and twirled it casually between his fingers.

"Mrs. Wilcher," he said evenly, "do you want to let go yourself, or should I help you?"

Rubie’s fingers trembled. She slowly released my mother.

Fear had finally replaced arrogance.

I hurried Lena upstairs. Her hands were shaking.

"It’s okay," I whispered. "He just wants to make them understand." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Before we reached the top of the stairs, Lewis’s voice rose from below.

Calm.

Deadly.

"Who," he asked slowly, "hit Riley?"

My heart skipped.