Matt’s POV

The rain pounded against the windows of Emily’s condo as I stood at her door, soaked to the bone. After our hospital parking lot argument, I’d given her space overnight, thinking she just needed time to cool off. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

"Em, please," I begged, my heart hammering against my chest when she finally opened the door. "Don’t be angry with me. Let’s talk about this."

Her eyes looked at me with cold detachment. "There’s nothing to talk about between us, Matt. We were never anything serious."

Those words hit like a physical blow. I winced, trying to catch my breath.

"Is this because I didn’t tell you everything about my father?" I pleaded, stepping closer. "I’ll tell you everything now. Every detail. Just please, don’t end things between us."

For a brief moment, something flashed in her eyes. It might have been panic or pain, but she steeled herself again quickly. She hesitated, then stepped aside to let me in.

"Fine," she muttered, crossing her arms. "You have ten minutes."

Inside, I told her everything—the documents I’d found, the conversations I’d overheard, my father’s involvement in Kyra’s mother’s death. I handed her my phone with the recorded conversation between my father and Attorney Lee.

But...but after everything she...broke up with me. She...ended the relationship that I’m trying to build with her.

"I made a copy on this flash drive too," I said, placing it on her coffee table. "Keep it somewhere safe."

"You should leave now," she finally said.

I wanted to argue, to beg, but something in her expression stopped me.

I nodded, defeated, and left her condo with rain still pouring down my back.

The next morning, I was stupid enough to try spying on my father again. This time, he caught me.

"You can’t turn your back on the person who raised you, Matt!" His voice thundered through his office as I was dragged inside by two of his security guards.

I glared back, jaw clenched tight. "Why are you doing this, dad?"

The silver handcuffs bit into my wrists as I struggled. This wasn’t the father I knew—the man who never raised his voice, who never laid a hand on me or Mason in anger. Yet here I was, cuffed and being thrown into a dark room like a criminal.

"Did you tell anyone about what you heard?" he demanded, eyes wild. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

I gritted my teeth. "How can I tell anyone when you’re restraining me here?"

His eyes narrowed to slits. "How long have you been spying on me?"

"I just heard you yesterday, dad! I don’t even know why you’re doing this!" My voice cracked with emotion. "Did you know that I insulted Kyra just to defend you? I was wrong, dad! I was wrong for defending you—"

"I’m doing this for our family, Matt! That woman is trying to ruin us!" His face reddened with rage.

"Because you killed her mother, dad!"

"I didn’t kill her mother," he snarled, his face inches from mine. "Did you see me killing her?"

I laughed bitterly. "You didn’t kill her mother because it was the person you hired? What kind of logic is that?"

He straightened, still glaring. "You’ll stay here until you decide to stop your stupidity and choose your family over that woman."

"She’s also family, dad! Your niece—"

"She’s not, Matt!" he roared. "She’s just an impostor trying to get our family’s wealth."

I laughed again, incredulous. "Wealth? She doesn’t need it, dad. Her father’s company is thriving under her leadership. And can’t you see? The family business is now doing well because of her—"

"SO YOU’RE SAYING I’M NOT A GOOD LEADER?" His voice exploded in the confined space, making me flinch.

The darkness of the room seemed to close in around us, highlighting the unfamiliar malevolence in his eyes. I felt like I was looking at a stranger, not the father who raised me.

He rushed toward me, his eyes cold and dangerous. "You don’t know what you’re saying, Matt. I kept this family intact for a very long time. I spent my life proving myself, thinking I’d get what I deserve, but I got nothing. And that woman...that bitch showed up from nowhere and stole everything I worked hard for. I won’t let her do this to me."

"Kyra has her father’s pack and company," I argued, shaking my head. "She doesn’t need Foster family money! Our family doesn’t even have high status among Northern packs. She’s married to Nathan now. Why would a Luna of a powerful pack want our wealth?"

"Then why is she taking over the company?" His eyes had a crazed gleam now. "Let me tell you something, son,all creatures are greedy at heart!"

He moved closer, his face twisted with fury. "What spell has Kyra cast on you? How has she brainwashed you to question your father’s authority?"

"She’s family," I insisted.

He stared at me for a long moment, then lifted his chin. I could sense his restraint,if I wasn’t his son, I might not have survived this conversation.

"Stay here and think about what you’re losing," he said coldly. "I’ll release you when you realize which side you should be on."

I watched him leave, the door slamming behind him. The darkness felt suffocating, not because of the room itself but because of the truth I now faced.

My father orchestrated Kyra’s mother’s death. He witnessed her abduction as a child but kept silent out of selfishness. He’d always been selfish,I just never saw it until now.

I closed my eyes tight, the pain in my handcuffed wrists nothing compared to the ache in my chest. My father was a criminal, and I couldn’t protect him anymore. He needed to face his mistakes while he still had time. The family he claimed to protect would crumble completely if he refused to pay for his sins.

"I will report you to authorities," I whispered to the empty room.

Despite my situation, Emily’s face flashed through my mind.

Somehow, even imprisoned by my own father with silver burning against my wrists, that woman had managed to claim space in my thoughts. And despite everything, I couldn’t bring myself to regret telling her the truth.