After I Torched Alive, My Alpha Went crazy novel Chapter 144

Carlos’s face darkened, and for a moment, he was silent.

"Do you think I’d trade one man’s broken promises for another’s divided loyalties?" I continued, the bitterness in my voice unmistakable.

"Grace, it’s not—"

I cut him off sharply. "Not the same? Really? Nathan once made me believe he’d be there for me, for our family, only to shatter every ounce of trust I had.

And you? You stand here offering me an escape, knowing full well you’re engaged to someone else. Tell me, Carlos, how is that any different?"

Carlos’s eyes flared with frustration, but behind it, I saw the flicker of regret. "You know it’s not like that," he said, his voice low.

"No, Carlos, I don’t know that," I said firmly. "What I do know is that Cyrus needs stability. Not another man who thinks he can drift in and out of his life as he pleases."

Carlos’s shoulders sagged slightly as the weight of my words sank in. He looked into my eyes, and for a moment, the tension melted into understanding.

He knew why I was doing this. He understood the truth I couldn’t say aloud: that I wanted him to stay, but I couldn’t risk Cyrus being hurt.

"Grace," he murmured at last, his tone laced with resignation. "I see."

Before I could close this chapter, I looked at Carlos with a steady and deliberate gaze, hoping my eyes would communicate the hidden meaning that my words couldn’t.

The words I had to say felt like ice on my tongue, but I forced them out, determined to be clear. "Carlos, I need you to listen carefully. Nathan has been looking out for Cyrus, and you’ve done more than enough already. But now, it’s time for you to take care of him."

Merhold’s laughter sliced through the moment, a soft, mocking sound. "Well, that settles it then. Quite the rejection, Carlos. But she’s right. Cyrus does need stability, doesn’t he?"

I turned to Merhold, my anger barely contained. "Are we done here?"Merhold raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "For now," he said, waving me off.

Carlos hesitated, giving me one last, searching look before turning and walking away. I watched his retreating form, my heart aching with every step he took.

Merhold didn’t move. His expression remained stoic. "I don’t think I did anything wrong," he said, his voice calm, almost too calm. "I just want you to stay. I don’t want you running off with Carlos."

The way he said it, like it was nothing, infuriated me. "You think using my son to keep me here is justified? You think threatening him is the answer?"

"I don’t see it that way," Merhold replied, his voice quieter now, though there was still an edge to it. "I just want to make sure you stay. I’m not letting you leave, Grace. Not like this."

His words suffocated me. I opened my mouth to argue further, but something stopped me. Maybe it was the weariness settling in my bones, maybe it was the realization that I was tired of fighting.

I took a deep breath, "Fine," I said, surprising even myself with the softness in my tone. "I’ll stay. But Cyrus won’t have to come over. Not if I stay."

Merhold hesitated, his brow furrowing as though he was trying to read me. His jaw moved, and for a moment, I thought he might say something more. But then he simply nodded, though his hesitation remained evident.

"You’ll stay?" His voice was almost a whisper, like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.