Chosen By My Mate's Father-in-law
Chapter 23: If She Was My Mom

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: If She Was My Mom

I forced a small awkward laugh. “No. Not right now.”

Michelle shrugged like she didn’t really care, which was a blessing. I didn’t need her asking follow-up questions. Not with Gareth still standing there like a statue behind me.

He cleared his throat. “It’s getting late. Jasmine should be heading home.”

“Aw, come on,” Michelle groaned. “We were just about to finish the next level!”

“She’ll come back tomorrow,” Gareth said firmly. Then his tone shifted, and his gaze moved to the butler. “Which reminds me, there’s something else we need to settle.”

The butler straightened, looking nervous.

“You reported that Miss Lowett was neglecting her duties and letting Michelle play games all day.” Gareth’s voice was cool but sharp. “You didn’t verify the facts before making that report.”

Butler Jones swallowed hard. “I... I didn’t mean to cause trouble, sir. I was just worried—”

“You were wrong,” Gareth cut in. “And you owe her an apology.”

The butler turned to me, face flushed. “Miss Jasmine... I apologize. I should have asked before assuming. I won’t make that mistake again.”

I blinked, surprised. “It’s... okay.”

“It’s not okay,” Gareth added. “Which is why your salary will be docked this month. Let this be a lesson.”

The butler flinched, murmured a soft “yes, Alpha,” and quickly looked away.

The butler looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him. He kept his head bowed, hands clenched behind his back like a scolded schoolboy. I let out a small breath and forced a smile.

“It’s okay,” I said quietly. “I forgive you.”

His shoulders relaxed a bit, but I wasn’t finished.

“Can I ask something though?” I added, tilting my head. “Did someone say something about me? Something that made you think I wasn’t fit to tutor Michelle?”

The butler shifted uncomfortably. “I... well... I may have heard a few things.”

“From where?” I asked. “Be honest.”

He cleared his throat and looked away. “From the university. Just... rumors, really.”

“Rumors?” I echoed.

“Yes. Just passing comments,” he said quickly, hands clasped in front of him. “I didn’t think much of it at the time, but when I saw you and Michelle at the computer, I thought—well, maybe there was truth to it.”

“I see,” I said softly, keeping my face calm. But my stomach churned with anger. Butler Jones didn’t give any names, but I knew exactly who’d gone around spreading things.

Elliot.

Who else had the audacity—and the motive?

The butler gave a stiff nod, clearly hoping that would be the end of it. I didn’t say anything more.

“It’s late,” I said gently, turning to Michelle. “I’ll be back tomorrow. You’ve got work to finish, remember?”

“You’re really leaving?” Michelle came over and slipped her hand into mine, shooting a pleading look at me. “You’re going to ruin my winning streak.”

I laughed. “Sorry. Back to real life.”

Michelle skipped ahead of us as we went downstairs, the butler followed a few steps behind, and I walked quietly at the back, my scarf pulled tight again. When we reached the front steps, Gareth was already there, arms crossed, eyes scanning the driveway, deep in thought.

He looked up as we joined him. His gaze found mine, and he gave a small nod.

“I’ve asked one of my men to take you home,” he said. “It’s more convenient... and to make up for earlier.”

“Thank you,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

Michelle gave me a side hug. “See you tomorrow?”

“Of course. Work hard on your reading drills.”

She stuck out her tongue but nodded. “Fine. But only if we get to the game again after.”

“We’ll see.”

I turned to Gareth. “Good night, Alpha.”

“Good night, Jasmine.”

His voice was smooth and unreadable, but his eyes held a little more warmth than before.

As I slid into the backseat of the car, I let myself exhale. The doors shut with a soft click, and the driver started the engine. Through the tinted glass, I watched Michelle wave one last time before she turned back toward the house with her father.

The drive was quiet, but my thoughts were loud.

Who else had Elliot talked to? How many more people thought I was some manipulative, unqualified mess just because he couldn’t handle rejection?

Gareth’s POV

Gareth stood by the window long after the car disappeared down the driveway. His arms were folded tightly, shoulders tense. He couldn’t stop replaying the moment her scarf slipped. The bruises on her neck—fresh, hickeys that didn’t belong to him.

His jaw clenched.

They weren’t there earlier. Which meant... someone had touched her. Recently.

A one-night stand? It didn’t seem like her style. But he didn’t know her well enough to be sure, did he?

Then why did it bother him?

He turned away with a sigh, only to find Michelle standing a few feet behind him. Her arms were folded and she lifted her chin at him, her eyes narrowed in clear disapproval.

“You were kind of a jerk tonight,” she said bluntly.

Gareth blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You didn’t knock when you entered the room. You just started yelling when you didn’t even ask what was going on! Jasmine didn’t do anything wrong.”

“She let you stay up too late playing games,” he said, voice firm.

Michelle didn’t back down. “After I studied. For hours. You didn’t ask. You just assumed.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Michelle—”

“You’re my dad,” she cut in, her voice rising with frustration. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”

Gareth exhaled slowly. “Alright. I overreacted.”

Michelle tilted her head. “Promise me you won’t fire her.”

After a long pause, Gareth let out a quiet sigh. “Fine. I won’t fire her.”

Michelle didn’t smile this time. She just stared up at him, lips pressed tight, eyes sharp.

“But I want to know something,” he added, brows furrowed. “Why do you like her so much? What is it about her that makes you defend her like this?”

Michelle didn’t even hesitate. “Because she actually listens to me.”

Gareth blinked.

“She doesn’t talk down on me. She doesn’t treat me like a baby or act like she knows everything. She respects what I say.”

He stayed quiet as she went on.

“She teaches me in a way I can understand. It’s not boring. It’s fun. She makes learning feel like something I want to do. Not something I have to do.”

Michelle kicked lightly at the ground with the toe of her shoe.

“She doesn’t act fake like the others either. They always looked at me like a stepping stone to get to you. Jasmine doesn’t care about that. She came here for me. She actually wants to help me.”

Gareth felt something shift in his chest.

He hadn’t realized how much Michelle had noticed—how much she’d felt.

All the tutors who rotated in and out of their lives... he never thought she paid them any mind. But she had. And worse, she’d been affected by it.

Michelle stared ahead. “It’d be nice if Jasmine stayed here all the time.”

He raised a brow. “You want her to live here?”

Michelle shrugged. “Then I wouldn’t feel so alone.”

He sighed. “She has a life outside of this, Michelle. It wouldn’t be fair to her.”

Michelle frowned, then mumbled as she turned toward the hallway, “If she was my mom... she could stay. Then we’d both stop being lonely.”

Gareth had never expected such words. He was stunned and fell into silence.