Chosen By My Mate's Father-in-law
Chapter 32: The Rumor Mill

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: The Rumor Mill

Gareth didn’t reply to Delilah. He turned to his mother and narrowed his eyes at her.

“Why did you invite her?” he demanded, past the point of caring that Delilah was in the room to hear his question. “You said this was a family dinner.”

The implication that Delilah was not family did not go unnoticed. Meredith crossed her arms and furrowed her brow at her son’s rudeness.

Mother and son stared at each other in a silent standoff. Gareth towered over his mother, but Meredith’s glare was just as impressive as her son’s height.

“This is my house, and I’m the one who arranged this dinner. I can invite whomever I damn well please.” Meredith raised her chin. “Now, let’s eat all this food I prepared before it gets cold.” Her tone left no room for arguments. “Delilah, Gareth, there are two free spots across from Elliot and Isabella. Why don’t you sit there?”

Gareth angrily shook his head. Instead of sitting in the chair his mother had suggested, he sat beside Michelle, who was placed at the very corner as an afterthought. Michelle had been given a regular plate with a small chip on the side, while everyone else had Meredith’s fine china in front of them.

But Delilah wasn’t about to give up that easily. After an encouraging look from Meredith, she rushed around the table to steal the seat that Gareth’s Beta was just about to take.

“What is this? Musical chairs?” Gareth muttered.

Delilah let out a high-pitched, obnoxious laugh. “You are so funny.” She wanted to swat his arm playfully, but Gareth shifted away.

Once everyone was seated, there wasn’t much talk as steaming dishes were passed around, and plates were filled up.

“Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials, Isabella,” Meredith said as she accepted a plate of buttered rolls from her granddaughter. “I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am that you chose a good man like Elliot to spend your life with.”

Elliot’s answering smile held the perfect touch of humility. His toothy grin seemed almost too perfect.

“You are following in your father’s footsteps,” Meredith continued as she spooned mashed potatoes onto her plate. “Unlike your Aunt Suzanne who married an abusive alcoholic. If you ask me, my Suzanne died the day she married that terrible man despite my warnings. That’s why I didn’t cry at her funeral. She’s been dead to me ever since!”

“Mother,” Gareth called and pointedly looked at Michelle, who was staring down at her plate. “That’s enough.”

Delilah laid a hand on Gareth’s arm, and he stiffened under her touch.

“Your mother is just worried. And she has a reason to be now that there are rumors going around about a certain Jasmine Lowett causing trouble.” Delilah seemed excited to share a fresh piece of gossip. “Everyone is saying that she slept with Alpha Bryson. I heard she got him removed as Alpha.” She shook her head and clicked her tongue condescendingly.

“Unmarried women are trouble. I’ve always said that.”

Clearly, she didn’t see the irony in her statement.

Gareth’s large hand gripped his water glass so hard it almost shattered.

“You heard wrong, Delilah,” he retorted with venom seeping through his tone.

He wanted to allow Jasmine—and Mindie—to be able to tell their story in their own time, but he needed to put an end to this horrible rumor already going around.

“I was the one who stripped Bryson of his title after I found him on the verge of sexually assaulting Jasmine and her friend,” Gareth explained in a grave voice. “Maybe you shouldn’t speak on things you know nothing about, Delilah.”

There was a beat of silence, and Delilah’s face grew the color of a ripe tomato.

“Oh, no!” Isabella’s hands flew to her mouth and her blue eyes widened in shock. “That’s terrible. I hope that Jasmine’s alright. Is she in the hospital?”

Michelle dropped her knife, and it clattered onto her plate. “Are you serious? You told me she was sick, Dad! I have to go see her!” She began to stand from the table.

“I’ll go with you,” Isabella volunteered, also preparing to leave.

“Girls, wait just a moment,” Gareth said. “I’m sure that Jasmine needs some space right now. Her mother is with her, and she’s resting. Let’s give her a few days to recover from this traumatic situation, and then you can visit her.”

Reluctantly, Michelle sat back down. “Fine,” she muttered. She spent the rest of the meal with her arms crossed, her plate of food barely eaten, and a sullen look on her face.

***

Unbeknownst to the rest of the table, Elliot was also shocked at the news that Jasmine had been assaulted. However, while Michelle and Isabella wanted to visit for altruistic reasons, Elliot wanted to see her to remind dear Jasmine of how terrible the world outside was without his protection.

So after dinner, Elliot dropped Isabella off at the house with a quick kiss and a vague time of when he would be back.

Manipulating the nurse working at the front desk at the hospital was a piece of cake. He wasn’t afraid to use his charm as a weapon.

Elliot was feeling pretty high and mighty as he strolled down the hallway on the way to Jasmine’s room.

But then he heard a familiar voice.

“Elliot? Is that you? What are you doing here?”

He turned around and spotted Jasmine’s mom staring suspiciously at him. She was carrying a styrofoam cup of coffee with steam rising from it. Her eyes were red and swollen as if she had been crying.

Elliot needed to think on his feet. At least, that was one of the skills he was best at.

The corners of his mouth turned down, and he bowed his head.

Jasmine’s mom glared at him. “What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I rushed here the moment I heard about the incident. I’m just so worried about Jasmine. I still hold so much love in my heart for her.” He put a hand over his heart, hoping that he wasn’t putting it on too thick. "Please, if I could just see her and know that she was alright, I might be able to sleep tonight.”

Subconsciously, Jasmine’s mom touched a hand to the bruises from lack of sleep under her eyes.

“You take such good care of Jasmine, but who takes care of you?” Elliot asked and took a step closer. His face was full of fake concern. Jasmine’s mom still had a skeptical look in her eye and he knew he needed to try harder to earn her trust.

“With your mate in jail, I can’t imagine the kind of stress you’re under... especially now with Jasmine’s incident. Please, let me help,” Elliot grabbed her hand. It was clammy with sweat, and he tried not to let his revulsion show. “Don’t worry about Jasmine’s hospital bills. I’ll take care of everything before I leave.”

“Oh...” Jasmine’s mom fought with herself. She knew that Elliot wanted Jasmine as a mistress, which was something she didn’t support, but she couldn’t think of a way out of it. At least Elliot wouldn’t drug Jasmine and hurt her.

As if he read her mind, Elliot continued sincerely, “For all my flaws, I would never treat her like Alpha Bryson did. I only want to keep her safe from harm. The world is so unkind to beautiful girls like her...I want to protect her with every fiber of my being. I’m her mate after all. ”

Elliot flashed her a wide smile.

Jasmine’s mom was torn. Even if Elliot wasn’t completely honest, both she and Jasmine needed Elliot’s wealth and strength. She wanted to believe Elliot, trusting that the mate bond would keep Jasmine safe.

After a moment, she sighed, a look of defeat flashing across her face. “After Jasmine recovers, why don’t you come back and visit us at home?”

“I would like nothing more,” Elliot tried not to smirk.

As he left the hospital thirty minutes later, a feeling of arrogant pride filled his whole body.

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