Page 115 of Abandoned By My Alpha Husband

Her voice rose slightly. Nearby guests turned to look.

"And now," Elena continued, "you come looking for me because I'm Luna again and you can profit from it!"

She paused, no tears, staring coldly at the woman before her.

"All my life, you never showed up once. My father raised me. Do you deserve to be called my mother, Cecilia Gray?"

The hall went silent.

Mrs. Gray opened her mouth, face cycling through shades of red and white. "Elena," she forced a smile, "I know I said some harsh things back then, but I am your mother, I—"

"You're not," I spoke, voice icy. "Mrs. Gray, Elena's right. You lost the right to be her mother five years ago."

I moved to Elena's side, hand on her waist.

"She doesn't need you," I said, looking at Mrs. Gray and the people behind her. "She already has a real family."

Mrs. Gray's face darkened further.

"But Your Majesty," a young man behind her spoke—probably Elena's brother. "The Gray family is still Elena's birth family, we—"

"Birth family?" I sneered. "The Gray family kicked Elena out when she needed them most, and now you want to ride her coattails? Don't forget, Elena has a father. His name is Windsor. Elena's a Windsor."

I took a step forward, Alpha authority rolling out. The man stepped back and bowed his head, silent.

"Marcus."

Marcus appeared immediately.

"Escort them out," I said, voice devoid of warmth. "From now on, no one from the Gray family is allowed in Hale Manor."

Mrs. Gray's face went white.

"Your Majesty, you—"

"I said, get out," I repeated, staring at her. "Or do you need guards to 'help' you leave?"

Marcus signaled several guards forward.

Mrs. Gray looked at me, then at Elena, then turned and left with her people, jaw clenched.

The hall fell silent again.

Then whispers erupted.

"His Majesty just threw out the Gray family..."

"Good riddance. Everyone knows what they did to the Luna..."

"Poor Luna, abandoned by her own family..."

I ignored the chatter and turned to Elena.

Her eyes were red, but she didn't cry. She looked at me, eyes full of complicated emotions. "Thank you," she said softly.

I pulled her close and kissed her forehead. "You don't need them," I murmured. "Elena, you have me. You have the kids. People who truly love you."

She nodded and buried her face in my chest.