Ex-Mate Wants Me Back (Seraphina and Mortimer) novel Chapter 102

Chapter 102-

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Chapter 102

Third Person’s POV

Mortimer stared at his screen, the images of Vivian’s suggestive videos and the curated rumors burning behind his eyelids.

The thought finally hit him like a physical blow: Had Seraphina spent the last few years believing he was actually cheating?

For the first time, he started to question his own “generosity” toward Vivian. He’d called it loyalty; the world called it a scandal.

A few minutes later, he hit the intercom. “Get in here.”

Tade appeared almost instantly. “Alpha Mortimer?”

“I want a full investigation into Rolf’s condition. Parallel to whatever the healing center is doing.”

Tade blinked. “We’re running our own audit? We aren’t doctors, sir.”

“Then hire the best ones money can buy. Now.”

“Understood.”

“And focus on Vivian,” Mortimer added, his voice dropping into a lethal register. “And the orderly who was assigned to Rolf last

night.”

Tade’s eyes sharpened. As a beta, he could feel the shift in Mortimer-the predator was finally waking up to clean up his own mess. Barton was humming in the back of Mortimer’s mind, a low-frequency rumble of approval. “On it, sir.”

Tade turned to leave, but Mortimer’s voice stopped him at the door. “Wait.”

“Yes?”

Mortimer stayed silent for a beat, his expression a chaotic mess of pride and doubt. “Do you think… I’ve been neglectful? Toward Seraphina?”

He’d spent the energy building a global empire and expanding the Blade territory after their mating.

He couldn’t be the kind of husband who did 24/7 hand-holding; the pre-nuptial contract made that clear.

He’d never missed a holiday gift. Her credit lines were limitless.

Wasn’t that the deal?

If she needed more, why didn’t she just say so? He’d never denied her anything she asked for.

But as the thoughts formed, a flicker of guilt-sharp and unwelcome-pierced his chest.

Tade looked at him, genuine shock crossing his face.

This was a trap of a question, and the pressure in the room made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

“Is it a hard question, Tade?” Mortimer narrowed his eyes, his Alpha aura pressing down.

Tade stayed quiet for a second.

“Do I tell the truth or keep my job?” He took a breath.

“If I’m being honest, Alpha… you don’t really act like a husband. You act like… a CEO.”

“A CEO?”

“Yeah. To an employee, you pay a salary. To a mate? You invest energy. You manage emotions. Even the lowliest pack member needs a shred of empathy from their leader once in a while. You treat her like a high-performing department head you don’t

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Chapter 107

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need to check in on.”

Mortimer frowned, a rare took of genuine confusion touching his face. “But she never asked for anything. I thought she liked the autonomy. I thought she didn’theed the ‘noise.””

Tade felt a wave of exhaustion hit him.

The ‘I thought’ defense is where matings go to die

For a second, he actually considered quitting, but the zeros on his paycheck kept him pinned to the floor.

“Alpha, there’s a massive difference between someone having to beg for your attention and you giving it freely. In a mating, the intent is everything.”

The confusion in Mortimer’s eyes deepened.

After a long silence, he waved Tade off. “Fine. Get out. Just get the investigation moving.”

Tade nodded and bolted. He felt like he’d just tried to explain color to a man born blind.

Left alone, Mortimer stared at the mountain of files on his desk.

Did she really need the “emotional value” stuff?

If she did, the entire foundation of their mating was a lie.

He’d picked her because she was low-maintenance. He’d picked her so he could focus on the pack and the business without the ” distractions” of a typical relationship.

But he realized he’d made a catastrophic error in judgment.

The realization felt like a physical threat-he was losing her.

Barton was whimpering now, sensing the fading scent of his mate’s presence in their shared reality.

Panic flared in his gut.

He felt he had to do something.

He lunged out of his chair, not even caring about the coffee-stained shirt, and headed for the door.

But as his hand touched the handle, he froze.

The wolf’s instinct is faster than the human brain.

He felt a sudden, paralyzing fear.

He didn’t know what he was afraid of, but he knew he couldn’t go back to the villa yet.

Not if the silence there was final. He sat back down at his desk, staring at nothing.

Then, his phone buzzed.

The caller ID read: Connor Davis. 1

Mortimer’s eyes flashed with a sudden, violent irritation, but he suppressed the growl and answered. “What?”

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