Broken Bond: Claimed by My Ex-Husband's Alpha Billionaire Uncle-Chapter 86: Breaking Point

"I’m fine." Charlotte offered her a small smile. "I’m just ... really worried about Haven and hope she’ll be fine."

Diana let out a heavy sigh, shouting, "Of course she will. Haven is strong; she’ll wake up soon!" She clapped her hands softly in front of Charlotte’s face. "So stop looking so guilty. It’s not like you were the one who poisoned her. Come on, get up. Let’s talk about this somewhere else."

Diana wanted to discuss many things with Damon, but they couldn’t cause a commotion in the hospital corridor. Since Charlotte couldn’t calm herself sitting right outside Haven’s room, Diana decided it would be better to take her somewhere else.

In the end, only Louis, Vera, and Mona stayed behind, waiting near Haven’s room, while everyone else headed to a café near the hospital to talk more openly.

Charlotte stared blankly at the iced vanilla latte placed in front of her, watching the ice slowly melt because she hadn’t touched the drink since it had been served.

She didn’t like the bitter taste of espresso, yet even the idea of a sugary, milky drink suddenly made her anxious.

Oh no.

Those dark thoughts about food had resurfaced.

She had been trying so hard to overcome them, but Julian had triggered everything again.

"Here." Damon gently placed a bottle of mineral water in front of her. "You can drink this for now."

Charlotte glanced up at him gratefully, giving a small nod as she wrapped her fingers around the cool bottle. The simple, neutral taste of water was reassuring, far less overwhelming than the sugary latte that had started to make her stomach churn.

Across from her, Diana leaned forward, eyes narrowing gently in concern. "Charlotte, you look pale. Have you eaten anything today?"

Actually, she hadn’t eaten much since Julian sent her the threatening letter. However, if she told the truth, Carmen and Diana would immediately worry about her and the baby, and they would force her to eat something. free𝑤ebnovel.com

When she stayed silent, Damon smoothly intervened. "Charlotte ate earlier today," he lied effortlessly. "She’s just shaken up by what happened to Haven."

Diana nodded, accepting Damon’s words without further questioning. Instead, she turned the conversation to a more urgent matter.

"The poison Julian used is nearly identical to the one found in the rogue werewolves," Diana explained, her voice tense. "It’s too early to jump to conclusions, but I’m afraid Julian might also be involved in the rogue werewolf cases."

Diana and the other werewolves had been trying to track down the rogue werewolves for several weeks now. It turned out the rogue werewolves always fled toward the forest as soon as the sun rose or after attacking someone.

Diana had attempted to follow them into the woods, but the results weren’t what she’d hoped. There was never any trace left behind, as if the forest had simply swallowed them whole.

But at least now they knew the attack patterns of the rogue werewolves, allowing Diana and the other hunters to prevent them from harming humans or other supernatural beings.

Still, the Nocturnal Order wasn’t satisfied yet, they wanted Damon to resolve this matter more quickly.

The pressure from the Nocturnal Order had been steadily increasing, and Damon knew he couldn’t afford any more mistakes. The rogue werewolves had become bolder, and Julian’s involvement made everything even more complicated.

Damon glanced at Charlotte, noticing how tightly she clutched the water bottle, her knuckles almost white from the pressure. He gently rubbed her back, silently reassuring her that things would be okay, even though he himself wasn’t entirely certain.

"We need a solid lead," Damon finally said, refocusing the discussion. "Julian’s poison might be our best clue so far. If we can find out where he’s getting it or who he’s working with, we’ll uncover the rogue werewolves’ network."

Diana nodded thoughtfully. "I’ll keep digging. Whoever is supplying Julian probably isn’t working exclusively with him."

"I have a bad feeling about Priscilla," Carmen finally spoke up after remaining silent for some time. She took a deep breath. "I know my daughter has done terrible things to you, Charlotte. But still, she’s my daughter."

"I understand." Charlotte tried her best to maintain her composure. "You have every right to worry about her. She’s your family, after all."

Carmen’s shoulders relaxed slightly, a brief look of gratitude crossing her tired face. "Thank you for understanding, Charlotte. But please know that no matter what, I won’t defend her actions if she’s truly involved in harming Haven."

Damon leaned back in his chair, observing Carmen carefully. "We’ll find out soon enough. For now, let’s not jump to conclusions."

Charlotte glanced down at her untouched latte. The ice had completely melted, diluting the drink into a pale, watery mixture. Silently, she wondered how many more things Julian could do to make her suffer.

She suddenly felt nauseous. Charlotte quickly stood up from her chair. "I need to go to the restroom."

As soon as she entered the restroom, she rushed into a stall and vomited into the toilet. There wasn’t much to throw up, as she’d only eaten salad and drank water since morning, but because of that, her body felt weak afterward.

Her breathing was uneven, and a cold sweat coated her forehead. She rinsed her mouth with water and then slowly slid down, sitting on the restroom floor for several moments to regain her strength.

Charlotte closed her eyes, leaning her head against the cool wall behind her. The quiet hum of the restroom ventilation and the steady dripping from a distant faucet were oddly comforting, grounding her back into reality.

She felt utterly exhausted. Julian’s presence had triggered fears she’d desperately tried to bury. It seemed like every step she took forward, he was there, pulling her back.

After a few moments, Charlotte finally stood up and exited the restroom. As soon as she stepped outside, she saw Damon waiting for her. He looked as if he’d been ready to come in and check on her if she’d taken any longer.

"Are you okay?" Damon asked with concern. "I heard you throwing up."

Charlotte sighed. It was impossible to hide anything when the Alpha’s hearing was so sharp.

"I’m fine," Charlotte said softly.

Damon immediately moved closer, worry clearly visible on his face. Without waiting for permission, he gently pressed the back of his hand against Charlotte’s forehead, his brows furrowing slightly when he felt the warmth radiating from her skin.

"You’re warm," he said quietly. "Charlotte, you’re definitely not fine."

She glanced away, avoiding his gaze. "It’s probably just stress. Today has been a lot."

Damon shook his head slightly, clearly unconvinced. His thumb softly brushed her cheek, lingering just enough to soothe her nerves. "You barely ate anything, and your body is exhausted. We need to get you home."

Charlotte hesitated, anxiety flickering in her eyes. "But Haven—"

"Haven’s stable and safe. Louis and Vera will update us if anything changes." Damon’s voice softened further. "You can’t help her by neglecting yourself."

Charlotte sighed, too drained to argue. "Okay."

Damon’s expression relaxed slightly as he placed a supportive arm around her shoulders, guiding her gently toward the exit. "Come on. Let me take care of you."

"Are we not going back to Diana and Carmen?" Charlotte asked.

"I’ve already told them I’m taking you home," Damon reassured her gently, keeping a supportive arm around her as they walked.

Charlotte relaxed slightly, leaning into Damon’s protective embrace as they walked toward the car. The evening breeze felt cold against her flushed skin, causing her to shiver slightly.

Damon tightened his hold on her, drawing her closer against his side. "Let’s get you home quickly. You need to rest."

"I’m sorry you have to leave early because of me," Charlotte murmured, guilt creeping back into her voice.

Damon paused for a moment, looking down at her with tenderness. "Charlotte, you’re my priority. Don’t ever apologize for needing me."

When they finally arrived home, Damon gently helped Charlotte inside, guiding her straight toward their bedroom. His expression softened even more as he carefully settled her onto the bed.

"Just rest here," he instructed gently. He carefully removed her coat and shoes before pulling the soft blanket up over her shoulders. "I’ll ask the housemaids to make some warm soup for you, something light enough so it won’t upset your stomach again."

Charlotte nodded quietly, sinking deeper into the softness of the bed. Her eyelids felt heavy, exhaustion settling into every bone in her body. The stress of the day had completely drained her strength.

Damon brushed his fingertips softly across her forehead, checking her temperature again. "I’ll be right back," he promised gently. "Just close your eyes for now."

Charlotte reached out instinctively, gently catching his wrist before he could pull away. "Damon ..." she murmured. "Don’t go too long."

Damon paused immediately at her words, his eyes softening as he gazed down at her. The vulnerability in her voice made his chest tighten. Leaning down, he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"I won’t," he whispered. "I’ll come right back to you in minutes, I promise."

Charlotte nodded slowly, her grip on his sleeve gradually loosening as exhaustion began to claim her. Damon quietly rose from the bed and walked toward the door, glancing back at her once more before stepping out into the hallway.