<b>Chapter </b>146. The <b>Bacsh </b>→
<b>Chapter </b><b>146</b><b>: </b><b>The </b><b>Bacsh</b><b>. </b>
<b>Chapter </b><b>146</b><b>: </b><b>The </b>Bacsh
<b>(</b><b>Cassandra’s </b>POV)
I <b>woke </b>up with a satisfied smile on my face, stretching luxuriously in my silk sheets. <b>My </b><b>green</b><b>–</b><b>gold </b><b>eyes </b>sparkled with anticipation as I reached for my phone.
Last night’s livestream had been perfect. By now, thousands of werewolves should be <b>tearing </b><b>Olivia </b>Winters <b>apart </b>online.
I opened Howlr eagerly, expecting to see my hashtag trending at the top. My fingers scrolled <b>through the </b>feed<b>, </b>searching for the chaos I had unleashed.
But there was nothing. No trending topics about Olivia. No angryments from my followers.
My smile faltered as confusion crept in. Where were all the posts attacking that mate–stealingwyer?
I searched for the hashtag manually. The results werepletely empty, as if the entire campaign <b>had </b>never existed.
Panic began to rise in my chest. I quickly switched to the short video app where I had done my livestream. The screen disyed a message that made my blood run cold: “ount permanently banned for vitingmunity guidelines.”
“What?” I gasped, my voice echoing in the empty apartment.
My hands trembled as I tried to log in again. The same message appeared. My ount, with its millions of followers, was gone.
My wolf whimpered with distress as the reality hit me. Someone had destroyed my entire online presence overnight.
I frantically checked my other social media ounts. All of them showed the same devastating message: permanently banned.
My phone buzzed with missed call notifications. Ethan’s name appeared multiple times on the screen.
Relief flooded through me. Ethan would help me fix this mess. He always protected me.
I called him back immediately, my voice shaking with panic. “Ethan, thank god you called. Something terrible has happened-<b>” </b>
“Cassandra.” His voice was ice–cold, cutting through my words like a de.
The tone made my wolf recoil in fear. I had never heard him sound so furious.
“Ethan? What’s wrong?” I asked hesitantly.
“What’s wrong?” he repeated, his voice rising with rage. “You spread false rumors about Olivia being a
mate–stealer!”
My heart stopped. How did he know about the livestream so quickly?
“I was just defending our rtionship-” I started desperately.
O
Chapter 146. The Bacsh,
“<b>Our </b><b>rtionship</b><b>? Ethan’s </b><bugh </b><b>was </b><b>bitter </b><b>and </b><b>harsh</b><b>. </b><b>“</b><b>What </b><b>rtionship</b><b>, </b>Cassandre? Were not <b>We’re </b><b>not </b><b>even </b><b>dating</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>
<b>The </b><b>words </b><b>hit </b>me <b>like </b><b>physical </b><b>blows</b>. <b>My </b><b>carefully </b>constructed <b>fantasy </b><b>was </b><b>crumbling</b>.
<b>“</b><b>But </b><b>Ethan</b><b>, </b><b>we </b>have history. We’re meant <b>to </b>be together-”
<b>“</b><b>Stop </b><b>lying</b><b>!</b>” he roared. “You deliberately spread false information to <b>destroy </b><b>Olivia’s </b><b>reputation</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>
<b>Tears </b>began streaming down my <b>face</b>. This wasn’t how things were supposed <b>to </b>go.
<b>“</b>Olivia’sw firm is suing you for defamation,” Ethan continued coldly. “And I won’t be <b>helping you </b><b>with </b><b>the </b>
My blood turned to ice. Awsuit? From a prestigiousw firm?
“Ethan, please, you can’t abandon me-<b>” </b>
The line went dead. He had hung up on me.
<b>I </b>stared at the phone in shock, my hands shaking uncontrobly. Ethan had never spoken to me like <b>that </b>
before.
My wolf howled with despair as the full scope of my situation became clear. I waspletely alone.
I immediately opened myptop and began searching for information about defamationwsuits. <b>The </b><b>results </b>
made me sick with terror.
“Defamation can result in significant financial penalties and potential jail time,” one legal article stated.
Jail time. The words repeated in my mind like a death sentence.
I had never considered the legal consequences of my actions. In my rage and jealousy<b>, </b>I had destroyed my
own life.
My phone rang again. For a moment, hope red that it might be Ethan calling back.
But it was my manager’s number. My hands trembled as I answered.
“Cassandra, what the hell did you do?” his voice was furious. “Every brand is canceling your endorsement
deals!”
The room spun around me as the full extent of my downfall became clear. My career, my reputation, my future all destroyed in one night.
(Olivia’s POV)
I arrived at Moonstone Legal Partners early, determined to focus on work despite the chaos of the previous night. The legal response to Cassandra’s defamation had been swift and effective.
But Grace was still missing. That thought consumed every quiet moment.
I picked up my phone and dialed the police station again. The same officer answered as yesterday.
“This is Olivia Winters calling about the Grace Winters k<b>********</b><b>g </b>case,” I said professionally.
“Miss Winters<b>, </b>I understand your concern,” the officer replied patiently. “But this is aplex <b>case </b><b>involving </b>multiple jurisdictions.”
My grip tightened on the phone. “Has there been any progress at all?<b>” </b>
***
< Chapter 146 The Bacsh
“<b>We’re </b>coordinating with federal authorities and pack enforcement, he exined. “These situations <b>require </b>careful nning to ensure the victim’s safety.”
The diplomatic non–answer frustrated me. “When can I expect an update?”
“We’ll notify you immediately if there are any developments,” he promised. “Please be patient and cooperative with the investigation.”
I hung up feeling deted. The waiting was torture, but I had no choice.
At Moonstone Legal Partners, I threw myself into case files and client meetings. Work was the only thing that kept my mind from spiraling into panic about Grace.
Two hourster, the front desk staff knocked on my office door. “Miss Winters, you have a visitor<i>.</i><i>” </i>
I looked up from my documents, hoping it might be news about Grace. “Who is it?”
“Connor Rivers,” she replied.
My jaw clenched. I didn’t want to see him, but refusing might cause a scene.
“Send him to the conference room,” I said coldly.
Connor was waiting when I entered, his ice–blue eyes showing concern. His tall frame filled the space as he stood to greet me.
“Olivia, I heard about the online attacks,” he said immediately. “Are you alright?”
I remained standing, keeping distance between us. “I’m fine. I don’t need your concern.”
His expression showed frustration at my cold response. “I wanted you to know that I had Cassandra’s ounts permanently banned.”
The information didn’t surprise me. Connor’s influence in the werewolfmunity was extensive. “That’s really thank you,” I replied, my sarcasm cutting through the air like a de.
Connor flinched at my tone. “Olivia, I was trying to help-”
“I didn’t ask for your help,” I interrupted. “I handled the situation myself.”
I turned to leave, but Connor’s voice stopped me. “Please, just give me a moment to exin-”
The front desk staff appeared again, looking nervous. “Miss Winters, there’s another visitor. He seems… agitated.”
Before I could respond, a man burst into the conference room. His face was twisted with rage as he spotted <ol><li>me. </li></ol>
“There she is!” he shouted, pointing an using finger. “The mate–stealing b***h!”
I stepped back instinctively as the man raised a cup of ice water above his head.
“b***h! Knowing you’re a mate–stealer, destroying our Cassie’s rtionship, and causing her ount to be banned, go to hell!” he yelled.
The ice water flew toward me in slow motion. I braced for the impact.
But Connor moved faster than lightning, pulling me behind him. The freezing water hit his back instead of <ol><li>me<b>. </b></li></ol>
Chapter 146 The Bacsh
“How dare you!” Connor’s voice carried Alpha authority that made the man stumble backward.
<b>Connor’s </b>ice–blue eyes zed with fury as he kicked the attacker with devastating force. The man <b>crashed </b>into the wall with a sickening thud.
Two bodyguards appeared instantly, restraining the groaning man on the floor. Connor’s security team <b>was </b>always nearby.
“Call the police,” Connormanded, his voice deadly calm.
Within minutes,w enforcement arrived and arrested the attacker. The man continued shouting about
Cassandra even as they dragged him away.
After the chaos settled, Connor turned to me with desperate eyes. “Olivia, I need to exin about La
Lawrence.”
I crossed my arms, waiting for another excuse.
“She’s my cousin,” he said quickly. “I broke up with her to protect her from Frederick Warner.”
The exnation sounded rehearsed. I felt nothing but cold disappointment.
“Connor, you really are so self–righteous,” I said, my voice cutting.
His face showed pain at my words. “I was trying to protect everyone-<b>” </b>
“Your protection didn’t stop Frederick from targeting me,” I interrupted. “It didn’t save Grace from being kidnapped.”
Connor’s shoulders sagged with defeat. “Olivia, please give me another chance-”
“No,” I said firmly. “We’re done.”
I walked to the front desk. “Please escort Mr. Rivers out.”
As the staff moved toply, Adrian Sinir entered the lobby. His sharp features and gold–rimmed sses gave him an intellectual appearance.
“Connor Rivers,” Adrian said with professional courtesy. “Are you here to hire our services?”
Connor’s expression darkened as he recognized Adrian. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m a partner at this firm now,<i>” </i>Adrian replied smoothly.
Connor’s ice–blue eyes shed with suspicion as he looked between Adrian and me. “You nned this, didn’t
you?<b>” </b>
“Who I partner with is none of your concern,” I said coldly.
Connor stepped toward me, but Adrian moved to block his path. “I’m afraid Miss Winters may be too busy to see you.”
“Adrian, don’t think I don’t know what you’re nning,” Connor said, his voice low and threatening.