The Substitute Bride Is Reborn and Loves Her Husband No more - Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Presence of a powerful she-wolf

The phone nearly slipped from her hand, but she held onto it tightly, refusing to let it fall. Only her shoulders and lips trembled. What has happened? She couldn’t believe it. Rose was a mess, but she controlled herself, holding back the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. Then, she spoke to the person on the other end of the phone.

“Please… my son—where is he? If he has truly been taken, I’ll give you anything you want. Just let me have him back.”

She would give them anything, whatever they wanted, just to get her son back. He couldn’t suffer the same fate as her. That was her biggest fear. She had been kidnapped once, and in the end, she had died. And Rolan… he hadn’t come to save her.

Rolan’s expression darkened with concern. His usual cocky smile had vanished. He watched Rose carefully—she looked as if she had just received shocking news. He tried to remain calm.

He asked, “Rose, what’s going on? Why do you look like that? Has something happened?”

His voice was serious, but there was hesitation, as if he was trying to help her out of her dilemma.

Rose wasn’t focused on Rolan. Her body was still shaking, and she was desperately trying to have a serious conversation with the person on the phone.

From where he sat, Rolan couldn’t hear the conversation, but he saw the cold, determined look in her eyes. She composed her voice, which was on the verge of breaking, and turned to him.

“Take me to my mother’s place. Now.” Her voice was sharp and urgent. “Please, Rolan. This is no time for jokes. Please… don’t mess around. Don’t disappoint me.”

Rolan stared into her eyes—eyes that seemed willing to do anything for him if only he granted her this request. He didn’t say a word. He simply nodded, his jaw clenching as he started the car. His cocky attitude faded completely as he focused on the road, driving towards Rose’s family mansion. It had been years since he last went there.

Rose took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She spoke into the phone again.

“Tell me your demands. We’ll fulfill them. But I want my son back.”

She wasn’t going to break the conversation with the speaker. She would hear them out, and then she would go to her mother to confirm everything.

Her son… what had happened? He should have been safe there. But now, it seemed she was wrong. She had believed her mother wouldn’t hurt him, but now… Rose couldn’t control her emotions. Her eyes kept shifting between the road and the car window, her mind racing. They had to get there—quickly.

The speaker on the phone chuckled before making their demands.

“We want one billion from you before we return your son. No, actually… we want two billion.”

Rose’s breathing grew erratic. She barely even focused on the amount they said at first, but then the reality hit her.

Where am I supposed to get that kind of money?

She was poor. Very poor. She needed money desperately, but she didn’t have it. Where was she supposed to get that much? She wanted to save Tobi, but…

“I’ll give you the money,” Rose said, her voice cold and steady.

She wanted to keep talking, to negotiate, to stall them—but before she could say another word, the call ended.

Rolan was staring at Rose’s face through the car mirror. He wasn’t deaf—he had ears, and he could hear what those people and Rose were saying. I was right, he thought. It seemed something had happened to the kid. His identity was suspicious, and from the way Rose was reacting, it was clear she was truly the child’s mother.

Rolan kept his face cold, refusing to let himself get confused or angry at the moment. Instead, he relaxed his mind, focused on driving, and took Rose to where she wanted to go.

The car finally came to a stop in front of the grand white mansion of the Stewart family.

The moment the car stopped, Rose flung the door open with urgency, her white heels clicking against the pavement as she rushed toward the gates.

“Open the gates now!” Rose’s voice rang with authority, commanding the guard standing at the entrance.

The guard initially wanted to argue, maybe even insult the crazy woman banging on the gates, but the aura she carried made his body tremble.

What kind of female Alpha is this? the man thought, feeling as though he was standing before a full-fledged werewolf. Without another word, his hands shook as he quickly unlocked the gate.

The moment the gates opened, Rose rushed inside the mansion. Rolan, who had stepped out of the car, gave the guard a polite smile. “Apologies on her behalf,” he said before following Rose into the mansion.

Rose stormed through the front doors, shaking them violently until they burst open.

Inside, a rude maid immediately stepped forward, barking at her in an attempt to stop her. But Rose merely hissed and glared. The maid’s body froze—her legs almost gave out beneath her. She stumbled backward, pressing herself against the door, trembling in fear.

The authority that radiated from Rose was overpowering.

She wasn’t here to waste time. She would find her son.

Her mother would explain how her child had gone missing in this mansion. This wasn’t overreacting—not yet. There was still hope that the kidnapping was a lie.

Rose stepped into the grand parlor, her red eyes gleaming with fury.

“Mrs. Stella Stewart Grayson,” she called, using both her mother’s maiden and married names. “Come down here and give me some explanations!”

Her voice echoed through the vast hall.

She stood trembling, her emotions running wild. At that moment, a strong gust of wind blew through the mansion, causing the heavy curtains to flutter violently. The room was cold—unnaturally so.

And most of the eerie aura was coming from her.

Her eyes flickered between a fierce blue and an icy silver, shifting back and forth—but she didn’t notice.

Only Rolan, standing beside her, caught it.

That power… he sensed it.

It was an aura—a powerful one. It felt as though a strong she-wolf had suddenly appeared in this place.

But Rose wasn’t a full wolf. So where was this overwhelming presence coming from?

Rolan kept his thoughts to himself, his sharp eyes shifting to the staircase as the clicking of heels echoed from above.

Mrs. Stella was coming down.

“What is all this noise, dear daughter?” With every step she took, her voice remained calm, mixed with a subtle smirk.

Rose didn’t respond. Her entire posture screamed rage.

Mrs. Stella tilted her head slightly, her gaze sharp and calculating.

“Why do you look like you’re about to eat me?” she asked, finally reaching the bottom of the stairs.

But then—she caught a scent.

Her wolf instincts flared.

She found herself growling—something about the air around Rose felt… off.

That powerful aura,was it really coming from her?