Mated to My Intended's Enemy novel Chapter 181

Chapter 181: Chapter 181 "I Don’t Want You to Be My Mom"

Freya

I watched as Isabella pouted on her bed, her small face a mixture of resignation and defiance. This was our morning ritual now - a battle of wills over the simplest things like getting ready for school.

"I know," she muttered sullenly, making no move to actually get up.

After a moment of lying there, she looked at me with those eyes - so like her father’s - and said, "Mom, you help me squeeze toothpaste."

"Hmm," I agreed, swallowing down the familiar ache. Once, I would have reminded her she was old enough to do it herself, but these days I took whatever scraps of connection I could get.

I went into the bathroom and prepared her toothbrush. Through the open door, I saw Isabella grab her phone, quickly typing something with a small smile on her face. That smile - the one I rarely saw directed at me anymore. Selene whined softly inside me, missing the days when our pup looked at us with adoration.

When Isabella finally joined me in the bathroom, I handed her the toothbrush and then dampened a towel with warm water, wringing it out carefully before offering it to her to wipe her face. These small maternal gestures were all I had left.

I opened her wardrobe, surveying the clothes I’d carefully selected based on what I thought she might like. "Which one should you wear today?" I asked. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Isabella’s face closed off immediately. "Mom, I’ll change myself. You go out first."

"Good," I replied, closing the wardrobe door and stepping out of the room.

After I left, I stood in the hallway for a moment, pressing my palm against the wall to steady myself. Through our faint bond, I could sense Isabella’s excitement spike. Whatever she was planning to wear clearly wasn’t from the selection I’d provided.

"Bella? Are you packed?" I asked, gathering her school things. "It’s time to go downstairs for breakfast."

Her head snapped up, eyes flashing with sudden irritation. "I know, Mother. Can you not always talk, talk, talk? It’s very annoying."

The words hit like physical blows, but I kept my expression neutral. This wasn’t the first time, and it wouldn’t be the last. She snatched up her bag and stormed past me toward the stairs.

I followed silently, noting the unfamiliar clothes once more. Since Isabella had spent time with Silvano in the northern territories, her entire aesthetic had changed. Gone were the soft colors and playful patterns she once loved. Now it was all dark colors, edgy cuts, and "cool" styles.

Because of Aurora.

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