Submission is Not My Style novel Chapter 162

“I am family! I’m not a visitor–I’m the King’s mother!”

My stomach drops.

Jack’s glass freezes midair. “No,” he mutters, his voice dropping an octave. “Shit.”

Before I can ask what’s happening, the doors burst open with a bang.

A woman strides in–tall, elegant, and radiating fury like perfume. Her black gown sweeps across the marble floor, jewels glittering at her throat. She looks nothing like Jack–her features are sharper, colder–but when my gaze flicks to Jasmine, I see it: the same defiant chin, the same dark eyes.

“Mother!” Jasmine gasps, jumping to her feet.

Jack exhales heavily, his tone even but strained. “Mother. Why are you here?”

Her eyes flash with offense. “Why am I here? Because my son–the new Alpha King–held his coronation without inviting his own mother!” She slams her hand on the table. “Do you have any idea the humiliation I’ve endured? The whispers? Why have you avoided me for months, Jack?!”

Jack’s jaw tightens. “Because I had more important matters to handle. You should have waited for me to come to you.”

Her lips curl. “Waited? How long was I supposed to wait, son? I gave you everything! I sacrificed everything for you–and now that you sit on that throne, you think you can discard me?”

My pulse quickens. Jack has never talked about his mother much, but now I can see why–the tension between them is sharp enough to slice through the air.

Jack straightens, his tone calm but edged. “You told me to forget my mate. To reject her because she wasn’t‘ good enough.‘ You wanted me to marry the Alpha King’s daughter for power. And now that I am King, you’ve come for your reward, haven’t you?”

Her nostrils flare. “I only wanted what’s best for you. That’s why I wanted you to marry the Alpha King’s daughter instead of that… mate of yours.”

Jack lets out a soft, humorless laugh. “Then you’ll appreciate the irony, Mother. The woman you told me to abandon-” he gestures to me “—is the true daughter of the Alpha King. The real heir. Not the imposter you thought was royal.”

The color drains from her face. “What?” She whirls toward me, eyes wide.

I manage an awkward smile. “Hi. Surprise?”

Her eyes dart between us, disbelief flooding her features. Then–almost instantly–she plasters on a too–bright smile and rushes toward me with open arms.

“My dear! My beautiful daughter–in–law! It’s so wonderful to finally meet you–I always knew there was something special about you-”

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But before she can reach me, Jack steps between us, his tone firm but not cruel.

“Mother, stop.”

Her hands falter midair.

He sighs, the anger fading slightly from his expression. “I don’t hate you. But you hurt me when you asked me to give her up. You wanted what you thought was best, but you almost made me lose the one person who completes me. You can’t rewrite the past now that things are different.”

His mother blinks, eyes glistening faintly as she looks at him. “Jack…”

I can see the remorse in her face. She’s proud, yes–but beneath it, she’s a mother who acted out of fear and ambition, not cruelty.

I step closer and gently touch her arm. “It’s all right,” I say softly. “I understand. You wanted to protect him–to make sure he had everything. But I love him, too. And I’ll protect him with everything I have.”

Jack’s mother stares at me, stunned into silence. For once, she seems unsure of what to say.

Jasmine clears her throat with a bright smile, breaking the heavy quiet. “Well,” she says cheerfully, “that was… intense.” Then she turns toward me. “My Queen, before I forget–your adoptive mother said she’ll be here when you give birth.”