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I blinked after him with a scowl for a full minute after he was gone. “Oh sure, I’ll just handle your parents after that, you dipshit.” I felt better when his mom snorted. I sighed and glanced at her. “It just sort of happened. Your son is very charming.”

She threw back her head and laughed. Even his dad seemed amused, but I was more focused on her.

Mrs. Clark came over to me and cupped my face, kissing both of my cheeks.

“If anyone can heal your heart after an abusive relationship, it’s my Ha-joon.

And I see you doing the same. I now understand why he was so upset when he came home.

The situation blowing up with that woman and finding out you were a doctor while being involved—”

“It got messy, but he didn’t give me a chance to explain,” I confirmed. “And then the idiot ghosted me until yesterday.” I nodded when she frowned. “Men.”

“Yes, how they are in charge most times astonishes me.”

Her mate was less than thrilled to hear her say that, but I snorted in agreement. I’d felt the same so many times it wasn’t even funny. I was pretty sure most women had.

“And he hasn’t been feeding me,” I told her, giving her my best pout as a way to refocus them. “I’m out of everything and I returned all of my containers.”

Her eyes danced with amusement as she pet my hair. “Oh, you poor lass. My son is a monster to keep you away from your daily kimchi and needed soy eggs.”

“He is ,” I agreed. “And someone brought me this blackberry peach crumble that has protein in the granola so it’s healthy and filling, not just sugar and butter.

It’s so good that I immediately ordered two huge trays to share with you, but when he wasn’t answering me—what was I do to? I gave it to my staff.”

“I cannot believe he would deny me Southern desserts like that,” she said with a gasp… While trying to hide a smirk, her glance cutting to the left. “Well, now he’ll have to buy it extra for the trade-off.

“Yes, I’m sorry, Mum,” Ha-joon agreed as he rejoined us. “And I do have all of her washed containers. I was the jerk. Tell the chefs that—”

“They’re thrilled to have the chance to make so much food and not just the whims of your siblings,” Mrs. Clark said, her voice a bit tight.

So clearly something was going on there.

I decided to take the bullet on something and protect Ha-joon as my apology for being flippant with his father. “I heard about the investment opportunity in Miami. I advised Ha-joon against the idea as it was presented to him.”

Mrs. Clark flinched away from me as if she was shocked I would insult her, but Alpha Clark was pissed… And the one I was worried about on this topic.

“It’s not like it sounds or—” Ha-joon started to say, but it was my turn and I pushed him behind me, probably shocking him with my strength.

I kept Alpha Clark’s gaze. “If your daughter who has repeatedly bullied him and not treated him as she should pulls a fast one because she now has the chance, are you fine with him fighting back? Taking things to court and not getting screwed over? Will you allow that embarrassment for your family and pack when—”

“You’ve made your point, Ms. Reed,” he bit out.

I swallowed loudly when I felt Ha-joon’s pain… And I wasn’t the only one from the way the Clarks immediately looked at him.

“Ha-yun would never is what your father is saying,” Mrs. Clark said quietly.

“I don’t know that I believe that, Mum,” Ha-joon mumbled and I felt like I saw him as a child being neglected—after his siblings bullied him again.

“You already made a promise to her, Hugo,” Alpha Clark said firmly. “You can’t just back out—”

“Nothing has been signed, and you will put your family’s image before your son, not hold your daughter accountable,” I snapped.

“So he can back out at any time if there aren’t guarantees.

” I hurried on when anger about radiated off of him.

“But I suggested he form an LLC with his mates who are also in the pack and invest that way.”

“That’s actually a better way to handle it,” Alpha Clark said after a moment. He glanced past me. “Ha-yun is sincere in this. She wants her own life just as you do.”

“Yeah, but I never shit on anyone in the family to get there. She can’t say the same, so Ellie’s right that I shouldn’t trust her after our past,” Ha-joon said quietly. “Especially in a new market and…”

Alpha Clark met my gaze and let out a long breath. “No, she’s a good person to protect you without trying to make problems for you and our family. Thank you.”

I gave a shallow nod. “As your mate already knows, I have family issues of my own. Clearly on a different level than your family, but I’ve had the rug pulled out on me too many times to believe people change.

If they do—lovely. I just never have any faith in it.

So I would never think to invest with his siblings, but he wants to. I just want him to do it safely.”

Alpha Clark nodded. “I understand. I asked Ha-joon to introduce Ha-yun to you after learning about your business—”

“Da,” Ha-joon cut in.

“But he said with the board issues it wasn’t the right time.” He frowned and glanced at Ha-joon. “You’re involved with her. What does it matter now—”

“It matters because I’d drain your children,” I chuckled darkly, letting him see in my eyes that I wasn’t kidding.

“Leaving aside our personal relationship, I don’t let anyone give the staff of ASH trouble.

It’s why I handled the situation with the local wolf Alpha that I’ll talk to Ha-joon about.

But your other children give him trouble. So no, do not let them around me.”

“You did not just say that to one of the biggest Alphas in the world,” Ha-joon whispered under his breath, his tone full of awe.

I snorted and looked at him. “I run ASH, love . I basically run Atlanta and boss around all the different supe groups I want. I have a direct line to every president and they all owe me favors. No shade against your family, but they are not the big hitter standing here. I am. You know of one company.” I tilted my head and studied him.

“Why do you assume that’s the only one?”

He let out a long, deep breath before lowering his forehead to my shoulder. “Please stop making me long for you more. I’m trying to be good and not be all over you after I was a jerk and give you the space you asked for. You can’t be so damn sexy and—”

“Enough from you,” I growled and moved so he stumbled. “Now you’re really in trouble, pup.”

“I was just being honest,” he mumbled.

Gods save me.

“On the note that I have a lot on my shoulders, I need to get going,” I said to all of them before focusing on Mrs. Clark.

“Though I hope you can schedule lunch soon.” I hurried on when her eyes flashed shock.

“As a respected patient who has the best interest of ASH at heart and keeps her eyes and ears open.”

She dipped her head to me. “Yes, I have many notes if you’re open to them.”

“Always.” I wasn’t offended when Ha-joon and his father snorted. “From people that I trust and won’t just try to change everything for their best interest. You have no interest or reason to insert yourself here.”

“No, no I do not,” she agreed. “And my notes are very minor—mostly praise. Dr. Tai—she is—I’m not sure I’ve met a more impressive physician and for her not to even be a shifter—astounding, a true talent.” She gave her son a look to shove it.

“I accept that since I’ve never been your doctor,” he grumbled good-naturedly.

Well, that was one way to leave the “meeting” and make my escape.

And I was a smart enough woman to do it.