21.74.
Chapter 33
But tonight’s family gathering made me hesitate. I eventually declined since I and Lork were pretending to be a happy couple so not attending the dinner would not be reasonable.
Ttyped “I am extremely sorry as I have some family commitments tonight but I am sure I’ll make it “some other day” and sent the message…
His reply came quickly, his usually cold demeanor softened with a cute, little cat emoji making an “okay” gesture. I couldn’t help but smile.
put my phone away and noticed Daria and Lorik watching me intently.
“What’s got you smiling?” Darla asked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Lorik’s gaze was more calculating, trying to decipher my mood. He seemed to be struggling with a hint of jealousy,
I shrugged, giving a vague answer. “Just I read some funny message“. Daria exchanged a look with
Lorik, who seemed to sulk a bit.
“It’s from a friend. He was thanking me for something that I did for him..
Lorik’s expressions changed to extreme jealous mode but he tried to change the topic immediately.. I noticed and chuckled inside
Evening fell swiftly, and the servants bustled around, preparing for the family gathering with an air of seriousness. The scent of rich food wafted through the mansion.
As I descended the stairs, I saw Lorik’s father seated at the head of the table. To my shock, Lorcia was seated in the place of honor, closest to him.
Lorcia stood across the room, adorned in an elegant gown that flowed gracefully as she p
gestured animatedly while speaking with Andrew. Her bright smile lit up the conversation, but the moment her gaze fell on me, that pleasant expression shifted into something sharp and mocking, a smirk. designed to provoke.
s of
I didn’t give her the satisfaction of a reaction. Instead, I maintained my composure, the corners iny mouth lifting slightly in a response that was barely a smile. Just then, I felt a gentle but firm grip. on my arm. Turning my head slightly, I saw Lorik, dressed impeccably in a sleek, well–tailored suit that fit him perfectly. His presence was commanding, effortlessly exuding control and authority.
Without a word, he guided me toward the grand staircase that led down to the dining hall, his hand. never leaving my arm. He leaned in close, his voice low and smooth as he whispered in my ear,
There’s a good show coming tonight.”
Curiosity piqued, I tilted my head slightly toward him and whispered back, “What kind of show?”
Lorik’s lips curled into a smile, barely visible but unmistakable in its meaning. “You’ll see soon enough. Just don’t rush it,” he said, his voice filled with quiet amusement.
As we descended the stairs together, the soft murmurs of conversation filled the air. The grand chandelier hanging above the room cast a warm glow over the ornate dining table, which was already set for dinner. Plates gleamed in the candlelight, and the scent of freshly prepared food lingered in the air, though tension hovered like an uninvited guest.
Daria, sitting at one end of the table, was visibly irritated. She had been deep in conversation with Andrew, her sharp words biting as they debated something I hadn’t caught. Her annoyance was clear, but when her gaze fell upon Lorik and me–our heads close together, whispering in what
appeared to be a private conversation–her expression changed. A mischievous smile spread across her face, and she called out in an exaggerated, playful tone, “Wow, look at my brother and Shirley! Don’t they look perfect together? Makes you envious, doesn’t it?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle softly. Daria was being sarcastic, but there was warmth in her words, as if she were on my side in this strange game we were all playing.
“Envious? Really?” I replied lightly, letting my voice carry just enough for everyone at the table to hear. I met Daria’s eyes, and she gave me a knowing smile in return.
Lorik pulled out a chair for me, and I took my seat, glancing across the table where Lorcia sat, her every move laced with intention. She leaned forward slightly, her eyes flashing as she caught Lorik’s attention. With a seductive smile, she addressed him in a voice dripping with false sweetness.
“Lorik, it’s been so long since you visited me. You must be incredibly busy with work these days, J
remember how, when I hurt my hand, you stayed by my side all night, taking care of me. You’ve always been so considerate. But you really should look after your health too,” she said, her words, carefully chosen, designed to stir something in him.
Lorik’s expression didn’t waver. He looked at her with a calm indifference, the faintest hint of
amusement playing at the corners of his mouth. “You’ve been out of the Werewolf Council’s custody
for some time now, haven’t you?”
Lorcia’s smile faltered, just for a second, but she quickly regained her composure. “You know that
was all a misunderstanding,” she said, her tone soft, almost pleading.
gh, was it?” Lorik’s voice was deceptively calm, his gaze unwavering. “Because I’ve heard some
Let Go My Alpha. He knelt in Regret
ther interesting things recently. For instance, there’s talk that someone’s injury wasn’t real at all, and that a certain someone might’ve bribed a doctor to forge a medical report”
The room fell silent. The sharp clatter of metal hitting porcelain echoed as Lorcia’s spoon slipped from her hand, landing awkwardly on her plate. Her face drained of color, and she looked almost sickly under the glow of the chandelier. Her carefully crafted facade was beginning to crumble.
Though, Lorik.” Andrew’s voice cut through the tension, deep and commanding. His eyes narrowed as he glared at his son. “Watch your tone when you speak to Lorcia. She’s the future Luna of
Silvermoon, after all.‘
And there it was–the jab, the bait he’d been waiting to cast. Andrew was attempting to provoke me. to get under my skin and watch me unravel. He wanted to see anger, frustration, anything that
ould show I wasn’t fit for the position they were all too eager to deny me.
I
But I refused to rise to his challenge.
Instead, I smiled. A small, calculated smile that revealed none of the emotions swirling beneath the surface. I casually reached across the table and intertwined my fingers with Lorik’s, feeling the warmth and strength of his hand as I locked our fingers together. It was all part of the act, but the moment felt strangely real, his touch grounding me in the midst of the chaos.
Turning my gaze to Andrew, I let my voice drip with feigned sweetness, matching Lorcia’s earlier
tone. “Lorik, why don’t you tell your father? And while you’re at it, tell me too. Will you divorce me?”
