ME
Chapter 4
Lyra’s POV
“Did you take bribes at the hospital just so you could show off in front of all of us?”
I rolled my eyes, Ignoring Tristan’s remark, and walked toward the front desk with my card to settle the bill.
Halfway there, Lucian called to say he’d be late, urging me to mingle
I smiled, talking to him for a little while before hanging up and heading back to the banquet hall.
But
just as I reached the entrance, Tristan stepped in front of me, blocking my way.
His gaze swept over me, filled with disdain, before he tossed a thick stack of cash at my feet.
“Stop pretending. Take this and pay the bill. Don’t say I never did anything for you.”
I pushed the money back to him, my voice steady. “I don’t need it. Besides, It’s not even enough to
Drop the act. Do you think I don’t know how much you make? I told you when we severed the mate bond–you should’ve quit that exhausting job. Pathetic pay, zero respect What’s the damn point?”
I rolled my eyes again.
His “safety–first” persona crumbled, revealing the mercenary beneath. Every Alpha present saw it the naked opportunism beneath the facade. But none dared call out their rising star…
Too exhausted to engage, I shouldered past him toward the private dining room.
I had barely taken two steps when Estelle appeared in front of me
She looped her arm around Tristan’s and cooed, “Honey, show them the Alpha King’s sapphire!”
Tristan pinched her cheek affectionately and agreed.
I reached for the door handle, ready to push it open, when Estelle suddenly called out again.
“Lyra, I hope you’re not still clinging to any delusions about Tristan. He’s my mate now–your brother–in–law. I know you orchestrated this ball to worm your way back in. Your failures are your own don’t drag us down. If you keep playing these little tricks, you’ll only make us despise you more.
–
I raised an eyebrow but didn’t bother defending myself. Instead, I responded lightly.
*Alright”
Perfect match, these two–projecting their pettiness onto everyone else.
The truth?
No one cared about them.
And I least of all
Once Tristan and Estelle left the banquet hall, the conversation finally shifted
For the first time that night, the focus turned to my family.
Alpha Nick spoke up
“Alpha Silas, Luna Camilla, today isn’t a special occasion. Why gather us today?”
My parents exchanged a glance before taking my hand.
“We actually have something to celebrate,” my mother said with a smile.
Before I could speak, the private room door was flung open with a loud bang.
Estelle stormed in, her face twisted with fury as shie marched up to me. “Lyra! Did y
you destroy Tristan’s sapphire? That was a reward from the Alpha King–worth at least five million!”
