Chapter 97
Lirian’s jaw clenched, and I could see the dark storm brewing in his eyes.
But before he could respond, I stepped forward, anger igniting in my chest.
Without thinking, I raised my hand and struck Ryan’s face, the sound echoing in the chill air.
The force of the slap caught him off guard, and he staggered back, his eyes wide with shock.
“That’s enough,” I said, my voice shaking, yet firm. “You have no right to talk to him that way. If it weren’t for my family’s help, you wouldn’t even be standing here. We covered your hospital bills, paid off Clara’s gambling debts, and never asked for a penny back. So don’t you dare stand here, acting entitled and dragging Lirian’s name through the mud.”
Ryan stared at me, his eyes dark with a mix of anger and disbelief, as if realizing for the first time. just how much had changed between us.
There was a painful silence, each of us caught in the raw emotions of the moment, until a faint murmur from nearby drew our attention.
A sleek, expensive car pulled
up beside us, and all eyes turned to the passengers stepping out.
A tall, impeccably dressed man exited first, his sharp suit and the gleaming watch on his wrist marking him as someone of significant wealth.
He extended a hand to a woman in a glittering evening gown, her makeup flawless and her hair styled as if she’d just come from a high–class gala.
Whispers quickly spread through the crowd that had gathered to watch our exchange.
“Isn’t that Linda?” someone murmured. “But isn’t she… a student here? What’s she doing with a man like that?”
“Isn’t he Arman, from the Moon Shadow Pack?” another voice whispered. “Looks like Linda’s landed herself a wealthy boyfriend.”
Byan’s face turned pale as he watched Linda, who now clung to Arman’s arm with a flirtatious smile.
The confidence he’d wielded just moments ago seemed to crumble, his expression a mixture of
shock and confusion.
Chapter 97
tlet out a quiet, scornful laugh as I took in the scene, trying not to let Ryan’s pitiful expression sway
- me.
Linda’s smirk was as dazzling as the diamonds on her necklace.
Wings
Once, in our past lives, she had risen to fame on the of a successful art school career, discovered during a mere campus performance by an admissions scout.
That had been her stepping stone into the entertainment industry, and before I knew it, she had made her debut, eventually becoming a household name.
But in this life, things had turned out differently.
tanda had missed out on her first–choice art school and failed the rigorous interview process at the top academies.
Now she clung to Arman, hoping he could pave her way to stardom.
Arman had been absent from Moonshadow lately, preoccupied with finding connections and backdoor paths for Linda’s acceptance to any film academy that would have her.
I had ended up covering his responsibilities, picking up the slack while he threw his influence around to push Linda’s career.
Though she’d only managed to get into a second–rate film academy, Arman had lined up a few directors, hoping one might launch her into the spotlight.
And now, with her dreams tantalizingly close, she was soaking up the adoration of the gathered students.
As Linda noticed us by the entrance, her smile faltered, the laughter in her eyes dimming. She whispered something to Arman, nudging him toward the car, as though she could slip away without
a confrontation.
But I wasn’t about to let her vanish that easily.
“Linda, it’s been a while.” My voice carried, laced with just enough cheer to mask my true feelings. “Aren’t you going to greet your old flame here?”
Linda’s face paled slightly, but she quickly turned to Arman with a soft pout, clutching his arm and murmuring. “Baby, please don’t listen to her. I have nothing to do with Ryan.”
Ryan’s face fell, a look of shock and betrayal hardening his expression.
could almost see the gears turning in his mind, the disillusionment spreading across his face as he absorbed her callous words.
A flash of anger surged through me–anger at how easily she discarded him, at how he’d once fought so hard for her affection.
In our last lives, Linda had strung Ryan along, abandoning him whenever a better opportunity came, then crawling back when he seemed useful again.
And each time, he had taken her back, loyal to a fault.
Arman chuckled, a look of smug satisfaction flashing in his eyes. He slipped his arm around her waist and, to Linda’s delight, leaned down to press a lingering kiss on her cheek.
“Prove it, babe,” he murmured, his voice low and challenging.
The Alpha
