Chapter 27
“It’s your birthday? I didn’t realize,” I said, feigning ignorance as I casually scrolled through my phone.
I showed Ryan the blank screen where no messages from him were visible. “I thought maybe you didn’t invite me. So many of your classmates are here celebrating with you–how could you forget someone like me?”
Ryan’s expression faltered, his smile stiffening as his confidence drained away. He shifted uncomfortably.
Clearly, he hadn’t thought it necessary to send me an invitation, assuming I’d show up uninvited like I used to. He’d always thought I’d revolve around him, no matter what.
“What do you mean?” Ryan asked, his voice tinged with irritation.
Before I could respond, the manager of the hotel appeared, her eyes lighting up as she saw me. “Miss Sophia, you’re here. It’s good to see you.”
I nodded politely. “Has Ethan arrived yet?”
“Alpha is still on his way, Miss Sophia,” the manager replied. “It’ll be a little while longer.”
“Could you show me where he’ll be?” I asked, ignoring the mounting tension in Ryan’s gaze.
The manager nodded and turned to lead the way. But before we could get far, Ryan stepped forward, his voice sharp. “Sophia, where are you going?”
I didn’t bother answering him and instead addressed the manager again. “Why are these two–I gestured to Ryan and Linda, who was lingering behind him like a shadow, “-here on the main
floor?”
The manager hesitated, glancing awkwardly between Ryan and me. “I’m sorry, Miss Sophia, but these two said they were your friends and insisted on holding their birthday party here at the Lunar Crown. Since today is the celebration party for the Moon Shadow Pack, we couldn’t give them the main ballroom, so we reserved the basement for them. I had no idea they would wander up here.”
The Lunar Crown Hotel was the property of the Moon Shadow Pack, and when it was time for one of the pack’s major events–like tonight’s celebration–the entire hotel was closed off for the exclusive use of the pack. In the past, I would have bent over backward to make sure Ryan got the best rooms, the best service. But now things were different.
¿
23.1N
This year, I hadn’t lifted a finger for his birthday. And yet, he and Linda had still come here, hoping to bask in the glory of the venue I used to arrange for them.
I raised an eyebrow, looking Ryan dead in the eyes. “You heard her. You’re on the wrong floor.”
Ryan’s face turned red, disbelief flashing across his features.
“The basement?” he spluttered, his voice rising. “That’s where the car park is, isn’t it? Sophia, are you seriously making me hold my birthday party in the car park?”
The manager quickly intervened, trying to explain. “No, sir, the ground floor of the hotel has several private rooms. It’s not the car park-“.
But Ryan wasn’t listening. His face twisted in anger as he cut her off. “Sophia, what’s going on here? What kind of arrangement is this? What did you set up for my birthday this year?”
I looked at him, completely baffled. “What does this have to do with me? I didn’t even know about your birthday. And you didn’t invite me, did you?” I gestured again to the blank messages on my phone.
Ryan opened his mouth, but no words came out. He seemed at a loss for what to say, blocked by the reality I had no part in his plans this time.
If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going,” I said with a small smile, turning to follow the manager.
As I walked away, I could feel Ryan fuming behind me. I could almost hear the gears turning in his head, trying to figure out how everything had spiraled out of his control.
For so long, I had been the one pulling strings to make him look good, but not anymore.
Ryan made a move to follow me, but he stopped short when he remembered Linda at his side. Linda, who was watching everything with teary eyes and trembling lips, playing the innocent victim as usual.
“Ryan, what’s happening?” Linda asked in a small voice, her eyes red–rimmed as she looked up at him. Her vulnerability would have melted anyone’s heart–anyone but me.
Ryan clenched his fists, his frustration boiling over. He glanced back at Linda and then shot a venomous look in my direction.
“There’s something wrong with the hotel’s arrangements,” he said, lying through his teeth. “Don’t worry, I’ll deal with it. I’ll make sure the manager is fired for this. For now, we can just use the private room on the ground floor. It’s still a nice space, and we’ll make it work.”
21.3%
Whapter 27
The lie was so transparent it seemed almost heartbreaking, and even Linda, who usually got along so well, hesitated for a moment, doubt glinting in her eyes.
I knew that she must have had second thoughts about Ryan’s identity.
I looked forward to the look on her face when she realised that Ryan wasn’t the rich man she thought he was.
