Chapter 36
I pushed the thoughts aside and tried to immerse myself in the party, but it was futile. My mind was still stuck on Ryan’s missed calls.
When the event finally began to wind down, I realized my phone had died, and when I checked it again after plugging it into my charger, I saw several more missed calls from him.
Just as I sighed and was about to put the phone away, Ryan called again.
A smile tugged at my lips, though not one of fondness.
pressed the answer button and leaned back in my chair. “Hello, Ryan.”
“Sophia, what do you think you’re doing?”
Ryan’s voice crackled with anger, frustration dripping from every word.
The fiercer his tone became, the more satisfaction I felt bubbling inside. He was angry–good.
Feigning surprise, I let out a soft laugh.
“Ryan, what’s the matter? Why are you so upset?” My voice was sugar–coated, but I knew it would only infuriate him more.
“You didn’t pay the bill,” he growled, lowering his voice as if trying to keep his temper in check. “You- didn’t pay for the hotel for my birthday party! Everyone’s waiting here, and I’m being humiliated because of you!”
His self–righteous tone made me laugh again, this time louder.
It was absurd. He really thought he had the right to speak to me like this, as if I still owed him anything.
The Ryan of the past might have coaxed me into feeling guilty, but I was no longer that naive.
“You had a birthday party?” I asked with a fake gasp. “And you didn’t even invite me, your -girlfriend? How curious. And yet, you still expect me to pay for it. What exactly do you take me for, Ryan?”
In the past, I had given him so much–money, time, attention.
The Alpha’s Substitute Luna: A Heart Claimed. A Soul Reborn
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Tens of thousands of dollars in pocket money each month, with him never hesitating to take it.
He spent my money freely, inviting his friends to dinners, buying expensive things, all the while basking in the admiration of his peers.
They all thought Ryan was generous, a big spender. But it had been “my” money, not his. And I had let it happen for far too long.
There was a moment of silence on the other end, as if my words had stunned him.
Then, when he spoke again, his voice had softened slightly, trying to coax me back into submission.
“Sophia, don’t be like this. I know you’re upset about earlier, but I can explain. Just come over here and pay the bill first, okay? We can talk about everything after.”
I could practically hear him gritting his teeth, struggling to keep his tone sweet. The prideful man that he was, it must have been killing him to ask me for help, especially in front of his friends.
I couldn’t resist. My voice turned playful, though there was an underlying iciness to it. “Oh, Ryan. You’re right. I *am* upset. And you know what? I’m just thinking of ways to get back at you.”
“Sophia, stop joking around!” His temper flared again, and I could almost picture the scowl on his face. “Just come over here and pay the bill!”
The very idea of him begging me while keeping up the facade in front of his friends made me chuckle darkly. “Sorry, Ryan. You’re on your own.” With that, I hung up the phone.
Standing up, I smoothed out my dress, turning to Lirian. “I need to step out for a bit.”
Lirian’s eyes met mine with concern. “Do you need me to come with you?”
I offered him a polite smile, shaking my head. “No, it’s fine. I’ll handle it.”
As I descended the staircase and reached the ground floor, I immediately spotted Ryan and his group of friends.
They were gathered awkwardly near the entrance of the Moon Crown Tavern, clearly embarrassed.
The private box they had reserved was one of the most exclusive in the city.
Those who dined here were either incredibly wealthy or of noble standing. It wasn’t the kind of place Ryan could afford, but that didn’t stop him from pretending he could.
He must have thought that I would swoop in quietly, pay the bill, and save him from humiliation.
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could almost see the image he had crafted in his mind–me, the silent benefactor, coming to his rescue as a
always, while he maintained his big–spender facade in front of his classmates.
Too bad for him, that wasn’t going to happen.
The moment I walked in, the manager approached with a respectful nod.
“Miss Sophia,” he greeted, his tone far more formal than the one he had used with Ryan.
I could feel eyes on me, some curious, some shocked, as the realization dawned on them.
They were beginning to understand who I really was in Ryan’s life.
C
