Chapter 66
Eric looked back at me and seemed to connect the dots. His face fell slightly, his enthusiasm deflating as he realized something.
“So, that’s why she’s not interested in me,” he muttered under his breath, his eyes following Lirian as he walked past.
Poor Eric. It seemed to dawn on him that I wasn’t ignoring him because of Ryan or any other reason.
It was Lirian. The guy everyone wanted to be friends with, or more.
Lirian wasn’t just popular–he was untouchable, and despite his cold demeanor, his rare moments of acknowledgment could make anyone feel like they were walking on clouds.
But there was one thing everyone knew: Lirian had never been close to any girl. No one ever seemed to catch his attention. Until now, maybe.
As the boys started warming up for the game, the energy in the gym shifted again.
Eyes were locked on Lirian, every move he made drawing stares from the crowd. But one pair of Jayes remained fixed on me–Ryan.
He had been watching my every move since Lirian walked in, and his face twisted into a mocking sneer. He was the kind of guy who enjoyed being the center of attention, and now that someone els had stolen the spotlight, he didn’t like it one bit.
Linda, standing beside him, nudged him. “Do Lirian now?” she asked, her
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voice a mix of curiosity and disbelief.
Ryan shrugged, his tone laced with irritation. “Looks like it.”
Linda’s expression was conflicted. She had always had a soft spot for Ryan, but even she couldht deny Lirian’s allure.
Still, she wasn’t foolish enough to set her sights on someone out of reach.
He’s way out of her league, though,” she muttered under her breath.
Ryan didn’t reply, but his eyes darkened. He had assumed I was here for him, that I would spend the entire time ogling over his moves like I used to.
The Alpha’s Substitute Luna: A Beart Claimed, A Soul Reborn
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Chapter 6
But now, with Lirian in the picture, his confidence had taken a hit.
He stormed off to warm up, trying to shake off the frustration gnawing at him.
For some reason, he couldn’t stand the fact that I wasn’t paying attention to him. He didn’t want me to cling to him anymore, but now that I wasn’t, something about it irritated him.
On the other side of the court, Lirian caught Ryan’s eye.
The two locked gazes, a silent exchange of challenge passing between them. There was tension in the air, the kind that made everyone around them hold their breath.
It was more than just a game now–it was a rivalry that everyone could feel.
As the match drew closer, I couldn’t help but wonder if I had unknowingly stepped into the middle of something much bigger.
I sat in the bleachers, my hands full of snacks and drinks, and began to hand them out to the other spectators around me.
The game hadn’t started yet, and I could sense the usual murmurings from those nearby. Many of them had believed the rumors about me–the whispers, the ugly stories. They weren’t in the same class as me, and their opinions had been shaped by gossip.
But now, after a few shared moments and casual interactions, their attitudes began to shift.
They accepted my offerings, and I noticed their eyes soften, as if realizing that I wasn’t quite the person they had been told about.
“Thanks,” one of the girls next to me said as she took a drink, glancing at me with a hint of surprise.
A few others nodded politely, murmuring their appreciation.
The cold walls that had been built between us by rumors were slowly crumbling.
Not far away, Mia’s voice cut through the crowd, low but sharp enough for me to catch. “Is she trying to buy people’s hearts?” she asked Linda, clearly unimpressed by my gesture.
Linda didn’t even bother to hide her disdain. “Lirian… Sophia’s probably just eager to show off, like The used to when she was chasing Ryan. Remember that?” she remarked, her voice dripping with judgment.
Mia let out a laugh, exaggerated and mocking.
apter 66
“Chase Lirian? Oh my god, she’s out of her mind! Who could look at someone like her, someone
who’s been out there as some old man’s mistress?” Her words stung, even though I had heard them all before.
It was like an endless echo of the lies people liked to throw around about me.
Linda sighed, her tone shifting slightly. “It’s actually quite sad. I heard her parents died. Maybe if they were still around, she wouldn’t have turned out this way.”
