Chapter 23: The Serpent in the Shadows

 

Amidst the storm of gazes and whispers raging around them, Lalisa and the Alphas stood firm, like a lighthouse challenging the waves. They had, by default, become the hottest topic of the party. Every step and action of theirs was scrutinized and interpreted in various ways.

But then, while they were standing and talking with a group of famous artists, the shadow they never expected to encounter in this place appeared.

It was “Victoria,” a middle-aged female Alpha with a beautiful but cold and ruthless face. She was the most important business rival of Kieran's family, and most importantly... she was the one behind all the scandalous rumors that had occurred.

Victoria walked straight towards them with a graceful and friendly demeanor, as if she were an old friend they hadn't seen in a long time. But the smile on her lips was chilling and held an undisguised malicious intent.

“Kieran... I never thought I'd see you here,” Victoria said in a sickeningly sweet voice. “And this... must be your new ‘close friend,’” she said, glancing at Lalisa with an openly contemptuous gaze.

The atmosphere around them instantly turned cold, as if the temperature had dropped several degrees. The scent of the three Alphas' pheromones changed abruptly. It wasn't fierce and threatening like when they encountered the thugs, but was cold and sharp like a knife ready to slit the enemy's throat.

“Yes... this is Lalisa,” Kieran replied in a flat voice, but with a weight that made the listener feel pressured. “And she is more than a close friend... she is our ‘family.’”

The word “family” that came from Kieran's mouth was heavy and powerful, like a declaration of war.

Victoria chuckled softly in her throat. “Family? What a lovely word. But I wonder if society will accept such a strange ‘family.’ Especially... when it might affect the image and stock price of your companies.”

It was the clearest and cruelest threat. Victoria didn't just want to destroy their reputation, but also wanted to destroy their business and everything they had built.

“That... is not something an outsider like you needs to worry about,” Seren interjected in a harsh voice. Her dark brown eyes stared at Victoria relentlessly, like a predator about to pounce on its prey. “Why don't you spend your time worrying about your own affairs... I heard your company is having some money laundering problems.”

Seren's words were like a knockout punch that hit Victoria's weak spot hard. Her expression changed instantly. The smile that had been on her face disappeared, replaced by shock and a clear anger.

“You... how did you know about that?” Victoria asked, her voice trembling.

“In this world... there are no secrets that money can't buy,” Seren replied with a victorious smirk.

While the verbal clash between the Alphas was going on fiercely, Lalisa, who was standing in the middle of the circle, did something no one expected.

She, who had always been the one protected, now took a step forward, facing the venomous serpent herself.

Her large, round eyes, once filled with fear, were now calm and strangely cold. “Ms. Victoria,” she said in a polite but sweet voice. “I don't know what kind of feud you have with them, but I would like to warn you as someone who loves them the most that... by messing with them, you are messing with me too.”

Her words stunned everyone in the vicinity. No one had ever expected that this delicate and innocent-looking Omega would dare to challenge a powerful Alpha like Victoria.

“And I believe that... a smart person like you wouldn't want to make another enemy, would you? Especially... an enemy who has nothing to lose like me,” Lalisa continued, giving Victoria a smile that was the sweetest but at the same time chilled her to the bone.

It was a clear declaration that she was no longer a weak victim, but a queen ready to protect her kingdom and the ones she loved with her own life.

Lalisa's action left the three Alphas stunned for a moment. They looked at their Omega with eyes full of amazement, pride, and an even more overwhelming love than before.

Kline was the first to regain her composure. She came to stand beside Lalisa and reinforced her with a voice that was cold but powerful. “As Liz said... we are a family. And anyone who thinks of harming our family will face unimaginable consequences... I can assure you that it won't be just a matter of a falling stock price.”

The threat hidden in Kline's polite words was even more terrifying than Seren's crude ones. It made Victoria's face turn pale.

The venomous serpent had been utterly defeated. She couldn't compete with the united and strong power of this strange “family.”

Victoria glared at the four of them with eyes full of hatred, before turning and walking away in a huff without another word.

The confrontation had ended with their glorious victory. They had not only been able to protect themselves from the condemnation of society, but had also been able to defeat their most formidable enemy.

And most importantly... Lalisa had discovered the power hidden within herself. The power of love that can turn the weakest person into the strongest.

That night, after returning to the penthouse, the atmosphere was no longer filled with tension, but with laughter and pride.

“You were amazing today, Liz!” Seren said, ruffling Lalisa's soft hair affectionately. “I never thought you would dare to do that.”

“I just... did what I had to do,” Lalisa replied shyly.

“You didn't just do what you had to do,” Kieran said in a serious voice, pulling Lalisa's body into a tight embrace. “You proved to us that... you are truly a part of us.”

Kieran's words were the most precious confirmation for Lalisa.

On that night, she finally understood that... her true home was not in this luxurious penthouse, but in the arms of her beloved Alphas... her one and only family.