Chapter three

Miranda POV

Halfway through the meal, she came in.

The hypocrite.

The last person I wished to see.

She was breathing so fast.

Like she’d just run a marathon.

Everyone’s attention turned to her.

Wondering why she was running.

The first to ask was Alpha Brian.

“Rose, why were you running?”

Rose chuckled. “I ran all the way here because I heard the Alpha invited all royal members for dinner.”

I stared at her in mockery.

Giving her the confidence to think she was part of the royal family.

Even if she had a child for the Alpha,

how did that make her royal?

I snorted. “The Alpha called every _royal_ member.

What does that have to do with you?

And since when did you become one of us?”

She frowned. Clearly annoyed.

But who was she anyway?

Just some lowlife beggar from the street.

“I’m Ace’s mother,” she said proudly.

“So as Ace’s mother, I have every right to be here.”

That got me irritated.

“Was Ace the one who called this gathering?” I shot back.

“Just because you brought a grown boy from god-knows-where,

claiming he’s the Alpha’s son,

doesn’t make you royal.

You’re completely shameless.”

I caught Ace staring at me.

Fierce gaze.

I didn’t flinch.

The whole table was watching us.

Ruining their appetite.

But I was enjoying the show.

Rose turned to the Alpha.

“Alpha, do you see what she did?

She’s insulting me.”

Her voice dripped with fake sadness.

Alpha Brian sighed. “Miranda, I was the one who called her.

So she could join us for dinner.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Since when did we start inviting dogs to dine with us?”

“Miranda, don’t you dare insult my mother!” Ace warned.

I chuckled. Stared at him with disdain.

“And if I do, what will you do?

You’re an unwanted bastard who doesn’t even know his origin!”

“Miranda!” Everyone called out in unison.

They were angry I called Ace a bastard.

But I wasn’t done.

“Yeah!” I said. “Isn’t that what he is?

Someone just brought a grown-up boy from nowhere,

claimed he’s the Alpha’s son,

and you all foolishly believed it.”

I scoffed.

I didn’t care about their feelings.

They didn’t care about mine either.

They all treat Ace like some kind of god now.

Even the royal members who hated me

were suddenly concerned for him.

Was I jealous?

Sad for him?

No.

It was all fake.

The only reason they side with him

is because he’s the Alpha’s favorite right now.

“Miranda!”

The Alpha’s voice boomed.

Full of authority.

Everyone at the table looked frightened.

But I didn’t flinch.

I’ve known him for years.

Why should I be scared?

I stared straight into his eyes.

“Why so mad, Dad?

Did I hit a nerve?

Just because you don’t have a male child

doesn’t mean you can go around taking a child that isn’t yours.”

The Alpha coughed.

Held his chest and coughed.

Everyone stared at him in concern.

“Dad, are you okay?” Ace asked.

Acting like the perfect son.

“Don’t worry,” I mocked.

“He’s not going to die.”

“And who said he was gonna die?” Ace snapped.

“You—”

I was about to reply

When the Queen Mother cut me off.

My grandmother.

“Stop this nonsense, Miranda!”

She said.

And I stopped.

Trying to maintain the little manners I had left.

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