Semua Bab Right Love, Wrong Alpha: Bab 181 - Bab 190

VioletThe past few days passed in a blur until the big day was finally upon us. Today was the Lunar Gala and I could barely think straight.The Lunar Gala was everything I'd imagined and more.The venue was a massive exhibition hall with crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, shining upon the plush marble floors. The space was divided into sections, each brand or designer given their own booth to showcase their work. White silk drapes created elegant barriers between displays, while strategically placed spotlights ensured every piece of jewelry sparkled with maximum impact.I stood in our assigned booth, my hands trembling slightly as I adjusted the arrangement for what felt like the hundredth time. "Violet, the emerald necklace is crooked again," Mirella's voice cut through my thoughts. "How many times do I have to tell you? The centerpiece needs to be perfectly aligned or the whole display looks sloppy."I bit back a sigh and moved to adjust the necklace in question,

VioletAt first I thought my ears were deceiving me, and that I had heard it wrong.But the roaring applause that followed and the sharp rise in chatter told me my senses were working just fine.Elijah was here.Why the hell did he have to be the Chief Guest of the Lunar Gala?My fingers curled into fists so tightly that my nails bit into my palms, grounding me in a way nothing else could. I struggled to keep my breathing even, to not let the tremor in my chest travel outward where anyone could see it.Every single emotion I had buried for the past weeks, every moment where he had looked at me as if I mattered only to then realize I had been just a fucking bet for him clawed their way back to the surface. I had fought so hard to forget everything his mere presence had shattered it clean open.A bitter laugh rose in my throat but I swallowed it before it could escape. I was vaguely aware of the representatives from other booths buzzing with excitement, fixing their hair, and openly gus

VioletThe moment Mirella’s voice rang out in its desperation to impress, something inside me tightened so sharply it felt physical, like a thread pulled too hard and on the verge of snapping.I did not look at him. Instead, I shifted half a step back, then another, until my shoulder almost brushed the velvet-draped partition behind us, my fingers curling against the edge of the display table as if I could anchor myself there and disappear into the arrangement of diamonds and gold. I could feel him standing just a few feet away from me, the distance too short yet too long between us.It was absurd how my body recognized him before my mind allowed it to, how every nerve seemed to sharpen without permission, how my breath slowed against my will as if bracing for something inevitable.“It is so great to see you in person,” Mirella continued smoothly, saying the exact opposite of what I was feeling.“Did anything catch your eye yet?”She asked, coaxing him to speak more.I could almost

VioletMirella butted in, oblivious to the war raging in front of her, her voice almost jarring against the tension coiled between us.She let out a nervous little laugh. “I beg your pardon, but I think I must have heard it wrong. You want her?”I did not look at her. But my gaze slipped to Elijah again because he was already moving with that same confidence that always made it feel as though the rest of us were insignificant.His hand slipped into the inner pocket of his coat and emerged with a chequebook, making Mirella’s breath hitch audibly.“Oh,” she exclaimed, stepping forward, “You want to purchase a piece. Of course, I should have realized. Which one would you like me to pack? And I can certainly offer a discount if you…”“Did I stutter?” Elijah asked with enough force to freeze her mid-sentence.She blinked, her smile faltering as she searched his face for clarification, but he did not even glance at her. His pen moved across the paper and under a second he tore the cheque fr

VioletI got into my car and tried calling Dane again but it went to voicemail right away. I sent him a bunch of texts explaining everything while also asking about his grandfather’s health, hoping he wouldn’t be angry with me.I checked my watch, and one and a half hours had already passed amid my confusion and chatting with Mirella.I hated how Elijah was making me dance to his tunes yet again, always threatening to make someone I care about suffer.This was going to stop. I gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turned white, my foot pressing the accelerator harder than was probably safe. The city streets blurred past as I wove through traffic, my mind replaying the scene from the Gala over and over.Elijah had shown up at the most important night of my career, and threatened to destroy a company he never cared about until now.The sheer audacity of it made my blood boil. The arrogance and the entitlement like he could just threaten and manipulate his way back into my life