spanng="EN"(Olivia’s POV)

spanng="EN"“So angry?” Theodore’s voice carried that familiar gentle tone that once made my heart flutter. He immediately tried to pull my hand away, but his grip tightened. His fingers were warm against my skin, sending unwanted shivers up my arm.

spanng="EN"“Let go of me. You don’t want to get arrested,” I said through gritted teeth.

spanng="EN"Theodore’s dark eyes searched my face with that same intense look I remembered from our mating ceremony. “First, tell me. I just wanted to give you an opening invitation. Why are you so angry?”

spanng="EN"Before I could answer, Marcus stepped forward, his face flushed with rage. “Alpha Theodore, you’re being too unreasonable!”

spanng="EN"His voice cracked with emotion. “You just took eighty million from our Shield Chainpany, and then you turned around and warned the investment banks not to invest in us!”

spanng="EN"Marcus’s hands shook as he continued. “A friend who wanted to provide a small three–million loan to help us through was retaliated against. Yourpany rejected his materials and threatened to sue for breach of contract!”

spanng="EN"Theodore’s expression didn’t change. “It wasn’t me.”

spanng="EN"His assistant immediately stepped forward, producing a thick folder. The man’s voice was smooth and professional as he flipped through quality reports.

spanng="EN"“These timber samples from your friend’spany were substandard,” the assistant exined eloquently. “Alpha Theodore would never treat Luna Olivia this way.”

spanng="EN"He paused, his tone bing more persuasive/“As a mere Alpha from Stonehaven, hecks the influence to cklist apany throughout the Sovereign’s Citadel’s entire investment sector.”

spanng="EN"Marcus’s anger deted like a punctured balloon. His shoulders sagged as doubt crept into his eyes.

spanng="EN"“Miss Olivia,” he whispered, “maybe we misunderstood. epting an investment from Alpha Theodore would be a good choice.”

spanng="EN"I stared at the invitation in Theodore’s outstretched hand. The address made my blood run cold – directly across the street from my ownpany.

spanng="EN"Looking up at Theodore, I noticed the clear five–finger mark on his cheek. His once handsome face looked weathered, marked by exhaustion and pain.

spanng="EN"He had suffered so many injuries for my sake since we’d met again in the Sovereign’s Citadel. Yet his gaze remained unchanged – eternally gentle and full of deep affection

spanng="EN"Once, that look had made me feel immensely happy. Now, it only filled me with profound difort.

spanng="EN"It wasn’t the sharp pain of betrayal anymore, but a sickening feeling that twisted in my stomach. I realized his love had be a weapon.

spanng="EN"After trampling my feelings, he reappeared as if nothing had happened, relentlessly pushing me to forgive him. His current soft approach was just another strategy of coercion.

spanng="EN"He took eighty million when he only needed fifty. He bought the entire building my mother’s apartment was in. He opened hispany right opposite mine.

spanng="EN"He was ceaselessly invading my life, suffocating me with his presence.

spanng="EN"I raised my hand and pped his other cheek. The sound echoed through the street like a gunshot.

spanng="EN"As he instinctively moved to grab my hand, my voice turned icy. “The matter of the entire investment munity cklisting Shield Chain might not have been your doing.”

spanng="EN"My words came out in a rush, fueled by years of suppressed anger. “But you took eighty million from me, forcing me to go out and seek investment.”

spanng="EN"Theodore’s eyes widened, but I continued mercilessly. “You keep saying you love me, that it’s for my sake, but everywhere you’re forcing me to submit.”

spanng="EN"The pain in his expression only made me angrier. “Is there any difference between you and the person who did this? You make me even more disgusted than him.”

spanng="EN"My voice cracked with emotion. “Theodore, I will never bow to you, and I will never forgive you.”

spanng="EN"With that, I pushed his hand away and left with Marcus, my heart pounding with righteous fury.

spanng="EN"(Theodore’s POV)

spanng="EN"My face stung from her ps, but my heart ached more. I found myself worrying if her hand hurt from hitting me.

spanng="EN"My assistant’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Alpha Theodore, it seems the Luna has seen through your intentions. What should we do now?”

spanng="EN"I straightened my shoulders, my voice cold but resolute. “Open thepany! I have to watch over her, even if she still loathes me.”

spanng="EN"Her fierce reaction told me she had found another solution to her financial problems. She was too stubborn to ept help from Matthew Kane.

spanng="EN"Suddenly, realization hit me like a physical blow. The moonstone ne she always wore was gone.

spanng="EN"That precious heirloom from her mother – she wouldn’t part with it unless she was desperate.

spanng="EN"“Contact the auction house right away,” I instructed my assistant, my voice urgent.

spanng="EN"(Olivia’s POV)

spanng="EN"Later that evening, after leaving the auction house with a heavy heart, my phone rang. Alpha Asher White’s warm voice filled the speaker.

spanng="EN"“Olivia, I’m having a birthday banquet tonight. Would you honor me with your presence?”

spanng="EN"I hesitated, thinking of the social obligations I’d been avoiding.

spanng="EN"“His Beta is already here, but he isn’ting. Are you noting either?” Alpha Asher’s tone carried a hint of disappointment.

spanng="EN"Hearing that Matthew Kane would not be attending made my decision easier. “I’ll be there

spanng="EN"Chapter 186. Forcing Me to Submit at Every Turn, Is This Also Love?

spanng="EN"At the bustling party, I found refuge in a quiet corner of the buffet area. The venison looked particrly appetizing, and I piled my te high.

spanng="EN"My phone rang just as I took my first bite. My heart trembled slightly when I saw the caller ID.

spanng="EN"Matthew.

spanng="EN"The background noise was loud, with music that sounded vaguely familiar. Through our severed mate bond connection, his voice came through clearly.

spanng="EN"“A reason for not wanting Matilda?”

spanng="EN"I had no good reason to give. I liked Matilda, but I couldn’t admit the truth – that I couldn’t afford her sry.

spanng="EN"“Why is the King concerned with my affairs? We have no rtionship anymore,” I retorted, immediately regretting the harsh words.

spanng="EN"After a long silence from his end, I softened my tone. He was just concerned for my well–being.

spanng="EN"“I will take care of myself,” I said softly.

spanng="EN"After a moment, he simply replied, “Good.”

spanng="EN"“Goodbye, Matthew,” I said politely and ended the connection.

spanng="EN"(Matthew’s POV)

spanng="EN"I watched from the back garden as she battled a te of spicy venison. My jaw clenched, but I endured it.

spanng="EN"When she finished and went back for a second te, I endured that too. But when she returned with an iced moonlight wine, I could no longer stand by.

spanng="EN"I started walking towards her, my protective instincts overriding my promise to give her space.

spanng="EN"Just then, a she–wolf deliberately bumped into me, spilling her drink all over my suit. She used the opportunity to touch me while pretending to wipe it off.

spanng="EN"“Oh, I’m so sorry!” she purred, her hands lingering on my chest.

spanng="EN"I heard amotion and looked up to see Olivia rushing over. Her eyes locked with mine, and without a moment’s hesitation, she positioned herself between us.

spanng="EN"She shielded me behind her, her voice firm as she addressed the bewildered she–wolf. “What are you doing?

spanng="EN"He has a mate.”