bChapter /b78

bI /bbturned /bbto /bleave but identally bknocked /bbover /ba nt bby /bthe entranceb. /b

Hearing bthe /bnoise, bFerris /bblooked /bbup/b. Seeing meb, /bbthe /bwarmth in his beyes /binstantly drained away.

He walked toward me slowlyb, /bbhis /bthin lips parting, his bvoice /blow and cold: b“/bWhere do you think you’re goingb?/bb” /b

Before I could speakb, /bhe continued: “I bwanted /bto exin to you today that my rtionship with Ashley bisn’t /bwhat you imagineb. /bbAshley /bhas been kind to me. Stop boverthinking /band making a bscene/b. How long bare /byou bgoing /bbto /bbkeep /bthis upb?/bb” /b

I opened my bmouth/bb, /bbut my throat felt bstuffed /bwith cotton.

b“/bFerris, don’t be bso /bharshb./bb” /bAshley also walked overb, /bsmiling as she smoothed things overb. /bb“/bCome sit down.”

Without waiting for my refusalb, /bAshley directly pulled me bto /btheir table.

I was pressed into a chair like a puppet, facing Ferris’s bice/bb–/bcold expression.

What would you like bto /bbeat/bb?/bb” /bAshley pushed the menu toward meb. /b“The French cuisine here is very authentic.”

I bstared /bat the French text on the menu that I couldn’t understand at all, feeling embarrassment spread in my heart.

I’m not hungryb./b” bI /bpushed the menu back.

Then have some soup.” Ashleydled a bowl of seafood soup and ced it before me. “It’s very fresh.”

stared at the shrimp floating in the soup, my stomach cramping.

instinctively nced at Ferris. He frowned impatiently: “Why are you looking at me? Drink it.”

was severely allergic to seafood.

After all these years, he had no memory of it whatsoever.

was about to politely decline when Ferris’s phone rang. He got up to answer it, his back straight as a pine.

bTry /bit quickly.” Ashley suddenly lowered her voice. “After all, with your status, once Ferris doesn’t want you anymore, you won’t be able to afford such xpensive dishes.”

jerked my head up, meeting her smiling eyes.

You don’t really think you can secure the Luna position, do youb?/b” She lightly tapped the rim of her ss with her fingertip. “I looked into it–you’re just an llegitimate daughter. bIf /byou can’t hold onto this Alpha Ferris, your father will probably sell you to some wealthy old man.”

gripped the napkin tightly, the fabric crumpling in my palm.

couldn’t let anyone trample my dignity like this: “You little bi…”

bOh /bnob!/bb” /b

Halfway through my words, Ashley suddenly cried out, raising her hand and knocking over the bowl of seafood soup. The scalding liquid sshed onto the bback /bof her hand and all over mineb. /b

Hearing themotion, Ferris returned immediately, his long fingers grasping Ashley’s hand: “What happened?”

“Nothing…” Ashley’s eyes reddened. “It’s all my fault. I heard you and Aurora had misunderstandings because bof /bme, so I insisted oning to testify for you. Aurorab, /bbas /byour mate, being angry bat /bseeing me is understandable…”

Ferris immediately looked at me, his brow furrowed with bfrost/bb: /bb“/bAurora, bI’ve /bexined countless times. Must you act this way?”

I didn’t. She did it herself…”

After speakingb, /bFerris carried Ashley away without looking back.

Ashley, lying on his shoulderb, /bslowly turned her head back and gave me a victorious smile.

I stood there, trembling as I extended my scaldedb, /bred hand.

Blisters had already formed, painful as if thousands of needles were piercing me.

But in Ferris’s eyesb, /bthere was only that small patch of slightly red skin on Ashley.

He left so urgently, so decisively, not sparing me even a nce.

(6)