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bChapter /bb51 /b

bElira’s /bPOV

The crowd was still milling around, murmurs floating through the air. But as soon as Cols’s voice cut through, sharp as a krude,

ary head turned toward

bUS /b

I didn’t have the patience for this. Not todayb, /bnot ever again. I shot them a look that could freeze anyone in their tracks before turned on my heel and started to walk away.

b“/bStop her!” Co’s screech reached my ears, her words sharp with usation. “That fraud’s getting away!”

I didn’t even nced back. But Orik–idiot that he was–lunged at me. His hand grabbed at my shoulder, his fingers wing, trying to keep in ce.

Without breaking my stride, I flicked him off like ally. He stumbled, arms iling, and crashed to the ground with a dramatic, panicked try “The Gamma’s attacking us! Someone help!”

I clenched my fists, fury simmering under my skin. Every fiber of my being screamed to walk away, but they wouldn’t give me a second bof /b

“I didn’t touch you,” I hissed, my voice cold as steel. “You tripped yourself. Anyone here can see that.”

“Enough of this! Let’s talk, then,” added, my anger rising. “Should I remind you of how you tortured me all those years? bLiving /bbunder /byour broot/b, I never had a proper meal. My childhood was spent with endlessbor, and Owen–he used to beat me just because he could. I’ve got scars on my body you’ll never see. Not once did you ever look out for me. And now, youe to me asking for money?”

Ca dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, her sobs loud and fake.

Ruvan, the piece of scum he was, wrapped his arm around her, keeping her close. “You’re not our child, ra, he sneered, his voice dripping with disgust. “You’re a freeloader. Hovering over our house, taking food from our children. And now you owe us! bFay /bus back what you stole

A storm of anger crashed inside me, but I kept it in check. I couldn’t let myself get violent. Not here, not with everyone watching. I couldn’t walk away either–Orik and Owen blocked my escape.

Then, a voicel hadn’t expected. A voice that cut through the tension, smooth and cold.

“What’s going on hereb?/b”

I didn’t have to look to know who it was. Thorne’s presence filled the space blike /bba /bstorm cloud. His Alpha aura radiated, sending a ripple of far through the Diaz bfamily /b

He stepped into the circle, his eyes glinting bwith /bauthority, and locked onto Ruvan. “Did I not make myself clear?” His voice was low, calm, but the weight of it made everyone fall bsilent/b. “No more drama. No more riots. Have you forgotten already?”

A cold shiver ran down my spine. Thorne’s power was palpable, suffocating. Even the Diaz family quivered.

“Alpha Thorne… The words barely escaped Owen’s lipsb. /bBut he didn’t let it faze bhim/b. He puffed out his chest and moved toward Thorne, offering ba /bbslick /b

smile

“bYou /bprobably don’t remember me, but I’ve served in your patrol team at the border for the past few years. It’s an honour–Owen started, trying bto /bget in Thorne’s good graces.

“Cut to the chase,” Thorne interrupted, his voiceb, /bt and cutting through the air like a de. “I don’t care who you are.”

Owen shifted, his bravado faltering. He pointed a shaking finger at me. “ra isn’t even their real daughter. She’s been taking advantage of them for years, hiding who she really is. Now she refuses to pay back what she owes, and she shoved my little brother”

My heart hammered, but I didn’t flinch. I met Thorne’s gaze, bunsure /bif he’d side with me or them. My stomach twisted in knots at the thought

“So, you’re saying ra shoved you?” Thorne’s voice was skeptical, like he didn’t believe a word of it.

Orik nodded, eager to sell his story

Thome snorted, the soundced with disbeliel “If ra had shoved you, you’d be on the ground with a couple of broken ribs. I think it’s mo tripped over your own fret.”

A wave ofughter rippled through the crowd, and Orik’s face flushed with humiliation.

blinked, surprised. Thome bwas /bsiding with me? Thest time I’d expected any kind of support from him was never. This was unexpected, to say the

least

“And about this money Thorne shifted his gaze to Co and Rinan, “How much does she owe you?”

The couple exchanged a look, greed shing in their eyes.

*She owes at least 100 million,” Ruvan grumbled, his voice dripping with malice

“500 million!” C interjected loudly, cutting him off. “That’s not even including all the jewelry we bought her over the year!”

I could bfeel /bmy blood boil. Five hundred million? Were they out of their minds? The entire Diaz family couldn’t even have 100 million if byou /badded up their worth. How could they possibly justify such an absurd number?

“You never bought me ba /bsingle piece bof /bjewelry,” shot back, my voice thick with anger. “I wore the boys‘ hand–me–downs. I didn’t even have proper clothes when I was a kid.”

“Yeah!” Orik chimed in, his voice obnoxious “500 million! We’re not asking for much!”

Thorne raised his hand, silencing the noise.

“Fine. 500 million it is,” he said calmly, his voice dripping with authority.

I whipped around, incredulous. “What the hell are you talking about? I’m not paying them a single bpenny/b!”

He looked at me, his gaze soft but firm. “This 500 m

I million ising from my ount

Everyone around us frode, mouths hanging open in disbelief.

“Thome, this bis /bcrazy!” I saidb, /bshaking my head. “I can’t let you pay for this.”

He met my eyes, unshaken. “You were my Luna. This is the least I can do bfor /byou now.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but I couldn’t find the words. Amix of emotions swirled in my chest. I was overwhelmed.

Thorne turned back to the Diaz family, unfazed. “But let’s be honest here. You owe me. You borrowed 200 million from me when Mi and ra were abducted. You never gave her the 100 million she was supposed to get. You pocketed that. And as for your business–well, I’ve been looking bat /bbyour /bounts. You’ve missed tax payments for nearly ba /bdecade.

Co’s jaw dropped, but she didn’t bhave /ba response.

“Do the math,” Thorne continued, smirking, “Subtract what you owe me and the tax debts, band /bI’ll pay the rest. But think you’ll bend /bup owing me

insteadb./bb” /b

He bturned /bto me and nodded. “Shall we go now, Gamma ra?”

I couldn’t help but smile, a weight lifting from my shoulders. Without ba /bword, followed him, letting him guide me to my car.

Thome opened the door for me: I hesitated before getting in, turning to face him. “Thank byou/bb,” /bI said, my voice sincere. “I don’t know what I bwould’ve /bdone without you”

He smiled, his eyes softening. “It was nothing. I’m happy to do this for you!

Thesitated, unable to hold hack the question that had been eating at me “And you really paid my ransom

had med him for so long, convinced that he had let me suffer in the hands of the rogues. But now taken that money for themselves.

it seemed like I had been wrong, the Dias had

“I did, Thorne said, his voice serious. “You’re my male My Lama. My wife. I just regret not getting them sooner regret not being there when you

His words hit me like a freight train. I didn’t know what to say. A flood of emotions overwhelmed me, and for a moment, I was speechless

I know it might be toote,” Thorne added, his voice sincere, “but…can you give us a second chance, ral

The world seemed to still for a moment. I didn’t know what bto /bbsay/b, but I knew one thing nothing would ever be the same again.

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