The private elevator in the shopping mall led straight to the top-floor conference room.
Two bodyguards in black suits flanked Alaric as he stepped inside, his assistant trailing behind with a briefcase in hand.
He hadn't said a word the entire ride, yet the atmosphere around him was suffocating. His presence alone was enough to send a chill through the air.
Ding!
The elevator doors slid open.
Bright lights flooded the sleek conference room, but Alaric barely acknowledged his surroundings. His sharp gaze flickered with impatience as he strode in.
A woman with sleek, short hair immediately rose from her seat, her red strapless gown hugging her curves in all the right places. She held out two glasses of wine, her lips curling into a sultry smile.
“Alaric, welcome back.”
Rosalind’s voice was as smooth as silk, her eyes locked onto him, following his every move.
But Alaric didn’t even spare her a glance.
Without hesitation, he walked straight to the head of the conference table, his gaze landing on the expensive bottle of wine sitting on the polished surface.
Then, with a flick of his wrist, he tossed it into the trash can beside him.
Rosalind’s smile faltered, her fingers tightening around the wine glass.
“What’s this?” Alaric finally spoke, his voice laced with irritation. “Does the mall belong to you now?”
“Alaric, don’t be so cold.” Rosalind forced a light laugh, though there was an unmistakable edge to it. “I pulled out my father’s treasured collection just to welcome you back…” She took a step closer, then suddenly wrinkled her nose. “But… what’s that smell on you?”
She didn’t have to guess—it was milk tea.
The scent was cheap, sweet, and entirely out of place on a man like Alaric.
Her lips curled in distaste. It reminded her of the tacky perfumes worn by women who didn’t belong in their world.
“This is a shareholders’ meeting for ZenithCorp International. Uninvited guests aren’t welcome.” His words were clipped, distant—shutting her out completely.
Rosalind’s expression darkened for a brief second before she masked it with another dazzling smile.
“Next week,” she purred, stepping closer, “will you come with me to look at wedding dresses?”
She perched herself on the armrest of his chair, one hand tracing slow circles over his chest.
Alaric didn’t even flinch.
“I’m not marrying you.”
His voice was flat, his patience wearing thin.
Rosalind’s smile didn’t waver, but something in her eyes turned sharp. “Oh, Alaric,” she murmured, “you know the situation at the mall right now. The Doctor family is the only one who can help you…”
Alaric let out a low, mocking chuckle. “Neither you nor your family are worth my attention.”
Rosalind swirled the wine in her glass, unfazed.
“By the way,” she continued, “your grandmother’s heart condition acted up again last week. I asked my brother to return to the country to create a treatment plan for her… She’d love to see us together, don’t you think?”
Alaric’s jaw tightened.
Rosalind knew exactly what strings to pull, but he refused to give her the reaction she wanted.
His gaze dropped to his wrist, to the spot where his watch should have been.
It was gone.
His expression didn’t change, but a flicker of something unreadable passed through his eyes.
Rosalind, oblivious, leaned in. “Don’t forget,” she murmured, “the news of our engagement has already spread. It’s all over the media. Do you have any idea how much effort and money I spent to make that happen?”
Alaric’s gaze snapped back to her, irritation flashing through his dark eyes.
“I’m warning you—stop playing these cheap tricks. Now get out.”
Rosalind’s smile never wavered, but her grip on the wine glass tightened.
“I won’t give up, Alaric. I will be your Luna.” She leaned in just enough for her breath to brush against his ear. “And tomorrow, at the Alpha family banquet, I’ll be bringing a gift.”
With that, she turned on her heel and strode out, the sharp click of her heels echoing in the silence.
The room remained tense long after she left.
Alaric’s assistant hesitated before stepping forward. “Sir, should I—”
Alaric raised a hand, cutting him off. His mind wasn’t on Rosalind anymore.
It was on her.
The woman from earlier.
The one who had the audacity to bump into him—and steal his watch.
His fingers dipped into his coat pocket, searching for his wallet.
Gone.
His eyes darkened.
“Find her.” His voice was ice-cold as he turned to his most trusted subordinate, Beta Kaia. “Find the woman from downstairs. Bring her to me.”
Kaia nodded. “Yes, Alpha Alaric.”
Losing a million-dollar watch meant nothing to him.
But she had caught his interest.
And Alaric never let things go.
---
Across the City…
The scent of sugar and butter filled the air inside the small bakery.
Adina strolled past the glass display, her fingers tapping against her chin as she studied the selection.
Finally, she stopped in front of a six-inch pink birthday cake, the soft glow of the store’s lighting highlighting her golden-toned skin. Her wavy black hair cascaded over her shoulders, catching the light like silk.
“How much is this one?” she asked, flashing a dazzling smile.
Her smiles were dangerous—curving just right, her long lashes fluttering ever so slightly.
The male clerk swallowed hard. “T-Two hundred and twenty,” he stammered. “It’s part of our Christmas special.”
Adina nodded. “Wrap it up for me. And tie it with a pink ribbon.”
The clerk hurried to package the cake, still visibly flustered.
Adina reached into her pocket, pulling out a sleek black wallet. It felt satisfyingly heavy.
But the moment she flipped it open, she froze.
Inside were dozens of credit cards—none of which were hers.
Her stomach dropped.
Oh, shit.
When she looked up, the clerk was already back, holding the neatly wrapped cake.
She frantically searched her pockets, only managing to scrape together just over two hundred in cash.
Her cheeks burned.
The clerk hesitated. “Uh, we don’t allow exchanges…”
Adina bit her lip, thinking fast. “I—uh—”
“I can give you the employee discount,” the clerk offered quickly, clearly unable to watch her struggle.
Adina exhaled in relief. In the end, he even threw in a couple of handmade lollipops. She winked at him playfully, making him blush deeper.
With a quiet chuckle, she grabbed the bag and hurried home—back to the small, dimly lit street she lived on.
But just as she reached her front door, the sound of urgent knocking shattered the silence.
A second later, the door swung open.
A stout, middle-aged woman stood there, her gaze sharp and unfriendly.
Adina’s stomach twisted.
This… wasn’t good.