Hailey twirled the bracelet around her finger and said with a smug smile, “Sophia, I actually like this. Sell it to me. Whatever you paid for it, I’ll give you double.”
I hurried forward, concerned she might damage it. “Give it back. That bracelet was a gift from Ryder…”
Before I could finish, August slapped me hard across the face, snapping my head to the side. I tasted blood at the corner of my mouth.
“Shut up!” He glared at me. “Sophia, who do you think you are? How dare you mention Mr. Weyland’s name? Are you trying to get me killed by spreading lies about having ties to him?”
His pack of sycophants echoed his outrage, their eyes burning with hostility.
“Do you have any idea what you’re doing, Sophia?
“This is our one shot at making a good impression on Mrs. Weyland. Mr. Weyland is in the middle of alliance talks with our pack. Do you want to ruin it?
“August finally earned a spot among our Alpha’s trusted circle. You’re just a broke, cast-off ex. Do you believe you can just waltz in and act like you’re Ryder’s mate?”
I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and slowly turned my head, locking eyes with August.
Probably something in my calm, cold gaze seemed to make him uneasy, causing his brow to furrow and a flicker of worry to cross his eyes.
Hailey noticed it too. Her voice turned shrill with resentment. “Sophia, you ungrateful traitor! August was willing to take you in, and this is how you repay him? Don’t push your luck! Even if you still resent August, this isn’t the way to get back at him.”
Her words made me feel as if I were back in the past, three years ago. No matter what I did, Hailey would always twist my intentions to make me look bad in front of August.
Initially, August would reprimand her for her remarks. However, over time, he began to mimic her words and use them against me.
Just like before, August gave me a look of disappointment and muttered, “You’re just a bitter, jealous woman.”
But this time, he didn’t keep scolding me like he used to. After a pause, August pulled out a check of 200,000 dollars and held it up in front of my eyes.
“For old times’ sake, I’ll let it slide this once. Use the money to buy yourself some decent clothes. If you’re not into babysitting, I’ll find you a more respectable job in a few days.
“Don’t worry. Now that I’ve earned our Alpha’s favor, this kind of money means nothing to me.”
I looked at the check. Then I looked at him.
That smug expression. The arrogance in his voice. The rot behind his words.
In the stunned silence of the crowd, I slowly pushed away the hand holding the check and calmly took my bracelet back from Hailey.
I replied indifferently, “Keep your money. I don’t accept charity from strangers.”
