Chapter 123
Chapter 123
+B Pearls
The moment Scarlett Vale laid eyes on Riley descending the hallway, her blood surged with fury.
She hated seeing her like this–ethereal, glowing, untouchable.
Everything about Riley tonight was flawless, her luminous skin, the soft waves of her pale hair, the layered gown of blush silk that caught the corridor’s light like moonlit mist. A living daydream.
Scarlett’s nails curled into her palm.
Riley had inherited every advantage–beauty, bloodline, and now,
en presence..
And she had tried everything to ruin her.
To humiliate her. To erase her. To shred her face and strip her pride.
And yet here Riley stood. Untouched. Radiant,
As if five years in a prison cell had done nothing but sharpen her into something more dangerous,
Scarlett’s lips curled with spite. She’s here for Lucien, she thought. That must be it
The idea made her stomach churn.
Riley cast her a single glance–brief, expressionless. Then looked away as though Scarlett was nothing but a dust mote.
No sneer. No retort. No recognition.
That indifference was worse than contempt.
Riley tightened her grip on the velvet–wrapped gift box in her hands and turned to her companion. “Let’s go, Andy”
Scarlett’s rage ignited.
How dare she ignore her. Like the past never happened. Like Scarlett was the one who didn’t belong here.
She waited until Riley’s footsteps drew closer, then let her mask drop.
The corridor was e
empty. Perfect.
Her voice cut through the silence, sharp and poisonous.
“Well, well Dressing like a Luna already, are we?”
Riley didn’t stop
Scarlett’s voice pose
“Whoring yourself out at a Matriarch’s birthday party, hoping some Alpha will forget your prison record? You might fool strangers Kiley, but we know what you really are”
Her words echoed through the hallway like a slap
But Riley didn’t flinch
Scarlett’s breath came faster She wanted a reaction. Needed one
Biley’s silence was unbearable.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.
She was supposed to scream Cry Break down Just like always
Chapter 123
+8 Pearls
Just like when the family would turn on her. When Scarlett played innocent, and the others shielded her like a wounded pup.
But Riley had changed. She wasn’t playing that game anymore.
Scarlett snapped.
With a snarl, she lunged forward and yanked Riley by the hair.
“You think you’re better than me now??” she screeched, her claws digging toward Riley’s scalp. “Let me remind you what really are—nothing but a stain on the Vale name!”
you
Riley staggered, caught off guard, but didn’t cry out. Her fingers went instantly to Scarlett’s wrist, trying to break the grip.
“Let her go!” Andy shrieked.
The petite Beta launched forward, grabbing a fistful of Scarlett’s curls and yanking them back with all his strength. “You absolute lunatic! She’s the Luna’s guest, not your chew toy!”
Scarlett screamed in pain and released Riley, stumbling backward.
At that exact moment, a male voice thundered from down the corridor.
“What the hell is going on here?”
All three turned.
Ronan Duskcliff stood like a storm at the end of the hall–tall, broad–shouldered, his Alpha aura pulsing in waves of restrained violence.
Andy blinked. His anger dissolved instantly into girlish awe.
Good gods. That man was carved from marble and dipped in danger.
He immediately let go of Scarlett’s hair, smoothing down his sleeves and trying not to stare.
Scarlett’s eyes brimmed with tears the moment she recognized Ronan’s voice.
In a heartbeat, she switched gears–from fury to fragility.
“Ronan,” she whimpered, staggering toward him like a frightened doe, “I didn’t mean to–I was just trying to talk to her, and she got so angry–I think I ruined her hair and she…”
Her voice cracked, and tears spilled like a broken dam. She threw Riley a trembling glance of fear. “Please don’t be mad at Der It was my fault 1-1 was too loud ”
Haley narrowed her eyes
Classic Scarlett
Konan frowned His gaze flicked from Scarlett’s tears to Kiley’s unbothered calm, and his jaw clenched.
You went too far. Miley” he said coldly “This is a family event. What the hell were you thinking?”
Andy’s mouth fell open
What
“You have got to be joking” he snapped “She was the one who attacked us! Pulled her hair like some feral wolf! And now you’re blaming Riley?”
Ronan eyes slid to Andy with disdain. “This isn’t your pack. Stay out of it.”
Then he turned back to Riley His tone dropped, sharp and commanding
“Apologize to Scarlet”
Chapter 123
Andy took a step forward, fists clenched. “You arrogant-!”
But Riley raised a hand, Calm. Controlled.
-No,” she said quietly
Ronan’s eyes darkened. “No?”
Riley met his gaze, steady and sharp.
+8 Pearls
You came in halfway through a scene and assumed the ending. If you want to talk about honor, Alpha Duskcliff, perhaps learn what actually happened first.”