Chapter 168
[ 505 words ]
Chapter 168:
“Finally decided to show up, Ethan?” Jeremy said as he looked over, swirling the whiskey in his glass with a grin. “You’ve got some nerve. None of us brought anyone tonight, and you still show up with Ivy like usual. Trying to show off?”
Standing partly behind him, I was hidden just enough that the dim lighting led Jeremy to the wrong conclusion.
Instead of staying out of sight, I stepped forward and met their eyes with a composed smile. “Good evening. I’m afraid I’m not Ivy. I hope I didn’t disappoint anyone.”
The room went quiet.
Jeremy’s grin stiffened, and Liam cleared his throat, trying to break the silence.
“Watch what you say,” Ethan said, his voice cold as he glanced at Jeremy.
Jeremy stood up right away. “Sorry, Lianne. That was on me. I didn’t look closely. Please don’t take it to heart.”
He offered a small, apologetic smile.
Without hesitation, I took the seat beside Ethan.
𝗧r𝗲𝘯𝖽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘯𝗈vе𝘭ѕ 𝗼ո 𝗀𝖺l𝘯𝘰𝗏е𝗅s.с𝘰𝘮
Turning slightly, I looked at him with a faint smile. “If you always bring Ivy here, then you should stick to it. Changing things halfway only makes me look out of place.”
Ethan understood the meaning behind my words. His hand tightened around mine, though there was no anger in it.
Leaning closer, his breath brushed near my ear.
“Are you mad?” he asked quietly, his tone softer than before. “I’ll only bring you from now on.”
I lowered my eyes, hiding the hint of mockery in them.
From now on? There was nothing between us that could be called a future.
“Liam,” Ethan said, his gaze shifting toward the man across from him.
“About what happened a few days ago, you crossed the line with Lianne. Apologize,” Ethan added, his tone sharp and cold.
Holding his glass, Liam got up and walked over to me.
“Lianne, I spoke carelessly before and offended you. I’m sorry,” he said, then lifted his head and finished his drink in one go.
I let it pass. Setting my glass down, I answered without emotion, “It’s fine. I won’t hold on to it. You’re the Alpha’s friend, after all.”
A strained smile appeared on Liam’s face, though the look in his eyes told a different story.
It didn’t matter to me. I never expected him to accept me anyway.
Ethan watched him for a moment, as if weighing his reaction, then seemed satisfied. When he turned back to me, a trace of amusement showed in his eyes. “You’re still calling me Alpha?”
For a second, I stopped. Only then did I realize that, in front of everyone, I always addressed him as “Alpha” or “Mr. Voss.”
“What else should I call you?” I said with a faint smile, though there was nothing behind it. “In front of them, should I use your name? Or would you prefer my love?”
The smile in Ethan’s eyes grew as he reached out, wrapped a strand of my hair around his finger, and waited for me to say something, but I stayed quiet.
Ethan’s face stiffened at once. The look in his eyes faded, replaced by a flicker of unease after I turned him down.
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