"Isn't that the 'Dragon Scale Crystal'? Tonight is Mrs. Vance's first public appearance, and she brought a fake? Is she trying to humiliate the North City wolves?"

"Liam, is this your friend?" a high-ranking wolf elder asked with a frown.

"No."

Facing the questioning stares of the entire room, Liam took a half-step back, adjusting his tie, desperate to distance himself from me.

"I told her bringing a fake to an event like this was just asking to be humiliated."

He glared at me coldly, like I was a hopeless criminal.

Maya strutted over, high on her superiority complex. She pointed right in my face and ordered, "Hand over the fake key! Then get the hell out! Stop dirtying our pack's territory!"

I looked at her arrogant face and asked coldly, "Are you sure you want me to leave?"

My calm reaction triggered Maya instantly.

In her twisted mind, I was supposed to be on my knees, sobbing and begging for forgiveness, not looking down on her.

"Give it to me!"

Maya lunged at me, screeching like a madwoman.

Instinctively shielding my bump, I quickly stepped back.

But as I moved, one of Maya’s fox-shifter minions shot out her foot.

Caught off guard, I tripped. Losing my balance, I crashed hard onto the unforgiving red carpet.

My palms scraped against the rough floor, burning with pain.

Before I could even try to get up, a sharp stiletto heel viciously stomped right onto the back of my hand.

"Still talking tough?!"

Maya ground her stiletto heel right into my wound.

My skin tore open. Blood mixed with the dust on the floor.

She snatched the crystal key, smashed it onto the ground, and stomped on it. The crystal casing shattered.

"Piece of garbage. How dare you show this off!"

I stared coldly at the shattered crystals scattered across the floor.

"Grab her and throw her out!" Maya ordered arrogantly.

"Stop!" I snapped. "I am Mr. Vance's—"

Before I could finish, Maya slapped me hard across the face. Twice.

"Oh, let me guess. Still spreading lies? Calling yourself Mrs. Vance? A bottom-feeder like you? Don't make me laugh."

A suffocating wave of pain and humiliation crashed over me.

Right then, Liam squatted down, looking at me with dead eyes.

"Chloe, stop acting. You only caused this mess to get my attention, didn't you?"

He lowered his voice, sounding incredibly arrogant. "If you get on your knees and beg Maya for forgiveness right now, I’ll consider getting you out of this mess. Even keeping you as my mistress would be an upgrade from lying here like a dog."

I bit my trembling lip, my bleeding hand shaking as I looked at the sheer cruelty in his eyes.

Liam’s arrogant sneer faltered. Seeing me so broken, a rare flicker of pity softened his eyes.

He reached out, opening his mouth as if to comfort me, but suddenly, the banquet hall went dead silent.

Everyone held their breath. Every single eye locked onto the grand gilded doors.

Liam quickly pulled me to my feet, lowering his voice: "The VIP is here. You better behave."

"But don't worry. My temporary bond with Maya ended ages ago. If you're obedient, I might just take you back."

Even though my wound still throbbed with sharp pain, my stomach churned with an even deeper, overwhelming disgust.

What on earth gave him the delusion that I was still waiting for him?

At that exact moment, dressed in a sharp black bespoke suit and surrounded by heavily armed guards, Kaelan stepped into the hall.

His apex-predator aura instantly dropped the temperature in the room below freezing.

And in his hands, he held an exquisite bouquet of rare, glowing starlight roses.

The sight of the ruthless Dragon Chancellor carrying such a romantic gift immediately drew gasps of envy from the entire crowd.

"Oh my god, are those for his wife? She's so incredibly lucky!" someone whispered in awe.

Liam kept whispering his pathetic promises in my ear.

"Listen, just go be Maya's nanny. Don't cause trouble. I'll forgive you. I might even give you the chance to bear me a hybrid pup..."

But my eyes shot past the crowd and locked perfectly with Kaelan’s deep, icy stare.

The second our eyes met, the coldness in his expression melted into unparalleled tenderness.

A moment later, the supreme, untouchable Dragon Chancellor Kaelan...

He walked right past the stunned, silent crowd.

And came straight for me.