Chapter 31
31
~Lira’s POV
I slammed my pen down on the desk, the sharp clack echoing in the office. My fingers drummed against the polished wood, not that it helped. Nothing helped. I was so pissed off I could practically feel the smoke rising from my head. My parents couldn’t even do the one thing I wanted, the one tiny thing I asked of them, and that was to push me into marrying Alpha Darlon. Instead, they let some random little nobody Elara swoop in and steal what should have been mine.
I leaned back in my chair, the leather creaking beneath me, and stared at the ceiling like the answer would magically appear if I concentrated hard enough. The clock on the wall ticked more slowly than usual, mocking me with each second. My stomach growled, but it wasn’t hunger that made it feel heavy; it was rage.
The office door clicked, and a rider stepped inside, balancing a small package in his hands. I glared at him without lifting my eyes.
“This… is for you, Your Highness,” he said cautiously, voice low.
I yanked the package from him, my nails scratching across the paper. I ripped it open and nearly flung it across the room when I saw the label. Ronan.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered under my breath, slamming the package on my desk.
I stood up so fast my chair screeched backward. “Oh, you think this is funny?” I hissed, glaring at the empty air where I knew Ronan’s smug face would be if he were here. “You send food like some little joke and think you can annoy me? I will p>
I didn’t finish. My anger propelled me through the hallways, my heels clicking like gunshots on the marble floor. I reached his office door, swung it open, and without hesitation, I poured the entire package over him. Sauce dripped down his papers, sticky noodles stuck to his laptop.
Ronan froze, eyes wide as plates slid off the table. His mouth opened and closed like a fish.
“Are you insane?!” he spluttered, wiping sauce off his shirt.
“I am not insane!” I yelled, voice sharp enough to make him flinch. “I am married to Alpha Darlon, which means you are not allowed to mess with me like this! Not again, understand me?” My hands trembled slightly, not from fear, but from pure fury.
He swallowed hard, still wiping his face with the back of his sleeve.
“And if I ever catch you sending me one more thing,” I continued, leaning close to his desk, face inches from his, “I will fire you so fast your head will spin! You hear me, Ronan? I am his wife now p>
At that very moment, the door opened again, and another co-worker, carrying a stack of files. She froze, jaw dropping.
“Your Highness… um she stammered, eyes darting between me and Ronan. “Is it… is it true? Are you… truly married to Alpha Darlon p>
I blinked, caught off guard by her question, but not breaking my composure. “Yes,” I snapped, straightening my shoulders. “I am married to Alpha Darlon. That is true p>
Her eyes widened, and a bright smile spread across her face. “Oh! That’s amazing! Congratulations! I’m so happy for you, Your Highness p>
I couldn’t help the small, satisfied smirk that tugged at my lips. At least someone recognized what I deserved.
Ronan groaned behind me, still dripping sauce, still looking like a lost puppy, but I didn’t care. My coworkers were staring at me in awe, whispering behind their hands. I straightened my blouse, taking a slow, calming breath.
“Good,” I said, voice icy but proud.
The co-worker nodded eagerly, rushing out, leaving me standing there with Ronan. I could see the mixture of embarrassment and hurt on his face, but I didn’t care. I had bigger things to think about. Like how I was going to make sure Elara knew her place.
I stormed out of Ronan’s office, my heels clicking against the marble floor like tiny thunderclaps. The hallway felt wider than usual, as if the building itself was giving me space to breathe, or maybe just to let everyone witness my entrance. I could feel the weight of Ronan’s stunned gaze on my back, but I didn’t care. I needed the air.
No sooner had I rounded the corner than whispers started, like a rising tide. Heads turned, eyes widened, lips pressed together to hide smirks, and phones subtly lifted to record the drama.
“Your Highness!” one young woman whispered, clutching her purse nervously. “I I just wanted to say congratulations p>
I arched an eyebrow, keeping my stride deliberate and calm. “Thank you,” I replied curtly, though the smirk tugging at my lips betrayed me.
“She’s married to Alpha Darlon?” another voice hissed, barely above the hum of the office air conditioning. “I can’t believe it…she is one lucky woman p>
I suppressed a laugh, shaking my head lightly. “Thank you, everyone, for the congratulatory messages. You heard correctly,” I said, my voice firm, carrying the weight of royalty and authority. “I am Alpha Darlon’s wife p>
The whispers grew louder, and suddenly, people started approaching me, one by one, faces full of curiosity and excitement.
“Your Highness… I’m sorry for asking, but why did you keep it a secret?” a young assistant asked, eyes wide. “I mean, why not announce it p>
I paused for a moment, letting the question sink in, my gaze sweeping the office like a predator assessing the field. And then it hit me. No one knows who Darlon’s wife is. My mind clicked. He hadn’t shown Elara’s face. Not to the public, and their wedding was so private. She was hidden. Invisible. And that meant… for now, I could be the only one people saw. The one everyone would gossip about. The one who had Alpha Darlon’s attention.
“I… I preferred it that way,” I said slowly, letting my tone imply control and composure. “Some things are meant to be private, even for people like me.” I let my eyes sweep over the crowd of whispering employees, seeing their jaws drop and eyebrows raise, the awe and curiosity clear on their faces.
“Oh my god, your Highness! That’s amazing!” one woman squealed, practically bouncing. “I mean… I’m so happy for you! I knew he was married but had no idea who the wife was p>
“Exactly,” I replied, letting the words roll off my tongue with a calculated coolness. “And some things are better left… unknown p>
Another assistant, bolder than the rest, leaned closer and whispered, “Your Highness… you really are something else. I mean p>
I smiled faintly, just enough to tease without giving away too much. “Don’t say anything p>
The whispers followed me all the way down the hall, a mix of awe, envy, and curiosity buzzing behind me. People glanced back furtively as I passed, murmuring “Your Highness” like a mantra. I could feel the energy shift, the subtle acknowledgment of my authority, and for the first time that day, I allowed myself a small, satisfied sigh.
I finally made it back to my office, the familiar walls and heavy door closing behind me like a protective shield. The muffled whispers and gasps of the hallway faded instantly, leaving me in a bubble of silence that felt like heaven. I sank into my chair, letting out a long, shaky breath. My fingers traced the edge of the polished desk as if grounding myself in reality.
“Oh… this is nice,” I whispered to no one in particular, a small, victorious smile tugging at my lips.