Chapter 362
Third Person’s POV
Trista stood in the middle of the crowd, her expression a complete blank. Her cool gaze didn’t betray a single flicker of emotion.
The guests began to whisper among themselves.
“Alpha Cassian is going public with this woman right after the divorce? I guess the rumors were true p>
“I can’t believe she has the nerve to show her face here. It’s trashy p>
“Inviting the ex-Luna to watch? She has zero class p>
“Look at her energy-she doesn’t hold a candle to Dr. Holmes. I’ll never understand Cassian’s taste p>
Samantha’s mother, Georgia, heard the chatter and started barking like a stray protecting a bone. “What do you people know? Samantha was Alpha Cassian’s first love p>
Angela chimed in, “Exactly! Samantha has a high-end education. Her class is on a whole different level p>
The crowd went silent. No one wanted to get into a mud-slinging match with low-tier losers like them.
Madison, sensing the tension, tried to smooth things over. “Alpha Cassian, since you prepared such a special gift, won’t you let us all have a look p>
The crowd started egging him on.
Samantha noticed Cassian hadn’t moved a muscle. He was still standing there, stone-faced.
Her heart started to throb with a nervous beat. She shot one more glare at Trista before turning to Cassian with a coy, sugary tone. “Cassian, you said you had that ‘gift I’ll never forget’ ready. Since everyone is so curious, why don’t you show it to us p>
Fred’s mouth twitched into a grin. “Come on, Cassian. Miss Fernandez can’t wait anymore. Stop keeping us in suspense and show us the big surprise p>
Isaiah’s dark brown eyes were scanning the room like radar. He grabbed Trista’s arm and whispered, “Is it just me, or does the Alpha look like he’s planning a murder right now p>
Trista patted his hand. “Just watch. And shut up p>
Isaiah nodded and zipped his lips.
Just then, Humphrey moved through the crowd like a shadow, stopping silently at Cassian’s side.
Their eyes met for a split second. Humphrey gave a tiny nod before retreating back into the darkness.
Cassian held up a sleek, pen-shaped device. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it onto the long table—right past the blood-red champagne and the high-tier energy cakes.
“Everything I’ve prepared for you is locked inside that p>
Cassian’s voice was as cold as an arctic glacier. Every word carried a sharp Alpha aura that sliced through the air. “Since it’s a celebration, why don’t you play it now? Let everyone. hear p>
Samantha stared at the recorder. Her smile, once a bright mask, began to crack like frozen glass.
A primal fear-the kind that comes from being outranked and cornered-shot up her spine.
She stepped toward the table, her breathing coming in short, heavy gasps.
The fake fortress she’d built in her mind was crumbling.
She looked up, trying to find a trace of their past in Cassian’s dark gold eyes, but she found only a cold, terminal judgment.
Her manicured fingers began to spasm. The sweet scent she’d been projecting turned into the stench of rotting desperation under Cassian’s gaze.
She looked at him, her voice trembling. “Why… why do you want me to open this in front of everyone p>
Cassian’s face was like still water. “The status and the truth you’ve been begging for are in there. Press it p>
Samantha gripped the recorder, her fingers stiff.
Her omega instincts were screaming at her-the biological terror of a prey animal realizing it’s stepped into a predator’s trap.
Isaiah ran a hand through his hair, bored. “Hey, rogue! We’re waiting for the show! What’s the holdup p>
Fred joined in. “Samantha, Cassian said it’s what you wanted. What are you waiting for p>
Angela shoyed her way through the crowd, sounding frantic. “Samantha,
Alpha Cassian just gave you the
spotlight! Be a lady and play it. Gifts like this don’t come around every day p>
Wynn let out a cold laugh that didn’t reach her eyes. It was a look of pure, bloodthirsty satisfaction.
“Samantha, maybe Alpha Cassian has some new trick up his sleeve.
Maybe this is how he’s going to mark you announcing to all of L.A. that you’re his mate p>
Madison leaned in, prodding her. “Exactly. This is what you call a ‘gift you’ll never forget.’ Open it. Let’s see just how much the Ironthorn Alpha spoils his favorite omega p>
A proposal? A marking?
Those words hit Samantha like a shot of adrenaline, momentarily drowning out the cold dread in her spine.
She couldn’t think of any other reason for Cassian to throw this device at her right now.
She shot a defiant, crazed look at Trista and, with a gambler’s desperation, slammed the play button.
In an instant, the noisy ballroom went dead silent.
The only sound was the faint static of the recording—a sound heavier than any
aura.
Then, Trista’s cool, clinical voice echoed through the speakers. Every word was a scalpel, precisely cutting through Samantha’s lies.