Chapter 7

As expected...

I clenched my fists.

Right in front of everyone, the man in the suit bowed respectfully to Chloe and said, "Liam also said he wants to gift Miss Chloe her own exclusive territory, named after you, so that when you look up, the stars you see will belong to you."

The crowd went silent for a second.

Then the room erupted in noise.

"An exclusive territory? That's insanely valuable in werewolf lands!"

"And didn't Chloe just say she'd marry whoever gave her a star? Is Liam proposing to her? But isn't he Harper's fiancé?"

"I heard Harper stole him! Liam's doing this to publicly humiliate her—he's making it clear he doesn't want to marry Harper!"

In that instant, I felt all eyes land on me.

Scornful. Mocking. Watching like I was the joke of the night.

Each gaze slapped me across the face.

Was Liam really set on humiliating me in front of everyone?

I clenched my fists tighter. It was hard to breathe.

Liam looked down at me and asked quietly, "What's wrong?"

His tone sounded concerned, but I saw the amusement in his eyes.

I took a deep breath. "Nothing. Just a little stuffy in here. I want to get some air."

I turned to leave, but Liam grabbed my arm.

When I looked back, he was smiling.

"Is it because of me? A partner who doesn't acknowledge you—no matter how hard you chase—will only bring you shame."

"No matter what you do, he'll never look your way."

His words stabbed straight through me.

My chest ached. I shoved him away hard. "I really do need air. Let me go."

Without another glance, I turned and walked out quickly.

Liam watched me leave, his expression darkening.

I bit my lip and kept my head low as I walked into the garden.

The cold night breeze brushed my skin, slowly calming my racing heart.

Just as I was about to leave, I heard footsteps—Liam and a group of elite wolves had followed me outside.

Startled, I ducked behind a tree.

One of them laughed. "Liam, you really crushed Harper tonight. Did you see her face? She couldn't even pretend to smile."

Liam replied casually, "She needs to learn her place. A half-human like her dares dream of becoming Luna?"

I clenched my fists tighter.

Another voice spoke up. "But I heard she's been training hard with multiple mentors lately. Is she trying to pass the trials to go to Europe?"

"Europe?" Liam let out a cold laugh. "Then I'll have the Elder Council block every one of her applications. Chloe's resources—does Harper think she deserves them?"

"I'm waiting for the graduation ball. She'll come begging me then."

He looked up at the lights of the banquet hall and smirked as if picturing the scene.

"When she finally finds out who I really am, what kind of expression will she make? If it's pathetic enough, maybe I'll even let her be a servant."

My lips trembled as a chill spread from my chest to every corner of my body.

I had thought that after a year together, even a stone could be warmed.

But Liam... he really had no heart left. Not a shred.

Too bad for him—this time, I wouldn't be begging.

The next day, I returned to school and threw myself into training.

Liam suddenly appeared at my desk and asked, "Which territory are you applying to?"

I paused while arranging my tactical maps. "Probably Europe."

"Europe?" His expression instantly turned cold. "There's only one recommendation spot for the Royal Academy there. Your bloodline is impure. Chloe is way more competitive. Why do you keep trying to fight her for everything—"

His tone grew sharper and sharper.

"The Blackwood family will help me!" I cut him off.

Liam froze.

I lowered my head and said quietly, "If I can't beat Chloe in the trials, I'll beg the Blackwood family to send me to Europe."

He stared at me, stunned, as if I had just grown a second head.

I lifted my eyes to meet his. My voice was calm.

"After all, I'm Liam's fiancée, aren't I?"

The air turned dead silent.

Liam finally snapped out of it, letting out a cold laugh. "Of course."

So it was all an act before. Now the real me was finally showing.

He looked away, his voice turning icy. "The Blackwood family is the academy's biggest sponsor. My whole family will attend the graduation ball. Is that really when you plan to beg them?"

I remembered his words from the garden.

"At the graduation ball, Harper will have no way out and come crawling to me."

I clenched my fists and forced a hollow smile. "Yeah. That's the day."

He lied to me for a year.

Now it was my turn to lie to him.