Chapter 7
Halfway through the party, Julian and Grace announced their wedding date. Shelly realized this wasn’t just Julian’s birthday. It was his engagement
party.
Thunderous applause filled the room. Everyone offered their blessings. Shelly sat alone in a corner, watching them embrace and kiss. Her heart was still.
Grace walked over with Julian, holding his hand. She raised her glass. “Shelly, you and Julian are so close. Would you consider being a bridesmaid at our wedding?”
“I’m sorry, but I have an engagement that day. I won’t be able to attend your wedding.”
Julian’s face went cold at her flat–out refusal. His tone was harsh.“It doesn’t matter if you come or not, as long as the gift is sent.”
Shelly nodded. Her voice was faint.“Don’t worry. Given our friendship, I will definitely send a good gift.” She sounded sincere, as if she truly wished them well.
Julian remembered what he overheard at the store a few days ago. His eyes flickered. Then, a piano began to play. He led Grace onto the dance floor. The spotlight followed them. They danced gracefully, like two butterflies. The guests were full of praise for the loving couple.
“What a perfect match. Praise the Moon Goddess. But isn’t it a bit rushed to get engaged after only knowing each other for a month?”
“What do you know? The future Alpha has liked her for years. Now that he’s finally won her over, he wants to get engaged as soon as possible.”
Shelly leaned against the sofa, her mind drifting.
Julian had taught her how to dance.
Back then, they had no chemistry.
She would accidentally step on his foot. He never got angry. He would just leer and whisper in her ear, “One stomp, one kiss.”
That day, Shelly learned to dance. His legs were bruised purple. Her lips were swollen. She thought he liked her, too. She thought she was his girlfriend.
But when Grace came back, and she saw how he tried to win her over, she realized how ridiculous her thoughts were.
As she was lost in thought, a single man approached her. He bent down and asked her to dance.
She didn’t want to at first, but he insisted. She saw everyone else dancing and didn’t want to ruin the mood.
She agreed.
They were strangers, but they moved together in perfect sync to the slow, gentle music. The man’s warm palm seemed to have a magical power. Shelly relaxed and lost herself in the moment.
It was the first time Julian had seen her smile all night. His face instantly fell.
His eyes, full of displeasure, darted over to her, causing him to miss a few steps. It was a mistake an Alpha should never make. Noticing his distraction, Grace glanced at Shelly, her eyes flickering.
When the music changed, everyone on the dance floor switched partners.
Shelly froze, her gaze fixed on Julian’s hand on hers.
As she turned away, a crashing sound came from above. The grand chandelier had come loose, falling in a shower of crystal and light.
Julian let
go
of Shelly. He shifted in the air, shielding Grace from the crystals, and rolled away from the danger.
Shelly was left directly under the chandelier. She had no time to react.
She just covered her head and tried to dodge. She barely managed to steady herself.
The lamp grazed her shoulder, leaving a long scratch. Blood gushed out, staining her white dress crimson.
A sharp pain spread through her body. She cried out, her face paler than paper.
A few feet away, Julian was comforting Grace. He left with her in a hurry.
He never once spared Shelly a glance.
14:45
ત
< Chapter 8
Chapter 8
