Chapter 17

Third Person's POV

Melinda, noticing a pause in Cliff's conversation with the businessmen and his gaze still firmly fixed on Vanya, deliberately raised her voice and said, "Luna Vanya is so impressive, she can even play the violin."

"After all, she has obtained a professional-level certification in violin," Cliff responded indifferently.

Among their group, there was no shortage of people who could play musical instruments. A professional-level certification in violin was not rare.

Most of the guests present had received good musical education and could discern the quality of a performance.

However, the numerous applause Vanya received was enough to show her profound skill in violin performance.

Cliff spoke of the professional-level certification in such a light manner, as if it wasn't a significant achievement.

Originally, Melinda thought that Vanya became Cliff's Luna simply because she was the daughter of the Alpha of the Thunder Pack, born with noble blood and abundant resources.

Melinda subconsciously believed that Vanya relied on her family's protection, like those exquisite porcelain pieces that only had appearance and were for display, lacking inner strength and true talent.

But now, witnessing Vanya's various performances at the banquet, she first conversed fluently in French with the French financial giant, and then conquered the crowd with her touching violin performance.

The confidence and ease she exuded in every move were not something that could be feigned with just beauty.

All of this was like a heavy slap, striking Melinda's blindly arrogant face, making her completely understand how foolish and ridiculous her previous perceptions were.

On the other side, Derrick and Theodore huddled together, chatting in low voices.

"I didn't expect Vanya to have some skills. She played really well," Derrick, leaning against the corridor handrail in the corner, praised sincerely.

"Indeed," Theodore nodded in agreement.

"Do you, a tone-deaf, even understand music?" Derrick teased Theodore.

"I don't understand, but I like it," Theodore said with a faint smile on his face.

Perhaps he was not proficient in the intricacies of music, but because the violin was played by Vanya, it appeared exceptionally different in his eyes and heart.

As if the music had an enchanting power, it could directly penetrate the softest corner of his heart.

Vanya's POV

After finishing my conversations with the noble ladies for the time being, I rose to head towards the restroom.

As I approached the corner, a familiar scent suddenly caught my keen attention.

It bore a resemblance to the enormous wolf I had encountered in the Shadow Forest, and my wolf seemed to recognize it too, growing restless.

My body tensed instantaneously.

Before I could react, a hand shot out from the side, and I was yanked into a very concealed corner.

Alarmed, I instinctively wanted to call for help, but a man's hand quickly covered my mouth from behind.

"Stay still," the man whispered, his hot chest pressed tightly against my back, the pressure almost suffocating me.

My wolf instincts were strongly triggered in this critical moment, and my wolf claws began to extend uncontrollably, and my teeth sharpened.

I suddenly bit down on the man's wrist.

"His--!" The man gasped in pain, "Do you want to shift here?"

The man's shocked exclamation jolted me awake.

I tried to suppress the wolf instincts stirring within me, calming myself down as quickly as possible, and then swiftly creating distance between us.

Upon recognizing the person in front of me, I stared at him in astonishment. "Theodore?"

"Who else did you think it would be?" he retorted.

"What are you doing sneaking around for?" I asked indignantly, my heart still lingering with the panic and fear from the wolf's outburst just now.

"I snuck in, afraid of being seen," he replied.

"You must be joking, right? Mr. Winston is your..." The words were on the tip of my tongue when I suddenly realized I couldn't continue, so I quickly shut my mouth.

Theodore raised his eyebrow, "Hmm? What is it?"

Of course, I knew Theodore had Lycan heritage and was a descendant of Mr. Winston.

However, Mr. Winston had not publicly acknowledged it yet.

I remembered that in my previous life, after Mr. Winston passed away, he left Theodore a large inheritance and handed over a wolf pack under Lycan jurisdiction to Theodore, making him an Alpha.

No one knew about this at the time, and I almost slipped.

I dared not meet his probing gaze, guiltily averted my sight, and hastily made up for it, "I mean, Mr. Winston is kind-hearted, and you are a dominant figure in the overseas business world. Even if you sneak in, no one would dare to talk back."

"Perhaps, but I prefer to be cautious," Theodore said.

Looking at him, I spoke bluntly, "Don't tell me you snuck in just to say these things to me."

I didn't think he would be so bored. There must be a deeper purpose for his actions.

"Here for you," Theodore handed me the contract in his hand.

I looked down and saw it was the contract for my four-million-dollar loan.

"Just for this?" I asked. Theodore nodded.

"Boring," I grumbled in a low voice, signed directly, and then threw the contract back at him.

To sneak in, especially at night, just to have me sign a contract.

"As your creditor, may I ask you something?" Theodore said.

"Sure," I replied concisely.

"Why spend five million on that obsidian rough?"