Chapter 20

Vanya's POV

Their conversation continued, with Melinda standing awkwardly by, as if she were not there.

Once Mr. Winston left, Melinda tugged at Cliff's sleeve, "Alpha Cliff, I want to leave."

Cliff glanced at the sky and said, "I'll see you home."

Melinda asked again, "What about Luna Vanya?"

My wolf's hearing is sharp, so I caught that, but I didn't care.

I was chatting with Mr. Winston at the moment.

Cliff replied indifferently, "She can find her own way back."

I slightly turned my head to see Melinda's eyes filled with jealousy directed at me.

She must have been wondering why Mr. Winston favored me.

Soon, I watched Cliff and Melinda leave the club one after the other.

Elliot approached me and whispered, "Alpha Cliff has taken Ms. Coleman home."

"I see," I responded calmly.

Elliot looked at me in surprise. He probably expected me to cry and make a scene, but instead, I was composed.

Theodore, witnessing this, asked, "Cliff is taking someone home?"

I didn't feel embarrassed and said frankly, "It's obvious, isn't it?"

After all, it wasn't just me. Everyone present had seen it.

Cliff had twice disregarded me, his wife, and openly escorted another woman home, leaving his wife behind at the banquet.

Rumors would be spread tomorrow.

"Aren't you angry?" Theodore asked curiously.

"No," I replied.

I had already suffered enough from caring about Cliff in my past life. I wouldn't repeat that mistake.

Theodore looked at my profile. Despite my efforts to seem indifferent, he still frowned.

"Luna Vanya, may I have the honor of escorting you home?"

It was getting late, and I indeed didn't want to stay here any longer.

Elliot quickly stepped in and said, "Mr. Winston, let me take Luna Vanya home."

Theodore ignored him, waiting quietly for my response.

I stood up and said, "Thank you, Theodore."

Theodore, like an elegant gentleman, stood by my side, leaving Elliot alone, bewildered and at a loss.

I knew he must be worried about how to explain this to Cliff.

I followed Theodore to his car, with Derrick driving.

It took someone like Theodore to have Derrick, the Alpha of the Black Thorn Pack, willingly act as a chauffeur.

"Theodore, I've been waiting for you for hours, and you're inside flirting?" Derrick gave me a speechless look through the rearview mirror, complaining to Theodore.

Theodore replied nonchalantly, "Take Luna Vanya home first."

"Hey, we have to go to..." Derrick's words were cut off as Theodore kicked the back of the driver's seat.

Seeing the warning look in Theodore's eyes through the rearview mirror, Derrick immediately fell silent.

"Do you have an appointment?" I asked.

"Nothing too important," Theodore answered.

"Actually, you don't have to take me. I can get home by myself," I said.

"Los Angeles may seem calm, but it's full of hidden dangers, especially for Cliff's wife," Theodore said, frowning slightly.

I raised an eyebrow and said, "Theodore, Cliff is different from you. He's a legitimate businessman."

Theodore said indifferently, "In this mixed Los Angeles, even Cliff may not be clean."

I didn't argue with Theodore.

Having been married to Cliff for years in my past life, he never let me interfere with the Todd family affairs.

Although he appeared to be a legitimate businessman on the surface, how could a man with absolute power in Los Angeles be without blemish?

It's just that Cliff hid it deeper, while Theodore didn't bother to hide it, as he was rumored to have no weaknesses.

"Luna Vanya, we're here."

Derrick pulled over at the entrance of the Silver Moon Pack's boundary.

Seeing the Packhouse lights off, I knew Cliff hadn't returned yet.

"Thank you, Theodore, and thank you, Alpha Derrick."

I got out of the car.

As soon as I opened the door, I sensed something was wrong.

Jenny knew I was afraid of the dark and would usually leave the living room light on, but now it was off.

"Cliff? Are you back?"

I called out, but there was no response.

Realizing something was amiss, I prepared to leave when a large hand suddenly covered my mouth from behind.

"Damn bitch! It's all your fault! I've lost all my money!" I tried to break free, but the man was too strong.

I attempted to shift, only to find his palm seemed to be coated with wolfsbane.

This suppressed my wolf. I couldn't communicate with it.

Struggling, I pulled out a lighter from my bag and burned the man's wrist.

He yelped in pain, stepping back, and I seized the moment to run out.

'Cliff! Cliff!'

I kept calling his name in my heart.

As I ran, I took out my phone and dialed Cliff's number.

"Hello?"

"Cliff! Where are you? Come back home quickly! There's someone at home..."

Before I could finish, my phone was knocked to the ground.

A van was parked in front of me, its headlights blinding me.