Chapter 96 96
Kylie's pov
Though I didn't say that. But, I was tempted to.
When Roman returned from the bathroom, his face soured at the sight of me and Maisie chatting. I tried my best to ignore him.
Once upon a time, Roman and I had almost been a couple. I’d met him at the annual fashion runway show in the Crescent Moon Pack at the peak of my career. He was one of the event sponsors. After the show, I'd bumped into him accidentally spilling a drink on him and when he apologized even when I was at fault, I knew he was the one for me despite the rumours about him being cruel. We hit it off and started dating. However, our sweet relationship turned sour quickly. He was barely home and would often send gift bags and money to apologize. Frankly, I love the kind gesture but that wasn't enough. He was distant and I hated it. I got bored and dumped him but not before taking one or two items with me. I'd duped him into losing over $2 million dollars. Not that I'd affect the billions lying around in his account but I won something for myself. Meeting him again engaged to my ex-enemy was a whole other level of fuckery.
The only contact we had tonight was a nod.
He resumed chatting with Maisie, pretending as if Xavier and I didn't exist. And Maisie… She looked good. That's an understatement. She looks amazing and I wasn't the only one that noticed. People around us kept complimenting her looks and even asked for autographs. That got me confused. Was she a celebrity of some kind?
I shook my head. She definitely isn't. All that glow is obviously Roman's money and just like me, she'd end up bored and even dump him.
Roman wasn't just big. He was the second wealthiest and most influential on the planet. They'd just met a few months ago and are already engaged. Meanwhile, I had to beg Xavier here to engage me. Watching Maisie and Roman was a bit of an eyesore but I couldn’t deny the truth. They looked really good together.
I faltered and lost my train of thought in the middle of a sentence when a tall, lean man swooped into the lull like a vulture after prey.
“Alpha Xavier, is that you?” The man said, pulling Xavier's attention to him. “Sharom and I are visiting BlackRock Garden when we sighted you. Are you feeling okay? With the loss of your mate and your company… yikes… things must be terrible for you.”
Frustration bit at my veins as this asshole successfully hijacked the conversation.
I opened my mouth to interrupt them. I could see myself doing it in my head, and almost spoke it in real life but the words couldn’t make it past my lips. What the heck is going on?
This idiot’s interruption wouldn’t rise to the level of a disaster and being the sassy queen I am, my brain could always untangle the difference between a setback and a catastrophe and ready a comeback but I was mute. Was I ashamed? Why was Xavier's situation making me feel ashamed? Was I feeling sorry for him? Ew. Gross.
“Beta Russo, we talked about this.” Alpha Roman addressed the thin man with a smile.
Beta Russo chuckled warmly. “Apologies, Alpha Roman. I was only sympathizing with dear Xavier. He's been through a lot in the past few months. If only you were a member of his pack, none of that disaster would've occured.”
Roman shook his head. “Im happy where I am. Thanks.”
“I'm surprised you're even talking to him after what happened six months ago but sure…” then he turned to Xavier. “I heard you've gone bankrupt. Should I pay for your food and drink?”
“That's enough. Leave!” Xavier snapped.
“Okay, loser.” Russo rolled his eyes, then tipped his drink towards us in a goodbye greeting.
Skinny asshole. But he wasn't wrong. If Roman had been our pack's beta, he would've knocked some sense into Xavier. Ugh!
“Apologies. Russo was drunk.” Roman said, surprising us.
My heart skipped a beat at his voice before it returned to its normal rhythm. “Thank you.”
He set his glass down with a precision that pulsed in my veins. “It’s late. Maisie and I have an early morning tomorrow.”
Surprise tinged with hurt bloomed in my chest. “That bad huh?”
“Excuse me?” Maisie arched one of her perfectly carved brows.
I met her gaze. “You guys are avoiding us the way people avoid plagues.”
Maisie opened her mouth to retort but Roman beat her to it.
“If we were avoiding both of you, we wouldn't even be in this pack in the first place.” Roman glared down at me. “And besides, she'd come to mourn her daughter. Her name was Aria, remember?”
His words were rough but they held the truth in them. I bet Xavier barely remembered his late daughter's name. Maisie was right to leave but I wouldn’t admit that even if she put a gun to my head. If I did, she might think I was trying to be friends with her, and that would open a can of worms I didn’t want to deal with.
“Good to know.” Xavier's dry tone returned.
The servers brought out dessert, which he declined with a shake of his head, insisting on more alcohol instead.
I took a bite of layered chocolate cake before I asked, as casually as I could, “Where do you both stay? I'd like to send gifts for your nuptial?"
“That won't be necessary. We'll be leaving the pack soon anyways.” Maisie smiled, then added. “It was nice meeting you again.”
“Why so uptight? Scared you'll fall for me again?” Xavier said out of the blues. I don't know where he got the courage to ask that kind of stupid question but I was embarrassed on his behalf.
“Watch what you say around my Luna. You aren't above scolding.” Roman’s casual request masked a dark undertone that wiped the smile off Xavier's face.
The content of Roman’s rebuke was mild, but he delivered it with such vicious contempt Xavier’s face flushed crimson. Instead of defending him, I stared down at my plate, my own face pale.
The exchange had been so short but the people around us noticed. They even began whispering to each other in such low tones.
Xavier's head drooped in a lazy nod. When he lifted his head, I nearly clawed my face out. The fool was drunk. Again.
I wished I could slap some sense into him.
“I heard things are tough for you both. Do take care.” was Roman’s detached answer. Nevertheless, warmth settled in my stomach and stayed with me through the rest of dinner and the end-of-night goodbyes.
I slid a side glance at him as he fell into step with Maisie. I wish I hadn't broken up with him years ago. It seemed impossible to get him now but seeing the humiliation I had to face because I wanted Xavier to get better, I couldn't help but wonder how I'd be able to seduce Roman to love me like he did before.