Chapter 51

We were still greeting guests when a man approached, flanked by guards. He carried himself with authority, and the crest on his attire gave him away immediately—Alpha Hamilton. He came directly toward us, his gaze fixed on me rather than Osborne. “Congratulations on your mating ceremony,” he said smoothly. I bowed my head in respect, offering a small smile. “Thank you, Alpha Maxwell.” This was Bella’s father. His eyes lingered on me, and to my surprise, he smiled before saying, “Indeed, you bear a striking resemblance to your mother.” My eyes widened at his words. He knows my mother? “Pardon?” I asked without thinking. He chuckled softly, as if amused by my reaction. “Yes, your mother was once a very close friend of my late Luna. And also…” His gaze shifted toward Osborne, and I noticed the sudden tension in Osborne’s expression. “…a friend to your father-in-law. Perhaps even more.” The words hung heavy in the air. He bowed slightly with a sly smile, then turned and walked away, leaving me frozen in place. Even more? What did he mean by that? My heart thudded in my chest as I turned to Osborne, but he refused to meet my eyes. A sinking feeling washed over me. Is there something I don’t know? “Congratulations!” The Luna’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. She was smiling so brightly that for a moment I forgot everything Alpha Hamilton had said. I returned her smile. “Oh, thank you, Mother,” I replied warmly as she drew me into a hug. “You did so well,” she whispered, and I caught sight of the Alpha nearby, deep in conversation with some guests. But my mind refused to settle. Hamilton’s words kept echoing, clawing their way back into my head no matter how much I tried to focus on the joy of the moment. Then the sharp tap of a microphone cut through the chatter. Heads turned, and when I followed their gaze, my stomach dropped. Bella. “What is she doing here?” Osborne muttered, his voice already edged with irritation. “I thought she didn’t come for the wedding?” He was ready to storm over and snatch the mic from her hands when she started speaking. “I want to congratulate the bride and the groom for this marvelous mating ceremony,” Bella announced, her smile perfectly polished but full of venom underneath. “Osborne, as you all know, has been a longtime friend of mine, and I’m truly happy for him.” I narrowed my eyes. Where is she going with this? “But—” her smile widened, “—I think the bride is owed an explanation. Don’t you think so, dear bride’s mother?” Gasps rippled through the crowd. My head whipped toward my mother, who was staring back at Bella, her expression neutral, probably waiting to hear what Bella had to say. Of course, Bella hadn’t forgiven her for humiliating her, and it's not as if she didn't deserve it, and now she wanted her revenge, right here, in front of everyone. Bella’s voice rang out again, sharp and cutting: “Don’t you think you owe your daughter the truth? That you were once her father-in-law’s lover—and that you had a child you gave away?” Gasps filled the hall, and I immediately saw my mother’s shoulders sink. What on earth had Bella just said? The room erupted into chaos, voices rising everywhere, and Osborne’s shout tore through it all—“Get her out of here!” But her words… were they true? “What? You mean you never told your children?” Bella’s mocking voice carried, but before she could continue, the mic was snatched from her. Guards rushed forward to drag her out, but hers quickly intervened, clashing with them. “She’s here! Don’t you want to meet your sister, Osborne?” Bella screamed as she fought against their grip. My eyes darted to my mother, but in that instant—she was gone. Maybe Bella was only lashing out, inventing lies to hurt us on my wedding day. That’s what I wanted to believe. But the way Osborne handled the situation, the way his face twisted—planted doubt deep inside me. I turned toward the Luna, hoping for reassurance, but she stood frozen, eyes wide, lips parted, unable to speak. That silence told me everything, the whole place was a mess with this revelation. Bella might not have been lying. Then Osborne’s hand gripped mine tightly. “Aina.” I blinked at him, dazed, struggling to even hear my own name. His eyes searched mine, confused, but not with the same disbelief that gripped me. I didn’t realize when Bella was finally dragged out, or when Osborne guided me toward a nearby chair. My body moved on its own, numb. “Hey, snap out of it,” his voice came, urgent, laced with worry. “Was she telling the truth?” The question slipped out before I could stop it. He drew in a sharp breath, hissed under it, and finally muttered, “I don’t know.” But I saw it—the way he avoided my eyes, the tightness in his jaw. He knew something. Something he wasn’t saying. Osborne turned sharply, barking at a guard, “Take my mother back to the mansion. Get the cars ready.” His voice cut like steel. This day, our day, was meant to be filled with joy, but it had shattered into pieces in front of everyone. I needed my mother to explain. Was it true? Had she once been involved with my father-in-law? Did she really give away a child? And if so—what did that make of me and Osborne? Were we tied by blood through a sibling neither of us knew? My thoughts spiraled: what would my father say? What would happen to my family? And more than anything, where was Alpha Owen in all this? Bella Triumph radiated from me as I stepped out of the hall. Whispers followed, and the looks people gave me ranged from shock to disbelief, as if I had lost my mind. Let them think so—I didn’t care. What mattered was that I had done exactly what I came here to do. Osborne believed he could build his perfect little life while tossing me aside, but I would never let that happen. Not without making him bleed where it hurt the most. Right now, his so-called sister was seated in a car, blissfully unaware of the storm I’d set in motion. I had met her days ago, hinting that I knew the truth about her real parents. She had no idea how deep the roots of that truth went—or how shattered she would be once it all came to light. And as for Alpha Owen… I couldn’t care less. His name, his reputation, his marriage, none of it concerned me. If the truth tore his world apart, so be it. Collateral damage in my victory.