Chapter 37

Lauren's POV

The foundation event was in full swing, and I could feel the weight of the night pressing down on me. The clink of champagne glasses, the soft hum of conversation, and the steady rhythm of the music swirling around us.

But none of it seemed to matter. All I could focus on was Liam—his arm around my waist, his hand resting on my lower back, just enough to make it look real, or was real. And for once, I really couldn’t tell.

I could feel the eyes of everyone around us, their gazes flicking over us like we were the subject of some grand spectacle.

I was doing my best to play the part, smiling, laughing, leaning into Liam as if we were a couple. The way he kept his hand close to my body, the subtle glances he gave me when he thought no one was looking, it all worked.

It was the perfect cover.

“You look stunning tonight,” Liam murmured in my ear, his voice low enough to send a shiver down my spine. I wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or the way his words made me feel, but my heart raced. I glanced up at him, offering a playful smile.

“You're not so bad yourself,” I teased, letting my fingers trace lightly over his arm. I was supposed to be flirting, right? Was this enough?

His eyes met mine, a spark of amusement dancing in them, and I could see the playful tension in his expression.

“Excuse me,” a voice cut through the air, and I turned to find Alexander and Sophia standing before us. I hadn’t expected them to be here, not tonight, but I guess I should have known.

Alexander, with his sharp jaw and even sharper eyes, was dressed impeccably, as always. But it was Sophia who caught my attention. Her eyes were icy as they slid over me, and I felt a chill settle in my chest.

It wasn’t surprising though, considering her partner had just proclaimed himself to me on live TV the other day, I wouldn’t be happy either.

“L—Dr. Ava,” Alexander said, his voice tight, his gaze flickering between me and Liam. I could see the murky confusion in his gaze already, the quiet flame.

I smiled, my lips curving up in a way that felt more like a mask than a real expression. “Evening, Alpha,” I replied, keeping my voice light, trying to push the uncomfortable knot in my stomach down.

Sophia’s eyes narrowed as she shot me a quick, sharp look. “How charming,” she said, her tone dripping with thinly veiled disdain.

“I see you’ve found someone to entertain you. Or do you need two men to ever feel at ease?” Her gaze lingered on Liam for a beat longer than necessary before she turned to Alexander. “I’m going to find the others,” she said coolly, excusing herself with a dismissive wave before walking off.

A surge of satisfaction mixed with pure repulsion coursed through me. I wanted to confront her, demand answers for what Owen had told me, slap the truth out of her for dragging children into her schemes. But this wasn’t the time. Not here, not now. She didn’t like that I was here, didn’t like the attention I was drawing to myself. For now, her anger would have to be enough.

As she disappeared into the crowd, I leaned a little more into Liam, my hand resting on his arm as I let out a soft sigh. “I don’t think she likes me very much,” I said, my voice dripping with false sweetness.

Liam smirked, his hand gently tightening around my waist. “She’s just jealous,” he replied smoothly, his gaze flicking over my shoulder to where Sophia had walked off. “But I’m not too worried about her. I’ve got you right here.”

His words made my stomach squeeze uneasy, this playful banter feeling natural yet so wrong.

I glanced back at Alexander, who was standing there, watching us with an unreadable expression on his face. His eyes were fixed on Liam’s hand at my waist, and I could see the tension in his jaw.

He looked… hurt.

I hadn’t expected that.

My heart twisted slightly, but I forced myself to look away. I couldn’t let myself feel guilty. Not when I had made it this far.

Liam leaned in, his lips brushing my ear as he whispered, “You know, you’re really good at this. You make it look so effortless, I might believe you.”

I turned my head slightly, catching the hint of a smirk on his lips. He was playing the part just as well as I was, and the chemistry between us was undeniable.

For a moment, I let myself get lost in the game. I placed my hand on his chest, giving him a flirtatious smile. “I try to be convincing,” I said, my voice soft and teasing.

Liam’s smile widened, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Well, you’re certainly convincing.”

I let out a small laugh, one that felt far more light and carefree then I was.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Alexander had long reteated, his gaze still fixed on us until he turned in the crowd.

I couldn’t help but notice the hurt in his eyes, the way he seemed to pull inward, retreating into himself.

Was he surprised? Surely, he couldn’t be. I had made no sign, or even remotely agreed to ever be his Luna again. No grad reveal would change that.

Liam, sensing my distraction, shifted closer to me, his body pressing slightly against mine as he leaned in again. “Are you alright?” he asked, his voice low and concerned. “You seem a little off.”

I nodded quickly, forcing a smile. "I’m fine. Just… distracted."

He didn’t seem convinced, but he didn’t push it. Instead, he smiled and pulled me into the crowd, keeping me close as we mingled with the other guests.

I tried to focus on the conversations around me, the laughter, the chatter, but all I could think about was Alexander—his hurt expression, the way he had watched us with a mix of confusion and something deeper.

Should I have asked him about it?

No.

It’s not like it’d change anything.

Alexander’s POV

My steps pressed heavily through the crowd, my chest tight, my mind spinning. I had told myself I was prepared for this. I had convinced myself that if Lauren wanted to move on, if she wanted to be with someone else, I would let her go. But after the kiss in the kitchen, after last night, seeing her with Liam—seeing the way she leaned into him, the way they interacted like they were a couple—it hurt more than I could have imagined.

Was this her choice? Was this her sign that she was truly done?

No.

I had thought we were past the games, past the misunderstandings. But now, watching her flirt with him so effortlessly, it felt like I was being left behind. Like she was making her choice clear in front of me, and I wasn’t the one she was choosing.

I had kissed her. I had begged her to come back to me, and she had kissed me back. But now—now it felt like it meant nothing. All of it—the kiss, the time we spent together, the promise I had made to myself to fight for her—it felt like it was slipping away.

I could see the way she smiled at Liam, the way she placed her hand on his arm. She looked so at ease with him, so comfortable. And I hated it. I hated that she was moving on, and I hated that I couldn’t do anything to stop it.

The crowd around me seemed to blur, the laughter and the clinking of glasses becoming muffled in my ears. I couldn’t breathe. I needed space.

Excusing myself from the conversation I was in, I made my way toward the exit, my heart pounding in my chest. I needed to get out of here, to think, to process everything.

I didn’t know what I was feeling anymore. Anger, confusion, hurt—it was all tangled together, a mess of emotions I couldn’t untangle.

But as I walked away, all I could think about was Lauren. Was this really it? Had she really made her choice?