"Isn’t she the Alpha’s mate? Why is she standing alone?"
"It’s obvious, isn’t it? The Alpha treats her like a stranger."
"I heard Catherine is carrying his real heir. Maybe Cherry’s being pushed aside."
Their words dug into me like claws, tearing at wounds that had barely begun to scab over. My hands trembled as I turned away, my vision blurring. I couldn’t breathe. I needed to get out.
I spun on my heel, ready to escape, when a sudden screech rang through the ballroom. The microphone.
The music died. Conversations halted. All eyes turned to the stage.
And there, standing under the bright lights, was Vander.
My breath hitched.
His expression was calm, but his eyes burned with something fierce, something determined. He held the microphone in his hand, gaze sweeping across the crowd before landing on Luther.
"I won’t stay silent any longer," Vander’s voice carried through the room. "You all deserve to know the truth."
A murmur rippled through the guests, confusion and curiosity buzzing in the air.
"Alpha Luther has been lying to all of you." Vander continued. "Catherine was never Cheryl’s surrogate. She was never meant to carry the Alpha’s heir. Because she isn’t just a surrogate—"