Chapter 3

"So Rhea wants to marry Alpha Declan. In that case, I'll marry the fool instead. Mom, please don't make things difficult for my sister."

Vivian immediately acted as if I'd stolen her beloved, throwing herself into Jenny's arms, tears streaming down her face.

I was dumbfounded. I wanted to ask—you're so deeply in love with Declan, does he even know who you are?

I couldn't help rolling my eyes.

"Don't flatter yourself. What I meant is..."

"Enough."

Jenny held Vivian tightly and coldly interrupted me.

"Rhea, how can you be so shameless? You just got here and you're already trying to steal Vivian's man."

"What do you mean? Alpha Declan won't look at Vivian, but he'll look at a good-for-nothing country girl like you?"

"Let me tell you, the Smith family has received an invitation to a banquet hosted by Alpha Declan. Don't you understand what that means?"

I shook my head cluelessly. "No, I don't."

Tom snorted coldly, opening his mouth with a smug expression.

"Alpha Declan just returned from the pack border and immediately invited the Smith family to a banquet. Isn't it obvious he's taken a liking to our Vivian and wants to get close to her?"

"Vivian is a carefully cultivated lady, the most beautiful socialite in Hailmark pack. Alpha Declan must have heard of Vivian's reputation, which is why he can't wait to approach her under this pretense."

Tom looked at me with disdain. "You wouldn't understand the complex rules of these circles."

"Don't think that just because you're the Smith family's biological daughter, you can rise to the top. Vivian is a high-society lady we've invested heavily in cultivating since childhood. You can't compare."

I shook my head. Not a single person in this family was normal.

They didn't stop to think—with Declan's status, why would he send them an invitation?

Just because of their publicly traded company whose funding chain was about to break?

It was all because of me, Declan's wife.

Declan is my fated mate. A few months ago, he went to the pack border to fight off Rogues and met me. We fell in love at first sight and got married quickly.

When the Smith family wanted to bring me home, Declan wanted to come with me. I refused and told him to go back and handle pack affairs first. As a compromise, he planned to host a banquet and sent the Smith family an invitation.

He only invited them out of consideration for me, but they actually thought it was because of Vivian's beauty.

No wonder their company was going bankrupt.

I couldn't help but laugh mockingly. "So you've been carefully cultivating her since childhood, planning to sell her for a good price when she grows up?"

"Besides, Declan doesn't like girls like her at all."

Declan hated weak, delicate types the most. In his eyes, they were useless idiots.

Vivian's face paled. Jenny pointed at me furiously and scolded.

"As expected of someone raised in the countryside—no manners at all. How can you say such vulgar things?"

"And how would you know Alpha Declan doesn't like someone like Vivian? I think you're just jealous."

"With Vivian's beauty, I'm telling you, there's no man who wouldn't be attracted."

Tom also looked at me with disdain. "Even if you're jealous, it won't help. Vivian will marry Alpha Declan sooner or later."

"With your crude behavior, don't even dream of catching Alpha Declan's eye."

"As long as you obediently do as you're told and marry Leo, we won't treat you poorly in the future. But if you harbor inappropriate thoughts, don't blame us for being ruthless."

This was a threat, but they'd threatened the wrong person.

I really wanted to see their expressions when they learned the truth.

I decided not to reveal the truth just yet.

I smiled enigmatically. "What if Alpha Declan likes someone exactly like me?"

"Want to make a bet? If Alpha Declan doesn't like someone like me, I'll agree to obediently marry that fool. If he does like someone like me, then you'll..."

Before I could finish, Jenny's mocking laughter interrupted me. "You think you could win Alpha Declan's favor? How ridiculous."

"You don't need to finish. Whatever it is, we agree."

Vivian also looked at me smugly. "Then I'll thank you in advance for agreeing to marry Leo."

I raised an eyebrow, looking at the message from Declan that popped up on my phone. The show was about to begin.

"I hope you get your wish."