Chapter 80\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 80\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene\u00a0<\/p>\n
I straightened, forcing my scent to stay calm, and met both of their eyes with a flat, emotionless expression.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kane had that same arrogant, insufferable look plastered across his face as he stared at me. I hadn\u2019t seen him, or crossed paths with him, since the coming-of-age ceremony, but the memory of his expression that day was still clear. The shock. The disbelief. The way his jaw practically hit the ground when he realized I was the one with the white wolf, and not his precious Sienna.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even now, I wanted to make him angry, but I couldn\u2019t because I wasn\u2019t in the mood to deal with either of them. My body was. already struggling to suppress the heat rising under my skin, and the last thing I needed was these two walking disasters breathing the same air as me. But of course, Sienna either didn\u2019t notice my mood or didn\u2019t care at all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She rushed toward me with excitement and then, without warning, threw herself onto me. Her arms wrapped around me so suddenly that I barely had time to react. My hands hovered uselessly at my sides, stiff and unwilling to return the gesture.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her irritating scent hit my nose immediately.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I raised an eyebrow. \u201cWhat are you doing? Get off me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instead of listening, Sienna hugged me tighter, squeezing me like she thought she could wring affection out of me through force.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean, sister?\u201d she chirped with that fake innocence she perfected long ago. \u201cI\u2019m hugging you because I\u2019m so happy. I don\u2019t know how to thank you for what you did. I\u2019ll forever be grateful. I knew it, sister loves me the most out of everyone in the world!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My other eyebrow joined the first.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? Me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t answer. She just kept clinging to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I slowly turned my gaze toward Kane. He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, watching the whole scene. My glare sharpened. \u201cHey. Get this thing off me immediately before I do it myself. And I promise you, I won\u2019t be gentle.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kane rolled his eyes with a sigh. \u201cDon\u2019t you know how to say something nice? You don\u2019t have to be mean to her. She\u2019s trying to thank you for what you did.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
What I did? What delusion were they living in?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I opened my mouth to ask, but Sienna finally released me and stepped back with a blinding smile, her eyes sparkling like she had just won a prize.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSister, I honestly can\u2019t believe it. You are so nice. Thank you so much, sister.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I let out a long exhale. This was getting annoying fast.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without a second thought, I pushed her away from me. Sienna squeaked as she fell onto her ass. Kane rushed forward instantly, helping her up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSelene, what is wrong with you?!\u201d he snapped, glaring at me as if I had committed a crime.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shrugged. \u201cYou\u2019re bothering me. If you don\u2019t want to speak normal English, then do me a favor and get out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou!\u201d Kane started, anger flaring, but Sienna grabbed his arm quickly, shaking her head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s okay, brother. Please don\u2019t shout at sister.\u201d She said, then turned toward me again and grabbed my hand with both of hers, smiling like a saint.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSister, you\u00a0<\/p>\n
don\u2019t need to hide it,\u201d she said softly. \u201cFather already told me everything. The alpha accepted your rejection. You\u2019ll soon break things off with Prince Adrian.\u201d Her smile widened. \u201cOne of the reasons you want to reject him is because of me, right? It\u2019s because you want me and Adrian to be together.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026Huh?\u201d I said flatly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kane coughed, straightening up with that arrogant air he always wore. \u201cWell, even though you\u2019re annoying, that\u2019s pretty selfless of you. At least you still care about Sienna\u2019s feelings.\u201d He nodded at me, satisfied with himself. \u201cYou\u2019re not so useless after all.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at the two of them for a long moment. And then I couldn\u2019t hold it anymore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I burst out laughing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The sound exploded out of me, echoing around the room, far too loud for the situation. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes as I grabbed my stomach, laughing harder the more I looked at their faces.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna froze like a startled deer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kane stared at me as if I had lost every last brain cell.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My laughter continued, shaking my shoulders. gods, it felt good. They were so stupid that I couldn\u2019t help it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kane finally snapped. \u201cWhat is wrong with you? Why are you laughing like we said something stupid?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I wiped the small tear at the corner of my eye and slowly calmed myself. A soft chuckle escaped me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you did say something stupid.\u201d I said, smirking. \u201cNo wonder you two were being a nuisance.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna blinked rapidly. \u201cW-what are you saying, Selene?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I leaned back against the pillow behind me, crossing my arms casually as I looked between them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWas that what Father said? Did he actually tell you I rejected Adrian because of you? Oh, don\u2019t be delusional, Sienna. You were the last thing I was thinking about yesterday. Why would I reject my mate because of a manipulative person like you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The embarrassment hit her immediately, her cheeks turned red all the way to her ears. She faltered for a second, her real expression cracking, before she remembered to act pitiful again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cR-really, sister?\u201d she whispered, voice wavering just enough to seem delicate. \u201cI thought\u2026 you did it because you knew I liked Prince Adrian. I didn\u2019t mean to make it a big deal, I was just so happy\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I rolled my eyes so hard it almost hurt. There she went again acting innocent. Only a fool would fall for that performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And Kane naturally fell for it within a second.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSelene! There you go again, acting mean to Sienna. She\u2019s always nice to you. Even if you didn\u2019t do it for her, you don\u2019t have to be so cruel. You could at least lie to make her feel better.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stuck a finger in my ear as if cleaning it, not even looking at him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That, of course, made him even angrier.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cUgh!\u201d he hissed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sighed lazily. \u201cYou know the door. I don\u2019t want to see your faces, so leave.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kane scoffed. \u201cYou know what? It doesn\u2019t matter. It doesn\u2019t matter what her reason was. At the end of the day, she already decided to reject the prince.\u201d He turned to Sienna with a proud smile. \u201cThat means Adrian will be yours, Sienna. You\u201d be the next Luna of the pack. You deserve it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna blushed deeply and then turned back toward me with a soft smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, sister,\u201d she said. \u201cThank you so much. Even though you\u2019re Prince Adrian\u2019s mate, I hope you can give him to me since we already have some chemistry. You won\u2019t be angry, right?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My eyebrow twitched.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Luna and even the Alpha like me,\u201d she continued, smiling wider. \u201cI\u2019ll make sure when you\u2019re ready to have a mate, I\u2019ll find someone perfect for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kane nodded eagerly, putling out his chest. \u201cYes. I\u2019ll make one of my friends court you,\u201d he said as if he was offering me the greatest favor in the world. \u201cYou\u2019re pretty, and the moonborn. At least one of them might want you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
They wanted to annoy me, but I just stared at them flatly. They could talk all they wanted. Sienna could have Adrian. I didn\u2019t want him anymore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Behind me, I could feel Evelyn fuming. Her anger radiated off her. I could practically sense her preparing to leap forward and tear both of them apart with her bare hands. I was about to shut them up, but there was a knock on the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna and Kane paused and turned to me, as if waiting for an explanation. I raised an eyebrow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why were they looking at me like I was expecting someone? I wasn\u2019t. Why on earth did people keep coming today of all days?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another knock followed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLady Selene,\u201d a voice called through the door. \u201cI am the eunuch from the palace. I have been sent by the alpha.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna gasped. \u201cThe alpha? What does the alpha want?\u201d She turned toward me, blinking innocently. \u201cSelene?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shrugged. Even I was confused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kane, of course, spoke before using a single brain cell. \u201cMaybe the alpha wanted to invite you to the palace but made a mistake coming here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Honestly, the explanation sounded reasonable. I found myself almost nodding.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna\u2019s eyes sparkled. \u201cOh my, then let\u2019s go, brother! We mustn\u2019t keep him waiting!\u201d She hurried out of the room. Kane shot me one last dark, self-satisfied look before following her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment the door closed behind them, I exhaled deeply and closed my eyes. I wanted to lie down, but Evelyn grabbed my hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I snapped my eyes open. \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLady Selene,\u201d she said urgently, \u201clet\u2019s go too.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d I deadpanned. \u201cYou heard him. They came for Sienna.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn shook her head fiercely. \u201cWe can\u2019t be sure. If they came for Sienna, they wouldn\u2019t come to your room. And the eunuch has already been to your room before, he wouldn\u2019t make that kind of mistake.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of course I already knew that. But I was too tired to care, and I did not want to deal with anyone from the palace in this condition. Still, Evelyn wasn\u2019t having it. She tugged harder, dragging me toward the door before I could protest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When we stepped into the hallway, Sienna immediately caught my eye, her hand pressed dramatically against her cheek as she gasped. Beside her, Kane wore that triumphant smirk, as if the world had finally acknowledged his sister.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The eunuch stood respectfully at the side, bowing slightly. My doorstep was buried under a mountain of perfectly wrapped boxes, baskets, chests, and bundles of rare cloth. Servants lined the edges, heads bowed, waiting silently behind the offerings.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at everything and raised an eyebrow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Huh? What is going on?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could open my mouth, the eunuch straightened and smiled warmly at me. It looked like he was about to speak, but Sienna lunged forward first.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my goddess, are all these for me? I can\u2019t believe it, they\u2019re beautiful!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The eunuch\u2019s smile froze. He blinked, confused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna took his silence as encouragement. \u201cI accept them. I\u2019m so grateful to the alpha. This is too much!\u201d She stepped forward, already reaching toward a box wrapped in gold silk.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before her fingers even grazed it, the eunuch smoothly stepped into her path and blocked her with a stiff, polite bow. He turned, completely ignoring her, and faced me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His expression instantly softened again as he smiled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLady Selene, I was ordered by Alpha Rhydian to deliver all these gifts to you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Editorial Board: Our editorial team works behind the scenes to refine each chapter, maintain consistency, and deliver the best reading experience.<\/p>\n
Hope Is Not Optional \u2014 Manuel Flores 80 Chapter 80\u00a0 Chapter 80\u00a0 Selene\u00a0 I straightened, forcing my scent to stay […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27874","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-ruthless-tycoons-obsession-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27874","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27874"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27874\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27874"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27874"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27874"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}