I snatched up my purse, glared at Deanna like I could burn a hole through her, and stormed out of the banquet hall, tears streaming down my face.
…
Kathryn’s POV:
As I watched Jillian storm off, for the first time, I didn’t run after her. I didn’t offer comfort, or even feel the urge to.
The thought of tomorrow’s headlines alone gave me a pounding headache – I didn’t have the strength left to worry about her feelings.
Just then, Beta Tessa rushed up to Deanna. “Ms. Wiley, Alpha has instructed you to sign the contract on behalf of Mistbane Pack.”
Deanna remained seated, unfazed. “Funny. Dad didn’t even want me here in the first place. Now he suddenly remembers I exist?”
Tessa’s tone turned diplomatic. “That was a misunderstanding, Ms. Wiley. Right now, the bigger picture is what matters.”
Deanna scoffed. “A misunderstanding? Really, Tessa? Do you actually believe that?” She took a slow sip of champagne, showing no intention of moving.
Tessa’s eyes darted to me, silently pleading for help.
I cleared my throat and forced myself forward. “Deanna, Mistbane Pack needs you. Don’t be difficult right now, okay? Just go up there and sign the contract.”
But she clutched her chest dramatically, her voice tight with emotion.
“Mom, that’s not what you said earlier. You called me useless and said I never stepped up. Said I’d never be as good as Jillian, that I only ever stirred up trouble, and warned me not to be rude to her. Do you know how much that hurt?
“And it’s always the same. Jillian’s your precious daughter. And me? I’m just the mistake. Whenever we fight, you take her side without even listening to me…”
I quickly cut in, trying to defuse the situation.
“I’m sorry, alright? I really am. I promise I’ll treat you fairly from now on – no more blaming you, no more comparisons. Just this once, okay? Can you forgive me?”
Deanna shrugged off the sentiment and muttered, “No.”
I clenched my jaw, trying to stay calm. “Then what do you want? Just tell us what it’ll take for you to sign the contract. If it’s within reason, we’ll agree.”
She turned to Tessa, her tone suddenly businesslike. “Tell my dad I want 30 percent of Mistbane Pack’s shares. Ten percent was already promised to me for securing this deal. The other 20 is for the humiliation I endured tonight.”
I inhaled sharply.
With 30 percent of shares, Deanna would become the second-largest shareholder – someone with real influence in the company.
But we were cornered.
The Mooncrown Pack had made one thing crystal clear. If Deanna didn’t sign, the eight-billion-dollar investment was off the table.
I glanced at Tessa and gave a subtle nod, signaling her to ask Alpha for instructions.
…
Philip’s POV:
I stood on stage for what felt like forever, but only Tessa came up – Deanna was still seated.
My patience snapped. “Where is she? Why didn’t you bring her with you?”
Tessa hesitated, then said carefully, “Alpha, Ms. Wiley… she’s demanding 30 percent of Mistbane Pack’s shares before she’ll sign.”
My jaw tightened until pain shot up my temple. This was extortion in broad daylight.
Pamela’s voice cut in sharply. “Mr. Wiley, is Deanna coming or not? Are we signing this contract or walking away?”
30 percent of the shares or an eight-billion-dollar investment. What a brutal decision.
I closed my eyes and took a slow, steadying breath.
Swallowing my fury, I muttered to Tessa, “Bring Deanna up. Get her to sign.”
She hesitated. “And the shares?”
I shot her a glare. “Give them to her. Tell her I said yes. Just get her on this stage now!”
Jake’s POV:
“Has Deanna come looking for me?” I asked Axel, keeping my tone light, almost indifferent.
He was driving, but the question clearly rattled him. “Deanna? Well, she…”
I cut him off. “Spit it out.”
He hesitated, then finally said, “Mistbane Pack secured their investment. I-I don’t think she’s coming.”
My brows drew together. “That’s impossible. We’re talking about four billion dollars – there’s no way Mistbane Pack pulled that off without my help. What really happened?”
Axel cleared his throat. “There’s a story trending online. Mooncrown Pack just invested eight billion into Mistbane’s Moonline Expansion Project.”
I immediately grabbed my phone and searched it up. Headlines flooded my screen.
‘Mooncrown Pack pours eight billion into Mistbane’s Expansion Plan!’
‘Alliance formed between Mooncrown and Mistbane Pack!’
‘Deanna Wiley vs. Jillian Wiley! Real and fake heiresses battle it out for investor gold!’
‘This round, the true heiress Deanna Wiley secures the billion-dollar deal for Mistbane Pack.’
Front and center was a photo of Deanna on stage, beaming as she signed the contract. Her smile was dazzling, confident, and victorious.
By the time I scrolled to the end, my blood was boiling.
Deanna, you really pulled it off, huh?
You actually went behind my back, found Luis, and closed the deal – just to prove you didn’t need me.
Well done. Seriously. Well played.
I could almost respect it – if I wasn’t this furious.
I yanked out my phone, ready to call her. Then it hit me – she’d deleted my number last week.
The thought alone made my chest burn. I pulled at the knot of my tie, nearly strangling myself.
“Axel,” I snapped. “Give me your phone.”
“Alpha?”
I snapped, voice rising with frustration, “I said, give your phone to me. What? Did you leave your hearing back at home?”
He scrambled to unlock his phone and handed it over without a word.
I didn’t even think – my fingers moved automatically, dialing her number from memory.
She used to call me all the time. That number was engraved in my brain.
Two rings in, she answered.
But instead of Deanna, a stranger’s voice came through.
“Ms. Wiley, the eight billion investment from Mooncrown Pack should arrive within the week. Alpha wants you to finalize the Moonline Expansion Project budget as soon as possible.”
I let out a dry, bitter laugh. “Deanna, you’ve really outdone yourself.”
Then, her voice came through – cool, clipped, cold. “There’s nothing left for us to talk about.”
And then she hung up.
I stared at the phone, still buzzing in my hand, vibrating with finality.
I ran my tongue over my canine teeth, fury rising until it spilled over. I hurled the phone to the floor of the car.
Axel let out a choked cry. “Alpha? That was my phone.”
I growled, “I’ll buy you a new one.”
Pause.
“No – I’ll buy you ten.”
…
Deanna’s POV:
I answered the call by mistake.
The moment I heard Jake’s irritating voice, all interest in continuing the conversation vanished. Without hesitation, I hung up.
I accepted the file my assistant handed me and walked straight to my office.
Once I sank into the couch, I pulled out my phone and opened my chat with Luis.
Before the banquet, I’d sent him a message. ‘Can you make sure the Mooncrown Pack investment contract has to be signed by me?’
I expected him to ask why.
Instead, he replied almost instantly with an “okay”.
I stared at that one-word response, absentmindedly brushing my thumb across the screen.
A smile tugged at the corners of my lips. I typed, ‘Thanks for today. Are you free tonight? Dinner’s on me.’
In seconds, he replied, ‘Someone’s in a good mood today.’
My grin widened. I wrote back, ‘All thanks to you, Alpha. I secured the Moonline Expansion Project investment – and I got exactly what I wanted.’
Luis replied, ‘So, that’s it? One dinner for all the good things that happened today?’
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