Chapter 260 It’s her
Author’s POV
The following afternoon, the Grand Capitol Hotel buzzed with energy.
The lobby’s registration area was a sea of designer suits and expensive perfume. Polished marble floors reflected the confident stride of every guest who passed through, while the air hummed with barely contained ambition.
Sophie and Derek had arrived early, positioning themselves near the entrance like predators waiting for prey. They hovered by the registration desk, eyes scanning the steady flow of attendees.
Margaret and Rose hadn’t arrived yet, so the couple used the waiting time to work the crowd—or try to.
Sophie clutched a stack of Silver Creek Pack business cards like they were lottery tickets.
But most guests traveled with entourages of bodyguards and Betas.
Sophie couldn’t get close enough to make contact. The few who did take her card—after glancing at the Silver Creek Pack logo—immediately went cold. Professional smiles froze. Eyes shuttered.
Sophie would barely finish her introduction before they’d turn away.
She watched in horror as one Alpha dropped her card into a nearby trash can without even waiting for her to leave.
Derek bent down and retrieved the scattered business cards from the floor, handing them back to Sophie with barely concealed irritation.
"Can’t you wait until we’re inside?" His voice was low, tight. "You’re embarrassing us."
He was beginning to regret bringing her at all.
Sophie had no sense of timing. Silver Creek Pack’s reputation was in shambles right now—walking up to major Alphas and handing out business cards was like begging to be humiliated.
"The seating’s divided by pack territory once we’re inside," Sophia shot back defensively. "I don’t have a choice."
Derek said nothing, but his jaw tightened.
Sophie wasn’t ready to give up, though. She still had backup. Her mother, Margaret, had been a legendary socialite in her prime.
Even though she’d spent the last decade playing bridge and hosting luncheons, her network remained extensive.
The mates of her closest friends held executive positions across multiple industries. Margaret could still open doors.
And then there was grandmother Rose. She and grandfather had built Silver Creek Pack from the ground up, forging alliances and earning respect across the region.
Even now, people still gave his widow respect out of deference to his memory.
Sophia shifted her weight, scanning the crowd again with renewed determination.
Then a car pulled up to the entrance that made everything else fade into the background.
A Rolls-Royce Phantom stretched along the curb like a moving fortress. The extended black body gleamed under the lights, sleek and powerful, making every other vehicle look cheap by comparison.
"Who the hell is that?" Sophia grabbed Derek’s arm, her voice pitched high with excitement.
Derek followed her gaze, his brow furrowing.
The car hadn’t even stopped fully before a team of hotel staff and security swarmed toward it.
The level of attention, the sheer presence of the vehicle—Derek’s mind raced through possibilities.
"Could it be the Smiths?" he muttered.
Today’s summit had invited pack leaders and corporate powerhouses from across North America. But if they were talking about major players in this region, the Smith family came to mind first.
"The Smiths?" Sophia’s eyes went wide. "You mean that heiress everyone’s been talking about?"
She didn’t follow business news closely, but the inheritance scandal had been impossible to miss. It had dominated headlines for weeks.
Sophia knew better than to try approaching someone from the Smith family directly—she wasn’t delusional.
But curiosity pulled at her like a hook. She had to see what this woman looked like.
She tugged Derek forward, trying to get closer.
They’d barely taken three steps before a line of security guards cut them off.
"Where do you think you’re going?" The head of security barked, his tone flat and unfriendly.
"We’re... we’re guests," Sophia stammered, glancing at Derek for help.
Derek pulled out their invitation and held it up. "We have clearance."
"Guest entrance is that way." The guard jerked his thumb toward the side door without even looking at them.
The entire front area of the hotel had been cordoned off. VIP arrivals had their own secured zone, and Sophia had been wandering around long enough to draw attention.
"Right... we were just curious." Derek forced a smile and slipped a pack of expensive cigarettes into the guard’s jacket pocket.
"My wife hasn’t been to one of these before. We were wondering who that is."
"How the hell should I know?" The gesture softened the guard’s tone slightly, but he still waved them off. "Just stay over there if you want to watch."
He didn’t wait for a response before turning away.
That’s when Sophia let out a sharp, startled gasp.
Derek jumped. "Jesus Christ, keep your voice down. This isn’t Silver Creek Pack. Show some class."
"She—she’s—" Sophia’s hand shot out, finger trembling as she pointed toward the car.
"Who?"
Derek looked in the direction she was pointing, but he couldn’t see anything except the backs of security guards and hotel staff.
"It’s her!" Sophia’s voice cracked. "I saw her get out of the car!"
Derek stared at her like she’d lost her mind. "Who?"
"Aria!"
The name came out strangled, like Sophia could barely force it past her lips.
She’d seen clearly—just for a moment, as the woman stepped out of the Rolls-Royce and was immediately surrounded by bodyguards and assistants. It had been quick, but Sophia’s eyesight was sharp.
There was no mistaking that face.
"Aria?" Derek’s confusion deepened. "You’re seeing things. Even if she’s here, there’s no way she’d arrive like that."
Sophia wavered. Maybe she had imagined it. Maybe her hatred for Aria was making her hallucinate.
But then she turned on her heel and shoved her way toward the registration desk.
And there she was.
Surrounded by a circle of bodyguards and assistants, signing in at the VIP table like she owned the place.
Sophia’s blood turned to ice.
Then it boiled.
"ARIA!"
Her voice cut through the low hum of polite conversation like a knife.