Chapter 197 Rowena fell for it
_Rowena’s POV_
The silence in the room lingered after Mr. Logan’s little speech, but I refused to let his deliberate words ruin my evening. I looked at Alaric, noticing how tight his jaw had become.
His hand was still holding mine tightly, his body stiff with anger at the clear attempt to put him on the spot in front of everyone.
I squeezed his fingers gently, pulling his attention away from the stage and back to me.
"Alaric," I said softly, giving him a smile. "I am actually quite hungry. Will you take me to get some food?"
The dark cloud over his face instantly cleared. He looked down at me, his eyes softening as he let out a breath.
"Of course," he said, his voice returning to its normal smooth tone. "Let’s get away from this crowd."
He led me toward the long buffet tables set up near the terrace doors, far away from the stage and the murmurs of the curious guests.
The food spread was really impressive. Alaric picked up a small plate and carefully selected a few items for me, acting as if we were the only two people in the entire room. He handed me a small skewer of roasted meat and watched as I took a bite.
"Is it good?" he asked, watching me with genuine interest.
"It is delicious," I replied, smiling up at him. "You should try one."
Instead of picking up his own skewer, Alaric leaned in slightly, a playful glint in his eyes. He took a small bite straight from the piece I was holding. He chewed slowly, his eyes still on mine.
"You’re right. It is good," he murmured, his voice low. He reached out with his thumb and gently wiped a tiny speck of sauce from the corner of my lip.
His thumb stayed against my skin for a second longer than necessary before he pulled his hand back. "Though I think anything would taste good tonight as long as I am standing here with you."
I felt a pleasant wave of warmth spread through my chest. Despite the drama Brielle and her father were trying to create, Alaric made it completely clear where his heart belonged.
He stayed close to my side, holding my plate when my hands were full, leaning down to whisper small jokes into my ear and making sure my glass was never empty.
"I am glad you came tonight, Rowena," he said softly, resting his hand against the small of my back as we stood by the glass doors looking out at the garden. "When I saw you walk in with your new hair and that dress, I completely forgot how to speak for a moment."
"Really?" I teased softly, looking up at him over my glass. "The great Alpha King lost his words?"
"Only for you," he answered smoothly, looking at me with sincerity. "Only ever for you."
We stayed near the terrace for a long time, enjoying the moment together. But after drinking a full glass of fruit juice and eating a few appetizers, I felt the need to excuse myself.
"I need to use the restroom, Alaric," I told him, setting my empty glass down on a passing waiter’s tray. "I will be right back."
"Alright," he nodded, stepping back politely. "I will wait for you right here by the terrace. Don’t be long."
I smiled at him and walked away, heading down the wide hallway away from the main ballroom to find the powder room.
The guest bathroom was large, luxurious, and completely empty when I walked in.
I walked up to the mirror, smoothing down my dress and checking my hair. Everything looked neat and composed.
I turned on the tap to wash my hands. Just as I pulled a paper towel from the dispenser, the door of the restroom pushed open.
Through the reflection in the mirror, I saw Brielle walk in.
She stepped into the room slowly, she didn’t look sullen or upset like she had on the stage earlier. Instead, she looked entirely calm. She let the door click shut behind her and leaned against the counter, watching me through the mirror.
"You look very comfortable out there, Rowena," Brielle said, her voice sounding light and casual, as if we were old friends catching up.
I turned around slowly to face her, folding my arms across my chest. "Is there something you need, Brielle?"
Brielle let out a laugh. She took a step toward me, her heels clicking softly against the floor.
"I just wanted to offer you a piece of friendly advice," she said, tilting her head slightly. "Alaric is just being polite to you because of the current situation. But you should know my exact intentions. I am back in this city to get Alaric back. He belongs with me, and a history like ours doesn’t just disappear because he found a temporary replacement."
I kept my posture steady, my voice completely calm as I looked at her. "Alaric has made his choice very clear, Brielle. You are wasting your time."
Brielle’s calm smile twitched slightly, a flash of irritation breaking through her cool front. She took another step closer, her eyes narrowing as she looked me up and down.
"Has he really?" Brielle sneered, her voice dropping harshly. "Or are you just desperately clinging to him because you have nothing else left? Look at your family, Rowena. Your dead father and your dead brothers were so unfortunate, weren’t they? Failing like that, dying like dogs. It clearly proves that you come from bad, rotten blood."
The harsh words cut through the air, hitting a nerve deep inside me. Mentioning my dead family, insulting my blood, and trampling on their memory was a line she should have never crossed.
Before I could even process the sudden surge of rage inside my chest, my hand moved on its own.
The loud sound of my hand striking her face echoed violently across the bathroom walls.
The force of the slap turned Brielle’s head to the side. Silence fell over the room, my heart was pounding hard against my ribs, and my fingers stinging from the impact as I glared at her with pure anger.
Brielle stayed still for a second, her head turned away. Then slowly, she straightened her neck and looked back at me.
A dark red handprint was already rising on her cheek.
Instead of crying, yelling, or slapping me back, a sickening smile spread across Brielle’s lips. She rolled her tongue against the inside of her bruised cheek, savoring the sting.
"Thank you, Rowena," She whispered, her eyes gleaming with delight. She reached up and lightly touched the burning handprint on her face, her smile widening. "Now, let us see how I use this handprint to completely ruin you."
Without another word, she turned on her high heels, pushed open the bathroom door, and walked out into the hallway.