Chapter 6: The Price of Humiliation

The silence in the hall lasted for several long seconds.

No one dared to breathe too loudly.

August remained frozen where he stood, his face completely drained of color. His eyes never left Ryder's hand, which was still gently holding mine.

"Sophia... you're really Mrs. Weyland?" he asked hoarsely.

I met his gaze calmly. "Three years ago, I stopped being the woman who waited for you."

His lips trembled, but no words came out.

Hailey suddenly shook her head frantically. "Impossible! She's lying! Mr. Weyland, she must have tricked you somehow!"

"Shut your mouth." Ryder's icy voice echoed through the hall.

Hailey instantly fell silent.

Ryder slowly bent down and picked up the broken bracelet from the floor, collecting each gemstone one by one.

He carefully placed the damaged bracelet into his pocket before looking at Hailey.

"Do you know why I bought this bracelet?"

Hailey lowered her head, too frightened to answer.

"Because my mate once told me she never cared about expensive jewelry. She only wanted something that represented our bond."

"You destroyed something that cannot be replaced."

His words made everyone shiver.

The Aurelis Alpha immediately barked, "Guards! Detain everyone involved!"

Several guards rushed forward and surrounded August, Hailey, and the others.

"Alpha!" August exclaimed in disbelief. "There has to be some misunderstanding!"

"Misunderstanding?" the Alpha roared. "You assaulted Chairman Weyland's Luna at my banquet! You've disgraced the entire Aurelis Pack!"

August lowered his head, unable to respond.

Hailey suddenly pointed at August.

"It wasn't me! August slapped Sophia first! He told us she was his ex-girlfriend and that she came here to cause trouble!"

"Hailey!" August shouted furiously.

"I'm only telling the truth!" she cried. "You were the one who ripped off her bracelet!"

Watching them betray each other so quickly, I felt nothing.

Three years ago, they had stood united against me.

Now, faced with true consequences, neither was willing to protect the other.

Ryder glanced toward the security cameras installed around the hall.

"Retrieve all the surveillance footage," he instructed.

"Yes, Chairman."

Within minutes, the footage was projected onto the large screen.

Every slap.

Every insult.

Every shove.

Every second of Hailey stomping on my injured hand.

Nothing had been missed.

The crowd watched in horrified silence.

Several guests who had laughed at me earlier quietly lowered their heads in shame.

Darren buried his face against Ryder's shoulder after seeing the footage.

"Daddy... Mommy was hurting..."

Ryder gently stroked our son's hair.

"No one will ever hurt Mommy again."

He then turned toward August.

"You once had the chance to protect her."

"Instead, you became the person who hurt her the most."

August's shoulders shook violently.

"Sophia... I... I didn't know..."

I interrupted him calmly.

"You knew enough."

"You knew I loved you for seven years."

"You knew I trusted you."

"You simply chose someone else."

Tears slowly filled August's eyes.

"I thought... you'd always wait for me."

I smiled faintly.

"That's where you were wrong."

Ryder wrapped one arm protectively around my waist.

"My wife waited long enough."

"Now she only walks forward—with me."