Chapter 9: The Truth That Destroyed His Pride

The banquet hall remained eerily quiet.

August stared at me as though he had forgotten how to breathe.

"Sophia... you're really Chairman Weyland's Luna?" he asked in a trembling voice.

I met his gaze calmly. "I never lied to you. From the airport until now, every word I said was the truth. You were the one who refused to believe it."

Every guest lowered their heads in shame.

The same people who had laughed at me minutes earlier no longer dared to meet my eyes.

Hailey's face turned as white as paper.

"No... this isn't possible... She's just pretending!"

Ryder looked at her coldly.

"My mate has no reason to pretend to be anyone."

His calm voice sent chills through the room.

The Alpha of the Aurelis Pack immediately hurried over and bowed respectfully.

"Chairman Weyland, I sincerely apologize. I never imagined your Luna would be treated this way in our territory."

Ryder replied indifferently, "An apology cannot undo what has already happened."

The Alpha's expression became extremely ugly.

He immediately turned toward August.

"Beta Cadwell! Explain yourself!"

August opened his mouth, but no words came out.

His mind kept replaying every insult he had thrown at me over the past few days.

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

"Didn't know?" Ryder interrupted coldly.

"Would insulting an innocent woman have been acceptable if she wasn't my mate?"

That single question left everyone speechless.

The Alpha's face darkened.

"From this moment onward, August Cadwell is suspended from all Beta duties until the Pack Council completes its investigation."

The guards immediately stepped forward and removed the Beta insignia from August's uniform.

His shoulders slumped as his greatest source of pride disappeared before everyone's eyes.

Hailey panicked and rushed forward.

"Alpha! It wasn't August's fault! I was the one who broke the bracelet! I was the one who hit Sophia!"

The Alpha looked at her with disgust.

"Then you will answer for your crimes as well."

Hailey's legs gave out beneath her.

She collapsed onto the floor, trembling uncontrollably.

For the first time, she realized that offending me meant offending the entire Lymerian Pack.

And this time, no one could save her.