Vanya's POV
Cliff was quiet for a moment. His eyes grew complicated, like he was thinking something through. Finally, he said in a deep voice, "I'll handle it."
"No need," I said, turning to leave.
"Why didn't you tell me about the rumors at school?" he asked.
My steps faltered for a second, like I'd heard a joke. "Tell you?" I scoffed, my voice dripping with sarcasm. Cliff frowned and said, "If you had told me, I would've definitely..."
"If I told you that Melinda was the one spreading the rumors, would you have believed me?" I cut him off.
Cliff paused. "I've already talked to Melinda. She didn't do it."
I let out a cold laugh. "So there's nothing to talk about," I said. At the end of the day, Cliff just blindly trusted Melinda.
I turned to leave again, but Cliff grabbed my arm. His face darkened. "Are you saying I'm favoring Melinda?"
"Whether you're favoring her or not, you know the answer," I shot back.
"Why do you think I didn't investigate? How can you be so sure it was Melinda?"
Cliff pressed, clearly not letting me go. "Vanya, are you just jealous of Melinda? That is why you think she spread the rumors."
"Let go!" I yanked my arm free, disgusted.
He probably saw the revulsion in my eyes, but I didn't care.
"Face it, Cliff. You just trust Melinda more. There's nothing to discuss," I said coldly.
Then I left, walking away from the Packhouse without looking back.
Third Person's POV
The Dalton family was in chaos. Everyone looked at Aldridge nervously.
"Do you think Vanya is really going to break up with Alpha Cliff?" someone asked.
"We can't let them reject each other. What about our projects without Alpha Cliff?" another chimed in.
"Aldridge, you have to talk to Vanya!" Mirabel urged.
Aldridge was at a loss. Vanya wasn't answering her phone, and Cliff was even harder to reach.
Who knew what the young couple was arguing about this time?
Mirabel was smirking triumphantly. "Let me tell you something. They won't break up. Everyone in L.A. knows Vanya loves Alpha Cliff the most. Even if Alpha Cliff is dating a college girl, she'll pretend not to know and keep being Luna Vanya," she said.
At that moment, the Dalton family's door opened.
Vanya heard Mirabel's spiteful words from the doorway.
So in Mirabel's eyes, she was just someone who revolved around Cliff.
"Vanya's here!" someone shouted. Mirabel straightened up immediately, putting on her best aristocratic facade, as if she hadn't just said those catty things.
Aldridge saw Vanya and rushed over like he'd found his anchor. "Vanya! Thank goodness you're here! Tell me what's going on. Did you and Alpha Cliff have a fight? Who's the college girl? Did Alpha Cliff hurt you?" he asked in one breath.
Vanya knew that among these people, only Aldridge truly cared about her.
She scanned the room and said coolly, "I'm planning to reject Alpha Cliff."
Mirabel's smile disappeared instantly. She shot up from her chair, her voice rising an octave. "What? Rejection?"
"Mirabel, why so shocked?"
"But... how can you reject Alpha Cliff?" Mirabel was incredulous. Vanya had been head over heels in love with Cliff and had gone through so much to marry him. How could she want a rejection just a few months into the marriage?
Aldridge thought for a moment, then asked, "Is this Alpha Cliff's idea?"
"No, it's mine," Vanya said.
"Are you sure?"
Vanya nodded. "I'm sure."
Hearing this, Aldridge seemed to make up his mind. "Alright! Reject him then!"
"Idiot! Why rejection?" Mirabel pushed Aldridge aside and shouted at Vanya, "Vanya, you're taking marriage way too lightly! If you reject Alpha Cliff, what about the Dalton family? How can you do this to Aldridge?"
Vanya watched coldly as Aldridge stood up to Mirabel this time, pulling her behind him. "Shut up! You don't get to speak here!"
"Aldridge! Do you have a heart? I'm doing this for you and the Dalton family! That's Alpha Cliff! Without him, will the Dalton family still be okay?"
Vanya stayed silent.
Mirabel had a point. The Dalton family had regained its footing and looked good mostly because of Cliff.
The alliance with the Silver Moon Pack had benefited both sides, and Mirabel had enjoyed the limelight these days.
Aldridge said, "I don't believe the Dalton family can't survive without Alpha Cliff. Besides, even if the family is gone, the money we have will last you and your son several lifetimes. People need to know when to be satisfied!"
Mirabel was fuming.