Vanya's POV
"Sorry, Mr. Hammond, but Alpha Cliff sent me to bring Luna Vanya home," Elliot said, looking at me. "Luna Vanya, Alpha Cliff is very concerned about you. Please come back with us."
"What if I don't want to go back?" I asked.
Elliot paused for a moment, then said, "Then I'm afraid we'll have to insist."
The bodyguards behind Elliot immediately stepped forward. Wilmot tightly shielded me, saying, "Don't worry, I'm here!"
I wasn't actually scared. I knew that even if Elliot couldn't take me away, he wouldn't dare cause a scene at the Hammond residence.
However, the fact that the Todd family could so easily enter the Hammond residence was quite surprising.
It seemed that Cliff's position as the top businessman in Los Angeles was well-deserved.
If things really escalated, no one would come out unscathed.
"Wait." I gently patted Wilmot's back and stepped in front of him. "Today is Wilmot's birthday party. Bringing people here like this is quite disrespectful, don't you think?"
"Luna Vanya, the guards outside the Hammond residence tried to stop me, but I had no choice. Alpha Cliff gave me orders, and I have to follow through," Elliot replied.
"I know it's not your fault. How about this? You wait here. After Wilmot cuts the birthday cake, I'll go with you," I suggested.
"Vanya!" Wilmot said anxiously, "If you don't want to go back, I..."
"Hush," I whispered. "I can handle this. Celebrating your birthday is the most important thing today. Fighting and arguing is just bad luck."
I never liked causing trouble for others. During the last Hammond family jewelry gala, there had already been a conflict between the Hammond and Todd families because of me and Cliff.
I couldn't let the Hammond family get involved in more trouble this time.
Wilmot pursed his lips, clearly unhappy, but since I had made up my mind, he could only lead me to cut the cake.
After the cake was cut, I took out the gift I had prepared for Wilmot and said with a smile, "Happy birthday. I hope you can enjoy yourself every day and be happy all the time."
Wilmot looked at the gift I had prepared, seeming to want to say something but holding back.
At that moment, Elliot urged, "Luna Vanya, let's go."
Grace tugged at my hand, and I could feel her worry. She seemed uneasy about me going back with Elliot.
I whispered to reassure her, "I'll be back tomorrow night."
"I'll wait for you at home," Grace said.
"Okay," I nodded.
Just as I was about to leave, Wilmot suddenly picked up a piece of cake and held it out to me.
"Since you gave me such a wonderful gift and your blessings, the first piece of my birthday cake should naturally go to you," he said.
I took the cake and replied softly, "Thank you."
I followed Elliot out of the Hammond residence.
On the way, Elliot couldn't help but advise, "Luna Vanya, please don't keep having these disagreements with Alpha Cliff. He's been very worried about you these past few days..."
"He's worried about me?" I said, as if I had heard the biggest joke. "He should be more concerned about Melinda in prison."
Edwin had already spoken to the prison authorities. Although Melinda was only going to be there for a few days, she wouldn't have an easy time of it.
This whole situation was a case of Melinda's plan backfiring on herself.
When we arrived at the Silver Moon Packhouse, Elliot left.
I pushed open the door. The room was pitch black.
I frowned and reached for the light switch, but before I could touch it, someone pinned me against the wall.
I was startled and instinctively hit the person with my elbow. The person grunted in pain, and then Cliff's voice came through the darkness, "It's me."
In the dark, I couldn't see Cliff's expression, but I could sense a hint of resentment in his tone.
I quickly turned on the light. The bright beam made Cliff squint. I took a step back to put some distance between us.
"What do you want now, calling me back in the middle of the night?" I asked.
These past few days, Cliff had been sending Elliot to call me back every few days.
I had never seen him so eager to see me before.
"Have you been staying at the Hammond residence these past few days?" Cliff asked.
"Yes," I replied straightforwardly. "What of it? Didn't the people you sent to spy on me tell you?"
Cliff opened his mouth, but he couldn't argue since he had indeed sent people to keep an eye on me.
"I don't like being spied on, and you have no right to do so. We were a marriage of convenience from the start, with no feelings involved." I continued.
Cliff's voice carried a hint of anger. "No feelings? Didn't you used to like me, begging to marry me and using the Dalton family as leverage to negotiate with me?"
I felt exasperated. "I already told you. That was in the past. I don't like you anymore."
Cliff took another step closer. "You just decide to like or dislike someone on a whim? Vanya, what do you take me for?"