Soft classical music played faintly as the elevator doors slowly opened, revealing an elegant hallway with maroon carpeting and crystal chandeliers that sparkled like thousands of stars.

Evelyn stepped out first, her stiletto heels clicking softly on the clean white marble floor beneath her feet. Behind her, Grace walked calmly, gracefully dressed in a silver-gray fur coat. There was no one else in the hallway—it was quiet, as if the place had been reserved just for them.

As Evelyn reached the end of the hallway, her eyes widened slightly. Though this wasn’t the first time she’d seen such a beautiful scene, her grandmother’s efforts to prepare this dinner were enough to move her.

“I never thought Grandma would go to such lengths to apologize to me,” Eve thought to herself.

As the large automatic glass doors opened, two servants bowed to greet her. Eve smiled widely as she took in the luxurious rooftop restaurant surrounded by floor-to-ceiling transparent glass windows, offering a breathtaking view of the city lights.

Evelyn smiled slightly. This place was extraordinary. Luxurious, peaceful, exclusive. Exactly like Grace’s style, always impressive and in control.

“It seems like there’s no one else here besides us,” Evelyn murmured softly, trying to get Grace to be honest about her plans.

Grace merely smiled slightly, continuing to walk. This made Eve even more curious, prompting her to follow closely behind.

Evelyn smiled brightly again. A thought had crossed her mind since earlier—something she had been longing for. What else could it be but the Mastercard Platinum Unlimited card that would be hers tonight? She glanced at her grandmother and smiled sweetly. She knew this was all part of Grace’s plan to help her forget last night’s events. Though sometimes annoying, Eve knew Grace always spoiled her.

However, as if her logic had shattered into pieces, Evelyn’s steps suddenly halted when her eyes caught sight of the figure Grace was greeting. The man who had been sitting calmly at the lavishly prepared central table stood up and greeted Grace’s arrival.

“He… Isn’t he the stranger from last night?” Eve murmured.

In an instant, Evelyn’s smile faded, replaced by a suspicious gaze.

"Why is he here too?" Eve asked sharply. She turned sharply to her grandmother, her gaze intense.

Grace smiled gracefully before finally answering, "Didn't he help you that night?" Grace said softly. "You should be grateful."

"Grateful?" Eve almost laughed sarcastically. Until she seemed to realize something. “Wait!” Eve looked at the two people in front of her alternately with a suspicious gaze. “Could it be that what happened that night was planned? Grandma deliberately blocked all my cards. To embarrass me in front of my friends, then you brought him here pretending to be a hero? Right?”

The man and Grace exchanged glances for a moment. Then Grace looked deeply into her granddaughter’s eyes.

“Eve, stop being so childish! Everything you’re saying is untrue.” Grace paused before continuing in a softer tone. “Sit down! I’ll explain everything.”

Eve alternated her gaze between the stranger and her grandmother. She knew that if she left now, the card would vanish from her hands. But sitting there meant giving up. And she hated losing. Especially in front of a stranger who had witnessed her weakness on the most humiliating night of her life.

Finally, with a deep breath, Eve pulled out a chair and sat down. But her gaze was unfriendly. She still harbored anger, shame, and questions.

The man merely smiled slightly, extending his hand. “Even though we’ve met before. But it seems you don’t know my name. Reece Willis.”

Eve did not return his handshake. She only glanced at him briefly. "Stop the small talk! Let's get straight to the point!"

Grace looked uncomfortable, but Reece nodded slightly when Grace touched his shoulder with a guilty look on her face. Reece invited Grace to sit down by pulling out a chair for her. Meanwhile, Eve only glanced at them with an increasingly suspicious look.

“Evelyn. Try to remember! Reece is your childhood friend. Have you really forgotten him?” Grace said softly. Eve watched Reece out of the corner of her eye. To be honest, since last night, she had felt quite familiar with that handsome face, even though she denied ever meeting him before.

“I don’t remember anything about him,” Eve replied, turning away.

Grace remained patient and calm. She exhaled slowly, trying to control her emotions so they wouldn’t erupt.

“Alright. I hope you’ll become close again like before after tonight’s meeting. Because I invited you tonight, not just for the card I promised. But more than that, I want to introduce you to your potential mate.”

Eve turned quickly. “What? You’re joking, right? I already have a boyfriend, Grandma. And I love him very much. He’s the mate I want.”

“Eve, wake up! That man isn’t good for you. He’s just using you for his own pleasure. I’ve been investigating him for a long time. You’re too blinded by your silly love to realize it.”

Eve smiled sarcastically.

“So, you’ve gone that far? But why can’t you see his goodness in me? Oh, I know. Because you’re only seeing one side of him. While you’re closing your eyes to his other good sides.”

“Eve, watch your mouth!” Grace, growing angrier, stood up and almost slapped her granddaughter’s cheek. Fortunately, Reece stopped her. And that made Eve laugh softly with a cynical tone. As Reece tried to calm Grace down.

"So, this is the man you think is good for me?"

"Reece is the son of Alpha Henry Willis. The heir to Lunarpack. It's clear he's noble and well-educated. Because he was raised in a castle-like environment, like you, Eve."

Eve’s world seemed to crumble. She felt a sense of déjà vu with those two names.

“Alpha Henry?” her voice caught. She tried to dig into her memory. “Lunarpack? Aren’t they the ones who killed my father and mother?”

Reece finally spoke, his voice deep yet calm. “That wasn’t my order, Eve. I wasn’t even old enough when—”

“Shut up!” Eve shouted. “You have no right to mention their names!”

Her eyes were already teary. She looked at Grace, hoping it was just a bad joke. But the grandmother remained silent.

“Grandmother. How could you make me marry our family’s enemy? The child of the one who killed my parents? The child of the one who stole my happiness?” Eve stood up, her hands trembling. “You... you betrayed me, Grandmother. I’m so disappointed in you.”

“Eve, stop acting like a child! You are the future Alpha. Don’t think only of yourself, but also of the future of our pack?” Grace spoke passionately, but slowly regained control of her emotions as she looked at Eve, who was already crying. “Please, Eve. This is for your own good too.”

"My good?" Eve smiled sarcastically, tears streaming down her cheeks. "This is for your good. Not mine!" Eve said, then ran away from the place. Her heart shattered like dust.