Free Web NovelChapter 59: Chapter 59 Payback
Christina’s POV
I stared at Niall, watching him blink like someone had just slapped him with reality. Which I had.
He looked genuinely stunned, maybe even a little concussed from my counterattack. Then his eyes narrowed, and I caught that familiar flash of anger he never could control.
"Why the hell should I apologize?" he snarled.
"She poured the damn drink on purpose, she hit Beatrice, you hit me. Now you want us to say sorry?"
He looked around the gathering, searching desperately for backup.
But there was none to be found.
Every guest was shouting for him to apologize, all of them pissed off on my behalf. Several pulled out their phones to record. Classic Highrise behavior.
Justice via Instagram Live had become our modern way of handling drama.
Niall glared at me, his entire body shaking with rage.
If we’d been alone, I had no doubt he would have hit back. But we weren’t alone, and even Niall wasn’t stupid enough to hit a girl on camera.
So he used his words as weapons instead.
"Christina, who the hell do you think you are?" He sneered.
"You cheated, you ran off with some other guy, you broke off the engagement. If anyone should apologize, it’s you."
I felt Akira stir inside me, pleased at his discomfort.
I smiled. "You’re saying I cheated?"
Niall went red. So he did have some shame left.
"Yes! You cheated!"
"You’re saying I ran off with some random guy?" I pressed, knowing exactly where this was heading.
"Damn right! You’re heartless. You slept around while we were still together, then dumped me like trash. You’re a disgrace to The Crescent pack."
He kept yelling, his voice cracking, arms flailing like a toddler having a meltdown.
I waited patiently for his tantrum to run its course.
When he finally paused for breath, I asked calmly, "So... you got proof of any of that?"
That gave him pause. "No... but it’s true!" freēwēbηovel.c૦m
"Brilliant," I said, giving my phone a little twirl between my fingers."Because I recorded all that. Every word."
His jaw dropped. "You recorded it? What for? Gonna cry over it at home?"
I shook my head. "You really are an idiot."
Then I turned to the crowd behind us and raised my voice. "You all heard that, right? Niall Granger slandering me at a public event. I’ve already got a lawyer. Consider yourselves witnesses."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Niall shouted in panic. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
I spun back to face him."I was worried I didn’t have enough evidence. But then you showed up and handed me everything I needed on a silver platter. Thanks for that, by the way."
He stood there gaping.
It took him a full ten seconds to reboot his brain.
"You’re suing me?" he spluttered. "You seriously think you’ve got the guts to go against an Alpha?"
Beatrice was whispering under her breath like I couldn’t hear her, forgetting about wolf hearing. "Niall isn’t totally wrong. You were messing around with some random guy, weren’t you?"
I pointed my phone in her direction."I recorded that, too. And I’ll be adding your name to the lawsuit. You and Niall can split the court fees."
Her mouth snapped shut faster than a wolf trap.
Niall finally noticed the way everyone was staring at him.
He grabbed Beatrice’s arm and turned to bolt for the door.
"Oi!" Ysolde shouted after them. "You still owe me for my bloody dress!"
They kept walking like their lives depended on getting the hell out of there.
They didn’t get far.
Cassian Langford,Alpha of the neighboring pack,stepped in from the side and blocked their path.His powerful aura filled the space immediately,causing several nearby wolves to instinctively lower their gazes.
I nudged Ysolde. "Is he part of your plan, too?"
She nudged back. "No. Didn’t even know he was coming today."
"Alpha Niall," Cassian said. "We’re not quite done here. You’ve yet to apologize, and the dress still hasn’t been paid for. Surely that’s not the way the Frostpelt pack handle debts?"
Cassian was smiling. His familiar predator expression reminded me of Hudson, and I suddenly understood what Cassian was doing here.
Niall froze.
He might have been dumb enough to piss off Ysolde, but even he wasn’t suicidal enough to cross a Langford. Everyone knew the his pack was ancient and powerful, with connections throughout the wolf world.
Niall’s dad, Clive,basically bowed when he saw Cassian at corporate events, desperate to maintain good relations between their packs.
"Alpha Cassian, you saw what happened," Niall tried."It was Ysolde and Christina who got physical. Beatrice and I were the victims."
He actually sounded like he believed that.
"Then call the Elder council," Cassian said, referring to our wolf justice system. "I don’t care about the scuffle. That’s for the council to sort out. But you’re not denying that your girlfriend here ruined Ysolde’s dress?" He tilted his chin at Beatrice.
"She’s not my girlfriend," Niall said quickly, the denial coming fast and harsh.
Beatrice opened her mouth to speak but Niall shut her down with a glare. She whimpered.
"Fine. Will you at least acknowledge that she’s your date? You did show up to the party with her, didn’t you?" Cassian glanced at the photographer Ysolde had hired. "If you need help jogging your memory..."
"No need! Yeah, she’s my... date," Niall admitted reluctantly.
"Good. I imagine fifteen grand isn’t beyond the Granger family budget? Small price for pack harmony."
Niall could definitely afford it.
His family controlled significant territory and businesses within Highrise. But handing over the money would mean admitting Ysolde and I had won.
"It was an accident," he tried. "And Ysolde ruined Beatrice’s dress, too. Maybe we should just call it even?"
"I hear your company is bidding on that Redwood Creek redevelopment project? I happen to have friends on the City Planning Commission..." Cassian didn’t need to finish. Pack alliances were everything in business.
Niall got the hint fast.
If he fumbled that deal over a dress, his dad would actually murder him. The Frostpelt pack needed that development to expand their territory.
"We’ll pay," Niall blurted. "Of course we’ll pay. It’s all a misunderstanding, just a stupid dress..."
He shot Beatrice a look that screamed, pay up or else.
She gave him that wide-eyed, damsel look, hoping he’d protect her like a proper mate would.
He didn’t blink. "Beatrice, transfer the money. Now."
"But, Niall!" she whined.
Niall didn’t budge. His pack position mattered more than her feelings.
Eventually, with half the room watching, Beatrice pulled out her phone and tapped through the transfer.
Ysolde’s phone buzzed.
She checked the screen, grinning as she saw the money had landed. "You’re free to go."
Niall and Beatrice slithered out of the house like beaten dogs.
Ysolde looked disappointed. "I’ve got more stuff planned."
I smiled, feeling Akira’s satisfaction. "Maybe next time."
She looped her arm through mine."Come on, now it’s time for the real party. Also, where’s your mate? I did send Hudson an invite, didn’t I?"
"He’s not my mate," I said automatically, though Akira stirred at the mention of him.
Ysolde grinned. "Sure, sure. Because he’s obviously much more than that now."
She leaned in, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
I knew that look. I’d seen it too many times not to brace for impact.
I tried to squirm away, but she was fast.
"So? How’s married life treating you? You climb that man yet or what? What position did you use? Were you on top or—"
I bolted for the bathroom before her questions got even more X-rated, Akira laughing inside me all the way.
