Her words seed to carry the weight of the old grudge with Sally. Elodie and Jason both nodded in understanding. "We get it, Grandma."
Elodie had also given invitations to Johnny and Cara, who had just arrived. They were both aware of the tensions between the Miller family, the Green family, and the Brown family.
Upon hearing what happened, Cara’s face twisted in disgust. "Are you *kidding* right now? Those people are absolute scum! I swear I’ve never seen anyone stoop this low!"
Johnny rested a hand on Elodie’s shoulder, his grip reassuring, trying to ground her before the frustration consud her completely.
A mont later, his phone buzzed against his palm. He glanced down at the screen, read the ssage, and then looked back up with a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Hold on. I’m gonna bring soone by."
Elodie frowned, caught off guard. "What? Who?"
Johnny’s smile widened just a fraction, sothing almost mischievous flickering in his expression. "You’ll see soon enough."
---
anwhile, at the Green family’s banquet hall.
The Green matriarch and Miles Green were both grinning like they’d just won the lottery as they watched the endless stream of guests pouring through the doors.
It was exactly as Elodie had suspected—the Green family absolutely rembered Grandma Miller’s birthday. After years of shared celebrations, cake and champagne and all the empty pleasantries that ca with it, there was no way in hell they’d forgotten.
The decision to schedule their housewarming on this exact day had been deliberate. It had been calculated and it was cruel.
They were still pissed, even now, thinking back to when they’d tried to snag that property right across from the Miller family ho. They’d had the whole thing mapped out, close enough to keep tabs, close enough to rub it in their faces. But then Elodie had stepped in, pulled Dante into it, and the whole plan had gone up in flas.
At the ti, they’d been furious.
But Dante had thrown money at them to smooth it over, and honestly? It had worked out better than they could’ve hoped. They’d walked away with more cash, a nicer estate, and now they had sothing even sweeter.
And it was payback.
They’d scheduled their housewarming on the sa night as Grandma Miller’s birthday, and they’d stolen every damn guest she had.
Sophia Green leaned toward her mother, her voice low and dripping with smug satisfaction. "I bet their banquet hall’s practically empty right now." She let out a short, sharp laugh. "God, can you imagine? All that ti and money they spent putting it together, and for what? No one even stayed. It’s pathetic. Once word gets out about this, everyone’s gonna know the Millers are washed up. Who’s gonna want to partner with them after tonight?"
Tracy patted her daughter’s hand lightly, a pleased smile curling at her lips. "Exactly, darling."
Sure, the Green family had invited a bunch of big nas from across the Bellini Pack territory, half of whom they’d never even t before tonight. Strangers in expensive suits with rehearsed smiles.
But it didn’t matter.
What mattered was that they’d beaten the Millers at their own ga and walked away with all the spoils. What mattered was proving they had the upper hand now.
Tonight’s housewarming wasn’t really about the house at all. It was about power. About making connections. About letting everyone know exactly who was worth aligning with.
And sitting pretty at the center of it all was Sienna.
The diamond bracelet Dante had bought her at the auction was wrapped around her wrist like a crown, glittering under the chandeliers with every subtle movent she made. It looked extrely expensive and it was Impossible to ignore.
Everyone knew Dante had dropped millions that night on four separate items, and the fact that he’d lavished so much attention on Sienna hadn’t gone unnoticed. Half the room was already angling to get close to her, eager to win favor with the woman who so clearly held the Alpha’s affection.
Guests circled her like moths to a fla, their voices honey-sweet and dripping with flattery.
"That bracelet is gorgeous on you. Dante clearly knows quality when he sees it."
"You look radiant tonight, Miss Brown. Absolutely stunning."
"He’s got excellent taste, though I suppose that goes without saying."
It wasn’t hard to see why they were all tripping over themselves. Sienna was beautiful, effortlessly so, and she wore everything like it had been made specifically for her. The bracelet caught the light with every tilt of her wrist.
She smiled graciously, angling her hand just enough to let the diamonds catch even more light.
Dressed in formal attire tonight, the diamond bracelet made Sienna look even more elegant and refined, like she’d been born wearing it.
"Thank you," Sienna responded with a gracious smile, the kind that seed effortless and perfectly practiced.
To curry favor with the Brown family, many guests had done their howork. It didn’t take long before soone took the plunge and brought up Sienna’s grandmother’s well-known passion for antiques.
"I’ve heard that your grandmother, Old Madam Brown, is quite the collector. That stunning antique vase from the auction, was that a gift from Mr. Wilson for her?"
The word gift hung in the air. It was clear what they were really saying: that Dante had already considered the Brown family as good as his own.
Sienna’s smile widened just a fraction. "Yes, it was."
And it was true. The vase had absolutely delighted Old Madam Brown. Every ti she thought about it, her face lit up like she’d won the lottery. After all, it had been an antique worth several million, a staggering amount, even for soone used to luxury.
It was impossible not to recognize Dante’s sincerity and his extravagant devotion to Sienna. The gestures he made weren’t just grand, they were statents. And everyone in the room had taken note.
When Old Madam Green overheard this, a flicker of envy crossed her face, quickly masked by a polite smile. As a senior mber of Sienna’s maternal family, Old Madam Brown had received an antique vase worth millions, while she herself had received... nothing comparable.
But then Sienna casually ntioned that Dante had purchased two other items that night, each worth well over several million, even more expensive than the vase itself.
Old Madam Green’s spirits lifted imdiately. Surely at least one of those had to be ant for the Green family. It only made sense, didn’t it?
At that mont, Harry and Levi arrived.
The second they stepped through the doors, the Green and Brown family mbers practically tripped over themselves rushing to greet them, their faces stretched into wide, welcoming smiles.
After all, these two n held serious weight in the Bellini Pack territory. Maintaining strong relationships with them wasn’t just smart, it was essential.
Sophia had t Harry before, and the mont her eyes landed on him again, her cheeks flushed beneath her carefully applied makeup. Her breath hitched just slightly, her fingers smoothing over the fabric of her dress in a nervous, almost unconscious gesture.
Tracy noticed imdiately, and a knowing smile tugged at her lips.
The Becker family, much like the Wilson family, was one of the top-tier powerhouses in the Pack. Harry Becker himself was exceptional, intelligent, influential, devastatingly handso. And Sophia’s admiration for him? It was written all over her face.
Naturally, the Green family was absolutely thrilled at the idea of their daughter catching Harry’s attention.
With Sienna and Dante forming what looked like an unshakable pair, if Sophia could also win Harry’s heart, the Green family would be unstoppable. They’d have connections to two of the most powerful families in the territory. They’d be untouchable.
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