Chapter 3

"Pay the rent immediately! Or move out right now!"

The person speaking was the landlord, Odette. Adina quickly stood and pulled her outside to prevent her unfriendly demeanor from affecting the children's mood.

"Mrs. Odette, I recall that the rent is due next month."

Adina smiled, knowing she'd never mistake anything related to money.

Odette touched the mink scarf around her neck and eyed Adina. "You're good at calculations, but do you know how much your entire household costs in utilities? Your next month's rent is already deducted!"

Deducted already?

The only appliance at home was a fridge; there was no air conditioning or water heater, and clothes had to be hand-washed.

How did it amount to 2,500?

Adina was speechless. She knew the landlord was deliberately bullying them but couldn't afford a confrontation today as it was her little sister Yara's birthday.

"I'll bring the money to you first thing tomorrow morning..."

"No!" Odette interrupted briskly. "This isn't a charity shelter! Pay up today, or don't blame me for throwing you and your big, little, and everyone else out onto the street to freeze!"

Adina watched the landlord's menacing expression, her hands unconsciously squeezing her sleeves.

Even selling blood wouldn't help her right now!

"Hurry with the money; I have other matters to attend to," Odette said, glancing at her glittering big gold watch on her wrist.

That's when Adina suddenly remembered something.

"Mrs. Odette, could you accept this as collateral?" Adina said as she pulled out a Patek Philippe watch with a sapphire face from her pocket.

Odette's small eyes lit up instantly.

Though she didn't recognize the brand, she could tell from the diamonds on the watch face that it was something valuable.

"Where did you get this?" Odette reached out to grab it, but naturally, Adina didn't let her succeed.

"I'm just pawning it temporarily; I'll reclaim it with the rent tomorrow, Talita!" Adina called into the living room, and a girl about eight or nine peeped out. Adina smiled, "Bring paper and a pen…"

Under Adina's dictation, Talita wrote a clumsily drafted pawn agreement for Odette to sign.

Odette left with the watch.

Adina carefully folded the paper and placed it in her coat's inner pocket, planning to earn enough tonight to retrieve the watch tomorrow, given its value was more than enough to buy houses in the neighborhood.

Returning to the table, Adina placed the bakery-bought cake in front of her little sister Yara, then adjusted the paper crown and placed it on her head. Talita helped insert the candles while swallowing to the cake's sweet aroma.

The only boy in the family, twelve-year-old Zain, quietly lit the candles.

"Make a wish. It's Christmas Eve and snowing; your wish will surely come true," Adina whispered to the little girl, who stared intently at the cake, her pink cheeks deep in thought.

Maeve led everyone in a rendition of the birthday song.

"Happy Birthday to you~ Happy Birthday to you~"

"Dear little Yara, Happy Birthday to you~"

As the song ended, the little girl puffed up her cheeks and blew out the candles, then resumed playing with her old toy, barely sparing a glance at the delicious cake, which eventually ended up in Talita's stomach…

After the birthday celebration, the children went to bed early.

Adina placed a few pretty lollipops beside each child's pillow and kissed Yara's cheek before leaving with Maeve.

"Yara is four and still hasn't spoken... Once we make enough money, we'll find her the best doctor!" Maeve sighed regretfully.

Adina nodded, determined to work hard and keep living for Yara's sake.

They hailed a cab and headed for the biggest moneymaker in the pack's night scene—Pony Bar.

Maeve had pulled many strings to secure a part-time job there, even if only as a waiter, the pay was the highest in the pack.

...

Pony Bar.

Inside a VIP suite.

Dim lighting and the sound of crystal glasses clinking with ice created a lavish atmosphere.

In the suite's center, surrounded by beautiful women, was Caleb, the club's young owner, and a famous playboy around the pack.

"Seems like Pony Bar isn't appealing enough; Alaric hasn't shown interest in anyone," Caleb remarked with feigned jealousy, glancing toward Alaric, who was sitting alone drinking.

His jet-black short hair was impeccably styled, his features sharp and chiseled.

But his eyes remained glued to his glass, shutting out the alluring scene around him.

He casually held his glass, whiskey neat.

Alaric offered no response, simply downing his glass of strong liquor.

His gaze was always calm yet deeply impenetrable.

"You can't be sulking over a lost wallet; no one will believe that!" Caleb teased, gesturing for the women to leave the room.

Caleb shook his head and glanced outside the suite through the one-way glass. The Christmas rush meant many new temporary faces among the staff.

His glance wasn't entirely fruitless.

"Have that girl bring in the drinks," Caleb instructed, pointing to a sultry figure weaving through the tables outside.

The manager, having learned Caleb's ways over the years, immediately understood.

"No interest. It's late. I'm heading out," Alaric said, a faint smile at the corner of his lips, reaching for his coat to leave.

Alaric's mood genuinely wasn't good.

He hadn't reached the door when the manager entered, "Boss, she's here."

A figure in a suggestive server outfit entered, her uniform accentuating her curves, and her features akin to those of a model.

"Your Ace of Spades." Clearly, Adina hadn't realized her precarious situation.

Caleb, satisfied, gave the manager a thumbs up, ready to charm, only to sense something unusual...

Alaric's eyes seemed fixated on the young woman!

Could this be his type?

Before Caleb could say anything, Alaric stepped forward, blocking Adina and grabbed her wrist.

"What are you doing?!" Adina instinctively struggled, the sting on her wrist making her glare up.

The face looking down at her was instantly etched into her eyes.

His chiselled features were stunning, but his expression was cold enough to make one's skin crawl.

It was him!

"What, you don't recognize me?"

"Sir, you must have mistaken me for someone else..." Adina's eyes drifted over Alaric's wrist before lowering her gaze, hiding her momentary panic beneath long lashes.

"Alaric, what's going on? Let's talk it out!" Caleb was surprised, having never seen Alaric like this before.

The room's atmosphere felt icy.

Alaric's gaze bore into her face as if trying to pierce through it.

At that moment, the manager returned!

"Boss! Someone swiped a card at the register! It's Alaric's black card!"

Following this, two security guards dragged in a young woman.

"She's a new part-timer today..."

Before the manager could say more, the captured girl burst into tears.

"Adina! Thank goodness you're here! Help me! They think I stole the card from your wallet!"

In horror, Adina, still caught by Alaric's grip, turned.

"Maeve?"

Maeve sobbed, her eyes red and puffy. "I accidentally broke a customer's drink earlier… They demanded I pay... I was going to run, but found your wallet in the locker room... Adina! That black card must be from your boyfriend, right? Please explain this to them!"

Adina wished for nothing more than to vanish into thin air.

If she really had a boyfriend capable of handing her a black card, she wouldn't be working a part-time job in the dead of night.

Now she was truly in trouble because of Maeve!

"Alaric, your wallet's been found," the manager said, handing it over.

Alaric didn't take it, his grip on Adina's wrist unrelenting.

Carefully, the manager set the wallet on the table, glancing at an astonished Caleb, "Boss?... Boss, what should we do about these two?"

"What a pity. Turn them over to the police," Caleb replied, shaking his head. Though he had a soft spot for pretty women, these two had crossed the wrong person.

On the night of the full moon five years ago, no one knew who had targeted Alaric, and the woman involved remained missing.

Even Caleb, as his childhood friend, didn't know the whole truth, nor did he dare to ask. But there was one thing he knew—

Alaric touching a woman voluntarily was a first.

If this wasn't genuine interest, then it was anger.

"Adina! What's going on? Please..." Maeve cried, breathless with anxiety. Caleb, finding her tearful eyes tugging at his heart, even offered her a tissue.

"I'll return every cent charged to the card," Adina said, leveling her gaze, masking her inner turmoil.

Alaric released her hand, casting a sidelong glance at the woman before him. The hand that had seized her wrist tingled with an electric sensation.

Alaric concealed any reaction, though his heart pounded wildly, feeling as if gripped by an invisible force or swept by a tempest. This unsettling sentiment, however, did not deceive Alaric himself.

His gaze deepened, thoughts weaving incessantly, leaving no detail unexamined.

Adina met his burning glance, her delicate brows knitting slightly.