Counterback of the Despised Luna

Rosaline's POV:

My name is Rosaline Sinclair. I'm a 20-year-old werewolf and the Alpha of the Shadow Pack. Yes, you read that correctly—I'm an Alpha, one of the rare female Alphas on the Werewolf Continent.

Not long ago, the Shadow Pack was one of the most influential packs on the continent. But after I was born, my grandfather led us into seclusion in Frostmoore, the northernmost part of the continent. He claimed that our ancestors' first werewolf king came from here and that Frostmoore was our homeland.

Frostmoore was far from the bustling centers of the continent, and over the years, the outside world has learned less and less about our pack. Apart from us, no other pack knows that I've inherited the Alpha position from Hubert Sinclair, my grandfather.

My parents died when I was young. They were victims of the territorial wars between the larger packs. From an early age, I knew that protecting the Shadow Pack would be my lifelong duty.

Fortunately, the Moon Goddess blessed me with a strong and agile body. I began my werewolf training by the time I was six, and my skills surpassed those of my peers.

Once I was able to control my wolf, my grandfather was quick to pass the Alpha title to me. He said he was tired and ready to retire, to enjoy a peaceful life.

Normally, I would handle the pack's matters in Shadow Pack, but here I am, standing at the Rivemon train station.

It's almost laughable. It wasn't until I became an Alpha that my grandfather told me about an arranged marriage I couldn't refuse. The groom-to-be was none other than Caden Holbrook, the first heir to the Eclipse Pack.

"Just three months," my grandfather pleaded.

"Please, just three months. Can you do that for me? You have to understand. If something happens to me and your destined mate isn't strong enough, those elders will make your life miserable. That's why I arranged this marriage with Eclipse Pack 18 years ago."

I protested. "Grandpa, everyone in the pack respects me. Who would dare challenge me as I'm the first female Alpha of the Shadow Pack?"

My grandfather knew how strong I was. He'd said my power exceeded that of my father's.

But clearly, my parents' death had shaken my grandfather's belief in the continuation of the family legacy.

Rather than letting the Moon Goddess decide my fated mate, my grandfather preferred to find a strong Alpha from a powerful pack to rely on. That way, he believed I would be better equipped to handle internal conflicts within the pack and protect our people, rather than facing it alone.

"You can come back if you don't have any feelings for that boy from the Holbrooks after three months. We'll break off the engagement then," my grandfather said.

I agreed, not just out of duty but also out of concern for my grandfather's health. After he passed the mantle to me, his powers had diminished, and his body had begun to fail him. I didn't want him to continue worrying about me. Three months was nothing; I could endure it.

As soon as I stepped off the platform with my suitcase, I noticed several people glancing my way.

I had dressed as simply as I could—wearing a white T-shirt and jeans with my slightly curly hair tied back with a band. I had purposely suppressed the powerful Alpha aura of my wolf, Freya, trying to pass as an Omega.

Still, my beauty couldn't be hidden.

"Excuse me, are you Ms. Sinclair from the Shadow Pack? Welcome to Rivemon. I'm your driver, sent by the Eclipse Pack."

I nodded. It seemed Eclipse Pack didn't place much importance on their "future Luna," sending only a driver to pick me up. Fine by me—I wanted to keep a low profile and hide my strength.

I only wanted to get out of this arranged marriage as soon as possible.

I followed the driver to the car, and as we left the train station, I could feel his eyes glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

I closed my eyes, knowing it was natural for him to be curious. Though I appeared to be a low-ranking Omega, I was here to be Eclipse Pack's Luna.

The Shadow Pack was powerful, but the surrounding packs always watched us closely.

While my time here might be short, no one needed to learn the Alpha was absent from our pack. That's why my grandfather had urged me to hide my identity. Aside from Richard Holbrook, the current Alpha of the Eclipse Pack, no one in the Eclipse Pack knew the truth.

Caden, the first heir of Eclipse Pack, was a 20-year-old prodigy who managed the pack's business affairs with impressive skill, turning everything he touched into success within a year.

However, just like me, he probably never imagined that his Alpha father had arranged a marriage for him with a rural girl from the far-off Frostmoore.

The driver must have noticed my simple clothes because I saw him shake his head in disapproval.

As an Alpha with heightened senses, I could easily tell what the driver was thinking. He probably saw me as just another nobody from the Shadow Pack's Sinclair family. He likely thought of me as a Cinderella trying to marry into a rich family, unsure of the hardships I'd face once I entered the Holbrooks' world.

I shrugged off his judgment and sent a message to my grandfather. His reply came almost immediately, "Ok."

The car soon pulled up to the Holbrook Manor. The driver helped me with my luggage, and we made our way to the front door, only to be stopped by a woman standing at the entrance.

She sized me up disdainfully.

The driver immediately lowered his head. "Mrs. Holbrook, she's ... "

"Laura," the woman interrupted, her voice dripping with distaste.

"Yes, Mrs. Holbrook."

Laura, the housekeeper, holding a bottle of disinfectant, started spraying me from head to toe.

Eleanor Holbrook, standing by her side, added coldly, "Don't forget the shoes and the hair—everything must be sanitized."

It didn't take a genius to figure it out. Eleanor was definitely Caden's mother, and she seemed to be trying to intimidate me, her future daughter-in-law.

A sharp, chemical scent filled the air, and I instinctively blocked my face with my hand. I glared at Eleanor and said, "You guys are sick."

Eleanor's expression immediately soured. "As expected of a bumpkin from the Frostmoore. You're rude. We're concerned that you might carry wolfsbane. What if you harm someone in the Holbrook family?"

I knew hiding my Alpha aura and pretending to be an Omega was the right move. Eleanor's reaction proved it—she was just a shallow, status-obsessed woman.

She didn't like my attitude? Fine, I didn't like hers either.

"Maybe you should also spray some disinfectant on your mouth. It stinks ... " I said, brushing past her to step inside.

Behind me, I heard Eleanor sputter, "You!"

"Mrs. Holbrook, please don't get upset over a bumpkin like her," I heard Laura say, quickly trying to placate her.

I walked further into the house and almost immediately bumped into a girl standing in my way. She was about my age, dressed head-to-toe in expensive designer clothes, and her eyes gleamed with cold disapproval.

"So, you're Rosaline from the Shadow Pack? The one who's supposed to be Caden's Luna?" she asked, her voice dripping with disdain. "How could you be an Omega?"

She sniffed the air, then glanced over my clothes with even more scorn. "Tsk tsk, Grandpa really has poor taste. I heard you took a train here. If we'd known, we could've bought you a plane ticket. But I guess Frostmoore doesn't have an airport, huh?"

She giggled, basking in her superiority.

I stared at her, unimpressed. She must be Queenie Holbrook, Caden's cousin. Only someone as socially inept as she was would dare criticize Alpha Richard's judgment.

Is everyone from the Eclipse Pack this arrogant?

On the way here, I had already researched everything about Rivemon and the Eclipse Pack. However, from Eleanor and Queenie's attitudes, it was clear that this newly risen pack knew nothing about the Shadow Pack.

Buy me a plane ticket? Please. Do they have any idea who I am?

I own three private jets.

I only took the train to keep a low profile, though my grandfather had rented an entire train for me to travel in comfort.

I doubt anyone could imagine the pleasure of having an entire train to myself. During the trip, I even shifted into wolf form and let Freya run freely through the empty carriages.

I couldn't be bothered to waste time talking to Queenie. Grabbing my suitcase, I headed upstairs without another word.

Behind me, I heard footsteps. Freya told me it was Queenie, and she was glaring at me angrily as her pride was hurt by being ignored.

"Where's my room?" I asked one of the servants.

Before the servant could answer, Queenie stepped forward and spoke up.

"Right here," she said, opening the door. "You must've never stayed in such a big, luxurious room before. You'd better cherish your time at Eclipse Pack. I'm Caden's cousin, Queenie. You'd better be nice to me. Who knows, maybe—"

Before she could finish her sentence, I simply walked into the room and slammed the door shut behind me. The loud bang made her jump and she almost shifted her form.

"Ah! How dare a bumpkin like her be so arrogant? I just want to rip her apart. What kind of taste does Grandpa have anyway?"

I leaned against the door, trying to stifle my laughter as I listened to Queenie's complaints outside.

Do you think you can hurt me?

You're a Beta, a lowly Beta. Freya could tear you apart with one swipe of her claws.

Caden's POV:

To sharpen my skills, the Alpha of the Eclipse Pack handed over all the pack's responsibilities and the management of the company's capital expansion to me long before I was officially in charge.

As the heir, it was my duty, but what the hell was this sudden arranged marriage about?

Before I knew it, she had actually arrived at my home.

D*mn it, my fated mate was supposed to be "her," and definitely not some unknown girl from the Shadow Pack.

I didn't understand my grandfather's decision. He knew that werewolves always had a destined mate, yet 18 years ago, he made a promise with his old friend, Hubert, to arrange this marriage.

The girl, Rosaline, was here. My grandfather had been calling me all afternoon, urging me to go pick her up, but I'd been deliberately delaying, making excuses. In the end, I heard that he sent one of the family drivers to fetch her.

I wasn't interested in a pack from the extreme north like Frostmoore. I would get out of this arranged marriage sooner or later.

I had been busy all day, and by the time I returned home, it was already past midnight.

Managing the pack was exhausting, and I had drunk quite a bit of wine with dinner. My wolf, Edward, was urging me to sleep, so I hastily took a shower and collapsed into bed.

The soft mattress felt heavenly, but suddenly, I realized someone was in the bed with me.

In the dark, I couldn't see her face, but I could tell she was a woman.

I froze, then before I could react, the woman turned over and pulled me into an embrace, murmuring, "Teddy, be good, it's time to sleep."

I was completely still.

Why did this feel so ... right?

Her scent was faint, but it was so familiar. It was a fragrance that pierced my senses, tugging at something deep inside me.

She smelled just like her ...

Edward didn't respond. At that moment, I couldn't tell if it was the alcohol or something else, but I couldn't resist holding her close.

I closed my eyes, letting sleep take over.

How long had it been since I'd slept so deeply? Ten years?

In my dream, I saw the image again.

In the small, dark room, a young girl's tiny body curled around me. Her soft voice whispered, "Don't be afraid. I'm strong. I'll protect you."

I dreamed about you again. Do you know I've been searching for you for ten years?

I hugged her tightly, and she smiled, holding me just as tightly in return. The sensation of being in her arms was so real and comforting.

Morning came too soon. A rapid knock on the door jolted me awake.

"Caden, breakfast is ready. Don't you have a morning meeting? Get up!"

I rubbed my eyes, groggy from sleep. Queenie's voice came from the other side of the door.

That was odd—Queenie never woke me up.

She seemed anxious, and I wondered what had made her so worked up this early.

Suddenly, I noticed something felt off. There was a faint, lingering scent in the air, and my arms felt warm and soft. I could feel strands of hair tangled around my neck.

Who was I holding?

I shot up, my mind clearing instantly. As I turned, I was met with a pair of large light brown eyes, just as shocked as I was.

She quickly scrambled out of my arms, and I could finally see her face. She was a natural beauty.

She was wearing only a thin nightgown, and she pointed at me, asking, "Who are you?"

It didn't take long for me to recognize her. My grandfather had shown me her picture before. The moment I realized who she was, my gaze darkened, and my face soured as I glared at the audacity of this woman.

"Rosaline?"

Her expression shifted from shock to indifference. She must have figured out who I was too.

How had my so-called fiancée ended up in my bed?

I couldn't help but laugh coldly. "You tried to seduce me the moment you arrived at the Holbrooks? Hah. The women of the Shadow Pack sure are bold."

Rosaline looked at me blankly, as if considering my question.

The rules of Eclipse Pack were strict. As a guest and my fiancée, Rosaline should have been staying in the guest room. Seeing her here, it was obvious she'd either been set up or was trying to seduce me like some sort of prostitute.

Rosaline stood up and said coldly, "First of all, I didn't seduce you. Queenie told me yesterday that this was my room. Mr. Holbrook, I'm not interested in you in the slightest.

"Second, I was already asleep when you came back last night. Didn't you notice someone else in your bed? You held me while I slept, so how do you explain that? Could it be you've had your eye on me all along?"

Queenie was still knocking outside the door.

I had a pretty good idea of what had happened. What she said was true, and I couldn't argue. But the coldness in her tone irked me.

I narrowed my eyes and studied her closely. Rosaline's large light brown eyes really did resemble hers.

Rosaline smiled when she noticed me staring at her.

"What's wrong? Mr. Holbrook, do you have something you want to say? Are you bewitched by me?"

I was speechless. She looked innocent enough, but her words were anything but likable.

I stood up and walked toward the door, opening it with a cold tone. "Get out. And don't come back to this room."

Rosaline sneered, grabbed her things, and walked out.

Queenie stood at the door, looking stunned when Rosaline emerged. Her exaggerated expression and poor acting made it clear—she was the one who'd led Rosaline into the wrong room last night.

But I didn't call her out. I wanted to see how Rosaline would handle the trap Queenie had set.

Rosaline didn't show any sign of panic. Instead, she smiled at Queenie and said, "Good morning! Just as you wished, Caden held me all night. We got along just fine."

"You're lying!" Queenie's face turned beet red with anger.

Rosaline just smiled. "You can ask him."

Queenie turned to look at me in the room. "Caden, what's going on?"

I didn't bother explaining. Queenie had created this mess, but Rosaline had slept in my bed, and that was something I didn't want spreading around.

As I watched Rosaline walk down the stairs, a wave of irritation washed over me.

First impressions were everything and we couldn't have disliked each other more.

Rosaline's POV:

I left with a smile on my face.

Behind me, Queenie was so furious that she actually started insulting me. "You bumpkin Omega, let me tell you, there's no way I'll let you marry Caden and become the Luna of Eclipse Pack."

I couldn't help but laugh. She was so hostile to my arrival, setting up a trap for me on the very first day. It seemed like it wasn't me who wanted to marry Caden, but her.

Caden walked out of the room, and the oppressive aura of the Alpha immediately made Queenie shrink back. She meekly called out, "Caden."

Caden was clearly furious. I figured that Queenie, being smart, wouldn't dare make an issue of last night, as it would hurt the reputation of both packs.

I cheerfully left seeing that Caden had taken charge and diffused the situation. But as I was heading downstairs, I suddenly remembered something and complained to Freya, "What happened last night? Why didn't you wake me up when he got into bed?"

Freya lazily replied, "Please, you were the one more eager than me. Besides, his scent is really nice. I liked it."

I was taken aback. This was the first time Freya had ever expressed liking the scent of a man. I asked curiously, "Could he be our fated mate?"

Freya didn't deny it. "Why don't we share a few more nights to confirm it?"

"No!" I immediately rejected the idea. "I don't like him. Caden is way too arrogant."

Freya let out a mocking hum deep in my soul, clearly amused by my reaction.

It was infuriating that the first time sharing a bed with a man ended up like this. But we didn't have any further contact, so it was clear that Caden wasn't my fated mate.

The servant led me to the guest room where I unpacked before heading downstairs for breakfast.

At the table sat Eleanor, Queenie, and, of course, the heir of Eclipse Pack—Caden.

I walked over, and Eleanor spoke in a sarcastic tone, "Someone slept in late and didn't help with breakfast. Do you think you're officially the Eclipse Pack's Luna?"

I glanced at Eleanor and calmly replied, "Well, I'm not your servant either."

Do you want me to make breakfast? Dream on.

Caden hadn't spoken a word throughout the meal. It was obvious he didn't like me.

And honestly, I didn't like him either.

The whole meal was filled with unspoken tension, as each of us glared at the other. Afterward, Eleanor stopped me before I could leave and tossed a bank card at me from the table.

"There's 5,000 dollars on that card. Go buy yourself some decent clothes before you go to Eclipse Group. And I'm telling you, stay in your place at the company. Don't cause any trouble for Caden."

"Eclipse Group? Me?" I was completely confused.

"Of course. Richard is trying to help you and Caden get closer by sending you to work at the company. He even arranged for you to be Caden's secretary. Otherwise, how would a bumpkin like you ever get into such a big company?"

My head was spinning. It seemed like the current Alpha of Eclipse Pack, Richard, was really set on forcing some kind of relationship between Caden and me. His mind was running wild by having me, the Shadow Pack Alpha, to be Caden's secretary.

Since I had agreed to stay in Eclipse Pack for three months, getting out of the house and doing something was better than staying cooped up all day. I didn't want to keep facing Queenie and Eleanor.

But five thousand bucks... Ma’am, who the hell do you think you're looking down on?!

I couldn't help but sarcastically reply, "Thank you, but I don't need it."

All my clothes were custom-made. To be honest, most people wouldn't recognize the brand, but I couldn't be bothered to argue. After saying that, I went upstairs to change.

As soon as I got upstairs, my phone buzzed. A transfer of 50 million dollars appeared in my account, with an almost endless string of zeros.

"My dear Alpha, make sure to take care of yourself. Buy whatever you want, eat whatever you want. Don't be shy about spending the money."

I smirked and replied, "Grandpa, the Holbrooks are bullying me. It's not fun at all."

Grandpa quickly responded.

"Really? It's rare for someone to dare bully you. Hmm, great! Alright, I'm going fishing now."

I was at a loss for words.

After changing into a professional outfit, I left the Holbrook Manor. The same driver from yesterday opened the car door for me. But when I got inside, I found that Caden was also in the car.

"Didn't you say you weren't interested in me at all? Then why are you going to Eclipse Group to be my secretary?" Caden's deep voice was tinged with sarcasm.

I smiled faintly and glanced at him. "I promised my grandfather that I would spend three months with you. After that, we'll break off the engagement."

Caden snorted. "Aren't you afraid that you'll start liking me after three months? Don't end up sticking around the Holbrooks by then."

I couldn't help but laugh. His arrogance was truly ridiculous.

In my eyes, Caden was nothing special. Sure, he was handsome, but other than that, he was worthless—especially with that sharp tongue of his.

"So, the rumors about the aloof and untouchable Mr. Holbrook were true. You're really that full of yourself, huh? Let me tell you, it doesn't matter if it's three months or three years—I'll never like you. Not in this lifetime."

Caden's POV:

Not in this lifetime?

If she doesn't like me, why is she here in Eclipse Pack?

Looking at Rosaline's defiant expression, I figured she was probably playing hard to get.

"Rosaline, you better remember what you said today," I said darkly.

Rosaline flashed a fake smile. "Sure, Mr. Holbrook. Don't worry. We'll part ways after three months. Oh, and let's pretend we don't know each other at work to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings."

I turned my head, not wanting to look at her anymore, and signaled the driver to start the car.

My phone buzzed with some screenshots from my secretary, showing a conversation from the company's group chat.

"Did you hear? Mr. Holbrook's fiancée is coming to work at Eclipse Group as Mr. Holbrook's secretary."

"I heard that she was ugly and she was from the countryside. I wonder if she graduated from a degree mill. Can she even read documents?"

"Hahaha, she probably doesn't even know how to operate a computer!"

...

As expected, good news never stays in one place, and gossip travels far.

"Mr. Holbrook, there's some negative talk at the company about your fiancée joining the team. Should I try to control the rumors?"

My secretary asked for my opinion, and I glanced at Rosaline, then smiled slightly and replied.

"No need. Let it spread. After all, I don't want this marriage either."

Rosaline's POV:

I followed Caden into the company. As we passed the employee workstations, whispers filled the air.

Of course, I knew that the news of my engagement to Caden had already caused a stir throughout the city. I was mentally prepared for the gossip and stares.

But with my enhanced Alpha hearing, their words were not what I had expected.

"Look, look, who's that woman behind the boss? She's so beautiful, and her aura is amazing!"

"Wow, her legs are perfect! I'm jealous!"

"Could she be Mr. Holbrook's fiancée?"

"No way. That can't be."

I realized what was happening. These people, like Eleanor, probably expected me to be a clumsy, naive country girl from distant Frostmoore, someone completely out of place. But no one had expected the woman walking beside Caden, heading to work, to be so beautiful and composed.

I ignored their chatter and headed straight for the HR department to complete my paperwork. When I returned, I overheard several secretariat staff gossiping.

"Rosaline is so gorgeous! She's even prettier than Wendy!"

"Beauty's great and all, but she's just some Omega from the countryside. How could she possibly be worthy of Mr. Holbrook?"

A voice dripping with disdain reached my ears, and I couldn't help but smile coldly. I pushed open the door and walked up to the rude girl.

Standing tall and looking down at her, I saw her name tag. Stella Dixon, Head of Secretariat.

With a hint of sarcasm, I asked, "Yeah, I'm not worthy of him, but are you?"

Her face stiffened as she looked up and saw who it was. The words she was about to say died in her throat, and the others quickly scattered.

I smirked. These people were pretending to be polite, but deep down, they were clearly dissatisfied. They were only holding their tongues because I was still engaged to Caden.

"Mr. Holbrook said you're part of the secretariat now, so you should be treated fairly. This is an advertisement shoot that Eclipse Group is working on today. You'll be in charge of it," Stella said as she handed me a file.

I took the file and turned to leave.

"Stella, is this the ad Ryan's doing? I hope Rosaline doesn't mess it up," one of the girls whispered.

"Ryan is a huge star. He's young, temperamental, and loves to nitpick. No one can stand him. Wouldn't it be hilarious if Rosaline messed up her first day?"

"Ryan's brother has been close friends with Caden since childhood, and we all know Ryan's temper. He's trouble, and I'm sure Rosaline will have a hard time with him."

The women were clearly trying to set me up.

I glanced through the ad shoot details. Ryan? That name seemed familiar.

The shoot was scheduled at Eclipse Group, and when the time came, I went downstairs with a few colleagues to greet Ryan Lindsay, the star.

A black Bentley rolled into the parking lot, and Ryan stepped out, wearing sunglasses. At 19, he already had millions of fans. His swagger as he walked toward us screamed rebellion and indulgence.

Under the urging looks of my colleagues, I stepped forward to greet him. "Hello, Mr. Lindsay. I'm Rosaline, the coordinator for this shoot ... "

Before I could finish my sentence, Ryan, his face still proudly tilted upward, interrupted with a sharp complaint. "It's so hot, and none of you thought to get me an umbrella? Is the set ready for the shoot? Oh, and you, go get me a coffee. From that place in the city center—"

He stopped mid-sentence, his cocky expression turning into one of complete surprise.

I smiled at him. This brat finally recognized me.

"D*mn, Rosie! Am I dreaming?" Ryan ripped off his sunglasses and stared at me in disbelief.

"Rosie? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be out traveling the world or lounging in some 15 feet bed by now?"

He threw his arms around me, pulling me into a hug.

I patted his head, chuckling. "It's been a while, Ryan. By the way, what did you say you wanted to drink?"

Ryan quickly waved his hands in denial. "No, no, I didn't say anything! What do you want? I'll go get it for you."

Everyone around us was completely stunned.

I could understand their shock. The tyrant was being affectionate with the new girl at the company and it was a bit much for them to process. I had even patted Ryan's head, and now he was offering to buy me a drink.

None of it made sense.

They must have thought Ryan was being so friendly because he already knew I was engaged to Caden, but what they didn't realize was that Ryan and I had known each other for five years.

When Ryan was 15, he was filming in the countryside near Frostmoore, which was also near my home.

During that time, Ryan ran into a Rogue that was wandering in the wild. I happened to be there and saved him.

I had just turned 16, and using only my fists, I beat the Rogue—who had shifted into his wolf form—into submission.

Ryan was shocked by the whole thing. To him, I was the coolest person he'd ever met. His second shock came when I took him home to the Shadow Pack Manor, which was even bigger than any palace in the world.

From that moment on, I became the most impressive Alpha in the entire Werewolf Continent in Ryan's eyes.

The rest of the photo shoot went smoothly, much to the disappointment of those gossipy hens.

None of the things they had hoped for came to pass.

Ryan complained about his clothes being ugly, but when I said they looked good, he didn't dare argue.

Ryan couldn't resist nitpicking about the shoot, but one glance from me was enough to make him fall silent.

Even after three years, he was still so easily intimidated by me. And I'd never even laid a finger on him!

What was supposed to be a five-hour shoot ended up taking just two hours, all thanks to Ryan's cooperation.

Afterward, Ryan grabbed my hand and wouldn't let go. "Rosie! Let's go, I'm treating you to dinner!"

"No, thank you. I haven't finished work yet," I politely declined.

There were still some company employees nearby. It would be awkward to be so friendly with him, especially since he was such a big client.

"My Moon Goddess! Mr. Lindsay invited Rosaline to dinner and she actually turned him down!" one of them whispered.

"Wow, who is Rosaline actually? She's not only pretty but so impressive! Are you sure she's from the countryside?"

"If Ryan invited me, I'd eat with him even if I had to strike!"

The annoying whispers started to creep into my ears. I quickly asked Freya to reduce the amplification of my hearing. At last, it was peaceful again.

Ryan, looking a little crestfallen, pouted. "Rosie, why are you working at Eclipse Group? Did the Shadow Pack go bankrupt or something? If so, I'll support you!"

I rolled my eyes at him. "You wouldn't understand my world."

With that, I left him staring blankly, returning to the secretariat to finish my day.

At the end of the workday, Caden walked out of his office. When he saw me sitting at my desk, he said, "Grandpa booked a table for us and wants us to have dinner together. Let's go."

I looked at him, feeling puzzled. Caden sighed a hint of helplessness in his voice. "Grandpa had a heart condition lately, and he's been recovering. He said that since you're here, he insists on having a welcome dinner tonight. If not, he'll refuse to accept the treatment."

I chuckled. Richard certainly knew how to pressure his younger family members into doing what he wanted, just like my grandfather did.

At that moment, Ryan walked in.

"Rosie, you're off work now, right? Can we grab dinner now?"

I was surprised that he had waited outside my office for five hours since the shoot ended.

Ryan then noticed Caden was with me.

"Caden?" he exclaimed.

"Rosie?" Caden looked at the two of us in confusion.

I sighed and looked at both of them. "Since we're all going to dinner, why don't you join us?"

In the end, Ryan got into the car with us under Caden's questioning gaze.

Ryan didn't stop talking the entire ride. I responded only occasionally to save him from being embarrassed.

When we reached the restaurant, Ryan's enthusiasm kicked into full gear. He hurried to pull out my chair, refill my water, and serve me food.

Caden's expression was one of surprise.

"By the way, Rosie, why did you come to Eclipse Group to work? And what's your relationship with Caden?" Ryan asked, eyeing me and Caden back and forth with a look that said, "Something is going on between you two."

I glanced at Caden before answering casually, "My Grandpa asked me to come. Caden and I are engaged."

Ryan, who had just taken a sip of water, spat it out.

"What?" he exclaimed, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. "Caden's fiancée from the countryside is you?"

I nodded, not surprised by his reaction.

"You two?" Ryan looked at me in disbelief. "You? Countryside?"

I shot a subtle glare at him and he quickly shut his mouth.

Yes, I came from the countryside. But that countryside was home to a mansion worth billions, countless luxury villas, and even a private airport.

"Grandpa said that the engagement will be called off after three months if we don't have any feelings for each other by then," I added, softening my gaze.

Ryan looked between me and Caden, and in his blunt manner, he couldn't resist adding, "Well, that's good. Caden doesn't deserve you. He's so cold and boring—he's not even as good as I am."

Caden, who had been quietly eating, suddenly looked up. His expression darkened.

I had a feeling he wouldn't take that comment well. It was clear from his narcissistic nature that hearing Ryan say he wasn't good enough for me would annoy him.

"Ryan, remember that car you wanted? Your brother asked me to help buy it for you, but I think ... " Caden began.

"Wait, wait, wait, Caden! I didn't mean it like that!" Ryan chuckled awkwardly, sticking out his tongue, and finally stopped talking.

Neither of us dared to offend him, and the rest of the meal was much quieter, and more enjoyable without his chatter.

At the restaurant door, Ryan reluctantly bid farewell to me.

"Goodbye, Rosie! I'll come find you to hang out whenever I can."

I patted his head with mock affection. "See you around, Ryan. Be careful on your way home!"

It felt like I was saying goodbye to one of my pets.

As I watched Ryan leave, Caden spoke up, his voice colder than usual, "So, you're sure you won't like me because you already have someone you like, right?"