Chapter 5

My dress had been cut to shreds, practically to the point of indecent exposure.

Leo tenderly took off his suit jacket to cover me, using his tie to wipe the lipstick from my face.

Only then did he spare a glance for Elias.

"Do you really need to ask?"

"Can't you tell? I'm Clara's boyfriend."

Elias clenched his fists, his gaze fixed intently on Leo's hand around my waist.

On his wrist was a bracelet similar to mine—matching couple's bracelets.

Two seconds later, he suddenly relaxed his tense nerves.

He wore an expression as if he'd seen through everything.

"Clara, you're quite something. You even know to hire someone to help you put on a show."

"Where did you find this actor? He's pretty convincing, I'll give you that."

Seeing Elias's attention had been diverted, Vivian started crying plaintively again.

"Clara, if you have a boyfriend, you should let go of your feelings for Elias even sooner. Why make such a big scene?"

"Even if you've ruined my wedding today, do you really think you'll have a chance to marry Elias yourself someday?"

Elias sneered. "She's delusional!"

My father must have received word and came from the front hall.

He still didn't understand what had happened. He only saw me being held in Leo's arms, their posture intimate.

He asked in bewilderment:

"Alpha Leo... what's going on between you and Clara?"

As his words fell...

Elias froze, his expression changing. He muttered to himself, "Alpha Leo of the Ashclaw pack..."

He finally recognized Leo's identity. An inexplicable sense of unease rose in his heart.

But he still maintained his surface composure, chin slightly raised.

A cold laugh escaped him.

"I didn't realize the Alpha of the Ashclaw pack had so much free time."

"Coming all this way just to play house with a little girl in a pretend couple's game?"

Leo completely ignored him, answering my father's question instead. "I'll explain the details about Clara and me to you later."

"Right now, the priority is dealing with the current problem."

At this point, my father also noticed Vivian hiding behind Elias, her eyes red and teary.

"Vivian, why are you crying?"

"What happened? Did someone bully you?"

"Tell me, and I'll make it right for you!"

Vivian choked up twice, looking at me fearfully. "No... no one bullied me."

She clearly looked like someone swallowing grievances despite being wronged.

"Vivian is kind by nature and doesn't want to put you in a difficult position."

Elias spoke matter-of-factly. "I'll be direct—Clara paid several werewolves to rape Vivian out of jealousy. Her intentions were truly vicious."

"So I gave her a small punishment."

Hearing him speak with such certainty, my father looked at me in disbelief.

"Is this true? Clara, didn't you promise me you didn't like Elias anymore? Why would you do such a thing?"

"Speak, Clara! Don't avoid responsibility! If you did it, admit it. If you didn't, explain yourself clearly!"

My tears soaked Leo's shirt. I could feel the arms holding me tighten.

Being misunderstood by Elias just made me angry and aggrieved.

But if even my father didn't trust me, I was truly heartbroken.

I lifted my face. When he saw the lipstick marks not completely wiped from my face and the faintly visible writing, he gasped.

"Dad, I didn't do it."

"They're framing me. They didn't give me any chance to explain."

My father's furious gaze returned to Elias, his voice shaking with rage.

"So without solid evidence, you decided it was Clara and dared to treat her like this!"

"This is what you call a 'small punishment'?!"

Elias met his gaze without fear. "Those werewolves got away."

"Clara is the most likely suspect. It couldn't have been anyone else."

"They got away?" Leo suddenly raised an eyebrow. "How convenient. My Beta warriors happen to be excellent at finding people."

Vivian's face instantly went pale.