But when we arrived at the pack house, the roses decorating every corner made my heart sink.
These weren’t decorations meant for a child’s birthday party.
Lily didn’t notice, eagerly pulling my hand as she rushed inside.
I could only follow her anxiously, my heart growing heavier with each step.
Ethan, please don’t do something that can’t be undone.
In the banquet hall, Lily’s eyes lit up when she saw Ethan standing by a cake.
She ran joyfully into his arms, shouting, “Daddy!”
Ethan stared at the child in his arms, his pupils constricting as he asked in shock:
“Why are you here?”
The surprise in his voice confirmed my earlier suspicion. A terrible premonition formed in my mind.
Behind us, pack members were whispering among themselves:
“Isn’t today Ethan and Victoria’s engagement party? What’s with this kid claiming him as father?”
“I never heard the Second Alpha had a Mating Ceremony before?”
“Could this be his illegitimate child?”
Ethan’s face turned ashen. He pushed Lily away abruptly:
“What did you call me?”
The small child stumbled backward and fell to the ground.
On the verge of tears, she froze for a long moment before timidly calling out: “Uncle Ethan.”
After a moment, she looked at the cake in the center of the banquet hall and smiled again.
She asked Ethan:
“Uncle, did you come for Lily’s birthday? Lily can cut the cake with you!”
My daughter had been looking forward to this birthday celebration for days. In her heart, as long as she could celebrate with Ethan,
Even if she had to call him uncle, it didn’t matter.
But a pair of delicate hands gripped Ethan’s hand that held the cake knife: “That won’t do.”
“This kind of celebration isn’t something that orphans of fallen pack warriors can attend. Right, Ethan?”
Anger rose within me.
At this point, everything became clear.
That text message had been sent by Victoria. Her purpose was to publicly solidify Lily’s status as a non-direct pack member, paving the way for her unborn child.
“Ethan, is this true?” I asked sternly, shielding my daughter behind me.
Ethan seemed stunned for a moment. When his eyes met mine, they flashed with guilt.
With everyone watching, he said: “She is the child of a pack warrior.”
Victoria, standing behind him, flashed a triumphant smile, like a victorious fighting cock.
The surrounding whispers grew louder:
“How shameless, causing trouble on such a joyous day.”
“Indeed! People of unknown origin just don’t understand proper etiquette.”
Amid the cruel comments, Lily’s face turned pale, her eyes red-rimmed.
My anger reached unprecedented levels.
I strode forward and violently flipped over the person-high cake:
“A joyous day, is it? Then let me make it even more festive and exciting for everyone!”
