012. Love Rivals

Was he going to punish her for ruining the party or something else? 

But Sienna did not notice him. She was so overwhelmed with embarrassment after coming to her senses and wanted the ground to just open and swallow her up there and then. 

She was thinking of which direction to run towards when a strong yet gentle hand grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to his side. 

She looked up, and once again it was the overbearing President of the McDermott Empire. She could feel his breath and smell that nice peppermint scent on him.

Badum! Badum!

Sienna could feel her heartbeat amplify and was worried about him hearing it.

"Follow my lead." Alpha Ryan said and led her to his grandpa's side; all eyes were fully on them, including Faiza, who kept cursing inside for having invited her rival. Noah had his hands clenched into a fist as he stared at his cousin's hand that was on his Sienna's waist.

"Gramps, dad, mom, this is my date. She's called Sienna. Sienna Quinn." Ryan then turned to her. "And Sienna, these are my grandfather, my dad, and my mom."

"Good evening, please. It's a pleasure to meet you all. I'm very sorry for the distraction." Sienna greeted them and apologised for the commotion caused with a small bow.

"Alright, let us go and sit down first and then tell me all about yourself." The Alpha took her hand as they all followed the usher to where their seats were. Now that earned her the envy of all the others in the room.

"Come here, my dear. Sit beside me." The Alpha tapped the seat that Ryan was supposed to take; Sienna was a bit reluctant until he himself nodded that it's fine. 

Peter and his wife sat next to the Alpha on his left side. Ryan had to sit on the next row, right behind Sienna, as he watched her and his grandpa converse.

It was after they had all settled in their seats before the official part of the ceremony started.

Many of the guests were still talking to the couple and congratulating them.

Faiza lets go of her fiancé's hand as soon as she sees Ryan coming their way.

"Congratulations! I wish you a happy union." Ryan said to his long-time ex and cousin.

"Thank you." Faiza said all excitedly, in a shrill, high-pitched voice. "But where is Sevina? Why didn't you come with her?" 

"She couldn't make it. She sends her sincere regards." 

"Okay. Hope I'll see you around often now that we're family."

"Sure. Let's catch up." Ryan said and left with a smirk on his face. He felt his older cousin's anger at how he had been clenching his hands since his arrival. Ryan knows that the reason is certainly not because of Faiza.

*

Despite the small glitches here and there, everything else went pretty well.

Faiza's father couldn't stop praising his daughter for being able to get the Alpha to come to their place. He could tell how envious his friends and associates were of him.

Her mother was equally proud of her, except for the part of Sienna's incident.

Noah's father, Brody McDermott, could finally hold his head up high among his siblings today. His father being here means that he approves of his son, Noah.

Brody is satisfied with everything except for beta girl's appearance here.

Nora herself hasn't been able to relax because she was worried that her son's ex might spill something to the old man. 

While most of the guests were happy for the Alpha's presence, they were really annoyed at how that unknown lady stuck to the old man's side all throughout the party, making it impossible for them to get some time with him. 

And the chief among them is Faiza, who feels that she should've been the one by the Alpha's side and not her rival. Now she was finding Sienna's presence here pretty annoying.

*

"It was a pleasure meeting you, my dear." The Alpha said as he was about to get into his car. 

The paparazzi were busy snapping pictures of him and his family plus Sienna, but that is something they are used to, unlike Sienna, but she didn't mind them.

"The pleasure is all mine, sir." Sienna responded. Chatting with the interesting old man made her to even forget along the fact that they were at her ex's engagement ceremony.

Alpha Seamus took her left hand in both of his. "I hope to see you again. Do tell Ryan to bring you over to the house whenever you feel like. Now you take good care of yourself and the babies. Bye."

"Yes please. Thank you." Sienna said before helping the old man settle into the backseat, all the while wondering whether or not she should once again correct him on thinking that she was with twins, as she has been doing throughout their conversation till now.

Her CT scan from weeks ago revealed that it was only one baby, and that is what she told the old man, but he still keeps using the plural form. 

"Uh, maybe he's just fond of twins." Sienna just shrugged at the thought as the old man's car left and so did Ryan's parents'.

"Ready to leave?" Ryan asked her to which Sienna nodded.

He placed his hand on her shoulder and walked her to his car.

The paparazzi were still busy taking shots of them as the two also got into Ryan's ash-black Mayback Exelero and got out of there.

****************************

Slap!

Brody gave his son a hard slap across the face and nose immediately after Noah closed the study door, causing him to stumble back a few paces.

"Oh, honey, calm down! Do you want to kill our only son?" Noah's mom, Nora, rushed to her son's side to prevent her husband from beating their son. 

Noah is their only child, but Brody has two daughters with his legal wife.

"Your grandfather is trying to have your cousin come and take the Vice President position. The very position that you're flaunting around. 

I am doing everything to prevent that from happening, but you are busy trying to sabotage things yourself.

You better not make my efforts go to waste. Otherwise, it would be that girl of yours who would have to pay for it.

Noah didn't dare to say a word as his father berates him. 

"I'm sorry. It won't happen again." 

"It better not."

Noah immediately left once his father dismissed him. He wanted to talk to his ex and warn her not to get involved with his cousin and to also not come anywhere near him. His father's warning scares him as to what he would do to her if things don't go according to his plans.

Despite everything, he really does love his ex very much. He just chose to keep his distance so as not to give her false hope, as he has also started to grow some fondness for his new woman and their unborn baby.

**************************

"You told me that your man had sorted things out with that girl. So how is it that she came to your engagement ceremony this evening? 

And it definitely didn't look like she was there to congratulate either of you." Faiza's Indian mother, Maryam, asked her daughter. 

She had called her into the guest room she was currently occupying once the ceremony was over to talk about Sienna's incident.

"I'm sorry, mother." Faiza had her head slightly bent in defeat. She knew that this conversation would happen after what that lady attempted to do at her engagement this evening.

"Sorry? I don't need your sorry. Just make sure not to disgrace me again. It was this lackadaisical attitude that caused you to lose the main heir to that friend of yours.

You better make sure to secure this one if you do not want to lose your inheritance or continue to be treated as a love child. Do you want your father to cut you off and give your position to your half sisters after all our sacrifices?" 

Faiza clenched her first. Talking about she, Ryan, and Sevina's love triangle is a sore spot for her. She still hasn't gotten over Ryan.

And as for that snake, Sevina, who calls herself her friend yet didn't even hesitate to snatch Ryan away from her the first chance she got, she should be prepared for what was coming for her.

Faiza shook her head. "No, mother.". 

Her mother is only a guest here today because she's not her father's first wife. After Faiza turned nine, her mother had brought her to live with her father and his main wife, plus her two younger half sisters.

Fortunately for her, her father didn't have any sons, and just like her, her half sisters are also omegas. Which makes her more suited to be her father's heiress.

Her mother had it ingrained in her that becoming the next successor is her sole duty, and all throughout her life, that has also become her dream.

This dream of hers, coupled with her intentions to exact revenge on her friend and take back what was once hers, have rekindled her determination to make the stupid Noah her own. 

That Sienna girl was only a collateral damage; She was just a victim of circumstance and not part of her targets. But if what happened tonight is any indication of her interfering with her plans, then she too better watch out.

"Then you better get your acts straight. Are we clear?"

Faiza bobbed her head and said with new-found determination. "Yes mother."

"Now, leave my face and go clean up your mess before it becomes more cumbersome." Maryam dismissed her daughter.