Page 16 of Knotting else Matters

His lips twitched, just slightly. “It’s an improvement.”

“High praise.” I gave him a mock bow. “I’m overwhelmed.”

Sophie laughed, and Karl joined in, his arm still wrapped around her. “Oh, Liv, I missed you.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. “You mean you missed free entertainment.”

But beneath the teasing, beneath the warm glow of the moment, I could still feel Adrian’s gaze, a quiet, steady weight that I couldn’t seem to shake.

The dining room was a masterpiece of understated luxury—rich, dark wood paneling, a long, polished table set with fine china and crystal glassware that caught the golden light of the chandelier overhead. The smell of roasted meats, fresh herbs, and warm bread filled the air, a comforting scent that should have put me at ease. But instead, I felt like I was walking into a lion’s den.

Karl’s parents greeted me first—Evelyn and Richard Laurent, a picture of gracious wealth and old-world charm. Evelyn was elegant, her silver-streaked blonde hair swept back in a sophisticated twist, her smile warm but sharp, the kind of woman who could slice you to pieces with a polite compliment. Richard was a tall, silver-haired Alpha with a booming laugh and an easy smile, his handshake firm, his presence commanding without trying.

“Olivia, it’s wonderful to finally meet you,” Evelyn said, her voice smooth as silk. “Sophie has spoken so much about you.”

“Only the good things, I hope.” I flashed a smile, my fingers tightening just a little around the back of my chair.

“Oh, she’s been absolutely glowing with joy since you arrived.”

Sophie beamed, her hand resting gently on Karl’s arm as if he were her anchor in this sea of wealth and power.

I settled into my seat, trying to find that calm, sarcastic armor I always wore. But then my gaze drifted to the other side of the table, where she sat.

Lena. My mother.

She barely glanced up as I entered, her fingers delicately adjusting the silverware, her expression perfectly composed. Cold. Always cold. I knew that face so well—the tight smile, the polite indifference. The way she seemed to see right through me.

She looked like she belonged here—talking with Evelyn about the ceremony plans, about Sophie’s upcoming life as a mate in this powerful family. Her voice was soft, warm, a picture of motherly pride. She laughed at Richard’s jokes, complimented the floral arrangements, spoke with that polished, educated tone that had always seemed so perfect.

So perfectly not meant for me.

I forced my gaze down to my plate as the first course was served—some delicate soup that smelled like herbs and butter. I picked up my spoon, trying to ignore the ache twisting in my chest.

I was sixteen when Dad died. A car accident. Sudden. Brutal. One minute, he was there, laughing, strong, a solid presence in our lives. And the next, gone.

And with him went the last person who had ever made me feel like I mattered.

Lena had always been cold, but after Dad’s death, she became ice. I was a problem she didn’t know how to fix, a disappointment she barely tolerated. But Sophie? Sophie was her dream. Her perfect, beautiful Omega daughter. And now, in just a few days, Sophie would marry into wealth and power, fulfilling every wish Lena had ever whispered.

“Well, of course, Sophie has always been so graceful,” Lena’s voice floated across the table, soft and proud. “She’s always known how to make a good impression. I suppose some girls just have a natural charm.”

I stared at my soup, my fingers gripping the spoon a little too tight.

“Oh, absolutely,” Evelyn agreed, her voice a warm hum. “It’s such a gift, isn’t it? And she’s done so well for herself.”

Lena’s smile widened. “I always knew she was destined for great things.”

Of course, she did. And I was just the background noise. The wayward daughter, the one who didn’t fit, didn’t belong. Lena had never bothered hiding her disappointment in me. I was a problem she couldn’t fix, a loose thread she never stopped trying to cut.

“Adrian,” Richard’s voice broke through the tension I was drowning in. “How are the preparations going? Everything running smoothly?”

“Perfectly,” Adrian replied, his voice calm and steady, a stark contrast to the turmoil twisting in my chest. “Security is set, and the guest list has been finalized. No unexpected surprises.”

Except me,I thought bitterly, staring down at the delicate white bowl in front of me.

“Liv,” Sophie’s soft voice leaned toward me, her hand gently brushing against mine under the table. “You okay?”

I forced a smile, looking up, meeting her worried blue eyes. “Yeah, Soph. Just… not much of a soup person.”

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