<h4>Chapter 120: Chapter 120 Unmasked Intentions</h4>


    Author’s pov


    Alpha Sebastian slowly turned his head toward Hazel, who stood before him.


    His brows were furrowed with dark clouds, his expression nothing like the polite warmth he’d shown during their arranged mating meeting. Now he was wrapped in ayer of ice.


    "Miss Hazel," he acknowledged coldly.


    "It’s lovely to see you again," she replied.


    Hazel had clearly noticed his frigid expression. She probably thought a friendly greeting might thaw his demeanor.


    But Alpha Sebastian’s face remained cial.


    He gave the barest nod of acknowledgment before turning away. He didn’t invite her to sit, didn’t offer even a single pleasantry—he simply left her standing there,pletely ignored.


    Hazel was instantly flushed with embarrassment.


    She couldn’t leave, yet staying seemed impossible when he clearly had no intention of weing her.


    "Alpha Sebastian..." she called softly.


    Alpha Sebastian didn’t acknowledge her.


    Hazel’s pretty face gradually reddened with humiliation.


    Her friend, who had apanied her, stood frozen in confusion. Wasn’t this supposed to be a date? How could he bepletely ignoring her?


    The two women stood awkwardly before the seated man as other diners began to stare.


    Tang and Beta Sawyer looked at Miss Hazel with sympathy but dared not intervene.


    Cecilia’s pov


    I strained my ears to listen.


    But the more I heard, the less I understood. Why was he being so cold to Miss Hazel? Wasn’t this their date?


    From what I’d learned about Alpha Alpha Sebastian these past weeks, he wasn’t someone prone to mood swings. Quite the opposite—he was unnervingly stable, never letting his emotions show on his face.


    "Alpha Sebastian, may we sit down?"Miss Hazel’s friend finally asked, unable to bear the awkwardness any longer.


    Alpha Sebastian didn’t even grant her a nce.


    "There’s no space," he stated, his voice t and final.


    Miss Hazel and her friend stood frozen, clearly not used to being dismissed so coldly.


    "Then again—" he cut back in, turning slowly as if reconsidering. A sliver of hope lit in Miss Hazel’s eyes.


    "If you’re that set on sitting in this section," he went on, tone almost conversational, "my secretary is seated over there. You’re wee to join her."


    My eyes snapped wide. Miss Hazel’s gaze swung toward me.


    Silence fell—heavy and thick. No one moved. No one spoke.


    The only person unaffected was Alpha Sebastian, who watched it all unfold with detached amusement.


    I was furious, mentally screaming: What is WRONG with him?! He’spletely lost his mind!


    Miss Hazel and her friend looked confused: ...what...why...?


    The air turned so awkward that even you could cut it with a knife.


    Typically, when a man behaves this terribly during a date, the woman should immediately walk away.


    But Miss Hazel suddenly shed her embarrassment, smiled graciously and said, "That sounds fine."


    She walked over to my table and sat down.


    Her friend followed suit.


    All four seats were now upied.


    Levan and I watched in disbelief as they smoothly took seats without even asking if we minded.


    But unlike Alpha Sebastian, I wasn’t mentally disturbed, nor was I like Miss Hazel who indulged such behavior.


    I took a subtle deep breath and gave Miss Hazel a friendly smile. "Miss Hazel, we’re actually waiting for someone else. If you prefer this area, we can find another table."


    I stood up, and Levan followed my lead.


    A delicate white hand touched my arm. "Please, let’s all sit together."


    The voice carried a slight nasal quality.


    I looked up to see Miss Hazel’s reddened eyes pleading with me.


    Though I wasn’t one to be walked all over, I couldn’t resist a beautiful woman looking so helpless. Perhaps Miss Hazel wasn’t spineless—maybe she simply didn’t know how to exit gracefully and didn’t want to flee in humiliation.


    Well, it wouldn’t hurt to sit together for a while. Harper wasn’t back yet anyway.


    I sat back down.


    Author’s pov


    Alpha Sebastian watched from his booth, eyes dark and unreadable.


    Beta Sawyer slid the menu toward Tang. "Your turn."


    Tang gged down a waiter. He ordered ribeye, porterhouse, filet mignon—nothing but meat. Not a single green thing.


    Alpha Sebastian’s phone buzzed. He checked the screen. "Mother."


    "Have you met Miss Hazel?" Luna Regina’s voice chirped through the receiver.


    Alpha Sebastian stood up slowly.


    Tang and Beta Sawyer thought he was stepping out for privacy. Instead, he just moved one booth over—and sat right behind Cecilia.


    Back to back.


    So close she could feel the heat from his body.


    Now his mother’s voice carried perfectly. Cecilia couldn’t avoid hearing it if she tried.


    "Yes, I’ve met her," Alpha Sebastian said, tone t.


    "Wonderful! I was worried you’d miss each other. Get to know her a bit. Didn’t you say you liked women with healthy appetites? Miss Hazel can put away two steaks in one sitting!"


    "I prefer someone who could devour an entire boar."


    The line went quiet. His mother’s cheer evaporated.


    "But you two seemed sopatiblest time. I thought you liked her."


    "Next time, maybe give me a heads-up." Alpha Sebastian shifted slightly. "Your little stunt sparked some wild office gossip. Caused me quite the headache."


    Cecilia went rigid. Was he talking about her?


    Luna Regina finally caught her son’s icy tone. "I’m sorry, darling. I didn’t think it through. Next time—"


    "There won’t be a next time. We’re done with arranged meetings."


    "But you—"


    "Don’t worry. I won’t die alone. I’ll find my own mate. You just have to wait."


    His words were gentle, but his meaning was stone.


    Luna Regina wanted to argue, to defend Hazel—but she held her tongue. Pushing him now would only backfire.


    He’d always been her most steady, reliable son.


    But when he turned cold? He was downright terrifying.


    On her end, Alpha Yardley shot her a look that screamed, I told you so.


    Frustrated, Luna Regina pinched his arm.


    The call ended.


    The air in the restaurant grew thick.


    Hazel’s face burned. She’d begged her mother for this second chance. She really thought he didn’t dislike her—that his gentle manners meant something. How could she have known he’d be so brutally cold?


    He’d moved seats just so she’d overhear.


    Damn, Cecilia thought.


    A triple kill. He’d called out her gossiping, shut down Hazel, and put his mother in her ce—all in one conversation.


    Brutal. Absolutely brutal.


    "Cecilia."


    That voice—cold and sharp—made her flinch. She turned nervously. "Y-yes, Alpha Sebastian?"


    He let the silence hang for three long seconds.


    "You wished me a good weekend," he said, his voice dropping to a level only she could hear. "Looks like you started your own private celebration without me. Feeling generous enough to share the joy?"