<h4>Chapter 167: Chapter 167 Boring Game</h4>


    Cecilia’s pov


    Of course it had to be Xavier.


    I turned my head away from that nauseating face, feeling like the universe was ying some cruel joke on me.


    Was I being punished for something in a past life?


    "What a coincidence," Xavier said when he realized I wasn’t going to acknowledge him.


    I treated him like he was invisible, pretending to be absorbed in my phone.


    My mind raced: This morning he might have legitimately spotted me leaving my neighborhood if he happened to be nearby.


    But now? There’s no way he’d skip work to lurk outside Silver Peak’s offices all day.


    A chill ran down my spine. Had he installed a tracking device on my car?


    Every time I thought he’d finally leave me alone, this man resurfaced like a bad penny.


    Like some nightmare version of a werewolf who couldn’t take rejection.


    Maybe having him "disappeared" was the only way I’d ever know peace.


    Dr. Han emerged from the back room and spotted Xavier.


    "Sir, what seems to be troubling you today?" Dr. Han asked politely.


    "My heart," Xavier replied with theatrical mncholy, staring at my ice-cold expression.


    I slowly raised my head, my face a perfect mask of calm as I addressed Dr. Han. "Don’t rush on my ount. Better treat him first. Toote, and you might need to call the morgue instead."


    Dr. Han froze for a moment.


    Then he sat down in front of me and instructed me to remove my shoe, cing my foot on a small leather stool.


    He poured some medicinal alcohol into his palm and began massaging my ankle.


    "This might hurt a bit," he warned.


    "I’m fine, no problem," I answered bravely.


    My bravado was immediately shot down.


    Holy shit... it hurt so badly!


    I gripped my phone tighter, my breath slowing as I tried to manage the pain.


    I never screamed or shouted when in pain - instead, I went quieter, my expression moreposed the worse it got.


    Dr. Han, misinterpreting my stoicism as genuine tolerance, applied even more pressure.


    In reality, I was on the verge of passing out.


    " Gentler, please," Xavier suddenly interrupted, reaching out to stop Dr. Han’s hands.


    I shot Xavier a withering re. Who asked for his fake sympathy? Hypocrite.


    "Dr. Han, will my foot bepletely healed by next week?" I asked, deliberately ignoring Xavier’s intervention.


    Dr. Han nodded. "If you minimize walking for a few days, it should be fine by next week. But you absolutely cannot twist it again. The area is already injured - another sprain could damage the bone. That would be serious trouble."


    I smiled politely. "I understand. I’ll be careful."


    The heart patient beside us suddenly chimed in, "Why not just quit your job? When you’re healed,e back to Blood Moon."


    "Does he even think before he speaks?" I said.


    Dr. Han noticed the tension between us and wisely decided not to meddle.


    After a while, he applied a medicinalpress and wrapped my ankle with a bandage. "Come back tomorrow. Four consecutive treatments should do the trick."


    "Thank you, Dr. Han." I expressed my gratitude, put on my shoe, and stood to pay.


    Dr. Han had barely stated the price when Xavier swooped in and paid, his movement so quick it startled both of us.


    I gave him a cold stare.


    Then, turning to Dr. Han with a warm smile, I said goodbye and headed out.


    "Cecilia..." Xavier followed, grabbing my arm.


    I yanked away from his touch immediately. "Mr. Green, please keep your hands to yourself. As for the treatment you just paid for, I’ll transfer the money to you."


    Xavierpletely ignored what I’d said.


    "Our old high school is right next door," he continued as if I hadn’t spoken. " Let’s take a walk there."


    "I’m not going," I replied tly, maneuvering around him toward my car.


    Xavier moved faster, leaning against my car door to block me.


    "I was out of line this morning," he said, voice low and just a touch too polished. "I shouldn’t have said those things. I was jealous. Petty. I get that now. I’m not asking you to take me back - just give me onest drive, like old ssmates. No pressure. After that, I’ll back off. For real this time."


    Uh-huh. Sure.


    I’d heard this speech so many times, I could’ve ghostwritten it.


    Honestly, if this were a TV show, it’d be called: The Late-Stage Whining of a Washed-Up Ex. Season 5. Still no character growth.


    But here’s the kicker - Xavier wasn’t just an emotionally constipated ex.


    He was a full-blooded Alpha werewolf with a godplex and the patience of a toddler.


    If he were easier to get rid of, I would’ve ghosted him into another dimension by now.


    I nced down at my ankle - still sore, still wrapped - and then up at Xavier, who was radiating the kind of smug confidence only a man with Alpha energy.


    All right. Two can y this game.


    "Here’s the deal," I said, arms crossed. "I can’t walk far. So we both take our own cars, drive in separately, do onep around the school, and leave. You try to pull anything, and I’ll scream like you’re trying to murder me. I’ll cry. I’ll copse. I’ll call the cops, the neighbors, the mailman - hell, I’ll livestream it."


    I smiled sweetly. "We both lose face, but I’ll survive the scandal. You? Not so much."


    Xavier recognized I was negotiating with him.


    I was pretending weakness while simultaneously threatening mutual destruction.


    I was betting on his concern for appearances and hoping he’d know when to back down.


    "We can drive in, but in my car," he countered.


    "Absolutely not." I shook my head firmly.


    Xavier retreated another step. "Then I’ll ride in your car. We’ll go in, take onep,e back out, and you can drop me here. I promise, once we’re done, I’ll leave."


    "How about this - let’s invite someone else along. More people make it more fun," I suggested.


    "I only want to be with you, just the two of us," Xavier insisted.


    "Well, I prefer three people. Either we do it my way, or you can move aside," I stated firmly.


    Xavier’s jaw tightened. " Rock-paper-scissors. Winner decides. If you still refuse after that, I’ll cover your mouth and carry you to my car. I guarantee you won’t get the chance to scream."


    I clenched my fist.


    After a few seconds of silence, I relented. "Fine. Winner decides."


    I threw scissors. Xavier showed paper. I smiled triumphantly. " I win."


    Xavier’s face darkened. "...Who could you possibly invite here?"


    I was about to suggest Dr. Han, figuring I couldpensate him for his time.


    "How about me?"


    I turned.


    There he was.


    Sebastian.


    Standing fifteen feet away, half-shadowed beneath the glowing barbershop sign, those rotating red-white-blue stripes casting soft light across his face.


    His tall frame looked carved out of moonlight and vengeance, and his icy stare could’ve frozen a volcano.