Chapter 121 – Could It Be Him?
Irving’s POV:
My target had always been Hayley, but I clearly sensed she was guarded around me. It was fine. I wouldn't give up until I achieved my goal. I took the initiative to greet her. “Hayley, I didn’t expect you to dance so well.”
She wore a mask and seemed surprised I recognized her. After a brief pause, she coldly replied, “I just dance for fun. It’s nothing impressive.”
I wasn’t going to give her a chance to be modest. I reached out to her directly, saying, “Excuse me, may I invite you to another dance?” I put on a soulful expression, not allowing her the opportunity to decline.
But just then, Benjamin stepped in front of her, thwarting my plan. “According to the rules, tonight’s dance partners are determined by a draw,” he said, implying that once the partners were assigned, there would be no changes.
The moment he faced me, Benjamin exuded an alpha aura that made my wolf feel his dominance, causing me to instinctively take a step back. After he spoke, Hayley quickly seized the opportunity to decline my invitation. “Sorry, Irving. I drew the same number as your brother, so I can’t dance with you.” Her excuse was flawless—there was no way to challenge it.
I forced a gracious smile and slowly withdrew my hand. “That’s alright. Maybe next time I can invite you for a dance.”
Hayley nodded, and suddenly, the lights in the hall dimmed, creating a buzz among the crowd. After a brief moment of darkness, the sound of whirring wheels filled the air, accompanied by the cheerful tune of a birthday song growing closer.
“Happy birthday to you… Happy birthday to you…”
In the midst of the crowd, Henry and Christopher emerged, pushing a large cake toward Benjamin, while those around them joined in singing the birthday song. As the song ended, someone shouted, “Alright, birthday boy, make a wish!”
Under the gaze of the crowd, Benjamin clasped his hands together and closed his eyes to make his wish. “Now, everyone, on three. One, two, three… blow!” The crowd collectively blew out the candles, and a wave of enthusiastic applause erupted around them.
At that moment, the lights in the hall brightened again. Benjamin symbolically took a knife and fork to cut the cake, handing the first slice to Hayley, who stood beside him. “Give it a try!”
I could see clearly how much he cared about Hayley. When she mentioned finding her destined mate, could it be him?
Hayley’s POV:
I was taken by surprise when Benjamin handed me the first slice of cake. With him so close, my heart raced. He was just as excited, and I completely overlooked the fact that his senses would be more sensitive tonight and his wolf might be able to detect that I was his destined mate.
As I accepted the cake, I thanked him and took a bite, immediately savoring the rich aroma of the cream. “Is it good?” Benjamin asked. I nodded. “It’s delicious!”
He followed my lead and took a bite of the cake. Instantly, his taste buds were enveloped by sweetness, and a subtle smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed George chatting with Leonard, looking quite pleased. Remembering their recent secret discussion about me, I tapped into Hera, whose hearing was now thousands of times more acute, allowing me to catch their conversation clearly.
“Old Mr. Southwell, I don’t think Alpha is entirely indifferent to Ms. Carson,” Leonard’s voice came through first.
Grandpa Southwell replied with a knowing tone, “Only he knows what he truly feels. But honestly, from a distance, they do seem like a perfect match. They should be destined mates, yet for some reason, their wolves don’t seem to recognize each other. We’ll just have to see when my grandson finally gets a clue. Today went well, but I can’t shake the feeling that something is still missing.”
“What do you mean by that, sir?”
Grandpa Southwell quickly cut him off, saying, “Let’s not go too far. Rome wasn’t built in a day; we shouldn’t rush things. Let’s take it slow and hope these two young people will eventually understand my good intentions.”
“Don’t worry, sir! Alpha and Ms. Carson will definitely understand,” Leonard assured him. Grandpa Southwell’s expression relaxed, and then he turned to head upstairs. I could see he was in a good mood.
The birthday celebration continued until eleven at night, and once all the guests had left, the huge villa returned to its usual tranquility. I overate at dinner, and my stomach was upset. After getting ready for bed, I went for a walk outside to help with the digestion.
It was a lovely night, the moon shining brightly and stars twinkling overhead. Sitting alone on the swing in the yard, I was enjoying the moonlight when I started to hear the faint sound of a piano. I was taken aback. “Who is playing the piano this late?”