Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 322

Lillian's POV

The moment I stepped into the penthouse dining room, my blood pressure spiked. Two servants were *still* setting the table - a table meant for one person. One fucking person! How hard could that possibly be?

"You're still setting the table!" I snapped. "What the hell is wrong with you people? Are you lazy, incompetent, or just plain annoying?"

Both servants immediately bowed their heads. "We're sorry, Miss Torres. We're almost finished."

"Almost finished?" I could feel my eyes flashing irritation. "You should have been done an hour ago! Move faster!"

The urgency in their movements after my outburst was exactly what I needed to see. Finally, some respect around here.

I stormed into the private kitchen. The private chef I'd been supervising was just plating the last dish, and thank God for that because my patience was wearing dangerously thin.

"Is everything ready?" I demanded, not bothering to hide my impatience.

"Yes, Miss Torres. Everything is complete."

"Good. You're the only competent servant in this entire building." I glanced at my watch - 9:30 PM. Ezra still wasn't back yet, and my chest tightened with anxiety. He *had* to eat the dinner I'd personally supervised. If he didn't, I'd be completely heartbroken.

I pulled off the apron I'd been wearing and smoothed down my dress. This dinner was going to change everything. Once Ezra tasted the food I'd made for him, he'd be completely smitten with me again. He'd forget all about that low-class bitch Isolde. I was certain of it.

A victorious smile spread across my face. This was just the beginning.

When I returned to the dining room, I was surprised to find the servants lined up in a perfect row, waiting for my approval. Now *this* was the kind of respect I expected.

"I like this," I said, examining their formation with satisfaction. "This is how things should be done."

I walked around the table with a serious expression, checking every detail of the place setting. The crystal gleamed, the silverware was perfectly aligned, and the single white rose centerpiece was exactly how I'd requested it. Everything was perfect.

"This will do," I said with a nod. "You may leave the penthouse now."

The moment I heard the elevator doors open, my heart started racing. Ezra's familiar voice drifted toward me, and I practically sprinted in that direction.

When I reached the living room, I saw him talking to Una, his personal assistant. That old fox was holding his briefcase and actually *smiling* at whatever he was saying. The sight made my blood boil.

*What right does she have to be so comfortable with my Alpha?* The jealousy hit me like a punch to the gut.

"Ezra!" I called out, unable to contain my excitement.

He turned toward me, and immediately, that smile disappeared from his face. The change was so stark it made my chest ache, but I forced myself to ignore the pain.

"Lillian," he said, his expression becoming completely businesslike. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."

"Welcome back!" I beamed at him, my smile so wide it hurt my cheeks.

"I have a surprise for you," I said, barely able to contain my excitement. I reached out and wrapped my fingers around his left arm, pulling him toward the dining room. "Come with me."

He didn't resist, but his expression remained cold as he followed me. When we entered the dining room and he saw the elaborately set table, surprise flickered across his features, followed by what looked like polite admiration.

My heart soared. *He's impressed!*

"Dinner?" Ezra asked quietly, his voice filled with surprise. "You prepared dinner for me?"

I nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! I made sure everything was perfect for you."

But then his polite expression completely vanished, replaced by something cold and distant. He loosened his tie and looked at me with an expression that made my stomach drop.

"Look, Lillian..." His voice was gentle but firm. "I really appreciate the thought... but I can't eat this."

The words hit me like ice water. "What? Why not?"

"I already had dinner," he explained. "With Isolde."

My jaw literally dropped. The mention of that low-class bitch's name made rage burn through my veins like acid. *That fucking whore from the slums!*

But I forced myself to maintain composure, stretching my lips into what I hoped looked like a smile. "Oh... that's fine. I understand."

The lie tasted bitter in my mouth.

Ezra ran a hand through his hair, looking exhausted. "I just finished an important meeting. I'm tired, and I need to go shower and get some rest."

I followed him as he headed toward his suite.

"I could help you pick out pajamas for tonight," I offered, my voice becoming breathy with hope. "And maybe organize your meeting files for tomorrow. You used to appreciate that kind of service."

Ezra stopped at his door and turned to face me with that same cold, businesslike expression.

"That won't be necessary," he said firmly. "My assistant has already taken care of everything."

He swiped his keycard and the door opened with a soft electronic beep. He gave me one last polite smile.

"Good night, Lillian. I'll see you tomorrow."

Then he stepped inside and closed the door right in my face. The electronic lock engaged with a definitive click that echoed in the hallway like a gunshot.

I stood there like a fool, staring at the closed door. My mind went completely blank. Tears started forming in my eyes, and for a moment, my wolf eyes flashed gold.

This was so much harder than I'd thought it would be. Ezra was treating me like a stranger - worse than a stranger. He was treating me like an inconvenience.

But I wasn't giving up. Not by a long shot. I needed to come up with better strategies to win this Alpha back.